Ikazuchi class destroyer
Encyclopedia
The was a class
of six torpedo boat destroyers (TBDs) of the Imperial Japanese Navy
. All were named after celestial phenomena.
, the Japanese navy came to understand the combat effectiveness of small, fast torpedo
-equipped warships over larger, slower ships equipped with slow-loading and often inaccurate naval artillery
. The Ikazuchi class vessels were the first destroyer
s procured by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Four were ordered under the 1896 fiscal year budget, and an additional two under the 1897 budget. All were ordered from the Yarrow Shipbuilders
in Poplar
, London, which was considered to be the world's premier builders of destroyers and smaller warships.
(from 1913 grouped as the B-class
).
All Ikazuchi-class vessels had a flush deck
design with a distinctive "turtleback" forecastle
that was intended to clear water from the bow during high speed navigation, but was poorly designed for high waves or bad weather. The bridge and forward gun platform were barely raised above the bow, resulting in a wet conning position. More than half of the small hull was occupied by the boilers and the engine room. With fuel and weaponry, there was little space left for crew quarters.
The Ikazuchi-class ships were powered by triple expansion steam engines
with coal-fired
water-tube boiler
s. Armament consisted of one QF 12 pounder
mounted on a "bandstand
" on the forecastle
, five QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss
(two abreast the conning tower
, two between the funnels and one on the quarterdeck
) and two single tubes for 18 inches (457.2 mm) torpedo
es.
to patrol the China
coast and to cover the landings of Japanese ground troops. Niji was lost in an accident off the Shantung Peninsula on 1900-08-03, but the remaining five vessels saw combat service during the Russo-Japanese War
of 1904–1905.
After the end of the Russo-Japanese War, Inazuma was lost in a collision with a merchant vessel off the coast of Hakodate, Hokkaidō
on 1909-12-16. On 1912-08-28 the remaining four Ikazuchi-class vessels were re-classified as third-class destroyers, and were removed from front-line combat service.
Akebono and Oboro returned to combat service in World War I
as part of the Japanese detachment in the Battle of Tsingtao
, and in the operation to seize German colonial possessions in the South Pacific
. However, their remaining time on the navy list
proved to be limited. After the lead ship
Ikazuchi was lost in a boiler explosion at Ominato harbor due to metal fatigue
in its engine on 1913-10-09, Sazanami was also retired from service. Oboro and Akebono were retained until 1921-04-01, when they were converted into auxiliary minesweepers
for a brief period, but were scrapped in 1925.
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 six torpedo boat destroyers (TBDs) 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...
. All were named after celestial phenomena.
Background
In the First Sino-Japanese WarFirst Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
, the Japanese navy came to understand the combat effectiveness of small, fast torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
-equipped warships over larger, slower ships equipped with slow-loading and often inaccurate naval artillery
Naval artillery
Naval artillery, or naval riflery, is artillery mounted on a warship for use in naval warfare. Naval artillery has historically been used to engage either other ships, or targets on land; in the latter role it is currently termed naval gunfire fire support...
. The Ikazuchi class vessels were the first 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 procured by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Four were ordered under the 1896 fiscal year budget, and an additional two under the 1897 budget. All were ordered from the Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde...
in Poplar
Poplar, London
Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was...
, London, which was considered to be the world's premier builders of destroyers and smaller warships.
Design
The design of the Ikazuchi-class destroyers was based on the four-stack “Thirty Knotters” of the Royal NavyRoyal 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...
(from 1913 grouped as the B-class
B class destroyer (1913)
The B class as designated in 1913 was a heterogeneous group of torpedo boat destroyers built for the Royal Navy in the late 1890s. They were constructed to the individual designs of their builders to meet Admiralty specifications, the uniting feature being a specified top speed of and 4 funnels,...
).
All Ikazuchi-class vessels had a flush deck
Flush deck
In naval architecture, a flush deck refers to when the upper deck of a vessel extends unbroken from stem to stern. There is no raised forecastle or lowered quarterdeck. Ships of this type may be referred to as "flush deckers", although this is often taken as referring to a series of United States...
design with a distinctive "turtleback" 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...
that was intended to clear water from the bow during high speed navigation, but was poorly designed for high waves or bad weather. The bridge and forward gun platform were barely raised above the bow, resulting in a wet conning position. More than half of the small hull was occupied by the boilers and the engine room. With fuel and weaponry, there was little space left for crew quarters.
