Type I: Fubuki, Shirayuki, Hatsuyuki, Miyuki, Murakumo, Shinonome, Usugumo, Shirakumo, Isonami, Uranami.
Type II: Ayanami, Shikinami, Asagiri, Yūgiri, Amagiri, Sagiri, Oboro, Akebono, Sazanami, Ushio.
Type III: Akatsuki, Hibiki, Ikazuchi, Inazuma (not seen here)
The Fubuki-class destroyers (Fubukigata kuchikukan) were twenty-four destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) built between 1926 and 1933. The Fubuki class for some authirs described as the world’s first modern destroyer but there were more than that, and other earlier contenders could pretend to the same title. The Fubuki class were internally known as the “special type” and were the result of post-Washington treaty thinking around the limits imposed on destroyers construction in numbers, with a swap to quality, and superior performances over all competition.
And indeed, they set a new standard both for the IJN and the world at large. They remained formidable opponents until 1945 despite they age, through a combination of speed and sheer, unrivalled firepower. They became a serious concern for UK and and the US as well, which started later competing designs. For the sake of simplicity, Type I and II (Ayanami) will be seen together here. Type III were the modified Akatsuki, which for most authors were their own class.
Development
Quality over Quantity, the Treaty’s consequences
The Washington treaty was discussed in 1921-22 by Katō Tomosaburō and signed on February 1922 by Prince Yoshihito as representative for the Emperor. On the politician side, it was seen as a way to prevent a naval arms race. Naval staff howwever saw this in a less flattering way. The treaty left a lot to be desired, had unforeseen consequences, and generated a lot of cheating. Especially on the Japanese Side the prevalent militarism in the archipelago at the time saw this as a terrible injustice, being relegated ion global tonnage below the US and UK. Politicians however, which knew the weight taken by military expenditures, especially the Navy on the national budget, saw this as an opportunity to breathe. Whatever the nature it was preceived, the treaty capped the Japanese Navy to 315,000 tons in capital ships and 81,000 tons in aicraft carriers, which was not considerable, plus the ten years vacancy in construction.
IJN Yūbari (1923), the poster child of chief engineer and star architect Yuzuru Hiraga, testbed of new techniques designed to achieve a lower displacement with the best protection, speed and armament possible. His innovative solutions, playing with the structure and welding, essentially “cheating” standard construction techniques of the time, were pushed to the extreme on the Furutaka and Aoba classes. Many of these solution were also applied to the Fubuki class, albeit unlike cruisers, they did not required extra strenghtening, especially after the Tomozuru incident. Image: Colorized by Irootoko Jr.
The treaty was circumvented in many ways, notably by building over-armed ships on the smallest tonnage possible via some architecture tricks and protection compromises. As for destroyers, there was no tonnage limit per category, albeit cruisers (like submarines) were limited to 10,000 tonnes. Still, there was a global tonnage cap to play around. It’s really in 1930 that new limits were fixed by the treaty of London. But it was clear that globally, the IJN Destroyer fleet would be capped. So the general naval staff planned requirements for a new type of destroyer with better overall performances and caracteristics than the standard design until then.
The previous Mutsuki Type (ONI)
This standard design was created in 1918 with the Minekaze class and based partly on WWI German designs. They had 3-4 120 mm guns, a light AA defence and carried two or three 533 mm torpedo tubes banks, for a speed of 36-37 knots based on roughly 38,000 hp. They could also carry mines. Two 2nd class series were built (Momi and Wakatake) and two 1st class, Minekaze and Mutsuki. They made the bulk of the IJN destroyers force in 1926, but many considered them “average” when facing new generation destroyers such as the British A-B class for example. What the naval staff planned, was a true superior design, which can assist cruisers by eliminating adverse destroyers escort and take on offensive actions by themselves, even without the need of a flotilla leading cruiser (The Kuma, Nagara, etc. built alongside).
The IJN naval staff gamble
So for that “special type” discussed already from 1922, a set of radical specifications was laid down:
Top speed of 39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph) and range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
As many of heavy torpedoes as possible (The new 610 mm which was in early development phase).
The treaty placed Japan in an inferior position, notably concerning the capital fleet. The UK kept ten battleships, the US had more. Japan only had four, plus four battlecruisers. The latter could be modernized and transformed in to veritable fast battleships (which was done), but this still inferior. The obvious move was thus to capitalized on uncapped categories, make cruisers as powerful as possible based on a 10,000t limit (as declared !) and with the most powerful weaponry possible. The new destroyers planned were intended to operate with new fast and powerful cruisers also under consideration (The Furutaka and Aoba to searc for a qualitative edge). This was even more obvious with the next and colossal 8-inches armed Nachi and Takao class.
The new destroyers planned were thus very much in tone with this new trend. As specifics of the design were still foggy at that point, the Fubuki class were still ordered under the 1923 fiscal year budget. At first thet were to be based on a smaller 1,750 ton design and would have been completed between 1926 and 1931.
The initial design was even stretched up to 2000 ton with a single 12.7 cm (5.0 in) battery and two twin 24-inch torpedo tubes, same as Mutsuki but capable of 40 knots (74 km/h). Post Washington Naval Treaty it was modified to 1,680 tones standard tons with more guns, more torpedo tubes but this offset their more powerful engines, and ended with a slower top speed than planned.
After other discussions and proposals, the final design was fixed at 1,750 tons. The point fixed from the start were the new 610 mm (24 inches) torpedoes, with possibly two triple banks if possible and 39 knots as stated. The armament however was asked to be better, if possible placed in two mounts, something which was still new for destroyers. The Italians with the Curtatone class just did it, with a lower caliber though; so that was at least possible.
The design was reworked thus with twin mounts, at first just one forward and one aft, but there were issues about this configuration. This gave them the same artilery as before, only now there was a risk of knocking down both mounts quicker than with the safety of four separate single mounts. It was also asked to provide a third TT bank to make a real difference in firepower as specified. The twin mounts were kept, but with a new protective turret, and by tweaking the design, based on the provison of tonnage, which was 1,300t on the Mutsuki, so 450 tonnes to fit a third twin mount. By having three twin turrets already these ships had more forepower than any other destroyers of the time.
More tweaking enabled to place the three torpedo tubes banks for the new 610 mm torpredoes as intended. The last design still had two raked funnels and two masts, but instead of the previous flimsy bridges, a new, rounded type was adopted, taller and with possible additional covered bridges. The hull kept the general shape as before, however the cutout forward was eliminated for a full lenght forecastle, on which was placed the forward twn turrets, with two more in superfiring positions. The extra space allocated by the hull, reclaculated at 118.41 m (388.5 ft) overall instead of 102.72 m (337.0 ft) overall, enabled an amidship stretch to place new boilers capable of an output way above forrmer models. There were proposals for three or four installation on two new Kampon Geared Turbines. In the end, compromises led to decreas the top speed from 39 down to 38 knots, which was still one knot better thah the previous generation.
To rule them all: The “special Type”
When the final design was approved by the general staff, its performances and improvements were such that they were designated “Special Type” Destroyers (Toku-gata Kuchikukan) to make clear the difference. In the end the new designs as approved looked quite formidable, with powerful engines for great speed and endurance and an unprecedented armament which rivalled light cruisers, and a torpedo load that was unprecedented in any navy. In fact they revealation led the USN to design the Porter and Somers-class destroyers (only 13 constructed in the 1930s) as squadron leaders. The British Royal Navy designed from 1934 as an answer the “Tribals” with less torpedoes but more artillery.
