▁the ▁destroy er ▁ ▁to ▁R aba ul ▁for ▁emer gency ▁rep airs , ▁which ▁allowed ▁her ▁to ▁lim p ▁back ▁to ▁S ase bo ▁by ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁March . ▁Rep airs ▁completed ▁by ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁May , ▁K aw ak aze ▁returned ▁to ▁Tru k , ▁transport ed ▁troops ▁to ▁Na uru ▁in ▁early ▁June , ▁and ▁to ▁K w aj ale in ▁in ▁late ▁June ▁and ▁Tul uv u ▁on ▁ 1 ▁August . ▁ ▁On ▁ 7 ▁August ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁K aw ak aze ▁was ▁on ▁a ▁tro op ▁transport ▁run ▁to ▁Kol omb ang ara . ▁In ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁V ella ▁G ulf ▁she ▁was ▁s unk ▁by ▁gun fire ▁and ▁tor ped o es ▁of ▁the ▁American ▁destroy ers ▁, ▁ ▁and ▁, ▁between ▁Kol omb ang ara ▁and ▁V ella ▁Lav ella ▁at ▁position ▁. ▁Of ▁her ▁crew , ▁ 1 6 9 ▁were ▁killed , ▁including ▁her ▁captain , ▁Lieutenant ▁Commander ▁Yan ase . ▁She ▁was ▁removed ▁from ▁the ▁n avy ▁list ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁October ▁ 1 9 4 3 . ▁ ▁Notes ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁ ▁L ema ire So ft ' s ▁K aw ak aze ▁K aw ak aze ▁in ▁Naval ▁History ▁of ▁World ▁Wars ▁ ▁Category : Sh ir ats uy u - class ▁destroy ers ▁Category : World ▁War ▁II ▁destroy ers ▁of ▁Japan ▁Category : World ▁War ▁II ▁ship w re cks ▁in ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Ocean ▁Category : Sh