Matsu class Escort Destroyer (1944)

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 in a sextuple mounting originally proposed were dropped, and a more standard quadruple 24-in mounting installed. The light AA armament was increased to 28 or 29 25mm AA guns by 1945. The two sets of machinery were arranged in separate units to prevent a single hit immobilising the ship. 11 further units were cancelled in 1944 before construction began. Seven of the class were war losses: Momo to a US submarine, Sakura to a mine, Ume and Momi to US aircraft, and the other 3 to US surface ships.

Momo in 1944

Development

The birth of Japanese escort destroyer had less to do with the need of adequate ASW escort, unlike what happened for the allies in the Atlantic, because at an early stage in 1942, the IJN was more concerned about its realized that attrition of its destroyer force was not sustainable. The Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff looked for a simplified design that could be quickly mass-produced, and replaced losses, but also serve primarily as convoy escorts as well as destroyer-transports in isolated front-line locations as the Guadalcanal campaign demonstrated, but that would still be capable of fleet actions if necessary. The initial program was called the “fast squadron ships” (Kihon Keikaku Bango).

They were also a replacement for the 1919 and 1920 naval plans destroyers, later rebranded as “second class”, the 1920s Momi, Minekaze, Wakatake, Kamikaze and Mutsuki classes which filled these roles. Fleet duties were indeed attributed to the “special types” from Fubuki onwards. In 1942 also, the naval staff reworked its organization for destroyers and came up with the Type A-C, and these escorts were given the Type D destroyer classifications, not to confound with the actual Type C and D escorts, which were smaller ASW vessels.

The design process on what was officially Project number F55 went on in 1943 with a systematic research in hull design simplifications. The emphasis was placed on anti-aircraft guns and anti-submarine weapons, as they were not expected to fight peer destroyers in fleet actions, but also radar. The technical design specified a standard displacement of 1,250t, a 28kts speed but an endurance of 3,500nm at 18kts and unspecified armament capable of addressing AAW and ASW tasks.

Forty-two were ordered when the design was approved, work started on the final blueprints from July 1943. The ships would be named after sunken earlier destroyers in operations of second class destroyers. The lead ship, Matsu, was thus laid down at Maizuru naval arsenal on 8 August 1943. The naval staff had grand plans for the class, and planned a grand total of no less than 154 vessels, basically replacing all 1920s generation escort destroyers. Special attention was given to new construction techniques, notably electric welding was widely applied.

A first batch of 42 ships, #5481-5522, was ordered. But by mid-1944, with resources dwindling down, orders were given for 24 supplementary vessels to be replaced by a further-simplified design, the F55B which in addition of further simplifications, were also modular in construction, inspired by German methods developed for the Type XXI submarines. These later ships were designated the Tachibana-class destroyer (橘型駆逐艦, Tachibana-gata kuchikukan) or Modified Type-D Destroyer (改丁型駆逐艦, Kai Tei-gata kuchikukan) and will be seen next time. They notably have even more straight lines with the staff planning to build another 112 of these, plus another 80 of the improved Type D or “Kai-Tachibana” class. In the end, even this simplified design looked too ambitious for the reduced resources of Japan and only fourteen were completed before construction was cancelled. By that point all resources had been diverted to “special-attack units” or more dedicated, simpler and smaller escort vessels.

Design of the class

These ships were designed for ease of production, but also much smaller and slower, lightly armed compared to “special types” or even to older 2nd class. The IJN indeed intended them to stick only to second-line duties, which notably led to an armament redesign.

Hull and general design

2 view, CC
Displacement wise, the Matsu class were comparable to the 1920s Momi class, at 1,282 metric tons (1,262 long tons) for their standard load and 1,554 metric tons (1,529 long tons) in deep loading, for a length of just 100 meters (328 ft 1 in) long overall -and yes, the Japanese like all sensible nations adopted the metric system, for a beam of 9.35 meters (30 ft 8 in) and draft of 3.3 meters (10 ft 10 in). They had a reduced crew compared to a standard destroyer, at 210 officers and enlisted men, vital given the manpower shortages for new ships in the Navy, but also a result of their simplified armament. However, this was still a large crew. To compare, a Momi class destroyer (1919) had 148 men on board and a much larger Fubuki class 219.

From pinterest. Above: Hinoki

To describe their outlook, they used straight lines, the forecastle had a bow deck with a knuckle bow, raised upwards at an angle rather than a progressive slope. The slab-sided bridge was located at the end of the forecastle, half atop the lower deck. There were two thin funnels, raked, a tripod mainmast aft the bridge, the quad TT banks and a platform for a triple AA mount, then the aft funnel, same type exactly as the fore-funnel to simplify construction, a rear structure with more AA and a smaller aft tripod mast, then the twin aft 5-in /40 DP mount. The aft deck was made clean for four DC throwers and their respective reload system and two DC racks at the poop.

