The Ayanami class of 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 Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force is the successor to the Harukaze class destroyer

Harukaze class destroyer

The Harukaze class destroyer was the first indigenous post-World War II Japanese destroyer class. Its main mission was anti-submarine warfare. This class was also called A Type destroyer.-Ships:-See also:...

 and with improved weaponry. This class's primary purpose is anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....

. All 7 vessels were named after Fubuki-class destroyers

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...

 and Yugumo class destroyers, Ayanami being named after a Fubuki-class destroyer of the same name, which was lost in action at Guadalcanal. The remaining six were also named after WWII 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...

 destroyers, all being lost during the war.

Ships in the class

Pennant no.	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned
DDK-103/ASU-7004	Ayanami		1 July 1957	12 February 1958	25 December 1986
DDK-104/TV-3502	Isonami		30 September 1957	14 March 1958	1 July 1987
DDK-105/ASU-7005	Uranami		29 August 1957	27 February 1958	25 December 1986
DDK-106/TV-3503	Shikinami		25 September 1957	15 March 1958	1 July 1987
DDK-110/ASU-7009	Takanami		8 August 1959	30 January 1960	24 March 1989
DDK-111/ASU-7013	Onami  or Oonami		13 February 1960	29 August 1960	23 March 1990
DDK-112/ASU-7014	Makinami		25 April 1960	28 October 1960	23 March 1990