Fubuki class
 The Isonami in 1938.
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The Fubuki class ( Japanese 吹 雪 型 駆 逐 艦 , Fubuki-gata kuchikukan ) was a class of 20 destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy , which were used in World War II . The Japanese Navy also referred to the ships as special-type destroyers.
Development history and construction
The Imperial Japanese Navy was dissatisfied with the terms of the agreement after the Washington Naval Treaty was signed in 1922, as it did not grant it parity with the British and American navies . So the Admiralty went to work to see what ships the Navy would need in a supposed war against the United States . It was Japan's insularity and its dependence on maritime trade involved for their livelihoods with. As a result of these considerations, a fleet of 144 destroyers was deemed necessary. With a total tonnage of 201,600 ts available, this allowed the construction of destroyers with 1,400 ts displacement. This tonnage was in itself completely sufficient to work out a good destroyer design, but the Navy wanted to compensate for their tonnage contingent, which was considered too small, with constructive quality. In addition, they wanted the fleet to have a long range in order to be able to operate in the vastness of the Pacific , and unlike the German Imperial Navy, the Japanese did not mind if any contractual conditions had to be exceeded.
As early as October 1922, the proposal for the design of a 2000 ts destroyer was submitted. He envisaged a ship armed with two 12 cm twin mounts and six torpedo tubes, which should run at a speed of 40 knots. However, it was not until 1924 that this was converted into a precise design called F24 . An additional set of triple torpedo tubes was added, the speed was reduced to 39 knots and a distance of 4000 nautical miles at 14 knots was provided. The inclusion of the newly introduced torpedoes with a caliber of 61 cm, which were tested on the destroyers of the Mutsuki class , should give these destroyers a tremendous impact. In addition, this should be strengthened by carrying nine reserve torpedoes. However, this draft caused some discussion and disagreement within the Admiral's staff, as the water displacement was far above that permitted in the naval agreement. That is, the number of destroyers would have been well below the 144 units considered necessary. This led to further studies with the result that the tonnage fell by 250 ts to 1,750 ts. At the same time, a third double carriage was added, as the navy had only agreed to a reduction in water displacement without loss of combat strength. However, this meant that a less powerful propulsion system would have had to be installed, which would have meant the loss of one knot of speed, and the capacity of the ammunition chambers would have been 10% smaller. But this draft was also not approved and further changes had to be made. These mainly concerned the propulsion system, which allowed a maximum speed of 35 knots with a propulsion power of 50,000 shaft horsepower. But this also had positive aspects, as the sea endurance increased by 20% by increasing the bunker capacity. The armament was now to consist of six 12.7 cm guns in double carriage, one 7.6 cm anti-aircraft gun, two 4 cm guns, two 7.7 mm machine guns and nine torpedo tubes in 61 cm caliber. This design, known as the special type, had several outstanding aspects. The armament was housed in weatherproof gun conversions, which also offered splinter protection. This had never happened before on ships of this size. A new caliber of 12.7 cm, for the first time on Japanese destroyers, was introduced and the torpedo tube set previously located in front of the bridge was given a better position further aft between the funnels. There, the adverse effects of seawater coming over were less. By removing this torpedo tube set, the forecastle could be pulled further aft and, together with the failure of the ship's sides at the bow and at the deck jump, improved sea characteristics resulted. The use of the high seas has also been further improved by the introduction of a covered bridge. However, the volume of the gun turret on the forecastle required that the bridge be at a considerable height above the deck.
As part of the construction program of 1923, five units with the designations Dai-35-Gō Kuchikukan to Dai-39-Gō Kuchikukan were ordered and four more - 40 to 43 - extraordinary in November 1925. After delays as a result of financial problems were in the context of the construction program Another fifteen units approved from 1927, 44 to 58.
Since the construction period of the 24 units extended over five years, modifications were made within this period. The first group - Dai-35-Gō Kuchikukan to Dai-44-Gō Kuchikukan - had simpler and less complicated fire control systems above the bridge and had clearly visible ventilation hoods for the boiler rooms on both sides of the chimney. The second group, also known as the Ayanami class, received a different tower model, more complicated fire control systems on an additional platform above the bridge, and modified and less conspicuous boiler rooms and air extraction ducts. Improvements to the boiler design from 1927 for the last four units - Dai-55-Gō Kuchikukan to Dai-58-Gō Kuchikukan - meant that these differed significantly in appearance from the others, which is why they were run as a separate class ( Akatsuki class ) become.
