Akizuki-class destroyer (1942)

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Akizuki.jpg
Akizuki on trial run off Miyazu Bay on 17 May 1942.
Class overview
Name: Akizuki class
Builders:
Operators:
Subclasses:
  • Akizuki class (Pr. F51)
  • Fuyutsuki class (Pr. F51)
  • Michitsuki class (Pr. F53)
  • Super Akizuki class (Pr. V7, only a project)
Cost:
  • 12,090,000 JPY in 1939
  • 17,820,400 JPY in 1941
  • 19,194,000 JPY in 1942
Built: 1940–1945
In commission: 1942–1945 (IJN)
Planned: 6 (1939) + 10 (1941) + 23 (1942)
Completed: 12
Cancelled: 27
Lost: 6
Retired: 6
General characteristics (as per Whitley[1])
Type: Destroyer
Displacement:
  • 2,700 long tons (2,743 t) standard
  • 3,700 long tons (3,759 t) full load
Length: 134.2 m (440 ft 3 in) overall
Beam: 11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
Draught: 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
Propulsion:
  • 3 × Ro-Gō Kampon water tube boilers,
  • 2 × Kampon impulse geared turbines,
  • 2 shafts, 52,000 shp (39 MW)
Speed: 33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h)
Range: 8,000 nmi (15,000 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement:
  • 263 (Akizuki in 1942)
  • 315 (Akizuki in October 1944)
Armament:

The Akizuki-class destroyers (秋月型駆逐艦 Akizuki-gata Kuchikukan?) were one of the primary classes of new destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) after 1942. The IJN called them Type-B Destroyer (乙型駆逐艦, Otsu-gata Kuchikukan?) from their plan name. They were designed to fight smaller ships, aircraft and submarines.

This is considered to have been the most useful class of destroyers Japan fielded during the war and was well regarded in the IJN.[1] They mounted 3.9-inch (100mm) Type 98 dual-purpose guns in four twin mounts. They also were among the first Japanese vessels equipped with radar. The ships were lighter in their torpedo armament than most contemporary Japanese destroyers, which typically had a heavy emphasis on offensive torpedo armament, most classes having two 4-tube centerline launchers capable of firing to either side, with quick-reloads for both launchers. The Akizuki class had only a single four tube launcher, plus reloads, but the ships compensated with stronger anti-aircraft armament, having four turrets as opposed to two, with guns firing shells of smaller caliber but greater velocity, and therefore effectiveness.

Ships of the Fuyutsuki and Michitsuki subclasses were modified to simplify and speed-up construction.

Four ships were used for war reparation.

Ships in classes

Akizuki class

Project number F51. General production type of the Akizuki class. Seven vessels were built under the Maru 4 Programme (Ship # 104-109) and the Maru Kyū Programme (Ship # 360).

Ship # Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
104 Akizuki (秋月) Maizuru Naval Arsenal 30 June 1940 2 July 1941 11 June 1942 Sunk during the Battle of Cape Engaño on 25 October 1944. Removed from naval ship list on 10 December 1944.
105 Teruzuki (照月) Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard 13 November 1940 21 November 1941 31 August 1942 Heavily damaged by USS PT-37 and PT-40 off Savo Island on 11 December 1942. Scuttled on 12 December 1942. Removed from naval ship list on 20 January 1943.
106 Suzutsuki (涼月) Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard 15 March 1941 3 March 1942 29 December 1942 Survived war at Sasebo. Decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Converted to breakwater at Kitakyūshū in July 1948.
107 Hatsuzuki (初月) Maizuru Naval Arsenal 25 July 1941 3 April 1942 29 December 1942 Sunk during the Battle of Cape Engaño on 25 October 1944. Removed from naval ship list on 10 December 1944.
108 Niizuki (新月) Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard 8 December 1941 29 June 1942 31 March 1943 Sunk during the Battle of Kula Gulf on 6 July 1943. Removed from naval ship list on 10 September 1943.
109 Wakatsuki (若月) Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard 9 March 1942 24 November 1942 31 May 1943 Sunk during the Battle of Ormoc Bay on 11 November 1944. Removed from naval ship list on 10 January 1945.
360 Shimotsuki (霜月) Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard 6 July 1942 7 April 1943 31 March 1944 Sunk by USS Cavalla off Anambas Islands Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. on 25 November 1944. Removed from naval ship list on 10 January 1945.

Fuyutsuki class

Project number F51. The Fuyutsuki subclass were originally going to be built to the same specifications as the Akizuki class but construction was more simplified. Four vessels were built under the Maru Kyū Programme (Ship # 361-364). Main differences from the Akizuki class were simplified bow design, removed rear deck house, and fitted two-dimensional air inlet for boilers. However, the IJN was not satisfied with the design. More modifications were ordered, leading to the Michitsuki subclass.

