Suzukaze (Japanese: Cool Summer Breeze) was a Japanese destroyer, the keel of which was laid in 1935, launched in March 1937, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in August 1937. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 107.5 m, width 9.9 m, and the actual full displacement - 1,700 tons. The maximum speed of the destroyer Suzukaze was up to 34 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 5 127 mm guns in two twin and one single turret, and the secondary armament was two 13 mm machine guns, depth charge launchers and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes. with eight spare torpedoes.
Suzukaze was the tenth Shiratsuyu-class destroyer. Units of this type were created respecting the displacement limits imposed on the government in Tokyo by international disarmament treaties, especially the London Treaty of 1930. This type of ships was in fact a modification of the Hatsuharu-class ships - at the same time, it meant the temporary withdrawal of the Japanese fleet from building large destroyers like the Fubuki class. Compared to the Hatsuharu type, the Shiratsuyu type units differed in significantly improved stability, narrower hull and lower displacement. The same artillery armament was retained, but the torpedo armament was reinforced. The Achilles heel turned out to be very weak anti-aircraft weapons, which were constantly modernized and strengthened during the war in the Pacific. The destroyer Suzukaze began its combat route during World War II by supporting Japanese landings in the Philippines in December 1941. At the beginning of 1942, Suzukaze served in the area of the Dutch East Indies, where it was damaged in February - repairs lasted until August of the same year. After returning to line service, in the period from August 1942 to February 1943, he took part in the fighting in the Guadalcanal area, being part of the so-called Tokyo Express, but taking a very active part in numerous battles, e.g. near the Santa Cruz Islands or at Tassafaronga. In July 1943, he took part in the fighting in the Kula Bay. The destroyer Suzukaze was sunk on January 25, 1944 as a result of a torpedo attack by the American submarine USS Skipjack.