Japanese destroyer Hanazuki

Coordinates: 35°30′N 122°49′E / 35.500°N 122.817°E / 35.500; 122.817
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Hanazuki underway, 18 December 1944
History
Empire of Japan
NameHanazuki
BuilderMaizuru Naval Arsenal
Laid down10 February 1944
Launched10 October 1944
Completed26 December 1944
Commissioned26 December 1944
Stricken5 October 1945
FateSunk as target off Gotō Islands, Japan, 3 February 1948
General characteristics
Class and typeAkizuki-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 2,700 long tons (2,743 t) standard
  • 3,700 long tons (3,759 t) full load
Length134.2 m (440 ft 3 in)
Beam11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
Draft4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
Propulsion
  • 4 × Kampon type boilers
  • 2 × Kampon geared turbines
  • 2 × shafts, 50,000 shp (37 MW)
Speed33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h)
Range8,300 nmi (15,400 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement300
Armament

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[edit]

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 destroyers. The ships measured 134.2 meters (440 ft 3 in) overall, with beams of 11.6 meters (38 ft 1 in) and drafts of 4.15 meters (13 ft 7 in).[1] They displaced 2,701 long tons (2,744 t) at standard load[2] and 3,420 long tons (3,470 t) at deep load.[3] Their crews numbered 300 officers and enlisted men.[2]

Each 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 shaft horsepower (38,776 kW) for a designed speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). The ships carried enough fuel oil to give them ranges of 8,300 nautical miles (15,400 km; 9,600 mi) at speeds of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[4]

The main armament of the Akizuki class consisted of eight 100-millimeter (3.9 in) Type 98 dual-purpose guns in four twin-gun turrets, two superfiring pairs fore and aft of the superstructure. They each carried a dozen 25-millimeter (1 in) Type 96 anti-aircraft (AA) guns in four triple-gun mounts. The ships were also each armed with four 610-millimeter (24 in) torpedo tubes in a single quadruple rotating mount amidships; one reload was carried for each tube.[5] The later batches of ships were each equipped with six depth charge throwers for which 72 depth charges were carried. Hanazuki was equipped with a Type 21 early-warning radar on her foremast.[6]

Construction and career[edit]

Hanazuki at Kure after the surrender of Japan, 16 October 1945

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[edit]

  1. ^ Sturton, p. 195
  2. ^ a b Whitley, p. 204
  3. ^ Todaka, p. 213
  4. ^ Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 150
  5. ^ Whitley, pp. 204–205
  6. ^ Stille, p. 33

References[edit]

  • Dodson, Aidan & Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: The Fate of Enemy Fleets after Two World Wars. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1.
  • 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.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.
  • Stille, Mark (2013). Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919–45 (2): Asahio to Tachibana Classes. Botley, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-987-6.
  • 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.
  • Todaka, Kazushige, ed. (2020). Destroyers: Selected Photos from the Archives of the Kure Maritime Museum; the Best from the Collection of Shizuo Fukui's Photos of Japanese Warships. Japanese Naval Warship Photo Album. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-630-8.
  • Whitley, M. J. (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.

External links[edit]

35°30′N 122°49′E / 35.500°N 122.817°E / 35.500; 122.817