Teruo Akiyama

Teruo Akiyama (秋山 輝男, Akiyama Teruo, 16 September 1891 – 6 July 1943), was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

Teruo Akiyama
Born(1891-09-16)September 16, 1891
Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
DiedJuly 6, 1943(1943-07-06) (aged 51)[1]
Solomon Islands
Allegiance Empire of Japan
Service/branch Imperial Japanese Navy
Years of service1913–1943
Rank Vice Admiral (posthumous)
Commands heldFubuki
Yūgure
Tachibana
Kashiwa
Sarawabi
Hamakaze
Murakumo
Naka
Battles/warsWorld War II

Biography

Akiyama was a native of Kumamoto prefecture. He graduated from the 41st class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1913, ranked 61st out of 118 cadets. He served as midshipman on the cruisers Asama and Kurama. After he was commissioned as an ensign, he was assigned to the battleship Asahi. He subsequently served on the battleship Suwo, cruiser Izumo and destroyer Yudachi.

Akiyama was promoted to lieutenant on 1 December 1918, and was assigned to the destroyer Isokaze as chief torpedo officer. However, from 1921–1922, he also served as executive officer on the submarines SS-35 and SS-45.

On 7 February 1924, he was given his first command: the destroyer Fubuki. He subsequently commanded the destroyers Yūgure, Tachibana, Kashiwa, Sarawabi, Hamakaze and Murakumo in the 10-year period from 1924-1934. [2] Promoted to captain on 1 December 1937, he served in mostly staff assignments until the start of the Pacific War, with the exception of a posting as captain of the cruiser Naka in 1939. He was promoted to rear admiral on 1 November 1942.

During the Solomon Islands campaign, on 6 July 1943, Akiyama commanded the 3rd Destroyer Squadron, which consisted of 10 destroyers loaded with 2,600 combat troops, bound for Vila on Kolombangara. At 01:06 off Kolombangara, the task group came into contact with U.S. Navy Task Group 36.1 (TG 36.1), commanded by Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth, and consisting of light cruisers USS Helena, Honolulu, and St. Louis, along with four destroyers. In the resultant Battle of Kula Gulf, the American ships opened fire at 01:57 and quickly sank the Japanese flagship, destroyer Niizuki, killing Admiral Akiyama.

Akiyama was posthumously promoted to vice admiral.

Notable Positions Held

Commanding Officer, MS W-1 - 1 December 1925 – 1 December 1926

Commanding Officer, MS W-1 - 20 January 1928 – 1 November 1928

Commanding Officer, DD Murakumo - 1 December 1932 – 15 November 1935

Commanding Officer, DD Usugumo - 1 November 1934 – 15 November 1934

ComDesDiv 30–1 December 1937 – 10 December 1938

ComDesDiv 4–10 December 1938 – 25 October 1939

ComDesDiv 34–25 October 1939 – 15 November 1939

Commanding Officer, CL Naka - 15 November 1939 – 15 October 1940

ComDesRon 3–23 March 1943 – 6 July 1943 (KIA)

Dates of Promotions

Midshipman - 19 December 1913

Ensign - 1 December 1914

Sublieutenant - 1 December 1916

Lieutenant - 1 December 1920

Lieutenant Commander - 1 December 1926

Commander - 1 December 1932

Captain - 1 December 1937

Rear Admiral - 1 November 1942

Vice Admiral - 6 July 1943 (posthumous promotion)

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References

Books
  • Crenshaw, Russell Sydnor (1998). South Pacific Destroyer: The Battle for the Solomons from Savo Island to Vella Gulf. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-136-X.
  • D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X.
  • Dull, Paul S. (1978). A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-097-1.
  • Fuller, Richard (1992). Shokan: Hirohito's Samurai. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-151-4.
  • Hara, Tameichi (1961). Japanese Destroyer Captain. New York & Toronto: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-27894-1.
  • Kilpatrick, C. W. (1987). Naval Night Battles of the Solomons. Exposition Press. ISBN 0-682-40333-4.
  • McGee, William L. (2002). "Operation TOENAILS". The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville--Pacific War Turning Point, Volume 2 (Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII). BMC Publications. ISBN 0-9701678-7-3.
  • Morison, Samuel Eliot (1958). Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, vol. 6 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Castle Books. 0785813071.
  • Roscoe, Theodore (1953). United States Destroyer Operations in World War Two. Naval Institute Press. 0870217267.

Notes
  1. Nishida, Imperial Japanese Navy.


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