Prewar changes
When the first ship of the class, the Fubuki , entered service in August 1928, the other naval powers - especially the United States and Great Britain - were very concerned about it. The Americans had no modern destroyers than the end of the first world war built four choir Steiner ( Wickes - Caldwell - and Clemson class ), and the British destroyer of the A-Class were clearly inferior. But this appearance was deceptive, and although Western naval designers must have had doubts about the stated water displacement, they could not have known of the design's inherent weaknesses. In order to meet the demands of the fleet for speed, sea endurance, and armament with limited water displacement, the Navy's design department had to develop great ingenuity, which meant that weight had to be reduced in every possible way. This was achieved in particular through the use of light metal alloys for the superstructure, the installation of a lighter and less powerful propulsion system and extensive use of welding technology for the hull. Instead of the usual overlap connection, the butt joint was used on the hull to reduce frictional resistance and increase speed. The lengthened forecastle, the high bridge and the gun conversions resulted in an increase in weight of 200 ts compared to the design displacement - which was even increased in the ships of the 2nd group, as the tower model B was 20% higher in weight than model A. and the bridge an additional platform. When the torpedo control posts were given splinter protection, the water displacement increased even more. Together with the light propulsion system and the reduced ammunition chamber capacity , a dangerous top-heaviness had developed, but this was not recognized by the Japanese designers.
That something was wrong with the Japanese warships only became clear on March 12, 1934, when the torpedo boat Tomozuru , which had only been in service for three weeks, capsized in heavy seas with the loss of a large part of the crew due to top-heaviness. That the new destroyers also had problems became apparent on September 26, 1935, when the 4th Fleet on the east coast of Japan got caught in a typhoon. In the process, Hatsuyuki and Yūgiri lost the bow, Akebono , Murakumo and Ushio suffered serious damage to the strength of the ship, and Shirakumo , Amagiri , Oboro , Shirayuki and Usugumo suffered various degrees of damage to the hull . Although none of these destroyers were lost, the damage demonstrated the strength problems of the class. The result of these painful experiences was a large-scale and drastic rebuilding program to which all new ships completed in the late 1920s and early 1930s were subjected. For the Fubuki class this meant a stay in the shipyard between 1937 and 1938. The height of the bridge and chimneys were lowered, the fuel bunker and the capacity of the ammunition chamber increased - in order to get weight into the hull - and the number of reserve torpedoes on the upper deck increased from nine reduced to three. In addition, the hull had to be considerably reinforced by riveting and re-welding. The result was a knot gain in weight and a reduction in speed, but the destroyers were now operational and some of the best in the world.
List of ships
| Name (when planning) |
Name (on commissioning) |
Shipyard | Keel laying | Launch | Commissioning | Whereabouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st group | ||||||
|
Dai-35-Gō Kuchikukan number 35 destroyer |
Fubuki (吹 雪 , "snowstorm") |
Maizuru naval shipyard | June 19, 1926 | November 15, 1927 | August 10, 1928 | sunk by naval artillery on October 11, 1942, during the Battle of Cape Esperance |
|
Dai-36-Gō Kuchikukan number 36 destroyer |
Shirayuki ( 白雪 ) |
Mitsubishi , Yokohama |
March 19, 1927 | March 20, 1928 | December 18, 1928 | sunk on March 3, 1943 by americans Airplanes, southeast of Finschhafen |
|
Dai-37-Gō Kuchikukan number 37 destroyer |
Hatsuyuki ( 初雪 ) |
Maizuru naval shipyard | April 12, 1927 | September 29, 1928 | March 30, 1929 | sunk on July 17, 1943 by americans Planes, at Bougainville |
|
Dai-38-Gō Kuchikukan number 38 destroyer |
Muyuki ( 深雪 ) |
Uraga shipyard, Yokosuka |
