Minekaze class destroyer - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The was a class

Ship class

A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....

of fifteen 1st-class destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

s of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Imperial Japanese Navy

The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...

. Obsolete by the beginning of the Pacific War

Pacific War

The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...

, the Minekaze class ships were relegated to mostly secondary roles, serving throughout the war as patrol vessels, high speed transports, target control vessels, and as kaiten

Kaiten

The Kaiten were manned torpedos and suicide craft, they were used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the final stages of World War II.-History:...

(suicide torpedo) carriers. Most ultimately were lost to U.S.

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

and British

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

submarines.

Background

Construction of the large-sized Minekaze-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's 8-4 Fleet Program

Eight-eight fleet

The was a Japanese naval strategy formulated for the development of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the first quarter of the 20th century, which laid down that the Japanese navy should include eight first-class battleships and eight armoured cruisers or battlecruisers.-History and development:The...

from fiscal 1917–1920, as an accompaniment to the medium sized Momi-class

Momi class destroyer

The Momi class destroyers was a class of twenty one 2nd class destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. All were named for plants. Obsolete by the beginning of the Pacific War, the Momi were relegated to mostly secondary roles, with some vessels serving throughout the war as patrol vessels...

with which they shared many common design characteristics.

Equipped with powerful engines, these vessels were capable of high speeds and were intended as escorts for the projected Amagi class

Amagi class battlecruiser

The was a series of four battlecruisers planned for the Imperial Japanese Navy as part of the so-called Eight-eight fleet. The ships were to be named Amagi, , Atago, and Takao; the first three were named for mountains , while the fourth was named for the town of Takao, Formosa...

battlecruiser

Battlecruiser

Battlecruisers were large capital ships built in the first half of the 20th century. They were developed in the first decade of the century as the successor to the armoured cruiser, but their evolution was more closely linked to that of the dreadnought battleship...

s, which were ultimately never built.

Two vessels were authorized in fiscal 1917, and an addition five in fiscal 1918. Although none had been completed by the end of World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, the Japanese Navy decided to continue the project as many older destroyers were in need of replacement. An additional five vessels were ordered in fiscal 1919, and a final three in fiscal 1920. However, the final three vessels were built to a different design and have a different enough silhouette that they can be regarded as a separate sub-class.

The new destroyers were fast and powerful ships that were equal to any of their foreign contemporaries.

Design

Coming between the foreign designed vessels of the earlier part of the century and the innovative Kagero

Kagero class destroyer

The was a class of ships in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. There were 19 ships total in the class. The IJN called them from their plan name.-Description:...

and Fubuki

Fubuki class destroyer

The was a class of twenty four destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Fubuki class has been called "the world's first modern destroyer." The Fubuki class not only set a new standard for Japanese vessels, but for destroyers around the world...

'Special Type' destroyers of the 1930s, the Minekaze-class was a significant transitional design for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Minekaze represented a complete break from previous practice of closely following British designs and methods.

The Minekaze class incorporated a number of distinctive design innovations including a lengthened forecastle

Forecastle

Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters...

with a break forming a well deck immediately forward of the bridge

Bridge (ship)

The bridge of a ship is the room or platform from which the ship can be commanded. When a ship is underway the bridge is manned by an OOW aided usually by an AB acting as lookout...

. This arrangement offered the advantage of a low, semi protected area for the forward torpedo tubes albeit at the cost of becoming awash in heavy seas.

The engines utilized four Kampon boilers running two-shaft geared turbine

Steam turbine

A steam turbine is a mechanical device that extracts thermal energy from pressurized steam, and converts it into rotary motion. Its modern manifestation was invented by Sir Charles Parsons in 1884....

s at 38,500 shp, yielding a rated speed of 39 knots (76.4 km/h). However, as with previous designs, high fuel consumption meant limited range.

Armament consisted of four Type 3 120 mm 45 caliber naval gun

Type 3 120 mm 45 caliber naval gun

The Type 3 120 mm 45 caliber naval gun was a Japanese naval artillery and coast defense gun used on destroyers and submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War I and World War II...

s, six 21" torpedo tubes in three sets of double launchers and two 7.7 mm machine guns. Ships of this class could also be equipped to carry up to 20 mine

Naval mine

A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...

Nokaze sub-class

The final three vessels in the Minekaze series incorporated a number of improvements gained through operational experience, and form a separate sub-class. The primary difference was in the arrangement of the aft armament. With the Minekaze-class, the aft guns were pedestal-mounted along the centerline, with two double torpedo launchers in between. This severely limited the arc of fire of the No. 3 gun. The improved design had a better gunnery fire control system and improved ammunition magazine arrangements. Gun and torpedo positions were changed: the No. 3 gun formerly mounted aft of the second funnel was moved further aft to the "X" position. Torpedo mounts No. 2 and No. 3 were moved closer together and the searchlight platform formerly between them was moved forward to just aft of the second funnel.

Operational history

Commissioned during the 1920s, the Minekaze class ships were the mainstay of the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer squadrons throughout the 1930s until gradually replaced by more advanced types.

In 1938, Okikaze

Japanese destroyer Okikaze

was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...

was disarmed, but in 1941 with the war fast approaching she remounted her guns. Nadakaze

Japanese destroyer Nadakaze

was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, the Minekaze-class served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War...

and Shimakaze

Japanese destroyer Shimakaze

Japanese destroyer Shimakaze may refer to one of the following ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy:, an destroyer launched in 1920, renamed Patrol Boat No.1 in 1940 and sunk in 1943., a one-off WWII period super-destroyer launched in 1942, sunk in 1944...

were derated to patrol boat

Patrol boat

A patrol boat is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defense duties.There have been many designs for patrol boats. They may be operated by a nation's navy, coast guard, or police force, and may be intended for marine and/or estuarine or river environments...

s in 1939 and 1940. In 1939 Sawakaze

Japanese destroyer Sawakaze

was used as an aircraft rescue ship at Tateyama Naval Air Station, but reverted to her original role at the outbreak of the war.

