to Shortland Island in October. During the month of October, she made four “Tokyo Express transport runs to Guadalcanal. On the fourth run, while escorting and Chitose, she went to the assistance of the destroyer which itself had become the victim of early morning air raids while attempting to assist survivors of the heavy cruiser , sunk during the previous night's Battle of Cape Esperance. Attacked by United States Navy dive bombers, near misses ruptured Natsugumos hull, and she sank after only 39 minutes at position approximately west-northwest of Savo Island. The attack killed 16 crewmen, including her captain (LtCdr Moritaro Tsukamoto); the destroyer took off her 176 survivors She was removed from the navy list on 15 November 1942. Notes References External links CombinedFleet.com: Asashio-class destroyers Natsugumo history GlobalSecurity.org: Asashio class destroyers Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy Asashio-class destroyers Ships built by Sasebo Naval Arsenal World War II destroyers of Japan Destroyers sunk by aircraft 1937 ships Maritime incidents in October 1942 Shipwrecks in the Solomon Sea Ships sunk by US aircraft