September 30, 1927 | June 26, 1928 | June 29, 1929 | sunk on June 29, 1934 after colliding with the destroyer Inazuma in the Korea Strait south of Jejudo |
|
Dai-39-Gō Kuchikukan # 39 destroyer |
Murakumo ( 叢 雲 ) |
Fujinagata Shipyard, Osaka |
April 25, 1927 | September 27, 1928 | May 10, 1929 | sunk on October 12, 1942 by americans Airplanes, in the waters of the Solomon Islands |
|
Dai-40-Gō Kuchikukan No. 40 destroyer |
Shinonome (東 雲 ) |
Sasebo naval shipyard | August 12, 1926 | November 26, 1927 | May 27, 1928 | sunk on December 18, 1941 after being hit by a bomb, by the Lower Flying boat X-32 off British Borneo |
|
Dai-41-Gō Kuchikukan No.41 destroyer |
Usugumo ( 薄雲 ) |
Ishikawajima Shipyard , Tokyo |
October 21, 1926 | December 26, 1927 | July 26, 1928 | sunk on July 7, 1942 by americans USS Skate submarine , in the Sea of Okhotsk |
|
Dai-42-Gō Kuchikukan number 42 destroyer |
Shirakumo ( 白雲 ) |
Fujinagata Shipyard, Osaka |
October 27, 1926 | December 27, 1927 | July 28, 1928 | sunk on March 16, 1944 by americans USS Tautog submarine , east of Hokkaido |
|
Dai-43-Gō Kuchikukan # 43 destroyer |
Isonami ( 磯 波 ) |
Uraga shipyard, Yokosuka |
October 18, 1926 | November 24, 1927 | June 30, 1928 | sunk on April 9, 1943 by americans U-boat USS Tautog , south of Celebes |
|
Dai-44-Gō Kuchikukan # 44 destroyer |
Uranami ( 浦 波 ) |
Sasebo naval shipyard | April 28, 1927 | November 29, 1928 | June 30, 1929 | sunk on October 26, 1944 by americans Airplanes, south of Luzon |
|
2nd group ( Ayanami sub-class) |
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|
Dai-45-Gō Kuchikukan # 45 destroyer |
Ayanami ( 綾 波 ) |
Fujinagata Shipyard, Osaka |
January 20, 1928 | October 5, 1929 | April 30, 1930 | sunk by naval artillery on November 15, 1942, during the naval battle of Guadalcanal |
|
Dai-46-Gō Kuchikukan # 46 destroyer |
Shikinami ( 敷 波 ) |
Maizuru naval shipyard | July 6, 1928 | June 22, 1929 | December 24, 1929 | sunk on September 12, 1944 by americans USS Growler submarine , south of Hong Kong |
|
Dai-47-Gō Kuchikukan # 47 destroyer |
Asagiri ( 朝霧 ) |
Sasebo naval shipyard | December 12, 1928 | November 18, 1929 | June 30, 1930 | sunk on August 28, 1942 by americans Airplanes, in the waters of the Solomon Islands |
|
Dai-48-Gō Kuchikukan # 48 destroyer |
Yūgiri ( 夕 霧 ) |
Maizuru naval shipyard | April 1, 1929 | May 12, 1930 | 3rd December 1930 | sunk by naval artillery on November 26, 1943, during the sea battle near Cape St. George |
|
Dai-49-Gō Kuchikukan # 49 destroyer |
Amagiri (天 霧 ) |
Ishikawajima Shipyard, Tokyo |
November 28, 1928 | February 27, 1930 | November 10, 1930 | sunk on April 23, 1944 after being hit by a mine, off Borneo |
|
Dai-50-Gō Kuchikukan No 50 destroyer |
Sagiri (狭 霧 , "fog") |
Uraga shipyard, Yokosuka |
March 28, 1929 | December 23, 1929 | January 31, 1931 | sunk on December 18, 1941 after a torpedo hit, by the Lower Submarine K-XVI |
|
Dai-51-Gō Kuchikukan number 51 destroyer |
Oboro ( 朧 ) |
Sasebo naval shipyard | November 29, 1929 | November 8, 1930 | October 31, 1931 | sunk on October 16, 1942 by americans Airplanes, in the Aleutian waters ( Battle of the Aleutians ) |
|
Dai-52-Gō Kuchikukan No 52 destroyer |
Akebono ( 曙 ) |
Fujinagata Shipyard, Osaka |
October 25, 1929 | November 7, 1930 | July 31, 1931 | sunk on November 13, 1944 by americans Airplanes, in front of Manila |
|
Dai-53-Gō Kuchikukan number 53 destroyer |
Sazanami ( 漣 ) |
Maizuru naval shipyard | February 21, 1930 | June 6, 1931 | May 19, 1932 | sunk on January 14, 1944 by americans Submarine USS Albacore off Palau |
|
Dai-54-Gō Kuchikukan # 54 destroyer |
Ushio ( 潮 ) |
Uraga shipyard, Yokosuka |
December 24, 1929 | 17th November 1930 | November 14, 1931 | Spoils of war USSR: scrapped August 1948 |
|
3rd group ( Akatsuki class ) |
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|
Dai-55-Gō Kuchikukan Dai-56-Gō Kuchikukan Dai-57-Gō Kuchikukan Dai-58-Gō Kuchikukan |
Akatsuki Hibiki Ikazuchi Inazuma |
After design-related changes, managed as a separate class. | ||||
technical description
hull
The hull of a Fubiki- class destroyer was 118.41 meters long, 10.36 meters wide and had a draft of 3.2 meters with an operational displacement of 2,159 tons .
