Imperial Japanese Navy 1937-45. IJN Otori, Hiyodori, Hayabusa, Kasasagi, Kiji, Kari, Sagi, Hato + 8 more cancelled. The Otori-class torpedo boat (鴻型水雷艇, Ōtori-gata suiraitei) were a second class of Imperial Japanese Navy torpedo boats built in the late interwar after the Chidori class, and improved. Their design was indeed a reaction to the Chidori class, … Read more
Japan, 1933-45. The Chidori-class torpedo boat (千鳥型水雷艇, Chidori-gata suiraitei) were Imperial Japanese Navy torpedo boats, the first since decades, built in the interwar and seeing heavy action in the Second World War. The design was an attempt to circumvent, very much like Italy, tonnage limitations on warships. The IJN staff ina predictable pattern wanted as … Read more
IJN Type D Modified class Escort Destroyer (松型駆逐艦): 32+ 80 Kai-Tachibana planned, 14 completed 1945. The Tachibana class was approved under the Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Program, laid down 1944-45, completed between January and June 1945. Like the Matsu, they were pure escort vessels designed for simplicity and rapid construction, but simplification was pushed … Read more
IJN Type D class Destroyer (松型駆逐艦): 42 planned, 18 completed 1943-45. The Matsu class, approved in the 1942 Supplementary Programme, was laid down 1943-44 and completed between April 1944 and January 1945. Designed for simplicity and rapid construction, they were analogous to the American destroyer escorts, but much more heavily armed. The six 21-in TT … Read more
IJN Type B class Destroyer: 39 planned, 12 built 1942-45: Akizuki, Teruzuki, Suzutsuki, Hatsuzuki, Niizuki, Wakatsuki, Shimotsuki, Fuyutsuki, Harutsuki, Yoizuki, Natsuzuki, Michitsuki, Hanazuki The Akizuki class started with a 1939 directive, calling for specialized anti-aircraft escorts for carrier groups, the “B” types. In this new reorganization of Japanese destroyer forces, the “A” class were a … Read more
IJN 1st class Destroyer built 1942-44 IJN Shimakaze (島風, “Island Wind”) was an experimental destroyer intended as the “Type C” of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was the lead ship in a projected class of “super destroyer”, complementary to the “Type B” that were the AA destroyers of the Akizuki class. She was superlative, the … Read more
IJN 1st class Destroyers built 1940-44: Yūgumo, Makinami, Hayanami, Hamanami, Okinami, Hayashimo, Kazagumo, Takanami, Kiyonami, Suzunami, Kishinami, Kiyoshimo, Makigumo, Naganami, Ōnami, Tamanami, Fujinami, Asashimo, Akishimo. +16 cancelled. The Yūgumo-class destroyers (Yūgumo-gata kuchikukan) were nineteen wartime destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy between 1940 and 1944. The were also called Destroyer Type-A (Kō-gata Kuchikukan) from … Read more
IJN 1st class Destroyers built 1938-41: Kagerō, Shiranui, Kuroshio, Oyashio, Hayashio, Natsushio, Hatsukaze, Yukikaze, Amatsukaze, Tokitsukaze, Urakaze, Isokaze, Hamakaze, Tanikaze, Nowaki, Arashi, Hagikaze, Maikaze, Akigumo The Kagerō-class destroyers (Kagerō-gata Kuchikukan) were a group of nineteen 1st Class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy, also called the Shiranui-class destroyers in some publications as IJN Shiranui was … Read more
IJN “special type” Destroyers built 1937-39: Asashio, Ōshio, Michishio, Arashio, Asagumo, Yamagumo, Natsugumo, Minegumo, Arare, Kasumi. After a time of “austere” designs trying to adhere to the new London Treaty tonnage limitations with the Hatsuharu and Shiratsuyu classes, Japan decided to just ignore the treaties altogether and flat out lie or not declare the next … Read more
IJN “special type” Destroyers built 1931-35: Shiratsuyu, Shigure, Murasame, Yūdachi, Harusame, Samidare, Umikaze, Yamakaze, Kawakaze, Suzukaze. The conditions imposed by the London Treaty to Japan forced a move from the initial 1,800 tonnes “special type” (The Fubuki class) to a downgraded or “austere” design, the Hatsuharu class in 1930 based on a 1,500 tonnes hull. … Read more