The Fubuki in short, really defined a new trend to follow. But as formidable as they were on paper, they were more costly to built than previous destroyers and the naval budget continued to rise. But that did not prevented the admiralty to capitalize on more of the same “special types” in the years to come. They would not be a one-off experiment. In fact the lineage will comprised the Type I and II described here, the modified Type III (Akatsuki), Hatsuharu, Shiratsuyu, Asashio, which tested various configuration, and the formidable Kagero class, a new standard for 1940 (laid down 1938) and the wartime Yugumo class. Designers went even further out in cruiser territory with the humongus Akitsuki class, or more into torpedo wagons with the fearsome prototype IJN Shimakaze (15 torpedoes in three quintuple banks).
As conways put it (p.393 they were the “best destroyeers afloat” at the time). The combination of more, much longer range and heavier torpedoes than the competition, such as the Type 93 “Long Lance” were as much secret weapons as the “special type” as a global package. Completely unknown from the West the Type 93 will give a real bad surprise during many engagements in in the narrows of the Solomons in 1942. A stark contrast with the ill-fated Mark 14 in the USN…
The artillery was also brand new. The turrets were not only 5-inches/50 guns, far more powerful than the standard 4.7 inches single-purpose of previous classes, they could also elevate to 40° in the first series and 75° on the latter, making for true versatile ordnance (true dual purpose) capable of dealing on paper with aviation. Anti-Aircraft were also marginally improved by the adoption of twin 13.2 mm Type 93 AA mounts instead of the puny 7.7 mm MGs of previous destroyers. This of course, was about to change again with the installation of 25 mm AA guns and exra 13.2 mm wherever possible before and during the war. They also had more depht charges and could carry and lay more mines as previous destroyers, making a well rounded vessel.
The Aoba class (ONI) which were designed and built a bit earlier, but tailored to work with the Fubuki.
The Fubuki were of course first rate fleet destroyers, and they were assigned frontline duties alongside the new cruisers of the IJN, especially for independent night actions praised by the new doctrine, which emphasised surprise and use of extra range in torpedo attacks. The Fubuki and their successors were hard-pressed in all Pacific actions to say the least. Only one, IJN Ushio, survived the war, and was BU in 1948. The previous classes were relegated gradually to escort work.
Construction & Names
The Fubuki-class vessels were originally given hull numbers due to the large number of destroyers intended to be built, as former torpedo boats. But this proved to be extremely unpopular with crews while causing confusion in communications as shown by fleet manoeuvers with the Kamikaze and Mutsuki classes. This naval policy was quickly changed in August 1928 as the ships were completed. So they never entered service under numbers but names from the start. Continuing the tradition of former natural phenomenons, they were not named after winds but other meteorological events: Snow. IJN Fubuki herself was named “Blizzard”. Her sister Shirayuki was both named “White Snow”, also the name of the Emperor’s favourite steed. Hatsuyuki was “First Snow”. Miyuki was “Deep Snow”) and so on, expressed by the postfix “-yuki”.
Construction proceeded between June 1928 and March 1933 in three groups for twenty-four Fubuki-class built with several modifications made diring production. These groups were relatively alike for the first two (that’s why they are seen here). The the final four of Group III were too different and in most publications are in their own class. The three groups had the same twin 5-inch guns in “A”, “X”, and “Y” positions plus triple torpedo tubes in “D”, “P”, and “Q” position, the heaviest armament of any destroyer at the time.
The first were ordered as per the 1923 Fiscal Year.
They were built at the following yards:
Maizuru Naval Arsenal: Fubuki (I), Hatsuyuki (I), Shikinami (II), Yugiri (II), Sasanami (II).
Yokohama Dockyard: Shirayuki (I).
Uraga docks: Miyuki (I), Isonami (I), Sagiri (II), Ushio (II).
Fujinagata Shipyards: Murakumo (I), Shirakumo (I), Ayanami (II).
Sasebo Naval Arsenal: Shinonome (I), Uranami (I), Asagiri (II), Oboro (II).
Ishikawajima Shipyards: Usugumo (I), Amagiri (II).
Design of the class
Hull and general design
Tne hull was brand new as said above dropped the forecastle cutout of the forwardmost TT bank of the mutsuki but kept their S-shaped curved bow introduced on the Mutsuki class. The forecastle was thus elongated further aft and to flare the hull all the way back to the first raked funnel. There were two caracteritic slanted upper ends, all for increased seaworthiness. The forecastle was raised one deck in height compared also to the Mutsuki, in order to reduce splashing in heavy seas and especially better protect the forward gun mount. The bridge was also enlarged and now fully enclosed with a rounded shape, also to deflect seawater out without much splashing. The bow also had a more significant flare. Overall, all was done to avoid ploughing and better handling in the foulest weather in the typhoon season.
Group I
The first group Fubuki had all ten ships completed in 1928 and 1929 and were simpler in construction than GROUP II vessels. They had the following features:
-Rangefinder on the compass bridge
-Exposed fire control room.
-Initial “Type A” gun turret with solidary barrels (no separate elevation) and limited to 40 degrees elevation.
-Massive circular air ducts, abreast the two stacks leading to the boiler room.
IJN Uranami was a prototype as this design feature was seen problematic, and her ventilation ducted into platforms built around the stacks. The latter solution was adopted for Group II destroyers (Ayanami sub-class).
Group II
The Ayanami group, also ten ships built in 1930 and 1931, diverged wby the following:
-Larger bridges now encompassing the rangefinder
-Azimuth compass sighting device
-New enclosed Gun-fire control room
-Range finding tower.
-Boiler room’s air inlet shaped as a bowl.
-“Type B” turrets, better protected and with separate elevation per barrel up to 75° for effective AA use.
It should be nited that these were at the time the first true dual purpose armed destroyers, replacing light AA cruisers.
Group III
The Akatsuki class were only four, built from 1931 to 1933. Differences were mores significant. They had the same main turrets for the for the remainder:
-Three larger boilers (not four)
-Narrower raked fore funnel.
-Modified bridge with extra enclosed posts
-Unique splinter-proof torpedo launcher-turret*
The latter allowed the torpedo launcher tubes to be reloaded while in action, with the operating crew operated against shrapnel and elements (see later).
Design Issues
Despite their record-breaking innovative qualities and outstanding capabilities, the Fubuki had issues and design problems. The main was of course due to the insistence of the naval staff for the heaviest possible armament combined with a smaller hull displacement as a standard design would imply, to keep the cionsumed treaty tonnage as slow as possible. This design “cheat” created immediate stability concerns. Hiraga introduced many design features intended to reduce weight such as:
-Use of welding on all the hull construction
-Lighter alloys above the main deck
-New types of structural solutions to reduce the amount of bracing
-Excessively thin upper works in places
Despite of all this, the Fubuki exceeded their design weight by over 200 tons and this was further aggravated on the Group II ships which had larger bridge and heavier gun mounts. The Group III was not exempt of critics as well, especially when having three instead of four boilers and being lighter below the waterline. After the Tomozuru Incident (An IJN Torpedo Boat that on Feb. 1934 capsized due to stability issues in heavy weather). This raised alarms about the top-heavy nature of nearly all Japanese warships at the time. At first, additional ballast was added, albeit it reduced speed.
Then there was the Fourth Fleet Incident (September 26th, 1935 typhoon while in maneuvers 250 miles east of Sanriku coast, bow lost on two Fubuki class vessels, Hatsuyuki and the Yugiri). Virtually every ship in the Fourth Fleet was damaged due to unsufficient longitudinal strength. This was desicivered as acute on the already ballasted Fubuki-class hull. It was thus decided to have them all reconstructed between 1935 and 1937 with 40 tons of extra ballast, their bridge was reduced as well as the funnels. Torpedo reloads were reduced from nine to three on the center launcher, fewer shells were stored and it was provided ways to increase the fuel carried to help lower their center-of-gravity. Eight of the Group II or Ayanami class were retrofitted also with the lighter “Type C” gun mounts of later destroyers. Final displacement rose to 2050 tons standard, 2400+ tons full load official, albeit these numbers were lowered for available publications of the time. After this, their top speed fell to 34 knots, which was in the best conditions. It plummitted in heavy weather, and yet remained better than the Mutsuki class and prior types.