Tachibana’s bridge, quite close to the Matsu’s

The latter was not simplified, still rounded as common destroyers. On the next Tachibana this went further (next post). Still, seen from above, the hull had a relatively modest constant beam amidship, perhaps over only 20% length, the hull was still traditionally shaped for efficiency. There were two large counter-keels and the straight stem, the more distinctive aspect of the Matsu and Tachibana hull, had an intermediate angle. The flare above was still there, but again with simplified shapes. Construction used the same methods and material as usual, with High-Tensile Strength steel (upper deck only) and Carbon steel. There was a double bottom, and a boxy bilge keel.

Powerplant

The Matsu class had two Kampon geared steam turbines. Each drove a single propeller shaft. Steam was produced in two Kampon water-tube boilers, a small, simplified design compare to standard destroyer, making the best of large, efficient and modern boilers.
These impulse turbines presented a high-pressure, intermediate-pressure, low-pressure, and cruising stages, and were rated at a total of 19,000 shaft horsepower (14,000 kW), for a speed of 27.8 knots (51.5 km/h; 32.0 mph). The Matsu class thanks to this had a range of 4,680 nautical miles (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). Again, to compare, a 1919 Momi class developed 21,500 shp. (16,000 kW for 36 knots, for a range of 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). So the Matsu were much slower, almost ten knots, but this was repaid in extra range. Their speed was aligned of that of a merchant convoy, with the margin necessary to hunt down submarines and get back to the convoy, just like allied escort destroyers. But more importantly, for the first time on Japanese destroyers, machinery was placed en echelon, for better damage resilience.
This powerplant was simplified further with the next Tachibana class.

Armament

This was the object of debates during design. Since it was established in the end they would be AA/ASW escorts first and foremost, a project of mounting heavy naval guns and a lot of torpedoes, like a unique sextuple mount with older 21-inches or 533 mm torpedo tubes to fire pre-1920 torpedoes still in stores such as the Type 6. But the mount proved more complicated than anticipated and to simply design, they adopted instead a standard 610 mm quadruple TT bank, placed amidship, but without reloads. The “long lance” would bring its unique anti-ship capability to bear, while the rest of the armament was mainly intended to deal with aviation and submarines.

127 mm Type 89 DP guns

The choice of having only three 127 mm (5 in) Type 89 dual-purpose guns was dictated by the availability and reliability of this pure dual-purpose ordnance, the calibre being sufficient to deal with ships still. Their placement was to maximize space and load, with a twin-gun mount aft and single mount forward of the superstructure to preserve stability as it was one deck higher. The latter was partially protected against spray by a large gun shield, unlike the aft twin mount which had a smaller one. None were able to protect from shrapnel. Accuracy was nowhere near the US 5-in/38 notably against aircraft due to the lack of any high-angle gunnery director.

The Type 89 DP was standard dual-purpose artillery of the IJN. The 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun (40 Kokei Hachikyu Shiki 12 Senchi 7 Kokakuho) was mostly used as heavy AA gun. It was adopted on February 6, 1932 (hence the Type, based on the Japanese calendar), becoming the primary long range AA gun on aircraft carriers, battleships and cruisers, almost always in twin gun mounts. It was also used by smaller vessels such as the Matsu-class escort destroyers. They replaced the older 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun and 12 cm/45 10th Year Types. They were supposed to be replaced by the new 100mm/65 (4 in) guns type 98 but only IJN Taiho and some “super destroyers” were so equipped due to shortages.

⚙ Specs 5-in IJN DP Type 89
Barrel Lenght 5,080 millimeters (16 ft 8 in) (bore length) L/40
Mass 3,100 kilograms (6,834 lb)
Shell Fixed 127 x 580mm .R 20.9–23.45 kilograms (46.1–51.7 lb)
Exact caliber 12.7-centimeter (5.0 in)
Elevation/Traverse -8° to +90°, manual
Rate of fire 8-14 rounds per minute
Muzzle velocity 720–725 meters per second (2,360–2,380 ft/s)
Effective range 14,800 meters (48,600 ft) at 45°
Ceiling at 90° 9,440 meters (30,970 ft)
Feed system Manual horizontal breech block

Type 96 25mm AA

The Matsu class carried a total of twenty Type 96 25-millimeter (1 inches) anti-aircraft guns in four triple and eight single mounts.
⚙ Specifications 25 mm Type 96
Barrel Lenght, all types: 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

Torpedo Tubes: 1×4 Type 96

The single quad TT banks was located amidship, between the fore and aft funnels and A bandstand, right at the center of gravity of the ship. It was specified they carried Type 92 Torpedoes, the now loved and trusted “long lance”.
⚙ 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

Type 2 Depth Charges

The ships had a generous ASW suite comprising four throwers and two racks for a total of 36 depth charges in store, and later in 1945, from IJN Take onwards, 48.
They could fire the following:
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.

