Ships
- IJN Haguro Captain from 1 December 1943
Kaju Sugiura commanded the Japanese destroyers at Vella Gulf on 6 August 1943. The four ships were Hagikaze, Arashi, Kawakaze, and Shigure, running troops toward Kolombangara. The ship he stood on is not known.
Six American destroyers under Frederick Moosbrugger closed by radar and fired twenty-four torpedoes. Hagikaze, Arashi, and Kawakaze were sunk. Shigure got away.