Powerplant
The Fubuki were perhaps les innovative i that regard, apart having a bit more spec internally to shoehorn a better powerplant. They were powered by four Kampon boilers, which sat in tandem amidship, in wto separated trooms, and they drove two Kampon geared turbines, connecting shaft with three bladed propellers, largern than on the Mutsuki class. This powerplant ended much larger than the previous classes tgo compensate for the extra displacement, and rose to 50,000 shp (versus 30,000 shp) for a rated speed of 35 knots (65 km/h) after modifications but 38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h) originally and a range of 5000 nautical miles (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h). This configuration was changed for Group III (Akatsuki) which had three boilers for the same 50,000 hp (37,000 kW). The boilers were of a new type with greater superheating and pressure. They opened the door to foir of these in the future and regain 38-39 knots as originally planned.
Armament
The Fubuki-class destroyers had a main battery of six Type 3 127 mm (5 inches) 50 caliber naval guns. They were larger than most destroyers at the time,; still equipped with 120 mm guns. In addition, together with the Italians, they were mounted in pairs. These new turrets were not armoured but mostly were weather-proof and splinter-proof, but also gas-tight. These gun turrets were far ahead of their time still. Indeed the Italian twin mounts “turrets” were mostly rear-open shields (and only two carried per shio).
Group I ships had the Type A elevating to 40 degrees, Group II had true 70° elevating, dual-purpose guns, in addition of having independent elevation. Ammunition came through hoists from underneath magazines in each gun turret, procuring a far greater rate of fire that the standard shielded guns that were manually loaded. They were, for all intents and purposes, midget cruiser turrets. They were not “armoured” however as their thickness could stop minot shrapnel and had a spall liner inside, but these gun houses were not bullet-proof still, perhaps 4 mm in thickness. The weight came from the mount itself.
Next came three triple 24-inch (610 mm) torpedo launchers. It ws the same as in the original Mutsuki design, but with Type 8 torpedoes that were installed later on the Mutsuki-class with success. The novelty was a jump from 533 to 610mm, the new standard Japan adopted for its Navy. Each tube had a reload so that made for a grand total of 18 torpedoes on board, including the nine pre-loaded in the tubes. The main difference with the Mutsukis were the forward launchers was relocated between the smokestacks. The aft two were placed ina standard way on deck aft with a small searchlight platform between them.
Anti-aircraft defence was limited, as in 1926 aviation was still not seen as a real threat. However it was reinforced still. On the Mutsuki-Class, there were just two Type 92 7.7 mm anti-aircraft machine guns, at the foot of the second funnel. On the Fubukis, being larger ships it was decided to replace them by Type 93 13 mm AA Guns, but later, likely in 1937.
With Pacific service, this was seen as woefully inadequate and despite top weight issues, it was decided to add at first an extra pair of Type 93 heavy machine guns in front of the bridge on a platform and then Type 96 25mm AA Guns. In late 1943-1944 for this that survived, the danger of USN aviation was pressing enough for that the aft gun turret was removed and replaced by two triple Type 96 guns plus another raised gun platform (two triple Type 96) added between the two aft torpedo launchers. By late 1944 survivors were peppered with single Type 96 guns as single mounts between the forecastle and stern.
12.7 cm/45 3rd Year Type naval gun
The 12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval gun was a medium-caliber dual purpose naval gun of the Imperial Japanese Navy, standard weapon for Japanese destroyers rom 1928 and until 1944 (The Akizuki and Matsu classes were exceptions). These were taunted as true dual-purpose but this remains a nominal capability due to their bag propellant and hand ramming requiring a fixed elevation between 5–10° also translated into a rate of fire of 5–10 rounds per minute, training speed of only 6° per second. Somewhat useful in 1930 it was hoepeless against 1942 aircraft.
The Type 3 gun was of built-up construction with 3, then 2 layers, breech ring and breech bush (Welin interrupted screw breech) and still used powder bags, whereas the shell was fuzed manually on the loading tray before ramming by hand with the pusher-type shell hoist and manually insterted powder bags.
The Model A turrets of the Fubuki-class were just weather/splinter/gas proof 9–12 mm thick (0.35–0.47 in) and so fully enclosed. Later twin mounts had individual cradles to elevate separately and weighted c32 tonnes, traversing at 6° per second, elevated 6°-12° per second to +40°.
Model B mount elevated to 75° but shield reduced to 3.2 mm (0.13 in) thick and later reinforced again.
The Model C was adpted by the Shiratsuyu, Asashio, and Kagerō-class, with elevation down to 55°, depression to −7° and lighter
The Model D used by the Yūgumo-class/Shimakaze destroyers, retaining the same depression but elevation to 75°.
Mount weight: Type A/B 18.5 tonnes (18.2 long tons; 20.4 short tons)
Round: 23 kg (51 lb) HE, illumination, incendiary shrapnel (sankaidan) for AA use, flat-nosed ASW (1943). 1945: HE developed with added charge for 23,025 metres (25,180 yd).
Propellant: 7.7 kg (17 lb) 30 DC.
Muzzle velocity:
-Common Type 0 HE 23 kg (51 lb)/1.88 kg (4.1 lb): 910–915 m/s (2,986–3,002 ft/s)
-Common Type 1 HE 23 kg (51 lb)/1.88 kg (4.1 lb): 910–915 m/s (2,986–3,002 ft/s)
-Illumination 23 kg (51 lb): 750 m/s (2,500 ft/s)
-ASW 20.9 kg (46 lb)/4 kg (8.8 lb): 250 m/s (820 ft/s)
-HE 1945 LG type 27.9 kg (62 lb)/2.2 kg (4.9 lb): 910–915 m/s (2,986–3,002 ft/s)
⚙ specifications 12 cm/45 3rd Year |
|
| Weight | 4,205 kilograms (9,270 lb) |
| Barrel length | 6.483 metres (21.27 ft)/ barrel 6.265 metres (20.55 ft) |
| Elevation/Traverse | -7° +40° or more and 120°/120° |
| Loading system | Welin interrupted screw, Hydro-pneumatic recoil |
| Muzzle velocity | 910–915 m/s (2,986–3,002 ft/s) |
| Range | 18,400 metres (20,100 yd)/40° |
| Crew | 6 |
| Round | 20.3 kg (45 lb) 120 x 550 mm.R., sep. loading cased charge |
| Rate of Fire | 5–10 rpm |
Type 8 (1920)
The “8th Year Type” was a brand new 61 cm (24 in)-diameter torpedo made for surface ships and later further developed into the more advanced Type 90 torpedo and Type 93 Long Lance. It was designed in 1919 already but not for destroyers, and adopted in 1920 with the model 1. Later in 1925 appeared the model 2 with a larger warhead. The 8th Year Type the first-ever 61 cm (24 in) diameter torpedo in service anywhere, and rounded as a 610 mm (exactly 609 mm (24.0 in)) and initially deployed for the Mutsuki-class destroyers, Fubuki-class “special type” and several light cruisers when refitted such as the Nagara class. This caliver soon became standard.
The Hatsuharu-class and rebuilt heavy cruiser had these also and soon swapped onto the better Type 90 torpedo replacing them all. The latter was developed from 1928 aznd adopted in 1932, replacing the Type 8, but its seems the Mutsuki swapped directly to the Type 93.
