Fubuki class destroyer
Encyclopedia
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 twenty four 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...
. 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. At a time when 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...
and American
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...
destroyers had changed little from their unturreted, single-gun mounts and light weaponry, the Japanese destroyers were bigger, more powerfully armed, and faster than anything that any other fleet possessed. They remained formidable opponents to the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, despite being much older than many of their adversaries.
Background
After the end of World War IWorld 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 Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff
The was the highest organ within the Imperial Japanese Navy. In charge of planning and operations, it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo.-History:...
issued requirements for a destroyer with a maximum speed of 39 knot
Knot
A knot is a method of fastening or securing linear material such as rope by tying or interweaving. It may consist of a length of one or several segments of rope, string, webbing, twine, strap, or even chain interwoven such that the line can bind to itself or to some other object—the "load"...
s, range of 4000 nautical miles at 14 knots, and armed with large numbers of the recently developed Type 8 torpedoes. These destroyers were intended to operate with the new series of fast and powerful new cruiser
Cruiser
A cruiser is a type of warship. The term has been in use for several hundreds of years, and has had different meanings throughout this period...
s also under consideration as part of a program intended to give the Imperial Japanese Navy a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships.
The resultant Fubuki-class was ordered under the 1923 fiscal year budget, with ships completed between 1926 and 1931. Their performance was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated . The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s in other navies.
The Fubuki class vessels were originally intended to only have hull numbers due to the projected large number of warships the Japanese Navy expected to build through the Eight-eight fleet
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...
plan. This proved to be extremely unpopular with the crews and was a constant source of confusion in communications with the earlier Kamikaze and Mutsuki
Mutsuki class destroyer
The was a class of twelve destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. All were given traditional poetic names of the months of the year by the Lunar calendar or phases of the moon...
-classes, and naval policy was changed in August 1928. Hence, the Fubuki-class vessels were assigned names as they were launched.
The closest equivalent in the United States Navy
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...
was the , of which only eight vessels were constructed in the 1930s to function as destroyer squadron leaders.
Design
The initial design for the Fubuki class was based on a 2000 ton displacement hull with a single 5-inch (127 mm) battery, two twin 24-inch torpedo tubes (just introduced in ), and capable of 40 knots (74 km/h). Following the abandonment of the Washington Naval TreatyWashington Naval Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, was an attempt to cap and limit, and "prevent 'further' costly escalation" of the naval arms race that had begun after World War I between various International powers, each of which had significant naval fleets. The treaty was...
from 1923, the design was modified to 1680 standard tons with more guns and more torpedo tubes. However, their increased displacement more than offset their more powerful engines, resulting in a slower top speed than originally planned.
The main battery consisted of six Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval guns, mounted in pairs in three weather-proof, splinter-proof, gas-tight gun turret
Gun turret
A gun turret is a weapon mount that protects the crew or mechanism of a projectile-firing weapon and at the same time lets the weapon be aimed and fired in many directions.The turret is also a rotating weapon platform...
s which were far ahead of their time. On the last 14 vessels of the series, these guns were dual purpose gun
Dual purpose gun
A dual purpose gun is a naval artillery mounting designed to engage both surface and air targets.-Description:Second World War-era capital ships had four classes of artillery: the heavy main battery, intended to engage opposing battleships and cruisers ; a secondary battery for use against enemy...
s which could be elevated to 70 degrees, making them the world's first destroyers with this ability. Ammunition was brought up on hoists from magazines located directly underneath each gun turret, which have a far greater rate of fire than other contemporary destroyers, where ammunition was typically manually loaded.
Unlike the earlier Minekaze series destroyers, the Fubuki did not have a fo'c'sle
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...
break containing the forward torpedo launchers. Instead, the forward launchers were located between the siamesed smokestacks. Originally Type 8 torpedoes were carried, arranged in three triple mountings.
To increase comfort and combat ability even in bad weather, the fo'c'sle was raised, and 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...
enlarged and enclosed. The bow was given a significant flare, to offer protection against weather in the Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
Between June 1928 and March 1933, twenty-four Fubuki class destroyers were built, in three groups. As completed, Fubuki had twin 5-inch guns in "A", "X", and "Y" positions, with triple torpedo tubes in "D", "P", and "Q", making them the most powerful destroyers in the world at the time of their completion.
