ONI file for Asashio-class destroyers
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History | |
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Empire of Japan | |
Name: | Arare |
Ordered: | 1934 Maru-2 Program |
Builder: | Maizuru Naval Arsenal |
Laid down: | 5 March 1937 |
Launched: | 16 November 1937 |
Commissioned: | 15 April 1939 |
Struck: | 31 July 1942 |
Fate: | Sunk in combat, 4 July 1942 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Asashio-class destroyer |
Displacement: | 2,370 long tons (2,408 t) |
Length: |
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Beam: | 10.3 m (33 ft 10 in) |
Draft: | 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in) |
Propulsion: | 2-shaft geared turbine, 3 boilers, 51,000 shp (38,031 kW) |
Speed: | 34.85 knots (40.10 mph; 64.54 km/h) |
Range: | |
Complement: | 230 |
Armament: |
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Arare (霰?, "Hailstone") was the tenth and last of the Asashio-class destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the mid-1930s under the Circle Two Supplementary Naval Expansion Program (Maru Ni Keikaku).
The Asashio-class destroyers were larger and more capable than the preceding Shiratsuyu-class, as Japanese naval architects were no longer constrained by the provisions of the London Naval Treaty. These light cruiser-sized vessels were designed to take advantage of Japan’s lead in torpedo technology, and to accompany the Japanese main striking force and in both day and night attacks against the United States Navy as it advanced across the Pacific Ocean, according to Japanese naval strategic projections. Despite being one of the most powerful classes of destroyers in the world at the time of their completion, none survived the Pacific War.
Arare, built at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal, was laid down on 5 March 1937, launched on 16 November 1937 and commissioned on 15 April 1939. On completion, she was assigned to the IJN 2nd Fleet as part of Desdiv 18, Desron 2 under command of Commander Tomoe Ogata.
At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Arare was based at Etorofu in the Kurile Islands, and sailed as part of the escort for Admiral Nagumo’s Carrier Strike Force, guarding the fleet tankers accompanying the strike force. She returned to Kure on 24 December.