The Type 8 used a four-cylinder Schwarzkopff radial engine with wet-heater mising kerosene and compressed air. The Type 90 torpedo had an new 2-cylinder double action engine and was capable of reaching 46 knots (85 km/h). The launching mechanism was imporved as well.
⚙ specifications Type 8 Model 2 |
|
| Weight | 2,362 kg (5,207 lb) |
| Dimensions | 8.485 m (27 ft 10.1 in) x 60.9 cm (24.0 in) |
| Propulsion | Wet-heater |
| Range/speed setting | 10,000m/38 kts; 15,000 m/32 kts or 20,000 m/27 kts |
| Warhead | 763 lbs. (346 kg) Shimose |
| Guidance | Straight course |
Type 90 (1930)
This new type was adopted originally for heavy Cruisers and Fubuki destroyer classes only. Development started in 1928 and was completed in 1932, with introduction made in 1930 for tests and strict service adoption in 1933. It had a more powerful engine of the one used in the 53 cm Type 89. The starting point were the 46-knot (85 km/h) 21-inch (53 cm) Whitehead torpedoes and instead of a radial they used a new double-action two-cylinder engine. The compacity and extra power meant more speed but shorter range. Neither of the resulting 6th and 8th Year torpedoes were manufactured, but they led to the Type 90.
It’s thus not known if the Mutsuki were ever fitted with these or instead swapped directly to the Type 93.
⚙ specifications Type 90 |
|
| Weight | 2,605 kg (5,743 lbs.) |
| Dimensions | 8.485 m (27 ft 10 in) x 60.9 cm (24.0 in) |
| Propulsion | Kerosene-air wet-heater |
| Range/speed setting | 7,000 m/46 kts; 10,000 m/42 kts; 15,000 m/35 kts |
| Warhead | 827 lbs. (375 kg) Type 97 |
| Guidance | Straight course |
Type 93 (1933)
The Type 93 entered service in 1933 (model 1) and the ships were possibly rearmed in 1935-36 or never, it’s not strictly confirmed. The Type 90 could have been installed instead when available.
61 cm Type 93 torpedo found on the Mutsuki, Fubuki, Akatsuki classes, and all oxygen fuelled from the Hatsuhara and beyond. The Designer was Rear Admiral Kaneji Kishimoto, and Captain Toshihide Asakuma, and this started in 1928 (just as the last Mutsuki class ships were completed), then went on until 1932. The Type 93 became the nororious “secret weapon” unleashed by IJN destroyers and cruisers in WW2, which caused extebsive damage during the Solomons campaign expecially. The defective US Type 14 torpedo was in stark contrast with this. The Type 93 torpedo was dangerous to its user however but its effectiveness outweighed the risks anyway, claiming 23 Allied warships, 11 cruisers, 11 destroyers, and a fleet aircraft carrier and among these, 13 hits were fatal.
⚙ specifications Type 93 |
|
| Weight | 2.7 tonnes (6000 lb) |
| Dimensions | 9 metres (29 ft 6+5⁄16 in) x 610 mm (2 ft 1⁄64 in) |
| Propulsion | Oxygen-enriched air |
| Range/speed setting | 2,000 m (24,000 yd) at 48–50 kts or 40,400 m (44,200 yd) at 34–36 kts |
| Max speed | 96 km/h (52 kn) |
| Warhead | 490 kg (1080 lb) |
| Guidance | Straight course |
AA Defence
13.2 mm Type 93 heavy machine gun
The Type 93 13 mm heavy machine gun (九三式十三粍機銃), Type Ho 13 mm AA machine cannon was a license-built version of the French Hotchkiss M1930 machine gun. It was widely used for heavy ground support and organic for AA defence, until gradually replaced when possible by the 25 mm Type 96. They were still in use, on twin mounts, on many IJN cruisers and destroyers before WW2 but gradually replaced when possible, notably by single 25 mm mounts due to unsufficient range and firepower:
Tech specifications Type 93 heavy machine gun |
|
| Barrel Lenght | 140 centimeters (55 in) total, 988 millimeters (38.9 in) barrel alone |
| Mass | 42 kilograms (93 lb) (empty) |
| Fully loaded | ? |
| Shell | 13.2×99mm Hotchkiss |
| Exact caliber | 13.2 mm |
| Barrel type | A tube with progressive RH parabolic twist, 9 grooves |
| Action | Gas-operated fully automatic |
| Elecation/Traverse | -15 / +85°, 360° traverse, manual |
| Rate of fire | 450 rounds/min Max |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Effective range | 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) |
| Maximum firing range 45° | ? |
| Feed system | Classic box magazine holding 30 rounds |
| Sight | Spiderweb anti-aircraft iron sight |
25 mm Type 96
The common twin mount in 1941
The type 96 25 mm AT/AA gun became the standard of the IJA and IJN, automatic cannon developed as variant of the French Hotchkiss 25 mm, dual-purpose and developed as AA on single, twin and triple mounts. Development worked on 1935. 25 mm Hotchkiss design evaluated and order placed for several mounts types for evaluation at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal. Led to the Type 94 and Type 95 and then the main model produced at Yokosuka Arsenal, the Type 96.
Elements made with castings and not forging for larger production, Rheinmetall supressor, new mounts designed.
Air-cooled gas operated with multiple rings (Hotchkiss patent).
Twin-mount in 1939, followed by triple mount in 1941 and single mount in 1943.
Issues of the designed revealed in combat:
Slow elevation and traverse, ineffective sights, excessive vibration, limited magazine cap., blinding Flashes.
The 1944 single mount needed a single operator and a loader but had a better spiderweb sight.
Tech specifications 25 mm Type 96 |
|
| Barrel Lenght | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) L/60 |
| Barrel weights: Single | 785 kg (1,731 lb) |
| Barrel weights: Twin | 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) |
| Barrel weights: Triple | 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) |
| Crew: | 3, 7 and 9 respectively |
| Shell | 25×163mm |
| Exact caliber | 25 mm (0.98 in) |
| Action | Gas operated |
| Elecation/Traverse | -10°/+85° – 360°, manual |
| Rate of fire | 200–260 rpm (cyclic) |
| Muzzle velocity | 820 m/s (2,700 ft/s) |
| Effective range | 6.8 km (4.2 mi) at 45° with HE shell |
| Maximum firing range 85° | 3 km (9,800 ft) effective, 5.5 km (18,000 ft) max. |
| Feed system | 15-round box magazine |
| Production | 33,000 all variants 1935-45 |
Depth Charges
The Fubiki-class had two Type 81 depth charge launchers at the stern, with a total of 18 depth charges. This was augmented in wartime.
Standard Type 95, 30.5″ by 17.7″ (77.5cm by 45cm). 220 lb (100 kg) charge, Type 88 explosive (ammonium perchlorate and ferrosilicate). Fuse using a water inlet. 100 feet (30m) and 200 feet (60m) settings (after the revelations of a US Congressman).
Later increased to 324 lb (147kg), Type 97 explosive (70% TNA/30% HNDA), 300 foot (90m) setting.
-1944 Type 2: 230 lbs (105kg) Type 97 explosive settings 98, 197, 292, 390, 480 feet (30m, 60m, 89m, 120m, and 145m).
-1945 Type 2: 357 lbs (162kg) explosives.
Mines
20 mines on rails, no precision given. Can be any of the models here.
The ships were also given an optional mechanical minesweeping gear.
Sensors (WW2)
Yūgiri received a Type 22 radar in November 1943, the remaining seven as well from 1944. Survivors received the Type 13 radar.
Type 22 radar
The early Type 22 General Purpose Radar looks like characteristically like a 2910 lb (1320 kg) drum topped with a twin cornet amplificators, mounted mid-way top the mast.
