Japanese destroyer Kikuzuki (1926)

Coordinates: 09°07′S 160°12′E / 9.117°S 160.200°E / -9.117; 160.200
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see Japanese destroyer Kikuzuki.

Kikuzuki
Kikuzuki in October 1932
History
Empire of Japan
NameKikuzuki
NamesakeSeptember
BuilderMaizuru Naval Arsenal, Maizuru
Laid down15 June 1925 as Destroyer No. 31
Launched15 May 1926
Completed20 November 1926
RenamedAs Kikuzuki, 1 August 1928
Stricken25 May 1942
FateSank 5 May 1942
General characteristics
Class and typeMutsuki-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,336 t (1,315 long tons) (normal)
  • 1,800 t (1,772 long tons) (
    deep load
    )
Length
  • 97.54 m (320 ft 0 in) (pp)
  • 102.4 m (335 ft 11 in) (
    o/a
    )
Beam9.16 m (30 ft 1 in)
Draft2.96 m (9 ft 9 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts; 2 × Kampon geared steam turbines
Speed37.25 knots (68.99 km/h; 42.87 mph)
Range4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement150
Armament
Service record
Part of: Destroyer Division 23
Operations:

The Japanese destroyer Kikuzuki (菊月, means "Chrysanthemum Moon", and means the 9th month in the lunar calendar) was one of twelve

Solomon Islands Campaigns in 1942. Kikuzuki was destroyed during the invasion of Tulagi
in May.

Design and description

The Mutsuki class was an improved version of the

Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were designed to produce 38,500 shaft horsepower (28,700 kW), which would propel the ships at 37.25 knots (68.99 km/h; 42.87 mph). The ships carried 420 metric tons (413 long tons) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Their crew consisted of 150 officers and crewmen.[3]

The main armament of the Mutsuki-class ships consisted of four

minesweeping gear.[4]

Kikuzuki was one of six Mutsuki-class ships reconstructed in 1935–36, with their hulls strengthened, raked caps fitted to the funnels and shields to the torpedo mounts. In 1941–42, most of those ships were converted into fast transports with No. 2 and No. 3 guns removed. In addition, ten license-built

anti-aircraft machineguns were installed.[5] The minesweeping gear was replaced by four depth charge throwers and the ships now carried a total of 36 depth charges. These changes reduced their speed to 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)[6] and increased their displacement to 1,944 metric tons (1,913 long tons) at normal load.[3] Three more 25 mm guns may have been added in 1942.[6]

Construction and career

Kikuzuki, built at the

invasion of French Indochina
.

Pacific War

At the time of the

IJN 4th Fleet
on 10 April.

Participating in

Navy List on 25 May 1942.[5]

The rusting hulk of Kikuzuki, photographed on Tulagi in August 1943 after U.S. forces dragged the wreckage onto the beach.

After the capture of Tulagi by American forces, the U.S. Navy repair ship USS Prometheus salvaged Kikuzuki′s wreck, hoping to obtain military intelligence. Kikuzuki′s partially-dismantled hulk still lies in Ghovana Bay on the island of Nggela Sule (location 09°07′25″S 160°14′15″E / 9.12361°S 160.23750°E / -9.12361; 160.23750).

Notes

  1. ^ Watts & Gordon, pp. 265–66
  2. ^ a b c Whitley, p. 191
  3. ^ a b c d Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 143
  4. ^ a b Chesneau, p. 192
  5. ^ a b Nevitt
  6. ^ a b Watts & Gordon, p. 267
  7. ^ Morison. The Rising Sun in the Pacific 1931 – April 1942.
  8. ^ Dull. A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy

References

  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich: 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
    .
  • Nevitt, Allyn D. (1998). "IJN Nagatsuki: Tabular Record of Movement". Long Lancers. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  • Watts, Anthony J. & Gordon, Brian G. (1971). The Imperial Japanese Navy. Garden City, New York: Doubleday.
    ISBN 0385012683
    .
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
    ISBN 0-87021-326-1
    .

External links
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