Akizuki-class destroyer (1942)

Class overview
Akizuki on trial run off Miyazu Bay on 17 May 1942.
Name:	Akizuki class
Builders:	Maizuru Naval Arsenal Sasebo Naval Arsenal Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Uraga Dock Company
Operators:	Imperial Japanese Navy Republic of China Navy Soviet Navy
Subclasses:	Akizuki class (Pr. F51) Fuyutsuki class (Pr. F51) Michitsuki class (Pr. F53) Super Akizuki class (Pr. V7, only a project)
Cost:	12,090,000 JPY in 1939 17,820,400 JPY in 1941 19,194,000 JPY in 1942
Built:	1940–1945
In commission:	1942–1945 (IJN)
Planned:	6 (1939) + 10 (1941) + 23 (1942)
Completed:	12
Cancelled:	27
Lost:	6
Retired:	6
General characteristics (as per Whitley)
Type:	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) overall
Beam:	11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
Draught:	4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
Propulsion:	3 × Ro-Gō Kampon water tube boilers, 2 × Kampon impulse geared turbines, 2 shafts, 52,000 shp (39 MW)
Speed:	33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h)
Range:	8,000 nmi (15,000 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement:	263 (Akizuki in 1942) 315 (Akizuki in October 1944)
Armament:	Akizuki in 1942 8 × 100 mm / 65 cal Type 98 DP guns (4 × 2) 4 × 25 mm AA guns (2 × 2) 4 × Type 92 torpedo tubes (8 × 610 mm Type 93 torpedoes) 56 × Type 95 depth charges Suzutsuki in April 1945 8 × 100 mm / 65 cal Type 98 DP guns (4 × 2) 47 × 25 mm AA guns (7 × 3 + 26 × 1), 3 × 13 mm AA guns (3 × 1) 4 × Type 92 torpedo tubes (1 × 4) 8 × 610 mm Type 93 torpedoes 56 × Type 2 Mod.1 depth charges

The Akizuki-class destroyers (秋月型駆逐艦, Akizuki-gata Kuchikukan^?) were one of the primary classes of new destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) after 1942. The IJN called them Type-B Destroyer (乙型駆逐艦,, Otsu-gata Kuchikukan^?) from their plan name. They were designed to fight smaller ships, aircraft and submarines.

This is considered to have been the most useful class of destroyers Japan fielded during the war and was well regarded in the IJN. They mounted 3.9-inch (100mm) Type 98 dual-purpose guns in four twin mounts. They also were among the first Japanese vessels equipped with radar. The ships were lighter in their torpedo armament than most contemporary Japanese destroyers, which typically had a heavy emphasis on offensive torpedo armament, most classes having two 4-tube centerline launchers capable of firing to either side, with quick-reloads for both launchers. The Akizuki class had only a single four tube launcher, plus reloads, but the ships compensated with stronger anti-aircraft armament, having four turrets as opposed to three, with guns firing shells of smaller caliber but greater velocity, and therefore effectiveness.

Ships of the Fuyutsuki and Michitsuki subclasses were modified to simplify and speed-up construction.

Four ships were used for war reparation.

Project number F51. General production type of the Akizuki class. Seven vessels were built under the Maru 4 Programme (Ship # 104-109) and the Maru Kyū Programme (Ship # 360).

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