URL : https://www.valka.cz/DD-Minekaze-t14705#55596
Version : 0
Minekaze Class
(in original: ek 風 型/ek ね か ぜ が Min/Minekaze-gata)
Within this class was built according to the project F-41 in the years 1918-1922 in the shipyards Shipbuilding Mitsubishi in Nagasaki and in Naval Armory Maizuru a total of 15 vessels, first-class destroyers (一等 駆 逐 艦/い っ と う く ち く か ん/ittó-kučikukan) of the Japanese Imperial Navy. During the Second World War, they were already considered obsolete and therefore served as support and patrol vessels, for rapid transport, as target vessels and carriers of human torpedoes Kaiten. A total of eleven vessels were lost during the Pacific campaign. Nine of them were sunk by submarines and two aircraft. The four remaining ships survived the war and one of them served in the Navy of the Republic of China. The vessels were named typically flowery Japanese and were all named after the winds (風/か ぜ/kaze - means wind in Japanese).
Development:
All Japanese destroyers placed in service before the Minekaze class came from Great Britain, or they were loot pieces from the Russo-Japanese War or were built in Japanese shipyards, but according to British plans. Already during the First World War, the Imperial Navy felt a significant shortage of these fast ships, and at the same time could not rely on supplies from Great Britain, because it limited access to its most modern structures. The above reasons therefore led to the development of its own design, the Minekaze class. These then, until the arrival of the special destroyers of the class Fubuki (特 型 駆 逐 艦/と く が た く ち く か toku/tokgata-kučikukan), formed the main force of the destroyers' unions of the imperial fleet. The result of the Japanese design was fast destroyers with two chimneys, with a silhouette reminiscent of German destroyers from the First World War (Großes Torpedoboot and Torpedobootzerstörer). However, it was a purely Japanese design, although opinions of German origin emerged. However, these must be rejected, because Japan was a German adversary in the First World War, and thus the possibility of cooperation is ruled out. The possibility that Japan used several loot German ships acquired after the war is ruled out, because the construction of the first units of the Minekaze class began as early as the beginning of 1918. The Imperial Navy Development Plan of 1916 (八四 艦隊 案/は ち よ ん か ん た い あ ん/hachi-jon-kantai-an) and (八六 艦隊 案 haci-roku kantai-an) of 1918 stipulated that the Minekaze class destroyers would primarily for their speed to accompany the then planned fast battle cruisers class Amagi. Under the agreements of the Washington Conference, the battle cruiser class was abolished and the Minekaze class destroyers did not receive their accompanying task, as in the case of the American class Clemson. In parallel with the construction of the Minekaze class, the construction of the second class destroyers took place Momi (二等 駆 逐 艦/に と う く ち く か ん/nitó-kučikukan), based on the same design.
Design:
The Minekaze class was easily recognizable mainly due to the two chimney silhouettes with a raised front deck. The main superstructure was divided into four levels: the lower floor on the upper deck, the second floor of the upper bridge deck, then the bridge and finally the platform where the headlight and rangefinder were located. The open bridge was characterized by a metal frame, over which a sail stretched to protect against bad weather. The platform above the bridge was equipped with a 750 mm headlight and a 150 cm stereoscopic rangefinder. The drive was provided by two systems of licensed steam turbines Mitsubishi-Parsons. Each assembly consisted of one high-pressure and one low-pressure turbine, which powered one shaft via a gearbox.Each set was characterized by an output of 14158.4 kW at 400 revolutions of the propeller per minute. Thanks to this powerful propulsion, the vessels reached a maximum speed of 39 knots. In addition, the high-pressure turbines were equipped with one stage for cruising speed, which was omitted when sailing at full speed. Steam for the turbines was produced by four Ro-gó Kampon shiki boilers. The flue gases of the 1st and 2nd boilers were discharged through the front chimney and the flue gases of the 3rd and 4th boilers were discharged through the rear chimney.
Armament:
The main armament consisted mainly of four 12 cm L/45 cannons type 3 with a protective shield. The front cannon was situated on the front raised deck and the other three were located on superstructures behind the bridge. Cannon number 2 was placed between the chimneys, cannon number 3 was located behind the second chimney and cannon number 4 was on the superstructure behind the torpedo tubes. The anti-aircraft armament was initially very weak, and consisted of only two 7.7 mm Lewis machine guns, which the Japanese referred to as Type RU. One was located between cannon number 2 and the rear chimney and the other was on the superstructure of cannon number 4. The torpedo armament consisted of three rotating double-barreled torpedo launchers type 1917, which launched torpedoes model 1917, caliber 533 mm. The front torpedo launcher was located in front of the bridge and two rear torpedo launchers were between the rear chimney superstructure with cannon number 3 and the rear superstructure with cannon number 4.
The last three units produced formed a subclass Nokaze due to a different arrangement of armaments. The rear superstructure was extended and a cannon number 3 was placed on it. The rear pair of torpedo tubes were closer to each other and the headlight on the small superstructure, originally located between them, was moved behind the second chimney. This arrangement was later used to build the following classes Kamikaze and Mucuki.
Modification:
During World War II, the Minekaze class was no longer considered a first-class combat unit. Therefore, they were used as escorts for convoys, for rapid transport and later as carriers of special suicide torpedoes Kaiten. As a result, various modifications have been made to these vessels. In general, anti-aircraft armament was strengthened, especially by installing 25 mm rapid-fire cannons type 96. As part of these modifications, cannon and torpedo armament was also reduced. On the contrary, depth charges were added.
Individual modifications:
For example, the destroyer Júkaze, which was equipped as follows at the end of the war: - 2x 12 cm L/45 cannon type 3, while the guns number 2 and 4 were dismantled. - 2x 533mm torpedo model 1917 in position number 2 front of the rear pair (the remaining torpedo tubes were dismantled) - 12x 25 mm anti-aircraft automatic cannon type 96 - 36 depth charges
URL : https://www.valka.cz/DD-Minekaze-t14705#297477
Version : 0
Join us
We believe that there are people with different interests and experiences who could contribute their knowledge and ideas. If you love military history and have experience in historical research, writing articles, editing text, moderating, creating images, graphics or videos, or simply have a desire to contribute to our unique system, you can join us and help us create content that will be interesting and beneficial to other readers.