Sensors

Type 22 Surface Search 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 Air Search Radar

They were not initially fitted with these due to shortages, but later in upgrades by late 1944, along with extra AA.
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)

Type 93 mod 3 Active Sonar

Produced from 1942-44. Weight 2000 kg or 4400 lbs
Frequency: 17.5 kHz, Receiver gain: 120 decibels
Pulse repetition interval: 2, 4, or 8 seconds
Power: 2 kW
Ranges: 1500m-3000m-6000m (1640-3300-6600 yards)
Accuracy: 3 degrees, Resolution: 10 degrees

Type 93 mod 2 Hydrophones

The Japanese Type 93 hydrophones used sixteen receivers in two elliptical arrays on opposite sides of the keel. Each receiver was 145mm in diameter and had a sensitivity of 35 decibels.
It was inspired by the US MV hydrophone imported in 1930. It Weighted one ton or 2,200 lbs for an average range of 900 m (1000 yd).

Modifications

In 1944-1945, the survivors were given the + 3-shiki 1-go radar or Type 93.
In 1945, all that survived received five 25mm/60 96-shiki radars and five DCT for a total of 60 Depth charges.
Also in 1945, Take and a few others were converted to carry two 2 Kaiten human torpedoes located at the stern.
In short, typically from IJN Take onwards in 1945, the standard was of three Type 89 DP L/40, 39 Type 96 AA 25 mm in four triple, twenty-seven single mounts, same Type 92 torpedo tubes with four Type 93 torpedoes, still 4 depth charge throwers and two racks but now forty-eight Type 2 depth charges.

Old author’s illustration of the Matsu class as built in 1944.

⚙ specifications
Displacement	1,260 tons standard, 1,530 tons in battle condition
Dimensions	100 x 9.35 x 3.30 m (328 ft 1 in x 30 ft 8 in x 10 ft 10 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts Kampon impulse geared turbines, 2 Kampon water tube boilers: 19,000 shp (14 MW)
Speed	27.8 knots (32.0 mph; 51.5 km/h)
Range	3,500 nmi (6,500 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Armament	3× 127 mm L/40 Type 89, 24 × 25 mm Type 96 AA, 4× 610 mm Type 92 TTs, 4 DCT, 2 DCR, 36 DCs.
Sensors	Type 22, Type 13 radars; Type 93 active sonar, Type 93 hydrophone
Crew	211

Career of the Matsu class

IJN Matsu 松 (Pine tree) was number 5481 when ordered as Maizuru Naval Arsenal. She was laid down on 8 August 1943, launched on 3 February 1944 and completed on 28 April 1944. She was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 11 (DesDiv 11), Combined Fleet, for training until 15 July, after which she was reassigned to Destroyer Division 43 (DesDiv 43), Destroyer Squadron 11 (DesDiv 11).
She left Tokyo Bay on 29 July as flagship of the 2nd Convoy Escort Group, hosting Rear Admiral Ichimatsu Takahashi, escorting Convoy No. 4804, to Chichijima. They arrived on 1 August, and back to Japan three days later when spotted by a search plane from TF58’s TG 58.1. Airstrikes followed, that sank all but one cargo ship, damaged three escorts, including Matsu.

They escaped under the cover of darkness only to be ambushed later the next day by light cruisers and seven destroyers detached to shell Chichijima, picking them by radar after being warned of their presence. Matsu turned to engage while Takahashi ordered to disperse and a one-sided gunnery duel started 18:28. Matsu was outranged and closed for nine minutes while being straddled to get closer and open fire. A 19:10 the Japanese destroyer turned eastward, trying to cross the “T” to possibly fire torpedoes or luring them away from the convoy. At 19:44 three destroyers were sent to finish off Matsu, limited to 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) by battle damage. The combined fifteen 5-in/38 guns of Cogswell, Ingersoll and Knapp ended wit a massive fire from stern to stem on Matsu at 19:56, dead in the water. They closed and when the smoke lifted they found her bow vertical at 20:30. She went down 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Chichi Jima with six survivors rescued, one later died of his wounds. Stricken on 10 October.

IJN Take 竹 (Bamboo) was N°5482 when ordered at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, laid down on 15 October 1943, launched on 28 March 1944 and completed on 16 June 1944. Like her other sisters, Take trained in DesRon 11 for a month before being assigned to the new DesDiv 43 on 15 July, sent to escort a convoy to the Ryukyu Islands and back to home waters on 20 July.
She was then transferred to DesRon31, 5th Fleet on 20 August, making an unsuccessful search for survivors of Natori near Palau. Later, she was sent to assist the stranded destroyer Samidare which ran aground on Velasco Reef, also near Palau, only to discover she had been torpedoed by USS Batfish a day before, broken in half. She rescued survivors, landed them to Palau. Take then escorted a convoy from Manila to Miri in Borneo (4-14 October) and back. 20 October saw her in Convoy MATA 30 (Harukaze Convoy) between Manila and Takao (Taiwan) until 26 October. She helped underway Harukaze sinking USS Shark on 24 October, rescuing 347 from Airsan Maru. She was in Manila on 30 October 1944.

