Kagero Class Destroyers Class Overview

Dimensions, Machinery and Performance

Length:
388' 9"
Engines:
2 geared turbines
Beam:
35' 6"
Boilers:
3 Kanpon (oil fired)
Draft:
12' 4"
Shafts:
2
Displacement:
2,043 std
SHP:
52,000
Speed:
35.5 knots
Crew:
240
Range:
5,000 NM @ 18 knots


Armament As Built
Number Carried
Type
Arrangement
Maximum Range / Ceiling
6
5"/50 (127mm)
3 twin turrets
20,100 yards @ 45° (11.4 miles)
with a 50.7 lb. HE shell
AA ceiling 40,000' @ 75°

4
1"/60 (25mm)
AA
2 twin mounts
8,200 yards @ 50°
AA ceiling 18,040' @ 85°
(effective only to 9,843')

2
.52"/76 (13mm)
AA
single mounts
AA ceiling 13,060' @ 85°
Rate of fire 250 RPM

8
24" (610mm)
torpedo tubes
2 quad launchers
1 reload per tube
43,700 yards @ 36-38 knots
1,080 lb. warhead

Armament Changes
1943-44: Number 2 turret removed and replaced with 2 twin 1"/60 (25mm).

6 additional 1"/60 (25mm) were also added.

4 depth charge launchers added (36 depth charges carried).

June 1944: 1"/60 (25mm) increased to between 18 to 28 per unit.

2 additional .52"/76 (13mm) added.


Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Shiranui
Uraga Dock Co.
Tokyo, Japan

June 28, 1938
Dec. 20, 1939
Fate
Sunk Oct. 27, 1944 by aircraft from USS Essex CV-9 (bombs).

Location: Sibuyan Sea, 32 miles NW of Roxas, Panay Island, Philippines
(12.00N - 122.30E).

No survivors.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Kagero
Maizuru Navy Yard
Maizuru, Japan

Sept. 27, 1938
Nov. 6, 1939
Fate
Sunk May 8, 1943 hit mine later bombed and strafed by US land based aircraft.
*Hit mine while leaving Kolombangara and was disabled. Attacked by US aircraft
and sunk.

Location: South Pacific, between Kolombangara and Ghizo Islands, Solomon Islands
(08.06S - 156.55E).
*Some sources state sunk SW of Rendova Island but this is incorrect.


18 crewmen killed, unknown number of survivors.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Kuroshio
Fujinagata Zosensho
Osaka, Japan

Oct. 25, 1938
Jan. 27, 1940
Fate
Sunk May 8, 1943 by 3 mines.

Location: South Pacific, between Kolombangara and Ghizo Islands, Solomon Islands
(08.05S - 156.55E).
*Some sources state sunk SW of Rendova Island but this is incorrect.

83 crewmen killed, unknown number of survivors.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Oyashio
Maizuru Navy Yard
Maizuru, Japan

Nov. 29, 1938
Aug. 20, 1940
Fate
Sunk May 8, 1943 by US aircraft (bombs & strafing).

Location: South Pacific, between Kolombangara and Ghizo Islands, Solomon Islands
(08.06S - 156.55E).
*Some sources state sunk SW of Rendova Island but this is incorrect.

91 crewmen killed, unknown number of survivors.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Hatsukaze
Kawasaki Jyuko Co.
Kobe, Japan

Jan. 24, 1939
Feb. 15, 1940
Fate
Sunk Nov. 2, 1943 at the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay. Rammed by Japanese
cruiser Myoko and lost bow, sunk by gunfire from USS Spence DD-512 and four
other US destroyers.

Location: Solomon Sea near Bougainville Island, Solomon Islands.
*Sources state she was sunk in Empress Augusta Bay however, the position
given (06.01S - 153.58E) is 82 miles WNW of the center of the bay.

No survivors.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Natsushio
Fujinagata Zosensho
Osaka, Japan

Feb 23, 1939
Aug. 21, 1940
Fate
Sunk Feb. 9, 1942 by USS S-37 SS-142 (torpedo).
*Damaged by torpedo Feb. 8 aprox. 9 miles WSW of Macassar. Taken in tow by Kuroshio but, sank on the 9th.

Location: South Pacific, 22 miles south of Macassar, Celebes (05.27S - 119.17E).

8 crewmen killed, unknown number of survivors.

*First Japanese destroyer sunk by a US submarine.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Yukikaze
Sasebo Navy Yard
Sasebo, Japan

Mar. 24, 1939
Jan. 20, 1940
Fate
Scrapped in 1970.

*Surrendered at Maizuru in 1945 and turned over to Nationalist Chinese as war reparations on July 6, 1947 and renamed Tan Yan.

Only one of the Kagero class to survive the war.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Hayashio
Uraga Dock Co.
Tokyo, Japan

Apr. 19, 1939
Aug. 21, 1940
Fate
Sunk Nov. 24, 1942 by USAAF aircraft (bombs) and scuttled (torpedo).
*Abandoned when fires could not be brought under control, scuttled by Shiratsuyu.

Location: Huon Gulf, 40 miles SE of Lae, Papua New Guinea (07.00S - 147.30E).