drive
It was driven by four oil-fired steam generators - Kampon-type boilers , each housed in a separate room - and two turbine sets with simple toothed gears with a total output of 50,000 HP (36,775 kW ). The power was delivered to two shafts with one screw each . The top speed was 35 knots (65 km / h ). 482 tons of fuel could be bunkered, resulting in a maximum travel distance of 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 km) at 14 knots.
crew
The crew had a strength of 197 men.
Armament
When commissioned, the armament consisted of six 12.7 cm Type 3 guns with a caliber length of 50 in three twin turrets, which were set up in the boat center line, one in front of the bridge structure and two behind or on the aft deckhouse. The inner tower B was arranged in such a way that it could overshoot the outer one (so-called excessive elevation). The first group was equipped with the tower model A, the second group with the model B. Both tower models had a lateral directional speed of 6 ° per second, an elevation speed of 12 ° per second and a negative elevation range of −6 °. The difference between the two was the positive elevation range, which was + 40 ° for model A and + 75 ° for model B. This meant that Model B was theoretically capable of air defense, but the low elevation speed and lack of training prevented it from being used effectively in this role. For air defense two 7.7 mm machine guns were of the type 92 are available, which were placed on both sides on a platform at the rear chimney. In addition, three triple torpedo tube sets in caliber 61 cm for torpedoes of type 8 with nine reserve torpedoes and two drainage racks for eighteen depth charges were on board as torpedo armament .
During the renovation phase in 1937/38, the Type 8 torpedoes were replaced by those of the Type 93 and there were only three reserve torpedoes on board, one each for a torpedo tube set. The anti-aircraft equipment was changed so that the two 13.2 mm machine guns of the Type 93 , which had previously replaced the two 7.7 mm machine guns of the Type 92, now with four 2.5 cm machine cannons of the Type 96 in double mounts have been replaced.
Due to the strong Allied air forces during the war, the 2.5 cm guns were continuously strengthened. It started with setting up an additional double carriage on a platform in front of the bridge, then putting tower B on land and replacing it with two triple carriage. With the twin mounts on both sides of the aft funnel replaced by triplet mounts, there were now fourteen 2.5 cm guns on board. From 1944 another fourteen single mounts were added, which increased the total to twenty-eight guns.
Sensors
sonar
To search for submarines one was echolocation system of the type 93 and a hydrophone -Set the Type 93 scaffolded. This hydrophone set consisted of two groups of eight sensors each, one group on each side of the ship.
radar
Japanese destroyers were not equipped with radio measurement technology from the beginning of the Pacific War . It was not until the middle of 1943 that the first selected units received the type 22 radar. This system, capable of surveillance and fire control , which consisted of a double horn - one for sending and one for receiving - was installed in the main mast behind the bridge. Due to the fact that early Japanese radar devices were unreliable and their operating personnel were poorly trained, commanders tended not to take information from them seriously and to rely on classic reconnaissance methods such as lookouts with optical devices. This trust became more and more problematic as the Americans introduced better and better radar systems and used them primarily for fire control.
In 1944, the surviving destroyers received type 13 devices for air surveillance , which had a long ladder antenna that was usually mounted on the aft mast.
literature
- Harald Fock: Fleet Chronicle - The active warships involved in the two world wars and their whereabouts . Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft, Hamburg 2000, ISBN 3-7822-0788-2 , p. 173-200 .
- Mike J. Whitley: Destroyer in World War II . Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1997, ISBN 3-613-01426-2 , p. 186-189 .
- Hansgeorg Jentschura, Dieter Jung, Peter Mickel: Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1869-1945 . US Naval Institute Press, Annapolis 1977, ISBN 0-87021-893-X , pp. 144-145 (English).
- Mark Stille: Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919–45 . tape 1 . Osprey Publishing , Oxford 2013, ISBN 978-1-84908-984-5 , pp. 7–8 and 21–32 (English).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Japanese Sonar and Asdic (USNTMJ E-10). (PDF) US Navy Technical Mission to Japan, December 14, 1945, pp. 7 and 11 , accessed on June 25, 2020 .