Japanese destroyer Hanazuki
Hanazuki underway, 18 December 1944
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History | |
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Empire of Japan | |
Name | Hanazuki |
Builder | Maizuru Naval Arsenal |
Laid down | 10 February 1944 |
Launched | 10 October 1944 |
Completed | 26 December 1944 |
Commissioned | 26 December 1944 |
Stricken | 5 October 1945 |
Fate | Sunk as target off Gotō Islands, Japan, 3 February 1948 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Akizuki-class destroyer |
Displacement |
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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 |
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Speed | 33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h) |
Range | 8,300 nmi (15,400 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h) |
Complement | 300 |
Armament |
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Hanazuki (花月) was an Akizuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name translates as "flower (sakura) moon", or an alternate name for "March".
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
In June 1947, Hanazuki was turned over to United States as "DD-934", and was later sunk as target off Gotō Islands, Japan on 3 February 1948.
Notes
References
- Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
- Sturton, Ian (1980). "Japan". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Whitley, M. J. (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.