Specs:
Wavelength 10 cm, pwd 10 microsecond, PRF 2500 Hz, scan rate 5 rpm, PP 2 kW
Range: 20 nautical miles (35 km) aircraft group, 10 nm (17 km) single, 13 nm(24 km) battleship.
Subject to land clutter. Horn and A scope display, accuracy 220 yards (200m)/3 degrees res. 1600 yards (1500 m)/40 degrees
300 sets produced installed on destroyers from the summer 1942. Generalized in 1944.
Type 13 radar
Vertical 240 lb(110 kg) bedframe antenna, developed 1941, introduced mi-1943, with vertical dipole transmitter and Yagi mattress receiver. 1000 sets produced. Air defense, range 100 km (group), and single aicraft 50km.
Specs:
Wavelength 200 cm, pw 10 ms, PRF 500 Hz PP 10 kW
Range: 30-60 nautical miles (50-100 km)
Author’s profile
⚙ Fubuki class specifications |
|
| Displacement | 1,750 long tons (1,780 t) standard 2,050 long tons (2,080 t) FL |
| Dimensions | 118.41 x 10.4 x 3.2m (388.5 x 34 ft 1 in x 10 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 shaft Kampon GST, 4 boilers 50,000 hp (37,000 kW) |
| Speed | 38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h) |
| Armament | 3×2 127 mm/50, 2× 13 mm HMGs, 3×3 TTs 610 mm, 18 DCs |
| Sensors | Type 93 sonar, Type 2/3 radars (1944) |
| Crew | 219 |
Gallery (all colorized by Irootoko Jr.)
Read More/Src
6th division at sea (Type III ships)
ONI depictions: Hibiki, Shinonome, Amagiri
Books
Evans, David (1979). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941.
Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press.
Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945. Atheneum.
Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. US Naval Institute Press.
Morison, Samuel Eliot (1958). The Struggle for Guadalcanal, August 1942 – February 1943, vol. 5 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
Nelson, Andrew N. (1967). Japanese–English Character Dictionary. Tuttle.
Watts, Anthony J (1967). Japanese Warships of World War II. Doubleday.
Whitley, M J (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Arms and Armour Press.
Evans, David (1979). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887–1941.
Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press.
Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945.
Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. US Naval Institute Press.
Morison, Samuel Eliot (1958). The Struggle for Guadalcanal, August 1942 – February 1943, vol. 5 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
Nelson, Andrew N. (1967). Japanese–English Character Dictionary. Tuttle.
Watts, Anthony J (1967). Japanese Warships of World War II. Doubleday.
Whitley, M J (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Arms and Armour Press.
Links
on globalsecurity.org
on combinedfleet.com
archive.ph homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah
pwencycl.kgbudge.com Fubuki_class
en.wikipedia.org/ Japanese_61_cm_torpedo
pwencycl.kgbudge.com Type 13 air search radar
pwencycl.kgbudge.com Type 22 general purpose radar
blog.livedoor.jp colorized photos
on commons.wikimedia.org
en.wikipedia.org/ Japanese_61_cm_torpedo
Videos
Model Kits
On scalemates – many kits
Tamiya 1:700, Fine Molds 1:350, Yamashita Hobby 1:700, Pit-Road 1:700,
3D
Career of the Type I
Next she took part in Malaya operations, 10 January 1942 with Asakaze and Hatakaze she rescued survivors from Akita Maru (torpedoed by HNLMS O 19). On 27 January, she was attacked by HMS Thanet and HMAS Vampire, 80 nm (150 km; 92 mi) of Singapore: Battle off Endau. Sje is credited with sinking Thanet with torpedoes.
13–18 February 1942, she took part in “Operation L” (Bangka-Palembang, Sumatra invasion). Sje later preyed on Allied shipping from Singapore. She captured also 7 vessels. On 27 February 1942 she took part in “Operation J”, Java invasion. 1 March while guirding the strait she spotted HMAS Perth and USS Houston in Sunda Strait. At 22.30 she fired nine torpedoes from 3,000 yards (2,700 m) and retreated. No results. They would be sunk later in the Battle of Sunda Strait.
On 12 March 1942 she was with Ozawa’s cover force for “Operation T” Northern Sumatra). 23 March, “Operation D” (Andaman Islands) and patrolled off Port Blair during the Indian Ocean raids. On 13–22 April she saile dback via Indochina to to Kure for maintenance overhaul.
On 4–5 June 1942 she was present at the Battle of Midway with Yamamoto’s Main force. She also defended Mikuma and Mogami.
From 30 June to 2 July 1942 she escorted a troop convoy to Amami-Ōshima. On 17–31 July she sailed to Mergui, Burma to join the Indian Ocean raidi, aborted (Guadalcanal). On 8–17 August she sailed to to Davao. On 19–23 August she escorted troop transports to Truk, and the Solomons. On 27–31 August, she escorted the transport Sado Maru from Rabaul to the Shortland and made 2 “Tokyo Express” to Guadalcanal.
On 2 September she escorted the force which bombarded Henderson Field, and later covering the Tsugaru troop transport run on 5 September. Another Tokyo run on 8 September and on 12–13 September gunfire support (Kawaguchi offensive). She took part in 5 more Tokyo expressed with troops (13, 16 September, 1, 4, 7 October).
She was sunk on 11 October 1942, Battle of Cape Esperance: Sunk by gunfire, US cruiser/destroyer group, 109 survivors, partly rescued by USS McCalla and USS Hovey, USS Trever. However. Captain Yamashita was KiA. Stricken 15 November 1942.
Dec. DesDiv 1941 11, Desron 3, 1st Fleet, Kure Naval District, sailed to Samah, Hainan and until February 1942 she covered landings: Malaya, Anambas, Borneo). On 27 January she took part in the Battle off and likely landed a torpedo which sank HMS Thanet. She escorted IJN Chōkai in “Operation L” (Banka-Palembang), sank or captured 4 transports from Singapore. She took part in the invasion of Java, Battle of Sunda Strait (assisted sinking HMAS Perth, USS Houston). Took a hit on her bridge, killing 1, injuring 11. In Marc she escorted a troop convoy to Burma and was in the Andaman Islands invasion on 23 March.
She patrolled Port Blair and in April was back to Kure for overhaul. She was present at the Battle of Midway (Yamamoto’s main fleet). In July 1942 her projected second Indian Ocean raid was cancelled (Guadalcanal) and she sailed to Truk and Rabaul. From August to November she made several “Tokyo Express” and on 12 October, rescued men from Murakumo.
On 14–15 November she took part in the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal with Kurita’s support force and Kondo’s emergency bombardment force. With IJN Nagara, she assisted sinking the DDs USS Preston and USS Walke and badly damahed USS Benham as well as USS Gwin. After another refit at Kure late 1942 she returned as escort for the carrier IJN Hiyo.
In January 1943 she was back in the Solomon Islands from Shanghai and became Rear Admiral Shintarō Hashimoto flagship during the evacuation of Guadalcanal in February. On the 25th she joined the 8th Fleet. She was at the Battle of the Bismarck Sea on 1–4 March as flagship for RADM Kimura and a troop convoy from Rabaul to Lae. On 3 March in an air attacj she took a skip-bomb in her aft magazine, lost her stern (32 KiA). She eventually sank 55 nm (102 km) SE of Finschhafen. V.Admiral Kimura and captain Sugawara were rescued by Shikinami. She was stricken on 1 April 1943.
In Dec. 1941 she was still with DesDiv 11, but Desron 3, 1st Fleet, Kure Naval District, based in Samah. She escorted the cruisers Suzuya, Kumano, Mogami and Mikuma to Malaya, Banka-Palembang, Anambas. On 18 February she sank two transports from Singapore. On 27 February: Western Java, Battle of Sunda Strait (assisted with HMAS Perth, USS Houston). Took part in the invasion of northern Sumatra, Andaman Islands in March, patrolled off Port Blair during the Indian Ocean raid. Back to Kure for refit on 13–22 April. Battle of Midway, part of Yamamoto’s main fleet.
