[Estavali]

Originally Posted by Azuma Denton

Inazuma and Ikazuchi are famous for helping the survivors of the US Ships they destroyed during the battle in Java Sea around March 1942. Hence they were designed as the pure little kids.

There's a heartwarming doujin based on this: Kantai Collection - Things Which the Girl Saw

Imho one can't talk about Ikazuchi's humanitarian act after the Second Battle of the Java Sea without mentioning her then captain, lieutenant commander Kudou Shunsaku.

Spoiler for Life history:

7 Jan 1901: Born in to a farmer's family in Higashiokitama District, Yamagata.

1920: Enrolled into the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in 1920.

1923: Graduated from the Academy and served as a trainee aboard the Izumo-class armored cruiser Iwate, following it far south to the waters of Australia and NZ, etc. Was assigned to Yuubari after completing his training.

Oct 1924: Assigned to Nagato

Dec 1924: Promoted to 2nd lieutenant. Enrolled into the IJN's torpedo and gunnery schools.

1926: Promoted to 1st lieutenant in 1926 and was assigned to the No.2 minesweeper.

1927: Served on DD Tsubaki (Navigating Officer)

1929: Served on DD Hatakaze (Navigating Officer)

1930: Assigned to Tama in 1930. Enrolled for advanced courses in the torpedo academy

1932: Graduation from the torpedo school. Then on until 1927, served on DD Momo, Choukai, DD Sagiri, Kuma, Tama again and Isuzu as torpedo officer except for Choukai, where he served as section commander.

1937: Promoted to Major.

1938: Became captain of DD Tachikaze.

1940: Assigned to shore duty, served as an instructor in the gunnery school and judge advocate in the military court in Yokosuka Naval Base.

Nov 1940: Assigned as captain of Ikazuchi.

Wikipedia's (rather stubby) entry on Kudou: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shunsaku_Kud%C5%8D

According to the Japanese and Chinese entries, Ikazuchi, along with Inazuma, had also saved 376 men from HMS Exeter on the previous day.

Kudou later became Hibiki's CO in Aug 1942 before assigned to shore duties once more from Dec 1942 onward. Due to health reasons, he was placed on standby w.e.f. 15 March 1945.

He returned to his hometown after the war, later moving to Kawaguchi, Saitama to help out at the hospital run by his wife's nephew. He would stay there until his death in 1979 due to stomach cancer. Kudou seldom talked about his experiences during the war, a self-imposed ban after Ikazuchi sank with all hands in 1944. Even his descendants didn't know about his humanitarian deeds until learning about it from Sir Sam Falle.

On his deathbed, he was visited by Ooi Atsushi, his old classmate from the Academy. Kudou's dying words to him were, "Please live on well. I'm just a big useless fellow (貴様はよろしくやっているみたいだな。俺は独活の大木だったよ)".

The man that would probably be like a father to the DesDiv 6 girls was blessed with a strong physique and had a dan in Judo. His warm and broad-minded character led to the nickname "Buddha Kudou" (工藤大佛). Influenced by Suzuki Kantarou who was principal during his Academy years, Kudou strictly prohibited the "law of the fist" under his command (which is rare in the oppressive Japanese military environment) and got along well with his men (ships where he was CO were said to have a comfortable feel). He was also a decisive leader and didn't sweat the minor issues, which earned the trust of his men. After the war, he never attended any of the IJN old boy gatherings but would instead pray before the Buddha every morning for the friends and subordinates that had died in battle.