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IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY / JAPAN MARITIME SELF-DEFENSE FORCE (JAPAN)

ESCORTS

TACHIBANA escort destroyers (1945)

Tachibana 1945

Wakaba 1965

 

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
[Tachibana]     Yokosuka K K 7.1944 14.10.1944 1.1945 sunk 14.7.1945
[Nire]     Maizuru K K 8.1944 25.11.1944 1.1945 damaged 22.6.1945, never repaired
[Tsuta]     Yokosuka K K 7/1944 2.11.1944 2/1945 surrendered 8.1945, to China 7.1947 (華陽 [Hua Yang])
[Hagi]     Yokosuka K K 9.1944 27.11.1944 3.1945 surrendered 8.1945, to United Kingdom 7.1947, BU
[Kaki]     Yokosuka K K 10.1944 11.12.1944 3.1945 damaged 6.6.1945, never repaired
[Shii]     Maizuru K K 9.1944 13.1.1945 3.1945 damaged 5.6.1945, never repaired, to Soviet Union 7.1947 (Вольный [Volnyy])
[Nashi], 5.1956- わかば [Wakaba] DE261   Kawasaki, Kobe 9/1944 17.1.1945 3.1945 sunk 28.7.1945, salvaged 1955, JMSDF 5.1956, stricken 3.1971
[Sumire]     Yokosuka K K 10.1944 27.12.1944 3.1945 surrendered 8.1945, to United Kingdom 8.1947, sunk as target
[Enoki]     Maizuru K K 10.1944 27.1.1945 3.1945 sunk 26.6.1945
[Kusunoki]     Yokosuka K K 11.1944 18.1.1945 4.1945 surrendered 8.1945, to United Kingdom 7.1947, BU
雄竹 [Odake]     Maizuru K K 11.1944 10.3.1945 5.1945 surrendered 8.1945, to USA 7.1947, BU
初桜 [Hatsuzakura]     Yokosuka K K 12.1944 20.2.1945 5.1945 surrendered 8.1945, to Soviet Union 7.1947 (Ветреный [Vetrenyy])
[Kaba]     Fujinagata, Osaka 10.1944 27.2.1945 5.1945 surrendered 8.1945, to USA 8.1947, BU
初梅 [Hatsuyume]     Maizuru K K 12.1944 25.5.1945 6.1945 damaged 26.6.1945, never repaired, to China 7.1947 (信陽 [Hsin Yang])
八重桜 [Yaezakura]     Yokosuka K K 12/1944 17.3.1945 --- cancelled 6.1945
[Tochi]     Yokosuka K K 1/1945 28.5.1945 --- cancelled 6.1945
矢竹 [Yadake]     Yokosuka K K 1/1945 1.5.1945 --- cancelled 6.1945
[Katsura]     Fujinagata, Osaka 11/1944 23.6.1945 --- cancelled 6.1945
若桜 [Wakazakura]     Fujinagata, Osaka 1/1945 --- --- cancelled 5.1945
[Azura]     Yokosuka K K 1/1945 --- --- cancelled 4.1945
[Sakaki]     Yokosuka K K 12/1944 --- --- cancelled 4.1945
[Kuzu]     Yokosuka K K 3/1945 --- --- cancelled 4.1945
[Hishi]     Maizuru K K 2/1945 --- --- cancelled 4.1945

  

Data variant as completed

Displacement standard, t

1289

Displacement full, t

1640

Length, m

92.2 pp 98.0 wl 100.0 oa

Breadth, m

9.35

Draught, m

3.37

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 sets Kampon geared steam turbines, 2 Kampon boilers

Power, h. p.

19000

Max speed, kts

27.8

Fuel, t

oil 370

Endurance, nm(kts) 4680(16)

Armament

1 x 2 - 127/40 89-shiki, 1 x 1 - 127/40 89-shiki, 4 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 17 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 1 x 4 - 610 TT, 7 DCT, 2 DCR (60)

Electronic equipment

2-shiki 2-go, 3-shiki 1-go radars, 93-shiki sonar

Complement

211

 Project history: Simplified variant of Matsu class escort destroyers: all constructions were redesigned for the purpose of reduction of labour input of manufacturing. Designers have refused, whenever possible, from curvilinear profiles, bridge and masts had more simple form, soft steel instead of the ship-building steel was used, that has led to displacement growth on 50t. Outwardly practically they did not differ from Matsu, except a transom stern and some narrowed underwater hull part.

Under the additional programme of 1942 13 ships were ordered and additional 20 under the programme of 1943/1944. Under the programme of 1944/1945 it was provided building of 80 more ships, however orders for them were not placed. In March, 1945 orders on 10, yet not laid down destroyers of 1943/1944 programme (amongs Nos4801-4820) were cancelled. 17.4.1945 building of Azusa, Hishi, Kuzu and Sakaki was suspended. 11.5.1945 works on Wakazakura were suspended. During the period from 18/5 to 23.6.1945 completion of already launched Tochi, Yadake, Yaezakura and Katsura has been suspended. Being in 60% availability Yaezakura 18.7.1945 was sunk in Yokosuka harbour by US carrier aircraft.

Modernizations:

 

(1955 - 12.5.1956, Kure D Yd), Wakaba (ex-Nashi): was salvaged, repaired and commissioned by JMSDF as escort / TS with data as given in the table:

 

Data variant Wakaba 1956

Displacement standard, t

1289

Displacement full, t

1640

Length, m

92.2 pp 98.0 wl 100.0 oa

Breadth, m

9.35

Draught, m

3.37

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 sets Kampon geared steam turbines, 2 Kampon boilers

Power, h. p.

14000

Max speed, kts

27

Endurance, nm (kts)

4680 (16)

Armament

1 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 33, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog Mk 10 ASWRL, 6 DCT, 2 DCR

Sensors SO radar

Complement

206

(9/1957 - 3.1958), Wakaba: was converted to radar picket; - SO radar; + SPS-5B, SPS-12, Mk 34 radars

1960, Wakaba: + SPS-8B radar, SQR-4, SQS-11A sonars, OLR-4 ECM suite

1962, Wakaba: + T-3 sonar

 

Naval service: Enoki 26.6.1945 was mined at coast of Japan and foundered on shallow water; subsequently she was salvaged and handed over on demolition. Tachibana 14.7.1945 was sunk at Hakodate by US carrier aircraft. Nashi 28.7.1945 off Kure was sunk by US carrier aircraft. Shii 5.6.1945 was damaged on a mine in Bungo Strait and till the end of war was not repaired. Kaki 6.6.1945 was damaged on a mine, never repaired. Nire 22.6.1945 was hard damaged at Kure by US Army aircraft and was not under repair. Hatsuume 26.6.1945 was hard damaged on a mine off Maizuru and till the end of war was not repaired. Sumire in 1947 was received by UK on a reparation and the same year sunk as target. Hatsuume and Tsuta in July, 1947 were transferred to China on a reparation. Shii and Hatsuzakura in July, 1947 were transferred to USSR on a reparation. Nashi in 1954 was salvaged, repaired and 31.5.1956 commissioned by JMSDF as Wakaba. She was converted to test ship in 1968 and eventually stricken in 1972.

Hatsuzakura 1945

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-16