July 1942, sent to Mako Guard District, Singapore, Sabang, Mergui for the cancelled second Indian Ocean raid, sent to Truk and started “Tokyo Express” runs. On 4–5 September assisted sinking USS Gregory and USS Little.
In the Battle of Cape Esperance on 11–12 October she rescued 518 from Furutaka, and escorted later IJN Aoba to Truk. She was not present at the Battle of Santa Cruz on 26 October, on alert station at Shortland. She took part in the evacuations of Guadalcanal and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. From the Support Force Kurita, she joined Kondō’s force. Escorted IJN Nagara and assisted sinking USS Benham, Walke, Preston, damaging USS Gwin. Another overhaul at Truk 18 November. Returned to Rabaul in December, escorted Hiyō back to Kure.
In January 1943, escorted a troop convoy to Palau and Wewak. Escorts in the Solomon Islands until late February, reassigned to 8th Fleet and was at the Battle of Bismarck Sea. Refitted in Kure and in May, returned escorting Taiyō to Manila, Surabaya, Singapore. In June she was in Rabaul for new “Tokyo Express”. She took part in the Battle of Kula Gulf, Kolombangara, on 5 July, and was hit by six duds, but had her steering damaged and 6 killed. On 17 July 1943 at Shortlands unloading passengers the was an USAAF air raid. She had a direct hit in her after magazine and sank in shallow water with 120 onboard, 36 survived. Stricken 5 October 1943.
In Dec. 1941 she was assigned to DesDiv 12, Desron 3, 1st Fleet, Kure Naval District, Samah (Hainan Island). Her career resembled her sisters, so in short: Landings at Kota Bharu (Malaya), Operation B (British Borneo) in which she depht charged HNLMS K XVI with torpedoed IJN Sagiri, credit claimed but she survived.
In February 1942, Murakumo escorted Chōkai during the invasion of Banka-Palembang and Anambas Islands. She was part of the Western Java invasion force, and Battle of Sunda Strait, firing notably on the HNLMS Evertsen.
On 10 March she joined DesDiv 20, Desron3, 1st Fleet for Operation T (northern Sumatra) and Operation D, (Andaman Islands) on 23 March. In April she had a refit at Kure. In June 1942 she took part in the Battle of Midway with Yamamoto’s main fleet. In July 1942 when the projected second Indian Ocean raid was cancelled she sailed to Truk and took part in many “Tokyo Express” in the Solomon, taking part in sinking USS Gregory and USS Little. She escorted Furutaka in the aftermath of the Battle of Cape Esperance, but during an air raid, had three near misses, but a torpedo and bomb hit (22 KiA). The remainder were rescued by Shirayuki and she was scuttled with a torpedo 90 nnm W-NW of Savo Island. Stricken 15 November 1942.
On completion she joined DesDiv 12, 2nd Fleet. She patrolled the southern china sea in the 2nd Sino-Japanese War, and the Invasion of French Indochina. In Dec. 1941 she was in DesDiv 12, DesRon 3, 1st Fleet, Hainan and covered the landing at Kota Bharu, British Borneo. On 17 December 1941 she was attacked by the Dutch KNIL, taking two hits by the Do 24 X-32 (Naval Air Group GVT-7), which detonated her aft magazine. She exploded and sank with all hands off Miri, Sarawak, discarded 15 January 1942. Her wreck has not been ocated yet.
In February she had a refit at Kure. She nearly took part in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands on 26 March 1943, escorting the transport Sanko Maru. She continued escorts from Paramushiro and Attu and took part in the evacuations in the summer from Kiska. She had another refit late November, and in January 1944 she was in training in the Inland Sea, and later resumed northern patrols/escort, like a troopship convoy to Uruppu Island.
On 5 July 1944 leaving Otaru (Hokkaidō) escorting a convoy for Uruppu she was ambushed, torpedoed and sank by USS Skate in the Sea of Okhotsk, 330 nm of Paramushiro, two hits, she was cut in half, sank in 6 minutes, only 49 survivors. Formally stricken 10 September 1944.
In 1941 she was in DesDiv 12, DesRon 3, 1st Fleet, Samah. Covered the landings in Malaya and Borneo, rescued survivors from Sagiri on 23 December. In February 1942, she escorted Chōkai for the Banka and Palembang invasion. On 14 February she sank a British cable-laying ship, off Singapore. She took part in the invasion of Java and Battle of Sunda Strait. On 10 March she joined DesDiv 20, DesRon 3, 1st Fleet for the invasion of northern Sumatra and Andaman Islands. She took part in the first Indian ocean raid, and on 6 April escorted Kumano and Suzuya, assisted sinking the steamships Silksworth, Autolycus, Malda and Shinkuang, US Exmoor.
On 13–22 she was back to Kure for refit. She took part in “Operation AL” (diversionary invasion of the Aleutian islands) as the attack on Midway took place. In July 1942 the projected second Indian Ocean raid was cancelled and she joined Truk lagoon for several “Tokyo Express” runs. On 28 August she was caught by Dauntless dive bombers, left dead in the water (direct hit in the engine room). She was towed by Amagiri and minelayer Tsugaru to Shortland Island then by the tanker Koa Maru to Truk for emergency repairs and sailed for Kure by 8 October, repairs completed on 1 April 1943, reassigned to DesDiv 9, desRon 1, 5th Fleet. Escorts from Hokkaidō and Chishima Islands. 6 June 1943, she collided with Numakaze in heavy fog (off Paramushiro) repaired in Hakodate until late September, resumed patrol/escort. She was torpedoed on 16 March 1944 off northern Hokkaidō escorting a troop convoy for Uruppu Island, by USS Tautog, 170 nm (310 km) east of Muroran, no survivors. Stricken 31 March 1944.
In Dec. 1941 she was in DesDiv 19, Desron 3, 1st Fleet at Samah. From 4 December 1941 to 30 January 1942 she escorted the heavy cruisers Suzuya, Kumano, Mogami, and Mikuma for the Malaya, Banka-Palembang, Anambas Islands invasion and from 27 February, the invasion of Java, then northern Sumatra, Andaman Islands and patrolled Port Blair during the Indian Ocean raids. On 13–22 April she was refitted at Kure. During the operation at Midway she was in Yamamoto’s main fleet, but damaged in a collision with Uranami, repaired at Yokosuka until late July. August-September saw her training with the new carries Jun’yō and Hiyō in the Inland Sea, ecorted them to Truk in early October.
She took part in “Tokyo Express” runs until January 1943. On 1 December 1942 she was damaged off Buna (New Guinea) after a raid of USAAF planes, and on 18 December, rescued men from IJN Tenryū.
In early January 1943 she was refitted at Kure. In February she escorted a troop convoy from Pusan to Palau and Wewak. On 25 February she was sent to the Southwest Area Fleet, Surabaya. On 9 April 1943 underway to Ambon, she was ambushed by USS Tautog while saving survivors from Penang Maru off Wangiwangi Island (7 KiA, 9 injured), stricken formally on 1 August 1943.
On 19 December, she depht charged and claimed the Dutch sub HNLMS O 20 after the latter broached surfaced, short of batteries and was finished off by gunfire. She took 20 hits by Uranami and sank. She did not immediately rescue the survivors, but depth charged the surrounding area to protected them from shark attacks. The next morning she rescued 32 survivors.
