Japanese destroyer Ayanami (1929)

Ayanami on 30 April 1930.
History
Empire of Japan
Name:	Ayanami
Ordered:	1923 Fiscal Year
Builder:	Fujinagata Shipyards
Yard number:	Destroyer No. 45
Laid down:	2 January 1928
Launched:	5 October 1929
Completed:	1 August 1928
Commissioned:	30 April 1930
Struck:	15 December 1942
Fate:	Sunk by gunfire from USS Washington, 15 November 1942
General characteristics
Class and type:	Fubuki-class destroyer
Displacement:	1,750 long tons (1,780 t) standard 2,050 long tons (2,080 t) re-built
Length:	111.96 m (367.3 ft) pp 115.3 m (378 ft) waterline 118.41 m (388.5 ft) overall
Beam:	10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)
Draft:	3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	4 × Kampon type boilers 2 × Kampon Type Ro geared turbines 2 × shafts at 50,000 ihp (37,000 kW)
Speed:	38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement:	219
Armament:	6 × Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval guns (3×2) up to 22 × Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Guns up to 10 × 13 mm AA guns 9 × 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes 36 × depth charges
Service record
Operations:	Second Sino-Japanese War Battle of Malaya Battle of Midway Indian Ocean raid Solomon Islands campaign

Ayanami (綾波, "Twilled Waves"^?) was the eleventh of twenty-four Fubuki-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy following World War I. When introduced into services, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War.

Construction of the advanced Fubuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships. The Fubuki class drastically improved upon previous destroyer designs; so much so that they were designated Special Type destroyers (特型, Tokugata^?). The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruisers in other navies.Ayanami, built at the Fujinagata Shipyards in Osaka was the first in an improved series, which incorporated a modified gun turret which could elevate her main battery of Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval guns to 75° as opposed to the original 40°, thus permitting the guns to be used as dual purpose guns against aircraft. Ayanami was the first destroyer in the world with this ability.Ayanami was laid down on 20 January 1928, launched on 5 October 1929 and commissioned on 30 April 1930. Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 45”, she inherited the name of her predecessor on 1 August before her launch.