IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY DESTROYERS 1919–45 (2) Asashio to Tachibana Classes MARK STILLE ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL WRIGHT ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY DESTROYERS 1919–45 (2) Asashio to Tachibana Classes MARK STILLE ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL WRIGHT ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com First published in Great Britain in 2013 by Osprey Publishing, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Midland House, West Way, Botley, Oxford, OX2 0PH, UK The author would like to thank the Yamato Museum, Tohru Kizu, editor of 43-01 21st Street, Suite 220B, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA Ships of the World Magazine and Robert Hanshew at the Naval History and E-mail: [email protected] Heritage Command Photographic Section for their help in procuring the photographs for this book. Allyn Nevitt also provided a valuable review Osprey Publishing is part of the Osprey Group of the text and his work on the Combined Fleet website is an outstanding resource for deeper research into the histories of the Imperial Navy’s © 2013 Osprey Publishing Ltd. destroyers. Thanks also go to Tony Holmes for his assistance in translating key passages of source material. All rights reserved. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, no part of this publication may be EDITOR’S NOTE reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by For ease of comparison please refer to the following conversion table: any means, electronic, electrical, chemical, mechanical, optical, 1 mile = 1.6km photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written 1yd = 0.9m permission of the copyright owner. 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If there has been any oversight we would be happy to rectify the situation and written submission should be made to Osprey Publishing. ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 JAPANESE DESTROYER DESIGN PRINCIPLES 4 JAPANESE NAVAL STRATEGY AND 5 THE ROLE OF THE DESTROYER ASASHIO CLASS 5 (cid:116)(cid:1) Design and Construction (cid:116)(cid:1) Armament and Service Modifications (cid:116)(cid:1) Wartime Service KAGERO CLASS 10 (cid:116)(cid:1) Design and Construction (cid:116)(cid:1) Armament and Service Modification (cid:116)(cid:1) Wartime Service YUGUMO CLASS 20 (cid:116)(cid:1) Design and Construction (cid:116)(cid:1) Armament and Service Modification (cid:116)(cid:1) Wartime Service SHIMAKAZE 28 (cid:116)(cid:1) Design and Construction (cid:116)(cid:1) Armament and Service Modification (cid:116)(cid:1) Wartime Service AKIZUKI CLASS 30 (cid:116)(cid:1) Design and Construction (cid:116)(cid:1) Armament and Service Modifications (cid:116)(cid:1) Wartime Service MATSU/TACHIBANA CLASS 38 (cid:116)(cid:1) Design and Construction (cid:116)(cid:1) Armament and Service Modifications (cid:116)(cid:1) Wartime Service ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION 46 BIBLIOGRAPHY 47 INDEX 48 ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY DESTROYERS 1919–45 (2) ASASHIO TO TACHIBANA CLASSES INTRODUCTION The Imperial Navy’s destroyer force played an important role in the Pacific War. It was integral to the period of Japanese expansion from December 1941 until May 1942, and then played a central role in the bitter battles around Guadalcanal from August 1942 until February 1943. In the campaign in the central and northern Solomons through the rest of 1943, Japanese destroyers were essentially left to fend for themselves against the increasing power of the US Navy. These superb offensive platforms performed well in the initial period of the war, but as the American offensive in the South Pacific and later the Central Pacific gained speed, the weaknesses of Japanese destroyers were ruthlessly exposed. This second volume on the Imperial Navy’s destroyer force will cover the ships of the Asashio, Kagero, Yugumo, Shimakaze, Akizuki, and Matsu/ Tachibana classes, totaling 93 units. It will not repeat information already provided in the first volume (see New Vanguard 198) on destroyer tactics and the weaponry and sensors carried aboard Japanese destroyers. JAPANESE DESTROYER DESIGN PRINCIPLES The destroyers covered in this volume, principally the Asashio, Kagero, and Yugumo classes, constituted the core of Japan’s wartime destroyer force. These ships were at the center of almost all significant operations. The Asashio, Kagero, and Yugumo classes (the latter two classes referred to by the Japanese as Type A units) were essentially a return to the Special Type ships from the late 1920s, since all were designed for maximum firepower and speed and were built without reference to treaty restrictions. These ships continued the Japanese emphasis on a heavy torpedo armament. A heavy gun armament was also an important design criterion, but these weapons were not dual purpose, which proved a major weakness later in the war. When combined with inferior antisubmarine sensors and weapons, the result was an unbalanced design. Type A units were superb torpedo boats, but lacked the attributes required for a truly successful fleet destroyer. The large Type B, or Akizuki class, was a better-balanced design. These ships featured a reduced torpedo armament, but included a true dual-purpose gun battery. However, these large ships were too complex for mass production and, of the 12 units produced, most entered service too late to make a difference. 