She escorted the cruisers Suzuya, Kumano, Mogami and Mikuma for Banka and Palembang (Anambas) and the invasion of Java and northern Sumatra. On 23 March 1942 she was in the Andaman Islands. She stayed on patrol off Port Blair during the Indian Ocean raid and was refitted at Kure on 13–22 April. During the Battle of Midway she collided with her with sister ship Isonami, repaired at Kure.
Next she escorted the armed merchant cruiser Kiyozumi maru to Singapore and Mergui and instead of the 2nd Indian Ocean raid she was sent to the Solomons. She did not took part in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August as she escorted the fleet supply group. She also took part in most “Tokyo Express” runs.
She took part in the Second Naval battle of Guadalcanal on 14–15 November as part of the scouting force, Rear Admiral Shintarō Hashimoto, flagship Sendai. When TF 64 was located near Savo Island she assisted Ayanami and Nagara. She engaged four American destroyers with Ayanami and Nagara. She sank USS Walke, helped with USS Preston and also probably torpedoed USS Benham (latter scuttled) and crippled USS Gwim with gunfire. However she was fired at by USS Washington. She escorted IJN Chūyō from Truk to Yokosuka. She was back to Rabaul after erepairs and refit by mid-February 1943 for more missions in the Solomons. On 25 February 1943 she was sent to the Southwest Area Fleet and took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea on 1–4 March, remained undamaged after several air attacks and assisted rescue of survivors.
She later escorted vessels in the eastern Netherlands East Indies in April but grounded on a reef on 2 April near Makassar. Towed to Surabaya for repairs late August. In September she escorted convoys to Singapore. By early 1944 she left Singapore escorting Kuma on a troop transport run to Mergui and Penang and back to Singapore with survivors of Kuma (sunk by HMS Tally-Ho, 11 January 1944). 27 February-25 March saw her escorting Aoba, Tone and Chikuma in a commerce raiding operation in the Indian Ocean. She most famously took part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf from 21 October 1944. She escorted troopships from Manila via Mindanao to Ormoc (Convoy TA 1) with cruisers Aoba and Kinu, and the transports T.6, T.9, and T.10, T.101 and T.102 under Rear Admiral Naomasa Sakonju, flagship Aoba.
However on 23 October Aoba was torpedoed by USS Bream and he transferred his mark to Kinu, Aoba being towed to port. Uranami and Kinu underway to Mindanao saw several raids from TF 38, took only minor damage (strafing runs, 4 KiA, 9 wounded) and punctured fuel tank. On 25 October the transports arrived for the misssion to start, and the convoy escaped attention and the 41st Regiment IJA was landed in Ormoc. Kinu, Uranami, and T.1 transports sailed back to Manila.
But on the morning of 26 October while in Jintotolo Channel they were intercepted by TF77.4.2 (“Taffy 2”: USS Manila Bay, Marcus Island, Natoma Bay, and Petrof Bay). Uranami took two direct bombs hits, several 5-in rockets hits and lost 103 crewmen, including captain Sako and she sank 12 miles (20 km) SE of Masbate. The three empty transports picked up 94 survivors from Uranami. Stricken 10 December 1944. Shipwreck not found yet. She probably had the most intense career of all Fubuki class destroyers, at least from Group I.
Group II
In March she covered the invasion of northern Sumatra and Andaman Islands and patrolled at Port Blair during Indian Ocean raids, and then returned to Kure for refit in Apri. During the Battle of Midway she was in Yamamoto’s main fleet. When the second Indian Ocean raid was cancelled she was sent to Truk and during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons (24 August) she escorted the supply group to Guadalcanal. She took part in several “Tokyo Express” runs in October-November 1942.
Under command of Rear Admiral Shintarō Hashimoto (flagship Sendai) she met Lee’s TF 64 near Savo Island. Hashimoto ordered his squadron clockwise around the island, but Ayanami was ordered in the opposite direction as a pincer. Ayanami was part of the three prongs in the initial attack with Hashimoto’s group. Meawnhile Rear Admiral Susumu Kimura (Nagara group) attacked in the other direction. Ayanami was spotted by USS Walke, then Nagara on which US DDs focused on. Ayanami, Nagara, and Uranami sank USS Preston and USS Walke, badly damaged USS Benham and USS Gwin. Later USS Washington spotted and shelled Ayanami (27 KiA), replocated but missed Washington. Ayanami, crippled, was abandoned, and 30+ surviving crew members (inc. captain Sakuma) escaped to Guadalcanal, the remainder rescued by Uranami. Ayanami was scuttled by torpedo and sank at 02:00 in Ironbottom Sound. She was stricken on 15 December 1942 and identified after the late July 1992 Robert Ballard expedition, southeast of Savo Island under 700 metres (2,300 ft) in two pieces.
On 1 March with other DDs she ran into the heavy cruiser USS Houston and HMAS Perth, HNLMS Eversten. This became the battle of the Sunda Strait in the Java Sea. Shikinami escorted Mogami and Mikuma and tried to torpedo HMAS Perth but was hit back and a near miss bent her propeller. Harukaze torpedoed the cruiser instead followed by hits from Murakumo and Shirakumo. Mogami and Mikuma meanwhule gunned down Houston and hit her with two torpedoes. It’s Shikinami which finished off the crippled Houston, closing under machine gunfir, firing a single torpedo which sank her. Later Murakumo and Shirakumo caughts and destroyed Eversten. She later resumed troopship convoys escorts to Rangoon until late March. In aptril she was refitted in Kure. During the battle of Midway she was in Yamamoto’s main fleet. Sent to Truk she escorted supply ships during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and took part in several “Tokyo Express” run, as well as the 6 September raid on Henderson Field with Ariake, Uranami, and Yūdachi and 9th with Sendai, Fubuki and Suzukaze, meeting the US PB YP-346 at bery close range, in fact they could not depress their guns enough so the puny ship manahe to cripple her with 40 and 20 mm guns. Soon a duel with respective AA guns lit up YP-346 which was beached and abandoned. The attack was aborted as surprise was lost. It resumed 3 days later on the beaches of Guadalcanal, Edson’s Ridge offensive support. In the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 14–15 November 1942 she was in Hashimoto group with Sendai taking part in the onslaught (see above) and survived before a refit in Kure.
In January 1943 she escorted troopships from Pusan to Palau and on to Wewa and patrolled off Truk and Rabaul, then on 25 February she was reassigned to the 8th Fleet. She took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea on 1–4 March while underway from Rabaul to Lae and survived the Allied air attack on 3 March which claimed Shirayuki. She rescued Rear Admiral Masatomi Kimura. After a new refit in Kure in March she returned for intensive escorts in the Solomons and New Guinea until late October 1943. Next she escorted shios between Singapore and Surabaya-Balikpapan. By January 1944 she escorted Aoba, Ōi, Kinu, and Kitakami to the Andaman Islands, and towed the crippled Kitakami to Singapore. She was refitted again in Singapore until mid-April and made other escort missions with the Phlippines and Palau. While flagship for Admiral Naomasa Sakonju she was hit in a strafing air attack, the depth charges in flames were jettisoned before they exploded, killing 2, wounding 4. She rescued men from the torpedoed IJN Ōi on 19 July. On 12 September she was torpedoed herself by USS Growler 240 nmi south of Hong Kong. 128 were rescued by Mikura but Captain Takahashi and Rear Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka went down. Stricken 10 October 1944.
She was part of DesDiv 20, Desron 3, 1st Fleet in Samah, took part in the Battle of Malaya but on 27 January, her convoy were attacked by HMS Thanet and HMAS Vampire 80 nm (148 km) north of Singapore. In the Battle off Endau, she is co-credited the sinking of Thanet. She took part in the invasion of Banka and Palembang, Anambas and covered minesweeping operations on Singapore-Johore areas. She took part in the northern Sumatra and Andaman Islands invasions, and the Indian ocean raids with Chōkai, Yura and Ryūjō whch sank six merchant vessels. In April like her sister she was refitted in Kure.
