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Matsu-class destroyer

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The Matsu-class destroyers (松型駆逐艦, Matsu-gata kuchikukan) were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in the late stages of World War II. The class was also designated the Type-D Destroyer (丁型駆逐艦, Tei-gata kuchikukan). Although sometimes termed Destroyer escorts, they were larger and more capable than contemporary United States Navy destroyer escorts or the Imperial Japanese Navy kaibōkan vessels.[5]

Momi, one of the members of this class
Class overview
NameMatsu class
Builders
Operators
Preceded by
SubclassesTachibana class
Built1943–1945
In commission1944–1971
Planned
  • 42 (1943, Ship #5481-5522),
  • 32 (1944, Ship #4801-4832),
  • 80 (1945, Kai-Tachibana class)
Completed
  • 18 (Matsu class),
  • 14 (Tachibana class)
Cancelled122
Lost10
Retired22 + 1 (JDS Wakaba)
General characteristics Matsu class
Displacement
  • 1,260 tons standard
  • 1,530 tons in battle condition
Length
  • 100.0 m (328 ft 1 in) overall,
  • 92.15 m (302 ft 4 in) waterline
Beam9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
Draft3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × Kampon water tube boilers,
  • 2 × Kampon impulse geared[1] turbines, 19,000 shp (14 MW)
  • 2 shafts
Speed27.8 knots (32.0 mph; 51.5 km/h)
Range3,500 nmi (6,500 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement211
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		1 × 22-Gō surface search radar (wavelength 10 cm)
Armament
General characteristics Tachibana class
Displacement
  • 1,350 tons standard
  • 1,640 tons in battle condition
Length
  • 100.0 m (328 ft 1 in) overall,
  • 92.15 m (302 ft 4 in) waterline
Beam9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
Draft3.41 m (11 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × Kampon water tube boilers,
  • 2 × Kampon impulse geared[2] turbines, 19,000 shp (14 MW)
  • 2 shafts
Speed27.3 knots (31.4 mph; 50.6 km/h)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × Type 3 active sonar,
  • 1 × Type 4 hydrophone
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • 1 × 22-Gō surface search radar (wavelength 10 cm),
  • 1 × 13-Gō early warning radar (wavelength 2 m)
Armament
  • (Tachibana, January 1945)
  • 3 × 127 mm (5.0 in) L/40 Type 89 AA guns (1×2, 1×1)
  • 25 × 25 mm (1") AA guns (4×3, 13×1)
  • 4 × 610 mm (24 in) Type 92 torpedo tubes (1×4)
  • 4 × Type 93 torpedoes
  • 48 × Type 2 depth charges
General characteristics Kaiten carrier[4]
Armament
  • (Take, 25 June 1945)
  • 3 × 127 mm (5.0 in) L/40 Type 89 AA guns (1×2, 1×1)
  • 39 × 25 mm (1") AA guns (4×3, 27×1)
  • 4 × 610 mm (24 in) Type 92 torpedo tubes (1×4)
  • 4 × Type 93 torpedoes
  • 48-60 × Type 2 depth charges
  • 1 × manned torpedo Kaiten Type 1

Background

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Even by 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff realized that attrition of its destroyer force was not sustainable. There was a growing need for a simplified design which could be quickly mass-produced, and which could serve primarily as convoy escorts and as destroyer-transports in front-line locations, but would still be capable of working with the fleet if necessary. Emphasis was placed on anti-aircraft guns and anti-submarine weapons, and radar, as operations against surface targets was deemed unlikely. Forty-two vessels were ordered and work began in August 1943.

In the middle of 1944, the orders for twenty-four of these vessels were replaced with a further-simplified design, designated the Tachibana-class destroyer (橘型駆逐艦, Tachibana-gata kuchikukan) or Modified Type-D Destroyer (改丁型駆逐艦, Kai Tei-gata kuchikukan). The Tachibana-class had straight lines and a modular construction to facilitate mass-production. The Imperial Japanese Navy had plans to build another hundred and twelve Tachibana-class vessels, but only fourteen were completed before construction was cancelled, with resources diverted to "special-attack units".[5]

Design and description

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The bridge of a Tachibana-class destroyer at Yokosuka, September 1945

