DD - Akizuki

Akizuki class
秋月型 / あきづきがた
     
Název:
Name:
Akizuki Akizuki class
Originální název:
Original Name:
秋月型 / あきづきがた
Kategorie:
Category:
torpédoborec Destroyer
Období výroby:
Production Period:
30.06.1940-08.05.1945
Přehled vyrobených plavidel:
Summary of Built Boats:
Akizuki
Teruzuki
Suzucuki
Hacuzuki
Nízuki
Wakacuki
Šimocuki


Fujuzuki
Harucuki
Joizuki
Nacuzuki


Mičizuki 1)
Hanazuki
Uživatelské státy:
User states:
Poznámka:
Note:
1) stavba zastavena 1) construction stopped
Zdroje:
Sources:
http://military.sakura.ne.jp/ ; http://wikipedia.org/



upravil : FiBe
URL : https://www.valka.cz/DD-Akizuki-t14714#55607 Version : 0

Akizuki class




The Akizuki class (iz 型/あ き づ き が た/Akizuki-gata) consisted of a total of twelve completed vessels - 1st class destroyers (一等 駆 逐 艦/い っ と う く ち く か it -1945, in three series. The original plan assumed that they would be accompanying anti-aircraft vessels, and only later was the design incorporated into the design of a four-barreled torpedo launcher, creating a class of probably the best and largest Japanese destroyers in World War II. In the Imperial Navy, units of this class were referred to as "Type 2 Destroyers" (ts 駆 逐 艦/お つ が た く ち く か ん/otsu-gata-kučikukan/English Type B Destroyer).
Four units out of a total of twelve were completed too late to take part in the fighting of World War II. Following the Japanese surrender, these four units were handed over to the Allies. Of the eight remaining units, six were sunk in naval battles. The two remaining units ( Suzucuki and Fujuzuki) caught the surrender of Japan damaged and were sunk like breakwaters. All units were named by names somehow related to the Moon. The Japanese character 月 (cuki/gecu/gacu) means Moon and Moon.


Origin and background of development


The concept of the project of a fast anti-aircraft vessel intended to accompany the operational unions of aircraft carriers should be included in the period before the Second World War and was developed on the basis of an analysis of the operation of the Japanese naval air force in the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The concept of new vessels was also significantly influenced by the construction of British specialized anti-aircraft cruisers at Royal Navy, specifically the class Dido. The main difference in the Japanese concept, however, was the fact that the Japanese decided to use as a basis for an anti-aircraft vessel not a cruiser, but a destroyer. The main reason for this decision was the absence of a successful type of modern light cruiser that the Japanese Navy would have available in the late 1930s, and for economic reasons the length and capacity requirements of Japanese shipyards in building light cruisers also played a role. In 1938, a new 10 cm anti-aircraft cannon type 98 with a barrel length of 65 calibers was designed. After a series of tests in which the undeniable qualities of the newly developed weapon were proven, it was chosen as the main armament of the new class of vessels.
The original design from July 1938 provided for a displacement of 2,200 tons, a speed of up to 35 knots and armament 4x II 10 cm anti-aircraft cannon type 98 and 2x II 25 mm anti-aircraft automatic cannon type 96. Also very unusual was the fact that the design did not provide for the installation of torpedo armament, which was very unusual for Japanese destroyers and cruisers. Another proposal, created in September 1938, already counted on, due to the increase in displacement to 2,350 tons with the limitation of the maximum speed to 33 knots and assumed the installation of torpedo launchers. The project, now known as the F 51, was finalized in April 1939. According to him, the vessel was to have a displacement of 2,700 tons, which brought it closer to older Japanese light cruisers. For example, the light cruiser Júbari had a displacement of 2,890 tons. In terms of displacement, during World War II, the Akizuki-class units were the largest Japanese destroyers and the third largest destroyers in the world (after the French class Mogador and the Soviet vessel Tashkent). At the beginning of 1939, the construction of the first units according to the F 51 project was approved within the "fourth circle program", which took place simultaneously with the construction of units of the Júgumo class. By May 1943, a total of six units with hull numbers 104 to 109 had been built. The estimated price of one vessel in 1939 was set at 12,090,000 yen.After the first series, construction was to continue according to the modified F 53 project, which differed from the F 51 by a simplification of the construction, a modified shape of the bow and a modified shape of the bridge. The estimated price of the F 53 project unit was to climb to 17,820,400 yen. Project F 53 from 1941 was further divided into two subclasses: Shimocuki and Fujuzuki (numbers 360 to 364) and Michizuki (365-369). From this series, however, only Šimocuki and Fujuzuki took part in the battles. The other four units, including one of the Michizuki subclasses, were completed too late and before the end of the war were engaged in training in the Inland Sea, or only took part in battles with aircraft attacking the remnants of the Imperial Navy in Japanese domestic waters. At the end of the war, Michizuki managed to complete only 16% and the construction of the remaining three units was completely canceled, on December 14, 1944. The material and resources were later used to build the suicide boats Shinjo and Kaiten. According to the original plans of the Japanese Navy, in the next phase of construction, the construction of another eight units (777 to 785) was to continue, according to other sources even up to sixteen: 770-785). Due to the strategic situation in which Japan was at the time, the original 1942 program was replaced on June 30, 1942 by a plan to build 22 units (5061 to 5083) under a modified 1942 program. However, the entire 1942 project was first reduced on June 9, 1944 to five units (5061 to 5065) and then canceled completely on December 14, 1944.