4 ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com JAPANESE NAVAL STRATEGY AND Asashio, shown here in July 1937, probably on sea trials. THE ROLE OF THE DESTROYER The ship projects a fine balance of power and speed. Asashio had an active wartime career The course of the Pacific War did not go as the Japanese planned. In large until being one of the four measure, Japanese destroyers were designed for the anticipated climactic destroyers sunk at the Battle naval clash between the American and Japanese battle fleets, during which of the Bismarck Sea in March 1943. (Yamato Museum) the Imperial Navy’s destroyers would play a featured role. Because the Japanese were locked into a position of numerical inferiority in capital ships by a series of interwar naval treaties, Japanese destroyers were part of an elaborate attrition strategy that included fleet engagements at night to reduce the American advantage in battleships. Such an engagement never occurred in the Pacific War, but the tactics, training, and weapons devised for night battles provided the Japanese with an edge in a series of smaller battles in the early and mid-stages of the war. In spite of their success in most of these early battles, Japanese destroyers took heavy losses. Eleven were sunk in the Guadalcanal campaign and another 25 were lost in the Solomons or Bismarck Sea during 1943. These losses were serious and could not be replaced. In fact, one of the primary reasons cited by the Imperial Navy for its desire to end the Guadalcanal campaign was that mounting destroyer losses would make it impossible to fight the expected decisive battle successfully. The Imperial Navy’s destroyer force, so powerful and successful at the beginning of the conflict, was virtually annihilated by the war’s end. ASASHIO CLASS Design and Construction The Asashio class, ordered as part of the 1934 Reinforcement Program, became the prototype for the next two classes of Imperial Navy destroyers. Laid down beginning in 1935, the entire class of ten ships was completed between 1937 and 1939. The overall layout of the class proved successful in service and created a powerful ship that also presented a graceful and balanced appearance. 5 ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com Asagumo in September 1939. By this time, the Japanese had decided to ignore treaty limitations and Before the war, all Japanese built the new class of destroyer to meet requirements set by the Naval General destroyers displayed their Staff. The London Naval Treaty, which restricted the maximum size of name amidships on the hull destroyers and the Imperial Navy’s overall destroyer tonnage, did not expire and the number of their parent destroyer division forward until December 31, 1936, but this inconvenience did not trouble the Japanese. on the hull. Asagumo was the Compared to the preceding Shiratsuyu class, the length of the hull was easily the most active and increased by almost 30 feet and displacement was increased by almost 300 successful Asashio-class unit. tons. The primary difference compared to the previous class, aside from a (Yamato Museum) generally less cramped appearance, was the adoption of a heavier gun armament. The third twin Type C 5in mount was fitted in a superfiring position on the aft deckhouse, as on the Special Type destroyers. The Asashio class featured improved boilers that operated at higher temperatures. The three boilers drove two turbines and two shafts and generated 50,000 shaft horsepower (shp). This meant that in spite of the greater displacement, the top speed was 35 knots, one knot faster than the preceding Shiratsuyu class. Though the Japanese were happy with the design, there were problems. The sea trials of the lead ship, Asashio, produced unsatisfactory steering results. Subsequent ships in the class were provided with a modified stern and improved rudder, which gave a much more compact turning radius. The entire class had problems with the turbines, and it took until the start of the war to modify all ships. Asashio Class Construction Ship Built at Laid down Launched Completed Arare Maizuru Navy Yard 03/05/37 11/16/37 04/15/39 Arashio Kobe by Kawasaki 10/01/35 05/26/37 12/20/37 Asagumo Kobe by Kawasaki 12/23/36 11/05/37 03/31/38 Asashio Sasebo Navy Yard 09/07/35 12/16/36 08/31/37 Kasumi Uraga 12/01/36 11/18/37 06/28/39 Michishio Osaka by Fujinagata 11/05/35 03/15/37 10/31/37 Minegumo Osaka by Fujinagata 