50 crewmen killed, unknown number of survivors removed by Shiratsuyu.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Isokaze
Sasebo Navy Yard
Sasebo, Japan

June 19, 1939
Nov. 30, 1940
Fate
Sunk Apr. 7, 1945 by US carrier aircraft from TF-58 (possibly Langley CV-27 and
San Jacinto CVL-30) while escorting the Yamato.
*Damaged by aircraft and unmaneuverable, Yukikaze removed crew and scuttled
with gunfire.

Location: East China Sea, 150 miles SW of Nagasaki, Japan (30.46N - 128.29E).

20 crewmen killed, 285 removed by Yukikaze.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Amatsukaze
Maizuru Navy Yard
Maizuru, Japan

Oct. 19, 1939
Oct. 26, 1940
Fate
Sunk Apr. 6, 1945 by USAAF B-25's (bombs).
*Grounded to avoid sinking but slid into deep water and sank.

Location: Taiwan Strait, 6 miles east of Amoy (Xiamen) Fujian provence China
(24.27N - 118.11E).

44 crewmen killed, unknown number of survivors.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Tokitsukaze
Uraga Dock Co.
Tokyo, Japan

Nov. 10, 1939
Dec. 15, 1940
Fate
Sunk Mar. 4, 1943 by USAAF and RAAF aircraft (bombs).
*Damaged by aircraft on the 3rd and left dead in the water, crew removed by Yukikaze
and ship abandoned.

Location: Solomon Sea, 55 miles SE of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea
(07.15S - 148.30E).

19 crewmen killed, unknown number of survivors.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Urakaze
Fujinagata Zosensho
Osaka, Japan

Apr. 19, 1940
Dec. 15, 1940
Fate
Sunk Nov. 21, 1944 by USS Sealion SS-315 (torpedo).

Location: Taiwan Strait, 72 miles NNW of Keelung (Chi-Lung), Taiwan
(26.09N - 121.23E).

No survivors.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Arashi
Maizuru Navy Yard
Maizuru, Japan

Apr. 22, 1940
Jan. 27, 1941
Fate
Sunk Aug. 7, 1943 by USS Craven DD-382, USS Dunlap DD-384 and
USS Maury DD-401 at the Battle of Vella Gulf.

Location: South Pacific, between Kolombangara and Vella Lavella Islands, Solomon Islands (07.50S - 156.55E).

Sunk with the destroyers Hagikaze and Kawakaze, all were carrying troops to
Kolombangara. Aprox. 900 troops on combined ships only 310 survivors (troops and crews) rescued from all three.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Hagikaze
Uraga Dock Co.
Tokyo, Japan

June 18, 1940
Mar. 31, 1941
Fate
Sunk Aug. 7, 1943 by USS Craven DD-382, USS Dunlap DD-384 and
USS Maury DD-401 at the Battle of Vella Gulf.

Location: South Pacific, between Kolombangara and Vella Lavella Islands, Solomon Islands (07.50S - 156.55E).

Sunk with the destroyers Arashi and Kawakaze, all were carrying troops to
Kolombangara. Aprox. 900 troops on combined ships only 310 survivors (troops and crews) rescued from all three.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Nowake
Maizuru Navy Yard
Maizuru, Japan

Sept. 17, 1940
Apr. 28, 1941
Fate
Sunk Oct. 26, 1944 by USS Vincennes CL-64, USS Biloxi CL-80, Miami CL-89,
Miller DD-535, Lewis Hancock DD-675 and Owen DD-536 (gunfire and torpedoes).

Location: 30 miles north of Samar Island, Philippines (13.00N - 124.54E).

When attacked Nowake was carrying the survivors from the cruiser Chikuma which
had been sunk on Oct. 25.

No survivors from either ship, aprox. 1,400 killed.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Tanikaze
Fujinagata Zosensho
Osaka, Japan

Nov. 1, 1940
Apr. 25, 1941
Fate
Sunk June 9, 1944 by USS Harder SS-257 (torpedo).

Location: Sulu Sea, 7 miles east of Lugus Island, Philippines (05.42N - 120.41E).

115 crewmen killed, 125 survivors picked up by Urakaze.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Hamakaze
Uraga Dock Co.
Tokyo, Japan

Nov. 25, 1940
June 30, 1941
Fate
Sunk Apr. 7, 1944 by aircraft from USS San Jacinto CVL-30 (bombs & torpedo).
*Escorting the Yamato at the time of loss.

Location: East China Sea, 150 miles SW of Nagasaki, Japan (30.47N - 128.08E).

100 crewmen killed, 257 survivors picked up by Hatsushimo.
Name
Builder
Launched
Commissioned
Maikaze
Fujinagata Zosensho
Osaka, Japan

Mar. 15, 1941
July 15, 1941
Fate
Sunk Feb. 17, 1944 by USS Minneapolis CA-36 and USS New Orleans CA-32 (gunfire).
*Sunk in the same action as the cruiser Katori.

Location: South Pacific, 30 miles NW of Truk Lagoon (07.45N - 151.20E).

No survivors.


Class Notes:
18 ships in class.
17 combat losses, 1 scrapped.
5 sunk by US warships.
3 sunk by US submarines.
8 sunk by US aircraft (1 with the help of Australian aircraft and 1 had been damaged by a mine and disabled).

1 sunk by a mine.
5 lost with the entire crew (1 with all the survivors from another ship).


Page created Dec. 20, 2006