Ship # Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
361 Fuyutsuki[4][5] (冬月) Maizuru Naval Arsenal 8 May 1943 20 January 1944 25 May 1944 Survived war at Kitakyūshū. Decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Converted to breakwater at Kitakyūshū in July 1948.
362 Harutsuki (春月) Sasebo Naval Arsenal 23 December 1943 3 August 1944 28 December 1944 Survived war at Kure. Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union on 28 August 1947 and renamed Внезапный.
363 Yoizuki (宵月) Uraga Dock Company 25 August 1943 25 September 1944 31 January 1945 Survived war at Nōmi. Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China on 29 August 1947 and renamed Fen Yang. Scrapped in 1963.
364 Natsuzuki (夏月) Sasebo Naval Arsenal 1 May 1944 2 December 1944 8 April 1945 Survived war at Kitakyūshū. Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom on 25 August 1947. Sold and scrapped at Uraga in September 1947-March 1948.

Michitsuki class

Project number F53. Final production model of the Akizuki class. Simplified more than Fuyutsuki class. Converted 5 vessels from the Maru Kyū Programme (Ship # 365-369) and 16 vessels from the Maru 5 Programme (Ship #770-785 were re-planned to #5061-5076). However, only 1 vessel was completed.

Ship # Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
365 Michitsuki[6][7] (満月) Sasebo Naval Arsenal 3 January 1945 16% complete, construction stopped on 17 April 1945. Scrapped on 28 February 1948.
366 Hanazuki (花月) Maizuru Naval Arsenal 10 February 1944 10 October 1944 26 December 1944 Survived war at western Inland Sea. Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States on 29 August 1947 and renamed DD-934. Sunk as target off the Gotō Islands on 3 February 1948.[8]
367 Kiyotsuki (清月?) Maizuru Naval Arsenal Cancelled on 14 December 1944.
368 Ōtsuki (大月?) Sasebo Naval Arsenal
369 Hazuki (葉月?) Maizuru Naval Arsenal
5061
5062
5063
5064
5065		 Yamazuki (山月?)
Urazuki (浦月?)
Aogumo (青雲?)
Benigumo (紅雲?)
Harugumo (春雲?)
5066
5067
5068
5069
5070
5071
5072
5073
5074
5075
5076		 Amagumo (天雲?)
Yaegumo (八重雲?)
Fuyugumo (冬雲?)
Yukigumo (雪雲?)
Okitsukaze (沖津風?)
Shimokaze (霜風?)
Asagochi (朝東風?)
Ōkaze (大風?)
Kochi (東風?)
Nishikaze (西風?)
Hae (南風?)		 Cancelled on 9 June 1944.

Super Akizuki class

Project number V7. High-speed model of the Akizuki class. Only a project. 16 vessels were planned under the Maru 5 Programme (Ship # 770-785) and 7 vessels were converted from Super Shimakaze class under the Kai-Maru 5 Programme (Ship #733-748 were re-planned to #5077-5083).

Ship # Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
770-785 Converted to Akizuki class (later Michitsuki class, Ship # 5061-5076) on 30 June 1942.
5077-5083 Kitakaze (北風?)
Hayakaze (早風?)
Natsukaze (夏風?)
Fuyukaze (冬風?)
Hatsunatsu (初夏?)
Hatsuaki (初秋?)
Hayaharu (早春?)		 Cancelled on 9 June 1944.

Photos

  • Hatsuzuki trial run in December 1942.

  • Fuyutsuki trial run on 23 May 1944.

  • Harutsuki trial run in December 1944.

  • Hanazuki on 18 December 1944.

  • Akizuki off Empress Augusta Bay on 29 September 1942.

  • Carrier Zuikaku and four Akizuki-class (Akizuki, Hatsuzuki, Wakatsuki and Shimotsuki) during the Battle of the Philippine Sea on 20 June 1944.

  • Carrier Zuikaku, Zuihō and destroyer Wakatsuki during the Battle of Cape Engaño on 25 October 1944.

  • Carrier Chitose, battleship Ise and destroyer Shimotsuki during the Battle of Cape Engaño on 25 October 1944.

  • Destroyer Akizuki, Kuwa and battleship Ise during the Battle of Cape Engaño on 25 October 1944.

  • Wakatsuki during the Battle of Ormoc Bay on 11 November 1944.

  • Yamato and destroyer.jpg

    Battleship Yamato and Fuyutsuki during the Operation Ten-Go on 7 April 1945.

  • Suzutsuki during the Operation Ten-Go on 7 April 1945.

  • Yoizuki as repatriation transport in 1946.

  • Michitsuki in May 1947.

  • ROCS FenYang.jpg

    ROCS Fen Yang (ex-Yoizuki).

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., History of the Pacific War Vol.23 Akizuki class destroyer, Gakken (Japan), 1999, ISBN 4-05-602063-9
  3. ↑ The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.19 Destroyer Asashio class/Akizuki class, Ushio Shobō (Japan), 1978, Book code 8343-7
  4. ↑ 1 October 1943, Administrative order No. 235, Named one destroyer, two submarines, one coast defence ship, two minesweepers, and one submarine chaser., Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy.
  5. ↑ National Archives of Japan, Reference code: C12070120400, October (1) p.1.
  6. ↑ 5 February 1945, Administrative order No. 22, Named four destroyers, one submarine, and six coast defence ships., Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy.
  7. ↑ National Archives of Japan, Reference code: C12070510100, February (1) p.44.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., National Archives of Japan.
    • Reference code: C12070120400, October (1).
    • Reference code: C12070510100, February (1).
  • USN Navsource

External links

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