Development
The first group, or Fubuki-class, consisted of the first ten vessels completed in 1928 and 1929, were simpler in construction than the vessels that followed. They had a rangefinder on the compass bridge, an exposed gun-fire control room, and were equipped with a “Type A” gun turret that only elevate both of its barrels at the same time and only to 40 degrees. The first group can be distinguished from later ships by their lack of ventilators atop the stacks.The second group, or Ayanami-class, were built in 1930 and 1931, and had larger bridges which encompassed the rangefinder, an azimuth compass sighting device, the gun-fire control room, as well as a range finding tower. Furthermore, the boiler room's air inlet was changed from a pipe to a bowl shape. They also benefited from the deployment of “Type B” turrets, which could elevate each gun separately to 75° for AA use, making them the world's first destroyers with this ability.
The third group, also known as the Akatsuki-class, were built from 1931-1933. These vessels had larger boilers and a narrower fore funnel. Improvements included a unique splinter-proof torpedo launcher-turret, which allowed the torpedo launcher tubes to be reloaded in action (something which Western destroyers still did not have in the 1990s).
However, the Fubuki-class also had a number of inherent design problems. The large amount of armament combined with a smaller hull displacement than in the original design created issues with stability. After the Tomozuru Incident, in which the top-heavy design of many Japanese warships called basic design issues into question, additional ballast
Ballast tank
A ballast tank is a compartment within a boat, ship or other floating structure that holds water.-History:The basic concept behind the ballast tank can be seen in many forms of aquatic life, such as the blowfish or argonaut octopus, and the concept has been invented and reinvented many times by...
had to be added. In the Fourth Fleet Incident, during which a typhoon damaged virtually every ship in the Fourth Fleet
IJN 4th Fleet
The was a fleet designation of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The Fourth Fleet designation was used during three separate periods. The initial designation was for a group of ships that were assigned to work together during the Russo-Japanese conflict and the period of its immediate aftermath...
, issues with the longitudinal strength of the Fubuki class hull was discovered. As a result, all vessels were reconstructed in 1935-1937. This increased the displacement to 2050 tons standard tons and over 2400 tons full load. The rebuild reduced the top speed slightly.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as surviving vessels returned to the Japanese home islands for repair and refit, the anti-aircraft armament was steadily upgraded. In 1945, the "X" turret was replaced on surviving vessels to create space and lighten the top for the addition of 14 -Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Guns, two additional 13 mm anti-aircraft machine guns, and 18 more depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s, and radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
was installed.
Operational history
Of the 24 Fubuki-class vessels completed, one (MiyukiJapanese destroyer Miyuki
was a Fubuki class was the fourth of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
) was sunk in a collision in 1934.
The remaining vessels served throughout the Pacific War. In 1943, John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's PT-109
Motor Torpedo Boat PT-109
PT-109 was a PT boat last commanded by Lieutenant, junior grade John F. Kennedy in the Pacific Theater during World War II...
was rammed and sunk by the Amagiri
Japanese destroyer Amagiri
was the 15th of 24 s, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War. She...
of this class. Ayanami damaged the battleship with her gunfire during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the Third and Fourth Battles of Savo Island, the Battle of the Solomons, The Battle of Friday the 13th, or, in Japanese sources, as the , took place from 12–15 November 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles...
, before being attacked by , which crippled the battleship as well. She was scuttled the following day by
Eight ships of the class were sunk by submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, and two by 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...
s, the rest by air attacks. Only Hibiki
Japanese destroyer Hibiki
| was the twenty-second of twenty-four destroyers, or the second of , built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world...
and Ushio
Japanese destroyer Ushio
was the twentieth of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well...
survived the war. Hibiki was taken by the Soviet Navy
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
as a 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....
, and continued to be used until 1964.
