Takeo Kurita | |
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Japanese Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita
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Born |
Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan |
April 28, 1889
Died | December 19, 1977 | (aged 88)
Allegiance | Empire of Japan |
Service/branch | Imperial Japanese Navy |
Years of service | 1910–1945 |
Rank | Vice Admiral (Kaigun Chujo) |
Commands held |
Shigure, Oite, Wakatake, Hagi, Hamakaze, Urakaze, 25th Destroyer Group and 10th Destroyer Group, 12th Destroyer Group, Abukuma, Kongō, 1st Destroyer Flotilla, 4th Destroyer Flotilla, 7th Cruiser Division, 3rd Battleship Division, IJN 2nd Fleet |
Battles/wars |
World War II Battle of Sunda Strait Indian Ocean Raid Battle of Midway Guadalcanal campaign Battle of the Philippine Sea Battle of Leyte Gulf Battle of the Sibuyan Sea Battle off Samar |
Awards | Order of the Sacred Treasure (2nd class) |
Takeo Kurita (Japanese: 栗田 健男? Hepburn: Kurita Takeo, 28 April 1889 – 19 December 1977) was a vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.
Takeo Kurita was born in Mito city, Ibaraki Prefecture, in 1889. He was sent off to Etajima in 1905 and graduated from the 38th class of the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1910, ranked 28th out of a class of 149 cadets. As a midshipman, he served on the cruisers Kasagi and Niitaka. On being commissioned as ensign in 1911, he was assigned to Tatsuta.
After his promotion to sub-lieutenant in 1913, Kurita served on the battleship Satsuma, destroyer Sakaki and cruiser Iwate. Kurita became a lieutenant on 1 December 1916, and served on a number of ships: protected cruiser Tone, destroyers Kaba and Minekaze. He also served as either the chief torpedo officer or executive officer on Minekaze, Yakaze, and Hakaze. In 1920, he was given his first command: the destroyer Shigure. In 1921, he assumed command of Oite.