Designed for ease of production, the Matsu class was smaller, slower and more lightly armed than previous destroyers as the IJN intended them for second-line duties like escorting convoys, releasing the larger ships for missions with the fleet.[6] The ships measured 100 meters (328 ft 1 in) long overall, with a beam of 9.35 meters (30 ft 8 in) and a draft of 3.3 meters (10 ft 10 in).[7] Their crew numbered 210 officers and enlisted men.[8] They displaced 1,282 metric tons (1,262 long tons) at standard load and 1,554 metric tons (1,529 long tons) at deep load.[9] The ships had two Kampon geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 19,000 shaft horsepower (14,000 kW) for a speed of 27.8 knots (51.5 km/h; 32.0 mph). The Matsus had a range of 4,680 nautical miles (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[10]

The main armament of the Matsu-class ships consisted of three 127-millimeter (5 in) Type 89 dual-purpose guns in one twin-gun mount aft and one single mount forward of the superstructure. The single mount was partially protected against spray by a gun shield. The accuracy of the Type 89 guns was severely reduced against aircraft because no high-angle gunnery director was fitted. The ships carried a total of 20 Type 96 25-millimeter (1 in) anti-aircraft guns in four triple and eight single mounts. The Matsus were equipped with a Type 22 surface-search radar.[11] The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mount amidships for 610-millimeter (24 in) torpedoes. They could deliver their 36 depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers.[7][11]

The early ships of the class probably were not initially fitted with a Type 13 early-warning radar. The radar and five additional 25 mm guns on single mounts were generally installed in late 1944.[11]

The Tachibana-class, entering service in 1945, had the same armament as the Matsu-class, but initially with 13 single-mount Type 96s instead of eight. This was later increased to as many as 19. Only one vessel, Take, was modified to launch a single kaiten manned torpedo from her stern, although there were plans to convert another 11 to this configuration just before the war came to an end.[5]

Operational history

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Matsu-class destroyers were assigned to Destroyer Divisions 43, 52, and 53. Few Matsu-class units saw extensive service beyond Japanese home waters, and none of the Tachibana-class.[5]

Matsu and Tachibana classes comparison

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Matsu-class destroyer Take with Kaiten. Lower illustration is Take in August 1945.
 
Tachibana. Arrows are difference to Matsu class.
Comparison of Matsu and Tachibana classes
Property Matsu class Tachibana class
Project number F55 F55B
Building method Ordinary Modular design
Main materials High-Tensile Strength steel (upper deck only) and Carbon steel Carbon steel only
Hull Double bottom Single bottom
Bow Knuckle bow Straight bow
Stern Destroyer stern Transom stern
Bilge Keel Boxy (Solid) Flat board
Active sonar Type 93 Type 3
Hydrophone Type 93 Type 4
Turbines high-pressure, intermediate-pressure, low-pressure, and cruising high-pressure and low-pressure

Ships of the classes

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Forty-two vessels were ordered in Fiscal Year 1943 under the Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme as #5481-#5522. Eighteen of these were completed to the original Matsu design, but the other twenty-four were altered to a modified (simplified) design which became known as the Tachibana class. Eight of this batch were completed to that design, while orders for sixteen were subsequently cancelled (of which eleven had not been laid down).

Another thirty-two vessels were authorised in Fiscal Year 1944 under the Wartime Naval Armaments Supplement Programme as #4801-#4832, all to the Tachibana design. Six of this batch were completed to that design, while another four were ordered and laid down but were subsequently cancelled on 17 April 1945; the remaining twenty-two were never ordered.

A further eighty vessels were projected in Fiscal Year 1945 to a further modification of the design, known as the Kai-Tachibana class, but no orders were placed before the end of the war brought an end to the programme.