Type I (Fubuki)
| Kanji | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 吹雪 | Fubuki DD-35 |
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... |
19 June 1926 | 15 November 1927 | 10 August 1928 | Sunk in surface action off Guadalcanal [09.06S, 159.38E] on 11 October 1942; struck 15 November 1942 |
| 白雪 | Shirayuki DD-36 |
Yokohama Dockyard 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 |
19 March 1927 | 20 March 1928 | 18 December 1928 | air attack off Dampir Strait [07.15S, 148.30E] on 3 March 1943; struck 1 April 1943 |
| 初雪 | Hatsuyuki DD-37 |
Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan | 12 April 1927 | 29 September 1928 | 30 March 1929 | Air attack off Buin [06.50S, 155.47E] on 17 July 1943; struck 15 October 1943 |
| 深雪 | Miyuki Japanese destroyer Miyuki was a Fubuki class was the fourth of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world... DD-38 |
Uraga Dock Company Uraga Dock Company was a major privately owned shipyard in Uraga, Japan, which built numerous warships for the Imperial Japanese Navy.-History:Uraga Dock Company was founded by Enomoto Takeaki in 1869. A shipyard had already existed in Uraga from the end of the Edo period... , Japan |
30 April 1927 | 29 June 1928 | 29 June 1929 | Collision with Ikazuchi, S Cheju Island [33N, 125.30E] on 29 June 1934; struck 15 August 1934 |
| 叢雲 | Murakumo DD-39 |
Fujinagata Shipyards Fujinagata Shipyards was a shipyard and railroad car manufacturer in Osaka, Japan.-History:Fujinagata claimed to have been founded in 1689, making it one of the oldest shipbuilders in Japan. Originally called Hyōgo-ya, and located in central Osaka, it was contracted in 1854 by officials representing the Tokugawa... , Japan |
25 April 1927 | 27 September 1928 | 10 May 1929 | Sunk in action off Guadalcanal [08.40S, 159.20E] on 12 October 1942; struck 15 November 1942 |
| 東雲 | Shinonome DD-40 |
Sasebo Naval Arsenal Sasebo Naval Arsenal was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Sasebo Naval District was established at Sasebo, Nagasaki in 1886, as the third of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the... , Japan |
12 August 1926 | 26 November 1927 | 25 July 1928 | Mined off Miri [04.24N, 114E] on 17 December 1941; struck 15 January 1942 |
| 薄雲 | Usugumo DD-41 |
Ishikawajima Shipyards, Japan | 21 October 1926 | 26 December 1927 | 26 July 1928 | renamed as Usugumo 1 August 1928; Torpedoed off Etorofu [47.43N, 147.55E] on 7 July 1944; struck 10 September 1944 |
| 白雲 | Shirakumo DD-42 |
Fujinagata Shipyards Fujinagata Shipyards was a shipyard and railroad car manufacturer in Osaka, Japan.-History:Fujinagata claimed to have been founded in 1689, making it one of the oldest shipbuilders in Japan. Originally called Hyōgo-ya, and located in central Osaka, it was contracted in 1854 by officials representing the Tokugawa... , Japan |
27 October 1926 | 27 December 1927 | 28 July 1928 | renamed as Shiragumo 1 August 1928; Torpedoed off Cape Erimo [42.25N, 144.55E] on 16 March 1944; struck 31 March 1944 |
| 磯波 | Isonami DD-43 |
Uraga Dock Company Uraga Dock Company was a major privately owned shipyard in Uraga, Japan, which built numerous warships for the Imperial Japanese Navy.-History:Uraga Dock Company was founded by Enomoto Takeaki in 1869. A shipyard had already existed in Uraga from the end of the Edo period... , Japan |
18 October 1926 | 24 November 1927 | 30 June 1928 | renamed as Isonami on 1 August 1928; Torpedoed off SW Celebes [05.26S, 123.04E] on 9 April 1943; struck 1 August 1943 |
| 浦波 | Uranami DD-44 |
Sasebo Naval Arsenal Sasebo Naval Arsenal was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Sasebo Naval District was established at Sasebo, Nagasaki in 1886, as the third of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the... , Japan |
28 April 1927 | 29 November 1928 | 30 June 1929 | Air attack W of Panay [11.50N, 123E] on 26 October 1944; struck 10 December 1944 |
