Natsuzuki (夏月, "Summer Moon") was an Akizuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Natsuzuki in late 1945
History
Empire of Japan
Name	Natsuzuki
Builder	Sasebo Naval Arsenal
Laid down	1 May 1944
Launched	2 December 1944
Completed	8 April 1945
Commissioned	8 April 1945
Stricken	5 October 1945
Fate	Transferred to the United Kingdom, 25 August 1947
United Kingdom
Acquired	25 August 1947
Fate	Scrapped, 1948
General characteristics
Class and type	Akizuki-class destroyer
Displacement	2,700 long tons (2,743 t) standard 3,700 long tons (3,759 t) full load
Length	134.2 m (440 ft 3 in)
Beam	11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
Draft	4.15 m (13 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	4 × Kampon type boilers 2 × Parsons geared turbines 2 × shafts, 50,000 shp (37 MW)
Speed	33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h)
Range	8,300 nmi (15,400 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement	263
Armament	8 × 100 mm (4 in)/65 cal Type 98 DP guns 10 × Type 96 25 mm (0.98 in) AA guns (3×7 + 1×up to 40) 4 × 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes 8 × Type 93 torpedoes 54 × Type 95 depth charges

Design and description

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 a more general-purpose destroyer. Their crew numbered 300 officers and enlisted men. The ships measured 134.2 meters (440 ft 3 in) overall, with a beam of 11.6 meters (38 ft 1 in) and a draft of 4.15 meters (13 ft 7 in).[1] They displaced 2,744 metric tons (2,701 long tons) at standard load and 3,759 metric tons (3,700 long tons) at deep load.[2]

The 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 indicated horsepower (39,000 kW) for a designed speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). The ship carried up to 1,097 long tons (1,115 t) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 8,300 nautical miles (15,400 km; 9,600 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[3]

The main armament of the Akizuki class consisted of eight Type 98 100-millimeter (3.9 in) dual purpose guns in four twin-gun turrets, two superfiring pairs fore and aft of the superstructure. They carried four Type 96 25-millimeter (1.0 in) anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts. The ships were also armed with four 610-millimeter (24.0 in) torpedo tubes in a single quadruple traversing mount; one reload was carried for each tube. Their anti-submarine weapons comprised six depth charge throwers for which 72 depth charges were carried.[4]

Construction and career

On 5 October 1945, Natsuzuki was removed from the Navy List. On 25 August 1947, she was turned over to Great Britain. She was scrapped at Uraga, Kanagawa in 1948.

Notes

References

• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• 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.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

External links

• CombinedFleet.com: Akizuki-class destroyers
• CombinedFleet.com: Natsuzuki history

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