03/22/36 11/04/37 04/30/38 Natsugumo Sasebo Navy Yard 07/01/36 05/26/37 02/10/38 Ooshio Maizuru Navy Yard 08/05/36 04/19/37 10/31/37 Yamagumo Osaka by Fujinagata 11/04/36 07/24/37 01/15/38 Armament and Service Modifications The Asashio class was fitted with a heavy armament, greater than almost all foreign contemporaries. The main gun battery was six 5in guns in three Type C twin mounts. The ships’ primary offensive punch was the two Type 92 quad torpedo mounts. Each was provided with four reloads, making a total 6 ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com of 16 embarked torpedoes. The only anti-aircraft weaponry was two Type 96 Yamagumo in September 1939. twin 25mm mounts fitted amidships, forward of the second stack. These were She recorded a long wartime career before being one of the first destroyers to receive the new Type 96 guns. three Asashio-class ships sunk As the war progressed, the Japanese were forced to augment the anti- in a single night (October 25, aircraft fit of their destroyers. This was carried out in several stages. The first 1944) during the Battle of augmentation, carried out in 1942–43, was to swap the twin mounts Surigao Strait. From a crew amidships with triple mounts and to place a twin 25mm mount on a of 240, there were only two survivors. (Yamato Museum) bandstand forward of the bridge. The second phase, during 1943–44, entailed the removal of the superfiring 5in mount in favor of two 25mm triple mounts. This confirmed the failure of the Japanese 5in guns as anti- aircraft weapons. The third stage, conducted in 1944, was to fit between eight and 12 single 25mm guns on the main and forecastle decks. In addition, Kasumi received four single 13mm guns. Only four ships, Asagumo, Kasumi, Michishio, and Yamagumo, survived into 1944 to receive the full anti- aircraft augmentation and radar. Other important changes included the addition of a No. 22 radar on the modified foremast above the bridge and a No. 13 radar on the leading edge of the mainmast aft. The ships began the war with paravanes on the stern for sweeping moored mines and 16 depth charges deployed by either a Type 94 double-sided projector or stern drop stands. Later in the war, the paravanes were removed and the number of depth charges carried was increased. To compensate for this extra topweight, one of the spare sets of reload torpedoes was removed. Nevertheless, total displacement increased to 2,000 tons. Wartime Service The ten Asashio-class units began the war assigned to Destroyer Divisions 8 (Asashio, Arashio, Michishio, Ooshio), 9 (Asagumo, Minegumo, Natsugumo, Yamagumo), and 18 (Arare, Kasumi and two Kagero-class units). By 1944, only four ships survived, and three of these were moved into Division 4. The class saw heavy action during the war, and none survived. Arare: The ship began the war assigned to the Pearl Harbor Attack Force and remained with the carriers through the Indian Ocean raid in April. She was assigned to escort the invasion convoy for the Midway operation. In June 1942, she conducted escort operations to Kiska Island in the Aleutians. She was hit by a single torpedo from the submarine USS Growler on July 5 that year off Kiska and sunk. Arashio: She was assigned to support the invasion of Malaya and Dutch East Indies at the start of the war. She escorted the Support Group at the Battle of Midway in 1942, came under air attack, and suffered one bomb hit with 37 dead on June 6. She returned to service in December, conducted 7 ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com Natsugumo in November transport runs to New Guinea, and then participated in the evacuation from 1939. Note the paravanes on Guadalcanal. She was lost to air attack on March 4, 1943 in the Battle of the the stern for sweeping mines. Bismarck Sea. Natsugumo was caught by Asagumo: She was assigned to support the Philippines and Dutch East American aircraft on October 12, 1942 and sunk 90 miles Indies invasion at the start of the war. During the Battle of the Java Sea, she west-northwest of Savo Island, sank the British destroyer Electra on February 27, but was damaged by cruiser with the loss of 16 crewmen gunfire. She was involved in the Midway operation. During the Guadalcanal including her commanding campaign, she participated in the carrier battles of the Eastern Solomons and officer. (Yamato Museum) Santa Cruz, nine transport runs, and the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, where her torpedoes finished off the American destroyer Laffey; she was also present at the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. She survived the Battle of Bismarck Sea in March 1943. In May 1943, she moved to northern waters and participated in the evacuation of the Japanese garrison from Kiska. She was involved in the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, she was assigned to the Southern Force. During the Battle of Surigao Strait on October 25, 1944, the American