List of Ships

Kanji	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
峯風	Minekaze Japanese destroyer Minekaze was the lead ship of the destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War....	Maizuru Naval Arsenal Maizuru Naval Arsenal was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Maizuru Naval District was established at Maizuru, Kyoto in 1889, as the fourth of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the... , Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...	1918-04-20	1919-02-08	1920-05-29	Torpedoed E of Taiwan [23.12N, 121.30E] 1944-02-10; struck 1944-03-31
澤風	Sawakaze Japanese destroyer Sawakaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...	Mitsubishi-Nagasaki Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale... , Japan	1918-01-07	1919-01-07	1920-03-06	Retired 1945-09-15; scuttled 1948
沖風	Okikaze Japanese destroyer Okikaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...	Maizuru Naval Arsenal Maizuru Naval Arsenal was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Maizuru Naval District was established at Maizuru, Kyoto in 1889, as the fourth of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the... , Japan	1919-02-22	1919-10-03	1920-08-17	Torpedoed S of Yokosuka [35.02N, 140.12E] 1943-01-10; struck 1943-03-01
島風	Shimakaze Japanese destroyer Shimakaze (1920) was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. In speed trials during commissioning, Shimakaze was clocked at , setting a new record for Japanese destroyers at that time. Advanced for their time, the Minekaze-class served as first-line destroyers through...	Maizuru Naval Arsenal Maizuru Naval Arsenal was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Maizuru Naval District was established at Maizuru, Kyoto in 1889, as the fourth of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the... , Japan	1919-09-05	1920-03-31	1920-11-15	Patrol Boat PB-1 1940-04-01; torpedoed W of Kavieng [02.51S, 149.43E]; struck 1943-02-10
灘風	Nadakaze Japanese destroyer Nadakaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, the Minekaze-class served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War...	Maizuru Naval Arsenal Maizuru Naval Arsenal was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Maizuru Naval District was established at Maizuru, Kyoto in 1889, as the fourth of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the... , Japan	1920-01-09	1920-06-26	1921-09-30	Patrol Boat PB-2 1940-04-01; torpedoed Lombok Strait [07.06S, 115.42E] 1945-07-25; struck 1945-09-30
矢風	Yakaze Japanese destroyer Yakaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...	Mitsubishi-Nagasaki Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale... , Japan	1918-08-15	1920-04-10	1920-07-19	Torpedo School vessel 1942-07-20; lost in explosion 1945-07-20; struck 1945-09-15
羽風	Hakaze Japanese destroyer Hakaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...	Mitsubishi-Nagasaki Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale... , Japan	1918-11-11	1920-06-21	1920-09-16	Torpedoed SW of Kavien [02.47S, 150.38E] 1943-01-23; struck 1943-03-01
汐風	Shiokaze Japanese destroyer Shiokaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...	Maizuru Naval Arsenal Maizuru Naval Arsenal was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Maizuru Naval District was established at Maizuru, Kyoto in 1889, as the fourth of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the... , Japan	1920-05-15	1920-10-22	1921-07-29	Retired 1945-10-05, scuttled 1948
秋風	Akikaze Japanese destroyer Akikaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following the end of World War I. The Minekaze class of destroyer were considered advanced for their time; these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s...	Mitsubishi-Nagasaki Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale... , Japan	1920-06-07	1920-12-14	1921-09-16	Torpedoed W of Luzon [16.48N, 117.17E] 1944-11-03; struck 1945-01-10
夕風	Yukaze Japanese destroyer Yukaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...	Mitsubishi-Nagasaki Mitsubishi Heavy Industries , or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale... , Japan	1920-12-14	1921-04-28	1921-08-24	Retired 1945-10-05; prize of war Prize of war A prize of war is a piece of military property seized by the victorious party after a war or battle, typically at sea. This term was used nearly exclusively in terms of a captured ship during the 18th and 19th centuries.... to UK 1947-08-14; BU
太刀風	Tachikaze Japanese destroyer Tachikaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...	Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan	1920-08-18	1921-03-31	1921-12-05	Air attack at Truk [07.04N, 151.55E] 1944-02-17; struck 1944-03-13
帆風	Hokaze Japanese destroyer Hokaze was a destroyer, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I. Advanced for their time, these ships served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, but were considered obsolescent by the start of the Pacific War.-History:...	Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan	1920-11-30	1921-07-12	1921-12-22	Torpedoed N of Celebes [03.24N, 125.28E] 1944-07-06; struck 1944-09-10
野風	Nokaze Japanese destroyer Nokaze was the lead ship of the Nokaze sub-class, an improvement to the 1st class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I...	Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan	1921-04-16	1921-10-01	1922-03-31	Torpedoed off Cam Ranh Bay [12.48N, 109.38E] 1945-02-20; struck 1944-04-10
波風	Namikaze Japanese destroyer Namikaze was the second ship of the Nokaze sub-class, an improvement to the 1st class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I...	Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan	1921-11-07	1922-06-24	1922-11-11	Retired 1945-10-05 Prize of war to China 1947-10-03, BU 1960
沼風	Numakaze Japanese destroyer Numakaze was third and final vessel in the Nokaze sub-class, an improvement to the 1st class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy immediately following World War I...	Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan	1921-08-10	1922-05-22	1922-07-24	Torpedoed SE Okinawa [26.29N, 128.26E] 1943-12-19, struck 1944-02-05

External links

Imperial Japanese Navy

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