Talk:Satsuki/@comment-26846553-20160229164613

Satsuki was the oldest in 12 Mutsuki destroyers. When the war began, she was clearly outdated. But, she is well known to have remarkable works in convoy escorts, in transportation missions, and in anti-aircraft combat.

As an example of her success, in September 1943, Satsuki and other destroyers were succeeded to withdraw 12,000 soldiers from Kolombangara island.

However, Her most famous is the success in AA combat. After the war began, she equipped with a type 13 AA rader and more AA guns. In addition, her crew had superior AA skills. January 3, 1944, Satsuki and Fumizuki escorted cruisers that transported army troops.The fleet was attacked by about a hundred enemy aircraft, which was launched from USS Bunker Hill and USS Monterey. Satsuki and Fumizuki fought in only two ships and they avoided all the bombs and torpedoes. On the contrary, Satsuki shot down eleven aircrafts. Nevertheless, Satsuki and Fumizuki suffered many casualties by strafing of enemy aircraft. Satsuki's captain Lieutenant Commander Tadao Iino continued to command while losing his left leg. After arriving in Rabaul, he died. Thanks to their fight, the fleet suffered no dameges.

Satsuki and Fumizuki were awarded the letters of appreciation from the 8th Fleet Commander-in-Chief. Furthermore, the late Lieutenant Commander Iino was gave a sword with white wood grip that was written as "武功抜群（Bukou-Batsugun=Your military exploits is outstanding）" from Southeast Area Fleet's commander Jinichi Kusaka. Satsuki Kai Ni has it in her damaged art.

Even in her last fight in Manila Bay, she is recorded that fought against enemy aircrafts valiantly in order to help the fellows. After she sank, fortunately most of her crew survived.

The AA combat capability and the Daihatsu equipment capacity of her Kai Ni are reflected these historical events.