Kagero Class, Japanese Destroyers

Photograph of IJN Yukikaze, a Kagero-class destroyer

Kazutoshi Hando (Naval Historical Center #73052)

Tonnage	2033 tons standard displacement
Dimensions	388'10" by 35'5" by 12'4" 118.52m by 10.80m by 3.76m
Maximum speed	35 knots
Complement	240
Armament	3x2 5"/50 dual-purpose guns 2x2 25mm AA guns 2x4 Long Lance torpedo tubes Depth charges
Range	5000 nm (22,000km) at 18 knots
Modifications	1943: Light antiaircraft modified to 2x2, 2x3 25mm guns. Late 1943: One 5" turret replaced by 2x3 25mm guns. Type 13 and Type 22 radar fitted. 1944: 14 single 25mm guns added

The Kageros were completed in 1939-41 and took full advantage of the lapse of the naval treaties. They were very powerful units with excellent firepower, strength, and range, lacking only somewhat in speed.

Units in the Pacific:

Hamakaze	Pearl Harbor Attack Force (Nagumo)	Sunk by aircraft 1945-4-7 off Okinawa
Isokaze	Pearl Harbor Attack Force (Nagumo)	Sunk by aircraft 1945-4-7 off Okinawa
Tanikaze	Pearl Harbor Attack Force (Nagumo)	Torpedoed by Harder 1944-6-9 off Tawitawi
Urakaze	Pearl Harbor Attack Force (Nagumo)	Torpedoed by Sealion 1944-11-16 off Formosa
Kagero	Pearl Harbor Attack Force (Nagumo)	Mined 1943-5-7 off Kolombangara
Shiranuhi	Pearl Harbor Attack Force (Nagumo)	Sunk by aircraft 1944-10-26 off Iloilo
Akigumo	Pearl Harbor Attack Force (Nagumo)	Torpedoed by Redfin 1944-4-11 off Zamboanga
Maikaze	Distant Cover Force (Kondo) in the South China Sea	Sunk by gunfire 1944-2-17 off Truk
Nowaki	Distant Cover Force (Kondo) in the South China Sea	Sunk by gunfire 1944-10-26 off Legaspi
Hagikaze	Distant Cover Force (Kondo) in the South China Sea	Sunk by gunfire and torpedoes 1943-8-7 at Vella Gulf
Yukikaze	Fourth Surprise Attack Force (Legaspi)
Tokitsukaze	Fourth Surprise Attack Force (Legaspi)	Sunk by aircraft 1943-3-4 in the Bismarck Sea
Amatsukaze	Legaspi Support Force	Sunk by aircraft 1945-4-6 off Amoy
Hatsukaze	Legaspi Support Force	Sunk by gunfire 1944-11-2 at Empress Augusta Bay
Hayashio	Legaspi Support Force	Sunk by aircraft 1942-11-24 in the Solomons
Kuroshio	Legaspi Support Force	Mined 1943-5-8 off Kolombangara
Natsushio	Legaspi Support Force	Torpedoed by S-37 1942-2-9 off Makassar
Oyashio	Legaspi Support Force	Sunk by mines and aircraft 1943-5-8 off Kolombangara
Arashi	Main Body	Sunk by gunfire and torpedoes 1943-8-7 at Vella Gulf

References

Whitley (1988)

Worth (2001)

CombinedFleet.com

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