At the start of 1944, Hatsushimo was reassigned directly to Combined Fleet headquarters, and continued in escort patrol missions between Yokosuka and Truk. She returned to Sasebo on 14 April, where additional 25 mm anti-aircraft guns were added along with an additional Type 22 radar. In June, she participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea as part of the First Supply Force, and continued in escort missions between Japan and the Philippines through September. In a maintenance refit at Kure Naval Arsenal, additional 25-mm anti-aircraft guns and a Type 13 radar were added. Hatsushimo continued with transport and escort missions to the Philippines through November. On 24 October 1944, after the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Hatsushimo rescued 74 survivors from the sunken Wakaba On 15 November 1944, Hatsushimo was reassigned to the IJN 2nd Fleet and assigned to escort missions between Singapore and Cam Ranh Bay in French Indochina through the end of the year. It came just two days after her flotilla leader Hatsuharu had been sunk in shallow waters by US air attacks off Manila. In February 1945 Hatsushimo escorted the battleships and from Singapore back to Kure during Operation Kita. While at Kure, yet more 25-mm anti-aircraft guns were installed. In April 1945, Hatsushimo was part of the escort for the battleship during her final Operation Ten-Go. She was not hit during the mission, and rescued survivors from Yamato, and . She was subsequently reassigned to Maizuru for use as a training and guard vessels. On 30 July 1945, Hatsushimo struck an air dropped naval mine while under attack from United States Navy aircraft from TF38 at Miyazu Bay, forcing her crew to beach her at . The attack killed 17 crewmen. Hatsushimo was the 129th and last destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy to be lost during the war. On 30 September 1945, Hatsushimo was removed from the navy list. Her wreck was salvaged and broken up between 1948 and 1949. Her anchor is collected at the time of disassembly and it is exhibited in a hospital in Tokyo. Notes References OCLC 77257764 External links Hatsuharu-class destroyers Second Sino-Japanese War naval ships of Japan World War II destroyers of Japan Ships built by Uraga Dock Company 1933 ships Ships of the Aleutian Islands campaign Maritime incidents in July 1945 World War II shipwrecks in the Sea of Japan Ships sunk by mines