Asashio-class destroyer

The Asashio-class destroyers (朝潮型駆逐艦, Asashio-gata kuchikukan) were a class of ten destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy in service before and during World War II.[1] The overall layout of the class proved successful in service and created a powerful ship that served as the basis for the design of the following two classes of destroyers.[2]

Asashio underway in July 1937.
Class overview
Name: Asashio class
Operators:  Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded by: Shiratsuyu class
Succeeded by: Kagerō class
Built: 1937–1939
In commission: 1939–1945
Completed: 10
Lost: 10
General characteristics
Type: Destroyer
Displacement: 2,370 long tons (2,408 t)
Length:
  • 111 m (364 ft) pp
  • 115 m (377 ft 4 in)waterline
  • 118.3 m (388 ft 1 in) OA
Beam: 10.3 m (33 ft 10 in)
Draft: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion: 2-shaft geared turbine, 3 boilers, 50,000 shp (37,285 kW)
Speed: 35 knots (40 mph; 65 km/h)
Range:
  • 5,700 nmi (10,600 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
  • 960 nmi (1,780 km) at 34 kn (63 km/h)
Complement: 200
Armament:
ONI image of an Asashio-class destroyer

Background

The Imperial Japanese Navy was not entirely satisfied with the performance of the Shiratsuyu-class destroyer, particularly in terms of operational range and speed. However, given the limitations of the 1930 London Naval Treaty, it was considered impossible to modify these vessels any further to improve their specifications. This obstacle was removed after the Japanese government decided to allow the treaty to expire without renewal.[2] The final four vessels of a projected 14 destroyers in the Shiratsuyu class were cancelled, and the larger new Asashio-class vessels were approved under the Maru-2 Supplementary Naval Expansion Budget of 1934, with construction spanning 1937-1939 as the treaty did not official expire until December 31, 1936. All ten vessels were lost in the Pacific War.[3]

Design

The Asashio-class was the first Japanese destroyer class to exceed 2,000 tons displacement and the first to be equipped with sonar. The hull was 30 feet longer than the Shiratsuyu-class and displacement was increased by 300 tons.

The Asashio-class was powered by two steam turbine engines with two shafts, powered by three boilers, which operated at higher temperatures than the Shiratsuyu-class. The rated output of these engines was 50,000 hp (37,000 kW), which gave the class a top speed of 35 knots (65 km/h) and a range of 5,700 nautical miles (10,600 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) or 960 nautical miles (1,780 km) at 34 knots (63 km/h).[4] The Asashio-class was thus one knot faster than the Shiratsuyu-class despite the larger size and displacement of the vessels. However, during sea trials, early critical issues were discovered, especially with the reliability of the new steam turbines. Another issue was with design of the rudder, which initially led to problems with the ship's turning radius. These issues were addressed by the start of the Pacific War with a modified stern and rudder.[2]

Armament

In terms of armament, the Asashio class was similar to the previous Fubuki and Shiratsuyu classes, but with a main battery of all twin mount 12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval guns, with the third Type C mount in a super firing position similar to that of the Fubuki-class instead of having a single mount like the Hatsuharu-class. The guns were capable of 55-degree elevation. Also, the position of the "X" turret at the shelter deck level forward of the quarterdeck "Y" turret, gave the Asashio class a different silhouette than the Shiratsuyu class, where both turrets were at quarterdeck level.