Next, she escorted Convoys TA-3 and TA-4 transporting the 26th Division to Ormoc Bay, Leyte after US landings. TA-3 carried the equipment, TA-4 the men. Airstrikes and a typhoon caused delays in loading TA-3, TA-4 depart as scheduled on 8 November and the former on the 9th, trying to catch up, with Take in escort. TA-4 was unloaded most of its troops on 10 November only to be caught and airstriked, loosing several ships, the remainder damaged. TA-3 crossed the gutted remnants of TA-4 and the commanders agreed to exchange escorts. Take and Hatsuharu escorted the damaged Akishimo and cargo ship Kinka Maru to Manila and then with Akishimo to Cavite Navy Yard.
TF 38 multiplied airstrikes on Manila from 13 November, Take was never hit, and she departed to the Spratly Islands, then occupied Brunei, Take being detached to return to Manila escorting reinforcements for Ormoc Bay, three fast transports as a second echelon of TA-5 from 24 November and stopping overnight in the Balanacan. The next morning they were savaged by USS Intrepid (CV-11). Two transports went down, the third badly damaged, Take was not hit but damaged by near-misses killing 15 crewmen. Splinters caused leaks in her oil tanks, destroyed her gyrocompass and radios. The captain decided to return to Manila, rescuing survivors, and arrived on 27 November, starting repairs at Cavite until 29 November.

Take and Kuwa were ordered to escort the third echelon of TA-7 from Manila to Ormoc Bay from 1 December, Kuwa taking up a patrol position seaward of the unloading convoy, Take loading survivors from a previous convoy. They were spotted en route by 2 US aircraft and caught by three destroyers ordered to intercept them, and by radar, detected them from 20,000 yards (18,000 m) at 23:55, opening fire at 00:08. Take was engaged by USS Moale from 7,500 yards (6,900 m) with accurate gunfire. Both her Kuwa fired their torpedoes and tried to disengage but Kuwa was crippled and soon dead in the water, while one of her “long lance” struck USS Cooper, breaking her in half at 00:13. Take rescued a dud shell in her forward engine room but the flooding forced to abandon the engine room. She managed to sail back to Manila with a single propeller, repairs starting on 4 December, she as later sent to Japan, escorting a convoy back home via Taiwan. She spent time at Sasebo, still at Kure when TF 58 attacked the port on 19 March 1945. She escaped damage and was modified on 20 April with a sloping ramp at her stern to operate Kaitens. But work stalled and she was captured in that state with the surrender of Japan on 2 September, stricken 5 October, disarmed used as repatriation vessel in 1945–1947, after which she was turned over to UK on 14 August 1948 and scrapped in Singapore.

IJN Ume 梅 (Japanese apricot) was N°5483 ordered from Fujinagata Shipyards. She was laid down on 25 January 1944, launched on 24 April 1944 and completed on 28 June 1944. She joined DesRon 11 and then the DesDiv 43, transferred to the 31st Escort Squadron, 5th Fleet on 20 August. With sisters Momi and Momo, she escorted Ryūhō and Kaiyō from Sasebo to Keelung (Taiwan) and back to Kure on 2 November. Next she escorted Ise and Hyūga ferrying supplies to Manila on 9 November, marred by US air raids so they ended in the Spratly Islands. Ume joined the 2nd Fleet from Brunei to Mako and later she took part in the Battle of Ormoc Bay (Battle of Leyte) when assigned to TA No. 8 with Momo, Sugi, Ch.18 and Ch.38 with her captain acting as convoy commander, escorting five troopships with 4,000 men from the 68th Brigade to Ormoc, departing on 5 December. The landing took place south of Ormoc on 7 December but they were spotted by US aircraft and the convoy was diverted to San Isidro before unloading. They were in that process when attacked by F4U Corsair from VMF-211. She ran aground but claimed three Corsairs. Her captain ordered all ships to beach themselves and continue to unload while the escorts withdrew northward. More attacks in the afternoon damaged Ume and Sugi, sank two transports. To the 24 Corsairs, 86 P-47 Thunderbolts and 43 Curtiss P-40 Warhawks took part in the attack. Ume reached Manila two days later and was damaged by an US bomb on 15 December, fleeing to Hong Kong for repairs. Then she proceeded to Takao (Taiwan) on 20 January 1945 and 10 days later with Kaede, Shiokaze she tried to evacuate stranded aircrew from Aparri in the Philippines when the next day, B-25 Mitchells from the 822d Bombardment Squadron attacked them 20 miles (32 km) south of Taiwan. She was sunk, with 77 men killed and 36 wounded.