The Ikazuchi-class ships were powered by triple expansion steam engines
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
with coal-fired
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
water-tube boiler
Water-tube boiler
A water tube boiler is a type of boiler in which water circulates in tubes heated externally by the fire. Fuel is burned inside the furnace, creating hot gas which heats water in the steam-generating tubes...
s. Armament consisted of one QF 12 pounder
QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval gun
The QF 12 pounder 12 cwt gun was a common calibre naval gun introduced in 1894 and used until the middle of the 20th century. It was produced by Armstrong Whitworth, Elswick and used on Royal Navy warships, and exported to allied countries...
mounted on a "bandstand
Bandstand
A bandstand is a circular or semicircular structure set in a park, garden, pier, or indoor space, designed to accommodate musical bands performing concerts...
" on the 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...
, five QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss
QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss
The QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss was a light 57 mm naval gun and coast defence gun of the late 19th century used by many countries, and was adapted for use in the early British tanks in World War I.- Canada History :...
(two abreast the conning tower
Conning tower
A conning tower is a raised platform on a ship or submarine, often armored, from which an officer can con the vessel; i.e., give directions to the helmsman. It is usually located as high on the ship as practical, to give the conning team good visibility....
, two between the funnels and one on the quarterdeck
Quarterdeck
The quarterdeck is that part of a warship designated by the commanding officer for official and ceremonial functions. In port, the quarterdeck is the most important place on the ship, and is the central control point for all its major activities. Underway, its importance diminishes as control of...
) and two single tubes for 18 inches (457.2 mm) torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es.
Operational history
All six Ikazuchi-class destroyers arrived in Japan in time to be used during the Boxer RebellionBoxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
to patrol the China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
coast and to cover the landings of Japanese ground troops. Niji was lost in an accident off the Shantung Peninsula on 1900-08-03, but the remaining five vessels saw combat service during the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
of 1904–1905.
After the end of the Russo-Japanese War, Inazuma was lost in a collision with a merchant vessel off the coast of Hakodate, Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
on 1909-12-16. On 1912-08-28 the remaining four Ikazuchi-class vessels were re-classified as third-class destroyers, and were removed from front-line combat service.
Akebono and Oboro returned to combat service in 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...
as part of the Japanese detachment in the Battle of Tsingtao
Battle of Tsingtao
The Siege of Tsingtao was the attack on the German-controlled port of Tsingtao in China during World War I by Imperial Japan and the United Kingdom....
, and in the operation to seize German colonial possessions in the South Pacific
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
. However, their remaining time on the navy list
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
proved to be limited. After the lead ship
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
Ikazuchi was lost in a boiler explosion at Ominato harbor due to metal fatigue
Metal Fatigue
Metal Fatigue , is a futuristic science fiction, real-time strategy computer game developed by Zono Incorporated and published by Psygnosis and TalonSoft .-Plot:...
in its engine on 1913-10-09, Sazanami was also retired from service. Oboro and Akebono were retained until 1921-04-01, when they were converted into auxiliary minesweepers
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
for a brief period, but were scrapped in 1925.
List of ships
| Kanji | Name (Translation) |
Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 雷 | Ikazuchi "Thunder" |
Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde... , Poplar Poplar, London Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was... , London |
1897-09-01 | 1898-11-15 | 1899-02-23 | Lost in boiler explosion at Ominato 1913-10-09, written off 1913-11-05, scrapped 1914-04-29 |
| 電 | Inazuma "Lightning" |
Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde... , Poplar Poplar, London Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was... , London |
1897-11-01 | 1899-01-28 | 1899-04-25 | Lost in collision off Hakodate 1909-12-16, written off 1910-09-15 |
| 霓 | Niji "Rainbow" |
Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde... , Poplar Poplar, London Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was... , London |
1899-01-01 | 1899-06-22 | 1899-07-29 | Grounded off Shantung Peninsula 1900-07-29, written off 1901-04-08 |
| 曙 | Akebono "Dawn" |
Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde... , Poplar Poplar, London Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was... , London |
1898-02-01 | 1899-04-25 | 1899-07-03 | Retired 1921-10-18, broken up 1925-05-02 |
| 朧 | Oboro "Moonlight" |
Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde... , Poplar Poplar, London Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was... , London |
1899-01-01 | 1899-10-05 | 1899-11-01 | Retired 1921-06-21, broken up 1926 |
| 漣 | Sazanami "Ripple" |
Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Shipbuilders Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde... , Poplar Poplar, London Poplar is a historic, mainly residential area of the East End of London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is about east of Charing Cross. Historically a hamlet in the parish of Stepney, Middlesex, in 1817 Poplar became a civil parish. In 1855 the Poplar District of the Metropolis was... , London UK |
1897-06-01 | 1899-08-08 | 1899-08-28 | Retired 1913-04-01, sold 1914-08-23 as MV Sazanami-Maru |