The torpedo armament eight Type 93 torpedo in two quadruple launchers as on the Shiratsuyu-class was retained, with eight reloads stored in a deckhouse on the centerline of the ship. At the start of the war, the Asashio-class was also equipped with 16 depth charges. Later in the war, the number of depth charges was increased to 36, and to compensate for the weight, one set of four torpedo reloads was removed.[2]

In terms of anti-aircraft capability, initially two twin-mount Type 96 AA guns were placed forward of the second smokestack. The Asashio-class was the first destroyers to receive this type of gun.[2] As the war progressed, the number of Type 96 guns was gradually increased. In 1942-1943, the twin-mounts were replaced by triple-mounts, and another twin-mount was added forward of the bridge. From 1943-1944, on surviving vessels the superfiring "X" turret was removed and replaced by two more triple-mounts. After 1944, surviving vessels were fitted with between eight and twelve additional single-mounts, and Kasumi received also two Type 93 13mm machine guns. In late 1944, the final four survivors (Kasumi, Michishio, Asagumo, and Yamagumo) received a Type 22 and a Type 13 radar.[2]

Operational history

During the war the Asashio class was used extensively in the protection of the Combined Fleet. Arare was attacked and sunk off Kiska Island during the Aleutian Islands Campaign by USS Growler on 5 July 1942. Kasumi was also heavily damaged along with one other destroyer. Asashio and Arashio escorted the 7th Cruiser Division at the Battle of Midway, where both were damaged by air attack. Although repaired and returned to service, both were sunk in 1943 when a large Japanese transport force was destroyed by American planes in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Michishio, Asagumo, and Yamagumo were lost in 1944 in the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Kasumi, last of the class to be laid down, served as escort on the attack on Pearl Harbor and joined the battleship Yamato during Operation Ten-Go against the American fleet at Okinawa. None of the Asashio-class ships survived the Pacific War.[5]

List of ships
Ships of the Asashio class[6]
Ship Shipyard Laid down Launched Completed Fate
朝潮 Asashio Sasebo Naval Arsenal 7 September 1935 16 December 1936 31 August 1937 Air Strike, 4 March 1943 at 07°15′S 148°15′E
大潮 Ōshio Maizuru Naval Arsenal 5 August 1936 19 April 1937 31 October 1937 Torpedoed, 20 February 1943 at 00°50′S 146°06′E
満潮 Michishio Fujinagata Shipyards 5 November 1935 15 March 1937 31 October 1937 Surface action, 25 October 1944 at 10°25′N 125°23′E
荒潮 Arashio Kawasaki-Kobe 1 October 1935 26 May 1937 30 December 1937 Air attack, 4 March 1943 at 07°15′S 148°30′E
朝雲 Asagumo Kawasaki-Kobe 23 December 1936 5 November 1937 31 March 1938 Surface action, 25 October 1944 at 10°04′N 125°21′E
山雲 Yamagumo Fujinagata Shipyards 4 November 1936 24 July 1937 15 January 1938 Surface action, 25 October 1944 at 10°25′N 125°23′E
夏雲 Natsugumo Sasebo Naval Arsenal 1 July 1936 26 May 1937 10 February 1938 Air attack, 15 October 1942 at 08°40′S 159°20′E
峯雲 Minegumo Fujinagata Shipyards 22 March 1937 4 November 1937 30 April 1938 Surface action, 5 March 1943 at 08°01′S 157°14′E
霰 Arare Maizuru Naval Arsenal 5 March 1937 16 November 1937 15 April 1939 Torpedoed, 5 July 1942 at 52°0′N 177°40′E
霞 Kasumi Uraga Dock Company 1 December 1936 18 November 1937 24 June 1939 Air attack, 7 April 1945 at 31°N 128°E

See also

Notes
  1. Jentsura, Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945
  2. Stille, Mark (2013). Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919–45 (2). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 5–9. ISBN 978 1 84908 987 6.
  3. Globalsecurity.org, IJN Shiratsuyu class destroyers
  4. Roger Chesneau, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. Grenwitch: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  5. Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
  6. Nishida, Hiroshi. "Materials of IJN: Shiratsuyu class destroyer". Imperial Japanese Navy. Archived from the original on 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2010-07-24.

Books
  • Evans, David (1979). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
  • Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
  • Roger Chesneau, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. Grenwitch: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-11402-8.
  • Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
  • Watts, A.J. (1966). Japanese warships of World War II. Ian Allan. ISBN 0711002150.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Cassell Publishing. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
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