Japanese destroyer Inazuma (1932)

Inazuma underway on 24 March 1936.
History
Empire of Japan
Name:	Inazuma
Namesake:	Japanese destroyer Inazuma (1899)
Ordered:	1923 Fiscal Year
Builder:	Fujinagata Shipyards
Laid down:	7 March 1930
Launched:	25 February 1932
Commissioned:	15 November 1932
Struck:	10 June 1944
Fate:	sunk in action 14 May 1944
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:	Battle of Hong Kong Battle of Sunda Strait Aleutian campaign Solomons campaign

Inazuma (電^?, "Lightning") was the twenty-fourth (and last) Fubuki-class destroyers, or the fourth (and last) of the Akatsuki class (if that sub-class is considered independently), built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They 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 had performance that was a quantum leap over 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. The Akatsuki sub-class was an improved version of the Fubuki, externally almost identical, but incorporating changes to her propulsion system.

Inazuma, built at the Fujinagata Shipyards in Osaka was the fourth (and last) in the “Type III” improved series of Fubuki destroyers, incorporating 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.Inazuma was laid down on 7 March 1930, launched on 25 February 1932 and commissioned on 15 November 1932.