In June she was part of the diversionary Aleutian Invasion force and by July 1942 left Amami-Ōshima to Mako Guard District and Singapore, Sabang and Mergui for the cancelled second Indian ocean raid, indteas sent to Truk for Solomins operations. She took part in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August, bringing troops to Guadalcanal. She was hit by USMC SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Henderson Field. One diret hit killed 122 men, 60 troops, sank her near Santa Isabel (60 nm NE of Savo Island). Stricken 1 October 1942, wreck undiscovered.
On 19 December she co-claimed HNLMS O 20. On 27 January, Yūgiri she co-sank HMS Thanet. With Suzuya, Kumano, Mogami and Mikuma she took part in the invasion of Banka, Palembang and the Anambas Islands and minesweeping operations off Singapore-Johore. Next, the invasion of northern Sumatra and Andaman Islands and Indian Ocean raids before refit at Kure and in 4–5 June, the diversionary Aleutian Invasion force. In July when the second raid was cancelled she was sent to Truk, Eastern Solomons in August, with troops to Guadalcanal. On the 24th she had a direct hit near her bridge by a USMC SBD Dauntless from Henderson Field (32 KiA, ic. captain Yamada Yuji, DesDiv 2). After which she had repairs at Truk to the end of 1942.
From 25 January 1943 she joined the 8th Fleet, Rabaul and started a serie of “Tokyo Express” transport missions in the Solomons in May. On 16 May she was spotted and torpedoed by USS Grayback northwest of Kavieng but survived (9 crewmen kille). She was be towed back to Rabaul by Amagiri and rtreturned to Kure in late July.She was back in mid-November and on the 24th she was in the run to Buka and the Battle of Cape St. George on the following day, sunk by USS Charles Ausburne, USS Claxton and USS Dyson, 50 nm (93 km) east of Cape St. George, but later the Jap. sub. I-177 rescued 278 and I-181 11 but Commander Shuichi Otsuji went down with his ship. Stricken 15 December 1943.
As the battle of Midway developed she was part of the Aleutian Invasion force until mid-July. When the projected second Indian Ocean raid was cancelled she was sent to Truk by late August and after the Battle of the Eastern Solomons she escorted a convoy to Guadalcanal. She was lightly damaged by near misses some 60 nmi (110 km; 69 mi) NE of Savo Island by USMC SBD Dauntless from Henderson Field and rescued Asagiri survivors, towing also the crippled Shirakumo to Shortland before taking part in many “Tokyo Express” runs in the Solomon Islands in September-October, and be assigned to the 8th fleet for more until December.
After the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (13–15 November) she destroyer Mochizuki, recsuing 1,500 survivors from Canberra Maru and Nagara Maru, escorting Sado Maru to the Shortlands and back to Kure for a refit in mid-January 1943.
Back to Rabaul in March she returned to Solomons runs and on 7 April was strafed by a USAAF B-17 (killing 10). On 5–6 July she was at the Battle of Kula Gulf while escorting transports to Kolombangara and took five hits, killing 10. She could rescue men from Niizuki, driven off by the USS Nicholas and Radford and returned to Rabaul.
On 2 August, after another “Tokyo Express” to Vila she rammed and USS PT-109 commanded by Lt. John F. Kennedy. It is well possible she did not even saw the PT boat albeit others disagree. The IJN destroyer would engage other PT boats in the Blackett Strait (south of Kolombangara). Cdr. Kohei Hanami on board as skipper at the time attended President Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961. The fast speed supply and evacuation runs went on until the fall of 1943, including the Battle of Cape St. George in late November and escaped Captain Arleigh Burke’s squadron. On 7 December, she collided near Kavieng Akikaz and almost lost her bow. After repairs at Kure in January 1944, she was back at the Southwest Area Fleet in March, based in Singapore to escort transports to the western Netherlands East Indies. On 23 April with Aoba and Ōi en route for Davao, she struck a naval mine in Makassar Strait, 55 nmi south of Balikpapan but sunk in two hours so the only casulaties where in the area where the mine detonated. Stricken 10 June 1944. Wreck rediscovered in October 2003 by Vidar Skoglie and MV Empress.
On 1 January 1944 she was reassigned to the 5th Fleet and on 14 January, rescued 89 from Sazanami back to Truk. After a new refit at Yokosuka from 25 January, she was reassigned to Ōminato Guard District, northern waters until October. Later she was assigned to Admiral Kiyohide Shima’s Diversionary Force taking part in the Battle of Surigao Strait on 24 October and rescued 700 survivors of Mogami, scuttled her on the 25th.
On 13 November 1944 she was attacked by a USAAF raid with Akishimo at Cavite pier, Manila, and took a direct direct bomb hit. A day later a fire still raging on Akishimo blew a hole in Akebono and she sank upright, taking with her 48 crewmen. Stricken 10 January 1945.
She escorted Hiryū and Sōryū for the strikes on Ambon. She escorted Nachi and Haguro in the eastern Netherlands East Indies and took part in the Battle of the Java Sea, assisting sinking USS Perch. She was refitted in Yokosuka late March. Late April she escorted Shōhō to Truk, and and was present at the Battle of the Coral Sea, rescuing 225 survivors. After a refit at Yokosuka she remained at the Ōminato Guard District, northern waters and on 14 July in the Combined Fleet she escorted Yamato and Taiyō for Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Later she was part of many “Tokyo Express” runs and in early October, escorted Taiyō back to Kure for repairs while herself being refitted at Yokosuka and returned to escort Taiyō on 1 November until February 1943 but also Unyō between Yokosuka and Truk or Kavieng. She became flagship for Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin at the Battle off Horaniu, covering landings on Vella Lavella and covered the evacuations before returning to escorts.
On 1 January 1944 she joine dthe 5th Fleet and 11 days later, departed Rabaul with a tanker convoy to Truk but spotted and torpedoed underway by USS Albacore, 300 nautical miles (560 km) SE of Yap. 153 weht down, 89 were rescued by Akebono. Stricken 10 March 1944.
Like her sister above she escorted Hiryū and Sōryū to Ambon, Nachi and Haguro in the eastern Netherlands East Indies, co-claimed USS Perch at the Battle of the Java Sea (took 59 survivors) and was in refit at Yokosuka late March. She escorted Shōkaku to Truk (Battle of the Coral Sea) and the diversionary Aleutian Invasion force before retuning to the Ōminato Guard District until mid-July 1942.
On 14 July, she joined the Combined Fleet, escorted Yamato and Taiyō at the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and back to to Truk. She took part in many “Tokyo Express” runs in September and later, also escorting Unyō, Ryūhō, Zuihō, Taiyō alternating between Japan, Truk, the Netherlands East Indies and Philippines.
In early 1944, she escorted troop convoys from Truk and in April to August, she patrolled northern waters, escorted convoys between Hokkaidō and Yokosuka and Kure. At the Battle of Leyte Gulf, she was in Admiral Kiyohide Shima’s Diversionary Force so she was spared combat and the Battle of Surigao Strait, remaining in Manila after the battle and escorting troopships in the Philippines. On 13 September she escaoped destruction but was damaged in an air raid over Manila, lost her starboard enginen, 23 killed. After repairs in Singapore in November she was reassigned ti the 2nd Fleet and by December 1944 escorted back the crippled IJN Myōkō. She was repaired in Yokosuka for so long she was still there when the war ended. On 18 July 1945 she still defended by AA IJN Nagato when Yokosuka was raided. On 15 September 1945 she was stricken and broken up in 1948.
Next: The Akatsuki class
