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Like other destroyers of the Fubuki class, the Hibiki group were heavily armed and very fast, a little too much for her frame. At 1,700 tons and 380 feet long, Hibiki boasted six 5-inch guns, mounted in three twin turrrets, and nine 24-inch "Long Lance" torpedoes, the Japanese Navy's secret weapon, which completely outranged American torpedoes. Hibiki's four-boiler turbine engine generated 40,000 HP, and could drive the ship at 34 knots.

Hibiki served the entire war, from the early assault on the Philippines all the way to the end, eventually being turned over to the Soviet fleet in 1947.

In the early months of the war, Hibiki mostly operated in the Philippines. While supporting the thrust to the Aleutians during the Midway operation in June 1942, she was heavily damaged in air attack by U.S. PBYs at Kiska. Due to near misses her bow was damaged and speed reduced. After emergency repairs at Ominato, she spent the next four months docked at the Yokosuka naval yard for repairs. Hibiki did not get sucked into the destructive maelstrom of the Solomons; in late 1942 and early 1943, she undertook six escort missions between Japan and the large naval base at Truk.

In late July 1943, Hibiki took part in the successful evacuation of Kiska, and spent the next fourteen months in largely uneventful escort missions. In September 1944, she hit a mine, or possibly was torpedoed by USS HAKE (SS-256); her bow nearly severed, she returned to Takao for emergency repairs.

She saw no serious action before the end of the war, and was eventually transferred to the USSR.

Sources: Public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

and pictures from my father's 1943 Naval Recognition Manual

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