Momo 桃 (Peach) was N°5484, second ordered from Maizuru Naval Arsenal, laid down on 5 November 1943, launched on 25 March 1944 and commissioned on 10 June 1944. She was assigned to DesRon 11, Combined Fleet for training, then DesDiv 43rd, transferred to the 31st Escort Squadron, 5th Fleet, her career mirroring Ume seen above. So she escorted the aircraft carriers Ryūhō and Kaiyō to Keelung, her captain being commander for the voyage and then the hybrid battleship/carriers Ise and Hyūga when diverted to the Spratly Islands, their cargo transferred to fast transports on 15–16 November. Momo, Ume and Isuzu, sailed to Manila Bay, docked in Manila on 18 November, departed for Brunei and Isuzu torpedoed by USS Hake en route, survived, was diverted to Singapore escorted by Momo and Sugi.
On 24 November, Momo and Shimotsuki departed Singapore for Manila with the “TA” resupply missions but Shimotsuki the next say was sunk by USS Cavalla, Momo hunting her down and rescuing 46 survivors. She was present at the Battle of Ormoc Bay while assigned to TA No. 8 with Ume, Sugi, Ch.18 and Ch.38, five troopships (68th Brigade) to Ormoc. Air atacks diverted them to San Isidro, followed by a raid from Corsairs of VMF-211. She later withdrew northward but afternoon attacks damaged her, she later returned to render assistance to transports, and that night she accidentally hit a reef off Masabate Island. She went back to Manila on 8 December for repairs at Cavite Navy Yard. Next she departed with the sub-chaser Ch.60 in escort of the cargo liner Ōryoku Maru with 3,511 Japanese military personnel as well as civilians, and 1,619 POWs on 14 December. They were savaged by USS Hornet, badly damaging Ōryoku Maru, forced to beach herself in Subic Bay. The escorts repelled many attacks by carrier aircraft, Momo hit twice by bombs starting a fire amidship. The torpedoes were ejected overboard, and she was reduced to 14 knots but was unable to return for repairs and instead proceeded towards Takao only to be ambushed on 15 December underway by USS Hawkbill. She landed a torpedo in her aft boiler room. She sank 140 miles (230 km) west-southwest of Cape Bolinao in Luzon. Ch.60 rescued survivors, 92 killed, 36 wounded. She was stricken on 10 February 1945.

Kuwa 桑 (Mulberry) was N°5485, second ordered at Fujinagata Shipyards, laid down on 20 December 1943, launched on 25 May 1944 and completed on 15 July 1944. Kuwa joined DesRon 11, DesDiv 43 and took part in the Battle off Cape Engaño on 25 October 1944, as part of VADM Ozawa Jisaburō and his Northern Force while escorting Zuihō and Chiyoda, rescuing hundreds of survivors from Zuihō only to be attacked by 10 US aircraft underway for Okinawa, only lightly damaged. In Nakagusuku Bay she transferred 310 survivors to Isuzu. Next she was with her meeting at Amami Ōshima on 27 October to transfer survivors to IJN Hyūga. Sehe was later repaired at Kure Naval Arsenal until 8 November. Next she was transferred to Escort Squadron 31 with Ise and Hyūga with supplies to Manila (see above). She was transferred to DesDiv 52, 5th Fleet and sent to Brunei to help build a new seaplane base when Isuzu was torpedoed, escorted to Singapore for repairs while she proceeded to Manila. She then escorted Convoy TA-7 from Manila to Ormoc Bay. But they were at first spotted by aviation and later picked by radars from 20,000 yards (18,000 m) at 23:55, followed by an interception by destroyers at 00:08. Kuwa duelled with USS Allen M. Sumner from 9,000 yards (8,200 m) and USS Cooper at 12,000 yards, and gunfire was so accurate she was badly mauled in three minutes, but she could fire her torpedoes before being crippled at 00:20. USS Cooper broke in half at 00:13, hit by one of her “long lances”. But Kuwa lost all power, burning, drifting for an hour or two before sinking with half her crew with eight survivors pickup up first, and others by the US. Stricken on 10 February 1945. Her wreck was located and explored on December 2005.

Kiri 桐 (Paulownia) was N°5486, second ordered from Yokosuka Naval Arsenal. She was laid down on 1 February 1944, launched on 27 May 1944 and completed on 14 August 1944. She joined DesRon 11 for training, the DesDiv 43, Escort Squadron 31 on 30 September and took part in the Battle off Cape Engaño while escorting Hyūga and Ise and then the 2nd Fleet from occupied Brunei to Mako, Pescadores. Her unit was transferred to the 5th Fleet on 20 November and she was slightly damaged the following day in an air attack. She escorted a convoy from Formosa to Manila on 8 December, the Manila-Ormoc-Manila on 9–13 December., moderately damaged by strafing on 12 December, rescuing 214 survivors from Yūzuki. She escorted another convoy, Manila to Moji (Kyūshū) via Formosa until 8 January 1945 and was repaired at Kure. Next she was with Convoy MOTA-33 from Moji to Keelung from 22 January ending in Shanghai. She was in the 2nd Fleet from 15 March to 20 April, then Combined Fleet and survived the war. She was surrendered to Allied forces at Kure on 2 September, stricken on 5 October, disarmed used as repatriation ship in 1945–1947, ceded to USSR on 29 July 1948 at Nakhodka. She was recommissioned as Vozrozhdionny but disarmed, converted as target ship TsL-25 on 17 June 1949, transferred to the Pacific Fleet on 23 April 1953, hulked as a floating workshop on 16 September 1957 as PM-65 until stricken on 20 December 1969, BU.

