Japanese destroyer Akizuki

{| |} {{nihongo|'''''Akizuki'''''|秋月}} was the [[lead ship]] of [[Akizuki class destroyer (1942)|her class]] of [[destroyer]] in the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]]. Its name means “Autumn Moon.” In October 1944 ''Akizuki'' was part of the Northern Force commanded by Vice Admiral [[Ozawa Jisaburo]], in the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf|Japanese attack]] on the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] forces supporting the [[Battle of Leyte|invasion of Leyte]]. On 25 October, in the [[Battle off Cape Engaño]], it was sunk, probably by torpedo, ENE of [[Cape Engaño (Luzon)|Cape Engaño]] ({{coord|20|29|N|126|30|E |scale:10000000 |display=inline,title}}), during the initial U.S. air attack on the Northern Force. Most sources credit the hit to aircraft of [[Task Force 38]], but some give credit to submarine {{USS|Halibut|SS-232}}. ==External links== *[http://www.combinedfleet.com/akizuk_c.htm CombinedFleet.com: ''Akizuki''-class destroyers] [[Image:IJN Destroyer Akizuki blows up.jpg|thumb|left|''Akizuki'' blows-up during battle of Cape Engano]] {{Akizuki-class destroyers}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Akizuki}}