Enoki (榎, "Nettle Tree") was one of 23 escort destroyers of the Tachibana sub-class of the Matsu class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the final stages of World War II. The ship was completed in early 1945 and was sunk by a naval mine in June. Her wreck was salvaged in 1948 and subsequently scrapped.

Sister ship Nire in January or February 1945
History
Empire of Japan
Name	Enoki
Namesake	Nettle Tree
Ordered	1944
Builder	Maizuru Naval Arsenal
Laid down	14 October 1944
Launched	27 January 1945
Completed	31 March 1945
Stricken	30 September 1945
Fate	Sunk by naval mine, 26 June 1945, and scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type	Tachibana sub-class of the Matsu-class escort destroyer
Displacement	1,309 t (1,288 long tons) (standard)
Length	100 m (328 ft 1 in) (o/a)
Beam	9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
Draft	3.37 m (11 ft 1 in)
Installed power	2 × water-tube boilers; 19,000 shp (14,000 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 × geared steam turbines
Speed	27.8 knots (51.5 km/h; 32.0 mph)
Range	4,680 nmi (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Sensors and processing systems	1 × Type 22 search radar 1 × Type 13 early-warning radar
Armament	1 × twin, 1 × single 127 mm (5 in) DP guns 4 × triple, 13 × single 25 mm (1 in) AA guns 1 × quadruple 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes 2 × rails, 2 × throwers for 60 depth charges

Design and description

The Tachibana sub-class was a simplified version of the preceding Matsu-class escort destroyers to make them even more suited for mass production. The ships measured 100 meters (328 ft 1 in) in overall length, with a beam of 9.35 meters (30 ft 8 in) and a draft of 3.37 meters (11 ft 1 in).[1] They displaced 1,309 metric tons (1,288 long tons) at standard load and 1,554 metric tons (1,529 long tons) at deep load.[2] The ships had two Kampon geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 19,000 shaft horsepower (14,000 kW) for a speed of 27.8 knots (51.5 km/h; 32.0 mph). The Tachibanas had a range of 4,680 nautical miles (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[3]

The main armament of the Tachibana sub-class consisted of three Type 89 127-millimeter (5 in) dual-purpose guns in one twin-gun mount aft and one single mount forward of the superstructure. The single mount was partially protected against spray by a gun shield. The accuracy of the Type 89 guns was severely reduced against aircraft because no high-angle gunnery director was fitted. They carried a total of 25 Type 96 25-millimeter (1 in) anti-aircraft guns in 4 triple and 13 single mounts. The Tachibanas were equipped with Type 13 early-warning and Type 22 surface-search radars.[4] The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mount amidships for 610-millimeter (24 in) torpedoes. They could deliver their 60 depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers.[1][4]

Construction and service

Enoki (Nettle Tree)[5] was ordered in Fiscal Year 1944 under the Wartime Naval Armaments Supplement Program[3] and she was laid down at Maizuru Naval Arsenal on 14 October 1944. The ship was launched on 27 January 1945 and completed on 31 March.[6] The destroyer was assigned to the 11th Destroyer Squadron of the Second Fleet the following day for working up. Enoki began training in the Seto Inland Sea on 8 April and continued to do so until 27 May. During this time, the squadron was reassigned to the Combined Fleet on 20 April.[5]

On 26 June the ship's stern struck a naval mine which caused the aft magazine to explode, sinking the ship in shallow water at 35°28′N 135°44′E near Obama, Fukui. The number of survivors is not known. Enoki was stricken from the navy list on 30 September. Her wreck was refloated on 1 July 1948 and subsequently broken up.[3][5]

Notes

Bibliography

• 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.
• Nevitt, Allyn D. (1998). "IJN Enoki: Tabular Record of Movement". www.combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
• 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.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.