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Shimotsuki (霜月) was an Akizuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her name means "November".

History
Empire of Japan
Name	Shimotsuki
Builder	Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard
Laid down	6 July 1942
Launched	7 April 1943
Completed	31 March 1944
Commissioned	31 March 1944, 11th Destroyer Squadron
Stricken	10 January 1945
Fate	Sunk by USS Cavalla, 25 November 1944
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 × Kampon type 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	March 1944 : 8 × 100 mm (4 in)/65 cal Type 98 DP guns 25 × Type 96 25 mm (0.98 in) AA guns (3×5 + 1×10) 4 × 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes 8 × Type 93 torpedoes 56 × Type 95 depth charges July 1944 : 8 × 100 mm (4 in)/65 cal DP guns 35 × 25 mm AA guns (3×7 + 1×14) 4 × 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes 8 × Type 93 torpedoes 56 × 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. Her 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 ships 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 (39,000 kW) for a designed speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). The ships 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 in) anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts. The ships were also armed with four 610-millimeter (24 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 25 November 1944, Shimotsuki was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine USS Cavalla 220 miles (350 km) east-northeast of Singapore (2°21′N 107°20′E) with heavy loss of life.

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: Shimotsuki history

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