Fubuki class destroyer

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This article is about the class of destroyers, for the ship Fubuki see Japanese destroyer Fubuki.

The Fubuki

The Fubuki Class destroyers (吹雪型), originally only known as numbered destroyers 35 to 54 of the Imperial Japanese Navy "Special Type", were completed between 1928 and 1931. They were assigned names in 1928.

1 Description
2 Types
- 2.1 Type I (Fubuki)
- 2.2 Type II (Ayanami)
3 John F. Kennedy's PT-109
4 References

[edit] Description

They were 115.3 meters (378.3 feet) long, had a beam of 10.4 meters (34 feet), and a draught of 3.2 meters (10.5 feet). They displaced 1750 tons standard and 2057 tons fully loaded. The ships were rebuilt between 1935 and 1937 to improve hull strength and stability. This increased the displacement to 2050 tons standard and 2400 tons fully loaded. The ships were powered by geared steam turbines with four boilers providing 50,000 shp through two shafts and originally giving the ships a top speed of 38 knots. The rebuild reduced the top speed slightly. They had a range of roughly 5000 miles at 14 knots.

One turret in the forward position and two turrets aft, each armed with two 5 inch (127 mm)/50 calibre dual purpose guns, two 13 mm Type 93 anti-aircraft machine guns, nine torpedo tubes firing the "long lance" Type 93 torpedo, and eighteen depth charges made these the most powerful destroyers in the world at the time of their completion. The fully enclosed turrets were the first to be mounted on any destroyer.

As was common with most ships during World War II, the anti-aircraft armament was steadily upgraded during the war as the extent of the aircraft threat was realized. The anti-submarine capability was also upgraded. By 1945, the surviving ships of the class had one aft turret removed to create space and lighten the top for the addition of 14 - 25 mm anti-aircraft guns, 2 additional 13 mm anti-aircraft machine guns, and 18 more depth charges.

[edit] Types

There were actually two models of Fubuki, the original Type I (Fubuki) type, built in 1928 and 1929 and the following Type II (Ayanami) type built in 1930 and 1931. The Type I's primary 5" turret was known as the Model 'A', and could only elevate to 40°, whereas the Type II's Model 'B' turret could elevate to 75°. Furthermore, the Type II's bridge was enlarged and the boiler room's air inlet was changed from a pipe to a bowl shape. Sometimes listed as a third type, the Akatsuki class was based heavily on the Fubuki.

The Fubuki destroyers sorted by type and order of registration are as follows:

[edit] Type I (Fubuki)

Fubuki (N°35), Shirayuki (N°36), Hatsuyuki (N°37), Miyuki (N°38), Murakumo (N°39), Shinonome (N°40), Usugumo (N°41), Shirakumo (N°42), Isonami (N°43), Uranami (N°44)

[edit] Type II (Ayanami)

Ayanami (N°45), Shikinami (N°46), Asagiri (N°47), Yugiri (N°48), Amagiri (N°49), Sagiri (N°50), Oboro (N°51), Akebono (N°52), Sazanami (N°53), Ushio (N°54)

The Miyuki was lost in a collision in 1934. Eighteen other ships of the class were lost in combat, and the only survivor, the Ushio was scrapped in 1948.

[edit] John F. Kennedy's PT-109

In 1943, John F. Kennedy's PT-109 was rammed and sunk by the Amagiri of this class, which was participating as part of the night Tokyo Express supply run.