Design


It is an indisputable fact that the new class of Japanese destroyers Akizuki, meant an unprecedented leap in the size and tonnage of Japanese torpedo vessels. For example, the parallel-built units of the Júgumo class were 0.8 meters narrower by 15 meters shorter on the waterline and lighter by 1180 tons of full discharge. The rapid enlargement of the hull then provided the new vessels with a sufficiently stable base to accommodate the four double-barreled turrets of the main batteries. These were placed in pairs on the bow and stern. The turrets number two on the bow and three on the stern were placed in superposition. The silhouette, which characterizes this class, was created mainly by a single chimney, discharging flue gases from all boilers, while all previous Japanese constructions always had two chimneys.


The arrangement of the propulsion system, despite the fact that the hull was substantially extended, was completely preserved in the new type, as in the previous units of the classes Kageró and Yugumo. The added length of the hull was used by the barbet of the second turret on the bow. All units of the previous classes had only one turret on the bow. The middle part of the vessel was occupied by two boiler rooms counted from the bow: front No. 1 with a length of 17 meters and rear No. 2 with a length of 9.2 meters and two engine rooms: front No. 1 with a length of 13 meters and rear No. 2 with a length of 12, 3 meters. Two boilers, generating superheated steam at a pressure of 30 kg/cm2 and a temperature of 350 ° C of the Ro-gó Kanpon šiki type, were placed in the front boiler room. The rear boiler room contained only one boiler of the same type. The front engine room was located on the port side, driving the left propeller. The right screw was driven by turbines located in the rear engine room. Each engine room was equipped with one set of Kanpon steam turbines of the same composition and connection as the vessels of the previous classes Kageró and Júgumo. Each set consisted of one high-pressure, one medium-pressure, and one low-pressure turbine, which were complemented by one high-pressure and one low-pressure turbine in each cruising set. Each set had an output of 26,000 pieces (15,445.5 kW), but the speed of the propeller was reduced to 340 rpm. The main fuel tanks were located in the double bottom of the vessel. The space on the starboard side at the level of the front engine room and on the port side at the level of the rear engine room was filled with additional fuel tanks.Additional tanks were placed on the vessels, so that the total capacity of the tanks was above average 25% of the standard displacement of the entire ship.


Armament


The main ship's main armament consisted of eight multi-purpose 10 cm anti-aircraft cannons type 98. According to all parameters, these cannons were probably better than the American 127 mm L/38 Mark 12 cannons, but they lacked the advantage of controlling radar fire and firing ammunition with approach igniters. The 10 cm anti-aircraft cannon type 98 was designed from the beginning as an anti-aircraft weapon, so none of the Akizuki class units dismantled some of the main battery towers in favor of 25 mm anti-aircraft automatic cannons type 96 anti-aircraft rapid-fire cannons, as with most vessels of older classes. All units thus carried four double-barreled towers throughout the service in the same configuration.


Anti-aircraft auxiliary equipment


During construction in Japanese shipyards, the vessels were initially equipped with only two double-barreled 25 mm anti-aircraft automatic cannon type 96, which were placed on a platform between the chimney and the torpedo launcher. In the center of this platform was a 2.5 m rangefinder. Later, the number of 25 mm anti-aircraft automatic cannons type 96 was increased and new units entered service with reinforced weapons.