destroyer McDermut fired a single torpedo salvo that sank or crippled three Asashio-class ships, including Asagumo. Asagumo had her bow blown off and was later sunk by gunfire, with only 39 survivors. Asashio: She was assigned to support the invasion of Malaya and the Dutch East Indies at the start of the war. On February 19–20, 1942, in the Battle of Badung Strait, she sank the Dutch destroyer Piet Hein and later damaged a Dutch cruiser and an American destroyer with gunfire, but was hit and damaged in return. She was assigned to escort the Support Group at the Battle of Midway and came under air attack; she suffered one bomb hit with 22 dead. In October, she was sent to Guadalcanal. She participated in the naval battles of Guadalcanal in November, but was not engaged. She was sent to Japan in January 1943 for a quick refit, and returned to Rabaul in time to escort a large convoy from Rabaul to Lae. During what became known as the Battle of the Bismarck Sea on March 4, 1943, she was pounded by multiple bomb hits; she quickly sank with all hands. Kasumi: She began the war assigned to the Pearl Harbor Attack Force and remained with the carriers through the Indian Ocean raid in April 1942. She was part of the escort for the invasion convoy in the Midway operation. On July 5, she was hit and damaged by a torpedo from the submarine USS Growler off Kiska. She returned to service in June 1943. She survived the Battle of Surigao Strait on October 25, 1944, and then conducted operations in the Philippines area, including two convoys to Leyte. She returned to Japan in February 1945 and was assigned to escort superbattleship Yamato on her mission to Okinawa. She was sunk on April 7, 1945 by air attack. 8 ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com Michishio: She was assigned to support the Philippines and Dutch East Indies invasion at the start of the war. During the Battle of Badung Strait on February 19, 1942, she was surprised by two old American destroyers and heavily damaged by gunfire, being left dead in the water with 64 casualties. After repairs, she arrived in Rabaul in October 1942. After three transport operations, she was heavily damaged by American air attacks on November 14 and eventually towed back to Japan. She participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944. At the Battle of Surigao Strait, on October 25 she was hit by a torpedo from the destroyer McDermut; she sank, leaving only four survivors. Minegumo: She was assigned to support the Philippines and Dutch East Indies invasion at the start of the war. During the Battle of the Java Sea, she and Asagumo dueled Arashio leaking oil and drifting with British destroyers, sinking one. She participated in the Midway after being crippled by air attack during the Battle of the operation. During the Guadalcanal campaign, she was involved in the carrier Bismarck Sea. The destroyer battle of the Eastern Solomons, but was then damaged by air attack on was initially disabled on October 5 and forced to return to Japan. She went back to Rabaul in March March 3, and finally sank the 1943, but on her first transport mission to Kolombangara Island in the following day with the loss of Central Solomons she was engaged and sunk by radar-controlled gunfire 72 crewmen. (Naval History and Heritage Command) from American cruisers and destroyers in Kula Gulf on March 6. Natsugumo: She was assigned to support the Philippines and Dutch East Indies invasion at the start of the war. She was involved in the Midway operation. During the Guadalcanal campaign, she participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and three transport runs, but was caught by American aircraft on October 12, 1942 near Savo Island and sunk. Ooshio: She was assigned to support the invasion of Malaya and the Dutch East Indies at the start of the war. On February 19–20, 1942, in the Battle of Badung Strait, she assisted Asashio in sinking the Dutch destroyer Piet Hein; later she was heavily damaged by gunfire and did not return to action until January 1943, when she participated in the evacuation from Guadalcanal. On February 20, she was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine Albacore off New Guinea. Yamagumo: She participated in the invasion of the Philippines, but struck a mine in Lingayen Gulf on December 31, 1941 and suffered heavy damage. Following repairs, she was assigned to convoy escort duties through early 1944 and sank the American submarine Sculpin on November 19, 1943. She participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944. At the Battle of Surigao Strait on October 25, she was struck by three torpedoes from the destroyer USS McDermut; she sank in two minutes, leaving two survivors. Asashio Class Specifications Displacement Standard: 1,961 tons Dimensions Length: 388ft overall / Beam: 34ft / Draft: 12ft Speed 35kts Range 5,000nm at 18kts Crew 200 (230 by 1944) 9 ©OspreyPublishing•www.ospreypublishing.com