Sugi 杉 (Cedar) was N°5487, third ship ordered from Fujinagata Shipyards. She was laid down on 25 February 1944, launched on 3 July 1944 and completed on 25 August 1944. After training with DesRon 11, she joined DesDiv 43 and took part in the Battle off Cape Engaño, Northern Force before going for convoy escort duties from 9 November from Japan to Taiwan and the Philippines in DesDiv 52 with four sisters, then Escort Squadron 31, 5th Fleet, escorting more convoys in the Philippines and the South China Sea, lightly damaged by strafing on 7 December (Battle of Ormoc Bay, 32 killed) and also during the attack of Manila a week later. She headed for Cam Ranh Bay (French Indochina) for Operation Rei, an attack at San Jose, Mindoro with five DDs, two cruisers from 24 December. They were attacked by aircraft and damaged, Sugi later escaped a PT boat attack. She was further damaged by TF 38 aircraft at Takao on 21 January 1945 (South China Sea raid) and was in convoy from Shanghai to Moji on 2–7 February, docked in Sasebo for repairs. Her unit was transferred to the Combined Fleet, and she left Kure on 13 March for the Seto Inland Sea, ending the war there due to the lack of fuel. She was surrendered in Kure on 2 September, stricken on 5 October, disarmed, used as repatriation vessel 1945–1947, ceded to the Republic of China Navy on 31 July 1948 as Hui Yang; hulked, stricken 11 November 1954, cannibalized for her sister Xin Yang and BU.

Maki 槇 (Podocarpaceae) was n° 5488, third ordered from Maizuru Naval Arsenal, laid down on 19 February 1944, launched on 10 June 1944 and completed on 10 August 1944. She trained in DesDiv 11, was assigned to DesDiv 43, Escort Squadron 31 on 30 September, being present at the Battle off Cape Engaño, rescuing 150 survivors from Akizuki and from Chiyoda whle being herself moderately damaged by a bomb and several near-misses. Her rudder jammed, and she was limited to 20 knots while having 31 killed. Her unit (Escort Squadron 31) was transferred to the 5th Fleet on 20 November, and she assisted IJN Haruna and Jun’yō from Mako back to Japan on 6–10 December. En route, she was ambushed by USS Plaice on 9 December, hit by a single torpedo in the bow. Her bulkheads held on, and she proceeded to Sasebo for repairs, and was back to the Combined Fleet on 5 February 1945, assigned to the 2nd Fleet (15 March-20 April), transferred to Kure on 26 March, but stuck in the Seto Inland Sea. With Kaya and Hanazuki, she escorted Yamato through the Inland Sea on 6 April before Operation Ten-Go, as far as the Bungo Straight. She was ceded to the allies in Kure on 2 September, stricken 5 October, disarmed, repatriate ship 1945–1947, to UK on 14 August, BU locally.

IJN Maki postwar, colorized by Irootoko Jr.

Momi 樅 (Abies firma) N°5489, 3rd from Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, laid down on 1 February 1944, launched on 16 June 1944 and completed on 3 September 1944. After the usual training at DesRon 11, she joined Hinoki, escorting Ryūhō and Kaiyō from Sasebo to Keelung and back to Kure. In DesDiv 52 from 15 November she joined Escort Squadron 31 and with Shigure and Hinoki, escorted IJN Unryū by mid-December. The latter was to deliver 30 Ohka kamikaze to Manila, and they sailed west through the Shimonoseki Straits on 17 December, turned south, but eventually were ambushed by USS Redfish which sank Unryū. Momi and Shigure picked up 146 men. She headed for Takao, Shigure remaining behind to hunt down Redfish. Both met at Manila on 22–24 December, sailed to Cam Ranh Bay, Cape St. Jacques on 25–28 December and they escorted ex-Italian reefer ship Ikutagawa Maru from Cape St. Jacques to Manila on 4 January 1945. They were ordered to return to Indochina while US forces attacked Lingayen Gulf and were spotted by US aircraft. Ikutagawa Maru separated. Eventually US DDs were vectored on them, with USS Bennion led HMAS Gascoyne and Warrego, using radar to catch them at 15:48 from 23,300 yd (21,300 m). They kept a speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) to keep formation, and were spotted by the Japanese who reversed course back towards Manila, until fire started from 18,700 yards (17,100 m) at 15:57. The Japanese made a smoke screen but Bennion and Gascoyne opened fire again at 16:03, increased speed, close the range, fired at 16:24 from 17,400 yards, then 14,300 yards at 16:36, then reversed course at 16:40 when learning of a strike launched by TG 77.2 (16 Avengers, 19 Hellcat). Bennion spent 349 5-inch rounds without a single hit but Momi ended with one Avenger torpedo. She blew up and sank with all hands, stricken on 10 March.

