Japanese destroyer Natsuzuki

Natsuzuki in late 1945, after the war.
History
Empire of Japan
Name: Natsuzuki
Builder: Sasebo Naval Arsenal
Laid down: 1 May 1944
Launched: 2 December 1944
Completed: 8 April 1945
Commissioned: 8 April 1945, 11th Destroyer Squadron
Struck: 5 October 1945
Fate: Transferred to the United Kingdom, 25 August 1947
United Kingdom
Acquired: 25 August 1947
Fate: Scrapped, 1948
General characteristics
Class and type: Akizuki-class destroyer
Displacement:
  • 2,700 long tons (2,743 t) standard
  • 3,700 long tons (3,759 t) full load
Length: 134.2 m (440 ft 3 in)
Beam: 11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
Draft: 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
Propulsion:
  • 4 × Kampon type boilers
  • 2 × Parsons geared turbines
  • 2 × shafts, 50,000 shp (37 MW)
Speed: 33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h)
Range: 8,300 nmi (15,400 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement: 263
Armament:

Natsuzuki (夏月, "Summer Moon") was an Akizuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Design and description

The Akizuki-class ships were originally designed as anti-aircraft escorts for carrier battle groups, but were modified with torpedo tubes and depth charges to meet the need for more general-purpose destroyer. Her crew numbered 300 officers and enlisted men. The ships measured 134.2 meters (440 ft 3 in) overall, with a beam of 11.6 meters (38 ft 1 in) and a draft of 4.15 meters (13 ft 7 in).[1] They displaced 2,744 metric tons (2,701 long tons) at standard load and 3,759 metric tons (3,700 long tons) at deep load.[2]

The ship had two Kampon geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by three Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 52,000 indicated horsepower (39,000 kW) for a designed speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). The ship carried up to 1,097 long tons (1,115 t) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 8,300 nautical miles (15,400 km; 9,600 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[3]

The main armament of the Akizuki class consisted of eight Type 98 100-millimeter (3.9 in) dual purpose guns in four twin-gun turrets, two superfiring pairs fore and aft of the superstructure. They carried four Type 96 25-millimeter (1.0 in) anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts. The ships were also armed with four 610-millimeter (24.0 in) torpedo tubes in a single quadruple traversing mount; one reload was carried for each tube. Their anti-submarine weapons comprised six depth charge throwers for which 72 depth charges were carried.[4]

Construction and career

On 5 October 1945, Natsuzuki was removed from the Navy List. On 25 August 1947, she was turned over to Great Britain. She was scrapped at Uraga, Kanagawa in 1948.

Notes

  1. ↑ Chesneau, p. 195
  2. ↑ Whitley, p. 204
  3. ↑ Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 150
  4. ↑ Whitley, pp. 204–05

References

External links

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