Akizuki-class destroyer (1942)

The Akizuki-class destroyers (秋月型駆逐艦, Akizuki-gata Kuchikukan) was a class of destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) built during World War II to complement the Kagerō class, primarily for the role of anti-aircraft screening for carrier battle groups. The class was also designated the Type-B Destroyer (乙型駆逐艦, Otsu-gata Kuchikukan), from their plan name. During the war, the class proved to be a very capable multipurpose platform and was well regarded in the IJN.

Akizuki on trial run off Miyazu Bay on 17 May 1942.
Class overview
NameAkizuki class
Builders
  • Maizuru Naval Arsenal
  • Sasebo Naval Arsenal
  • Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
  • Uraga Dock Company
Operators
Preceded byYūgumo class
Succeeded byMatsu class
Subclasses
  • Akizuki class (Pr. F51)
  • Fuyutsuki class (Pr. F51)
  • Michitsuki class (Pr. F53)
Built19401945
In commission19421945 (IJN)
Planned6 (1939) + 10 (1941) + 23 (1942)
Completed12
Cancelled20
Lost6
Retired6
General characteristics (as per Whitley)
TypeDestroyer
Displacement2,700 long tons (2,743 t) (standard)
Length134.2 m (440 ft 3 in) (o/a)
Beam11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
Draught4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
Installed power3 × water-tube boilers
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 × geared steam turbines 52,000 shp (38,776 kW)
Speed33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph)
Range8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement
  • 263 (Akizuki in 1942)
  • 315 (Akizuki in October 1944)
Armament
  • Akizuki in 1942
  • 4 × twin 100 mm (3.9 in) DP guns
  • 2 × twin 25 mm (1 in) AA guns
  • 1 × quadruple 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes
  • 56 × depth charges
  • Suzutsuki in April 1945
  • 4 × twin 100 mm (3.9 in) DP guns
  • 7 × triple, 26 × single 25 mm (1 in) AA guns
  • 3 × single 13 mm (0.51 in) AA guns
  • 1 × quadruple 610 mm torpedo tubes
  • 56 × depth charges
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.