Kashi 樫 (Live oak) n°5490 was ordered from Fujinagata Shipyards (4th in class), laid down on 5 May 1944, launched on 13 August 1944 and completed on 30 September 1944. After training with DesRon 11, she escorted a convoy to Singapore on 14 November–4 December s part of DesDiv 52, DesRon 11, then Escort Squadron 31 and alternated between Manila and Cam Ranh Bay in December and Operation Rei on Mindoro on 24 December, but they were attacked and damaged by aircraft on Xmas day. She was in Takao (Taiwan) on 7 January 1945, damaged by aircraft on 21 January, repaired at reach Hong Kong and with a convoy from Shanghai to Moji by 2–7 February. She was repaired at Sasebo, and at Kure on 14 March but stuck in the Seto Inland Sea, lightly damaged in the attack on Kure and the Inland Sea in July, turned over to the Allies at Kure, stricken 5 October, disarmed, repatriation ship under Allied control until 1947, ceded to the USA on 7 August, scrapped in Kobe from 20 March 1948.

Kaya 榧 (Torreya nucifera) was ordered as N°5492 at Maizuru Naval Arsenal. She was laid down on 10 April 1944, launched on 30 July 1944 and completed on 30 September 1944. After training with DesRon 11 (same for all her sisters), she escorted her first convoy to and from Taiwan during 25 October–18 November. With DesDiv 43, Escort Squadron 31, 5th Fleet, she escorted a convoy to Manila via Taiwan by December. Next she operated from Cam Ranh Bay and took part in Operation Rei on Mindoro, lightly damaged by strafing. She was in Takao on 7 January 1945, proceeded to Maizuru, docked for repairs and on 5 February, joined the Combined Fleet, Kure on 2 March, remaining in the Seto Inland Sea until the end of the war but helping Yamato for Operation ten-Go to Okinawa from 6 April. Ceded to the Allied forces at Kure on 2 September, stricken 5 October, disarmed, repatriation vessel in 1945–1947, turned over to USSR on 5 July 1947, recommissioned as Volevoy on 22 July. In reserve on 14 February 1949, disarmed, converted as target ship TsL-23 on 17 June, transferred to the Pacific on 23 April 1953. Hulked as OT-61 on 10 June 1958, stricken 1 August 1959, BU.

Nara 楢 (Oak) was N°5493 when ordered from Fujinagata Shipyards. She was laid down on 10 June 1944, launched on 12 October 1944 and commissioned on 26 November 1944. She was assigned to DesDiv 53 on 15 March, 2nd Fleet on 1–20 April, then Combined Fleet. Not only that, but she was badly damaged by a mine near the Shimonoseki Strait on 30 June. The division was disbanded on 15 July, and she was disarmed and towed to Moji in 1945, turned over to Allied forces on 2 September, stricken on 30 November. She was never repaired and BU at Shimonoseki from 1st July 1948.

Sakura 櫻 (Cherry blossom) was N°5496 when ordered as a Matsu class at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, laid down on 2 June 1944, launched on 6 September 1944 and commissioned on 25 November 1944. On 12 February 1945, she departed Moji with Convoy MOTA-36 for Keelung, escorting the cruiser Kashima to Shanghai, and remained in the area for patrol and escort. On 15 March she was reassigned to DesDiv 53 and sent back to Kure, briefly attached to the Second Fleet on 1–20 April, then Combined Fleet. She was damaged by a mine in Shimonoseki Strait (Kyushu-Honshu) on 25 May and tasked with minesweeping duties, partially repaired apparently, the following month. She struck another mine on 11 July in Osaka which detonated this time her aft magazine, making her loosing her stern. She sank with 130 crewmen, stricken on 10 August 1945.

Yanagi 柳 (Willow) was N°5497, ordered from Fujinagata Shipyards, laid down on 20 August 1944, launched on 25 November 1944 and completed on 8 January 1945. She was assigned to Destroyer Division 53, Second Fleet on 1–20 April, then Combined Fleet. Next she was transferred to the Ominato area for convoy escort but attacked during TF 38 raids on Hokkaido and northern Honshu. On 14 July, she had a direct bom hit severing her stern (blown off) in the Tsugaru Strait. She was towed to Ominato, but her unit was disbanded, and she was still unrepaired at Ominato in other air raids in the Hokkaido area on 9–10 August and badly damaged. She was turned over to Allies at Hakodate on 2 September, stricken on 20 November, disarmed at Ominato on 1 April 1947 and end as a breakwater close to Suzutsuki and Fuyutsuki from May 1948 in Wakamatsu-ku. Furthermore, she was still visible recently.