Type II (Ayanami)
| Kanji | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 綾波 | Ayanami DD-45 |
Fujinagata Shipyards, Japan | 20 January 1928 | 5 October 1929 | 30 April 1930 | Scuttled off Guadalcanal by Uranami [09.10S, 159.52E]; 15 November 1942; struck 15 December 1942 |
| 敷波 | Shikinami DD-46 |
Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan | 6 July 1928 | 22 June 1929 | 24 December 1929 | Torpedoed S of Hainan [18.16N, 114.40E] 12 September 1944; struck 10 October 1944 |
| 朝霧 | Asagiri DD-47 |
Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Japan | 12 December 1928 | 18 November 1929 | 30 June 1930 | Air attack off Guadalcanal [08S, 160.10E] on 28 August 1942; struck 1 October 1942 |
| 夕霧 | Yūgiri DD-48 |
Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan | 1 April 1929 | 12 May 1930 | 3 December 1930 | Sunk in action, central Solomons [04.44S, 154E] on 25 November 1943; struck 15 December 1943 |
| 天霧 | Amagiri Japanese destroyer Amagiri was the 15th of 24 s, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War. She... DD-49 |
Ishikawajima Shipyards, Japan | 28 November 1928 | 27 February 1930 | 10 November 1930 | Mined, S of Makassar Strait [02.10S, 116.45E] on 23 April 1944; struck 10 June 1944 |
| 狭霧 | Sagiri Japanese destroyer Sagiri was the sixteenth of twenty-four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world... DD-50 |
Uraga Dock Company, Japan | 28 March 1929 | 23 December 1929 | 30 January 1931 | Torpedoed off Kuching [01.34N, 110.21E] on 24 December 1941; struck 15 January 1942 |
| 朧 | Oboro DD-51 |
Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Japan | 29 November 1929 | 8 November 1930 | 31 October 1931 | Air attack off Kiska Island [52.17N, 178.08E] on 16 October 1942; struck 15 November 1942 |
| 曙 | Akebono DD-52 |
Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Japan | 25 October 1929 | 7 November 1930 | 31 July 1931 | Air attack Manila Bay [14.35N, 120.50E] on 13 November 1944; struck 10 January 1945 |
| 漣 | Sazanami DD-53 |
Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan | 21 February 1930 | 6 June 1931 | 19 May 1932 | Torpedoed E of Palau [05.15N, 141.15E] on 14 January 1944; struck 10 March 1944 |
| 潮 | Ushio DD-54 |
Uraga Dock Company, Japan | 24 December 1929 | 17 November 1930 | 14 November 1931 | surrendered to Allies 15 September 1945; scrapped 1948 |
Type III (Akatsuki)
| Kanji | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 暁 | Akatsuki Japanese destroyer Akatsuki was the twenty-first , or the lead ship of the Akatsuki-class destroyer , built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world... |
Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Japan | 17 February 1930 | 7 May 1932 | 30 November 1932 | Sunk in action off Guadalcanal [09.17S, 159.56E] on 13 November 1942; struck 15 December 1942 |
| 電 | Inazuma Japanese destroyer Inazuma was the twenty-fourth destroyers, or the fourth of , built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world... |
Fujinagata Shipyards, Japan | 7 March 1930 | 25 February 1932 | 15 November 1932 | Torpedoed W of Celebes [05.08N, 119.38E] on 14 May 1944; struck 10 June 1944 |
| 雷 | Ikazuchi Japanese destroyer Ikazuchi was the twenty-third destroyer, or the third , built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world... |
Uraga Dock Company, Japan | 7 March 1930 | 22 October 1931 | 15 August 1932 | torpedoed W of Guam [10.13N, 143.51E] on 13 April 1944; struck 10 June 1944 |
| 響 | Hibiki Japanese destroyer Hibiki | was the twenty-second of twenty-four destroyers, or the second of , built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world... |
Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan | 21 February 1930 | 16 June 1932 | 31 March 1933 | surrendered 5 October 1945; prize of war to USSR on 5 July 1947; scrapped 1963 |