Anti-submarine armament


Initially, for anti-submarine warfare, the vessel was equipped with only two double-barreled depth charge launchers type 94 at the stern, which were increased during the war to six main.
The vessel also had up to six depth charge slides for 72 depth charges.


Torpedo armament


The four-barrel 610 mm torpedo type 92 model 4, whose rotation was taken care of by an engine powered by compressed air, formed the torpedo armament of Akizuki class vessels. The torpedo was placed above the front engine room, between the anti-aircraft platform behind the chimney and the rear superstructure. The ships were equipped with four torpedoes loaded directly into the torpedo launcher and another four pieces could be stored on a feeder behind the torpedo launcher on the left side of the aft superstructure. These were Type 93 Torpedoes, the dreaded "Long Spear".


Radars


Japan lagged far behind the Allies in radar technology. It was not until 1942 that the first experimental radars were installed on some of the Imperial Navy's vessels, and the first radar appeared on the Akizuki class on destroyers Nízuki, Suzucuki a Hacuzuki. They were surveillance radars against air and surface targets, either a meter 21 Go, or a centimeter 22 Go. Radar 21 Gó had a rotating antenna of either model 6 with dimensions of 3.6 x 2 meters, or model 7 with dimensions of 3.6 x 3 meters and its installation is documented at least on units Akizuki, Suzucuki, Hacuzuki a Fujuzuki . Radar 22 Gó was equipped with an antenna in the shape of two funnels and later. on Akizuki class units replaced the 21 Go radar. These radars were placed on the platform of a modified front mast. In 1944, the installation of a one-meter surveillance radar against 13 Gó air targets was introduced. One antenna was installed on the front of the rear mast and some units were equipped with a second apparatus on the front mast above the 22 Go radar.


Modifications


After experience from naval combat and especially with the growing Allied superiority both in surface vessels and especially in the air, the vessels were modified on the basis of the requirements of naval commanders. In particular, the auxiliary anti-aircraft armament was strengthened by installing another 25 mm anti-aircraft automatic cannons type 96.Two-barrel 25 mm assemblies were replaced by three-barrel. Since 1943, other anti-aircraft assemblies of 25 mm triplets have appeared. For the Akizuki subclass, it was located on the sides of the chimney, while on Shimocuki, Fujuzuki (and Michizuki) on the platform located behind torpedo. In 1944, a fifth 25 mm station was installed in place of the rear rangefinder. Later, additional anti-aircraft stations were added for 25 mm triplets mounted on the sides of the bridge. In addition to triple assemblies, 25 mm single-barreled cannons were also installed on board. From mid-1944, some 13 mm heavy machine guns type 93 also appeared on some vessels. The Shimocuki and Fujuzuki subclasses have also been further modified and simplified, such as changing the shape of the bow. The changes also affected the bridge by stretching the middle floor to the mast.


In conclusion


Despite the fact that in the Akizuki class units, the Imperial Navy acquired excellent vessels that matched or surpassed their opponents, it must be said that it lagged behind its American class counterparts Fletcher and Allen M. Sumner in radar, anti-submarine and anti-aircraft weapons. Their optically focused 10 cm anti-aircraft cannons type 98 and 25 mm anti-aircraft automatic cannons type 96 could not in anti-aircraft combat measure with US radar aimed 127 mm L/38 cannon Mark 12 and 40 mm L/56 cannon Mark 1/2, which used ammunition with proximity lighters. As one of the few Japanese ships, the Akizuki-class units did not suffer from overloading of superstructures, had excellent sailing characteristics and represented the best that the Japanese shipbuilding industry produced in the given category.



sources:
wunderwaffe.narod.ru
cs.wikipedia.org
www.globalsecurity.org
https://www.ijnyard.com/2009/07/23-akizuki-class/
https://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0431.htm
www.geocities.co.jp
https://www.combinedfleet.com/akizuk_n.htm
https://www.combinedfleet.com/akizuk_t.htm
https://www.combinedfleet.com/teruzu_t.htm
https://www.combinedfleet.com/suzuts_t.htm
https://www.combinedfleet.com/yoizuk_t.htm
https://www.warshipsww2.eu/shipsplus

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URL : https://www.valka.cz/DD-Akizuki-t14714#486749 Version : 0
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