Tsubaki 椿 (Camellia) was ordered as N°5498 at Maizuru Naval Arsenal, laid down on 20 June 1944, launched on 30 September 1944 and completed on 30 November 1944. She escorted a convoy from Moji to Shanghai on 15 February 1945 and remained here patrolling. On 15 March she joined DesDiv 53, and attached to the 2nd Fleet on 1–20 April, then the Combined Fleet. She struck a mine in the Yangtze on 10 April 1945 (laid by B-29s) and after summary repairs, she escorted a convoy to Japan on 30 May, then had full repairs at Moji and remained in the Seto Inland Sea. On 15 July her unit was disbanded, and she was hit near Okayama in other air raids around the Inland Sea on 24 July. Sent to Kure for repairs, they were never completed before August. Turned over to the allies on 2 September, stricken on 30 November, she was Bu at Kure from 28 July 1948.

Hinoki 檜 (Chamaecyparis obtusa) was ordered as N°5502 at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, laid down on 4 March 1944, launched on 4 July 1944 and completed on 30 September 1944. After the usual training with DesDiv 11 she escorted Ryūhō and Kaiyō from Sasebo to Keelung, joined DesDiv 52 on 15 November under Commander Iwagami Juichi as the division’s commander. The unit was attached to Escort Squadron 31, 5th Fleet, escorting Unryū to Manila, and she damaged her tormentor, USS Redfish on 19 December. Next they were in Takao and proceeded to Manila on 22–24 December. Next, they steamed to Cape St. Jacques in Indochina and with Momi escorted Ikutagawa Maru to Manila, 4 January 1945.
They left Manila for Indochina and the Lingayen Gulf when spotted by US aircraft and later intercepted by allied ships, USS Bennion, MHAS Gascoyne and Warrego (see above). Long story short, the allied attack was a fiasco, and they were dealt instead by Task Group 77.4.1 which sank Momi. Hinoki survived her torpedo but had 21 killed and 45 wounded.
She had emergency repairs until 7 January, and departed for Manila after dark until she was picked up by the radar of USS Charles Ausburne from DesDiv 23 herself in convoy, at 21:15 from 40,000 yards (37,000 m). However, the contact was irregular so she was picked up one hour later, so Ausburne sped up to 25 knots to close and identify the blip. She fired a star shell at 22:26 and recognized Hinoki from 10,000 yards (9,100 m). IJN Hinoki turned away and brought her torpedoes to bear, fired but missed thanks to efficient evasive turns during the pursuit. In return, she took shell hits from at 22:35 and until the range fell to 1,100 yards (1,000 m) she was hammered for twenty minutes and sank with all hands. USS Charles Ausburne only had a near-missed, her captain considered his ship lucky. Hinoki was stricken on 10 April 1945.

Kaede 楓 (Maple) was ordered as N°5505 at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, laid down on 4 March 1944, launched on 25 June 1944 and completed 30 October 1944. She was assigned to DesDiv 52, Escort Squadron 31 and on 22–27 January 1945, escorted a convoy from Moji to Hong Kong and to Takao. She joined later Shiokaze to Aparri, Luzon, to evacuate stranded aircrew on 30 January. A day latter she was spotted by B-25 bombers of the 822d Bombardment Squadron, badly damaging her, set on fire by a bomb hit (40 killed, 30 wounded). She had emergency repairs in Takao, not completed before 21 February, just enough to sail to Kure, but they were never completed. She was surrendered there on 2 September, stricken on 5 October, disarmed used as repatriation ship on 1945–1947, turned over to the Republic of China Navy on 6 July as Heng Yang but hulked, training ship from 1 October 1949, stricken in 1960 and BU.

Keyaki 欅 (Zelkova serrata) was N°5508, ordered from Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, laid down on 22 June 1944, launched on 30 September 1944 and completed on 15 December 1944. On 15 March she joined DesDiv 53, briefly attached to the 2nd Fleet on 1–20 April and Combined Fleet, seeing little activity until her division was disbanded on 15 July. She was reassigned to the Osaka Guard District until turned over to Allies at Yokosuka on 2 September, stricken on 5 October, disarmed, used as repatriate vessel until 1947, then turned over to the US on 5 July and sunk as a target.

Read More/Src

Books

John Gardiner’s Conways all the worlds fighting ships 1922-47 p.196

Links

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ww2db.com
navypedia.org
ja.wikipedia.org
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Matsu class wiki
Type 93 model 2 sonar
Matsu class the pacific war encyclo
Type 93 model 2 hydrophones
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Model Kits

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