Construction data
Ship name Ship # Kanji & translation Class Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
Matsu 5481 松 (Pine tree) Matsu Maizuru Naval Arsenal 8 August 1943 3 February 1944 28 April 1944 Sunk on 4 August 1944 by US Navy ships 50 miles northwest of Chichijima (Ogasawara Islands)
Take 5482 竹 (Bamboo) Matsu Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 15 October 1943 28 March 1944 16 June 1944 Surrendered to United Kingdom on 16 July 1947 at Singapore, scrapped
Ume 5483 梅 (Japanese apricot) Matsu Fujinagata Shipyards 25 January 1944 24 April 1944 28 June 1944 Sunk 31 January 1945 by US Army Air Force aircraft 20 miles south of Taiwan
Momo 5484 桃 (Peach) Matsu Maizuru Naval Arsenal 5 November 1943 25 March 1944 10 June 1944 Sunk 15 December 1944 by US Navy submarine USS Hawkbill 140 miles south-west of m.Bolinao (o-in Luzon)
Kuwa 5485 桑 (Mulberry) Matsu Fujinagata Shipyards 20 December 1943 25 May 1944 15 July 1944 Sunk 3 December 1944 by US Navy destroyers during the Battle of Ormoc Bay (o-in Luzon)
Kiri 5486 桐 (Paulownia) Matsu Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 1 February 1944 27 May 1944 14 August 1944 Delivered to Soviet Union on 29 July 1947 at Nakhodka, renamed Vozrozhdionny (Возрождённый), converted to target ship TsL-25 (1949) and depot ship PM-65 (1957), scrapped in 1969.
Sugi 5487 杉 (Cedar) Matsu Fujinagata Shipyards 25 February 1944 3 July 1944 25 August 1944 Surrendered at Kure. Handed over to the Republic of China on 6 July 1947 in Shanghai, called ROCN Hui Yang. Removed from the ROC Navy list 11 November 1954 and scrapped.
Maki 5488 槇 (Podocarpaceae) Matsu Maizuru Naval Arsenal 19 February 1944 10 June 1944 10 August 1944 Surrendered to United Kingdom on 14 August 1947 at Singapore, scrapped 1947
Momi 5489 樅 (Abies firma) Matsu Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 1 February 1944 16 June 1944 3 September 1944 Sunk on 5 January 1945 by US Navy carrier aircraft 28 miles west-southwest of Manila
Kashi 5490 樫 (Live oak) Matsu Fujinagata Shipyards 5 May 1944 13 August 1944 30 September 1944 Surrendered to United States on 7 August 1947 at Sasebo, scrapped 20 March 1948
Yaezakura 5491 八重櫻 (Prunus verecunda Antiqua) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 18 December 1944 17 March 1945 — Discontinued on 23 June 1945 (60%). Sunk 18 July 1945
Kaya 5492 榧 (Torreya nucifera) Matsu Maizuru Naval Arsenal 10 April 1944 30 July 1944 30 September 1944 Transferred to the Soviet Union 5 July 1947 in Nakhodka, It was called "Volevoy", converted to target ship "TSL-23" (1949), then to the floating heater "OT-61" (1958); excluded from the lists of the fleet on 1 August 1959 and scrapped.
Nara 5493 楢 (Oak) Matsu Fujinagata Shipyards 10 June 1944 12 October 1944 26 November 1944 Scrapped 1 July 1948
Yadake 5494 矢竹 (Arrow bamboo) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 2 January 1945 1 May 1945 — Construction stopped 17 April 1945. Launched to empty the dock. Converted to breakwater, 1948
Kuzu or Madake 5495 葛 (Kudzu) or 真竹 (Phyllostachys bambusoides) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 19 March 1945 — — Discontinued on 17 April 1945.
Sakura 5496 櫻 (Cherry blossom) Matsu Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 2 June 1944 6 September 1944 25 November 1944 Sunk by a mine in the port of Osaka 11 July 1945
Yanagi 5497 柳 (Willow) Matsu Fujinagata Shipyards 20 August 1944 25 November 1944 8 January 1945 Heavily damaged by aircraft and ran aground on 14 July 1945 at Ōminato, scrapped on 1 April 1947
Tsubaki 5498 椿 (Camellia) Matsu Maizuru Naval Arsenal 20 June 1944 30 September 1944 30 November 1944 Scrapped 28 July 1948
Kaki 5499 柿 (Persimmon) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 5 October 1944 11 December 1944 5 March 1945 Surrendered to United States on 4 July 1947 at Qingdao. Sunk as target off 35°29′N 123°35′E / 35.483°N 123.583°E / 35.483; 123.583, 19 August 1947
Kaba 5500 樺 (Birch) Tachibana Fujinagata Shipyards 15 October 1944 27 February 1945 29 May 1945 Surrendered to United States on 4 August 1947 at Sasebo, scrapped 1 March 1948
Hayaume 5501 早梅 (early blooming Prunus mume ) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal — — — Cancelled in 1945.
Hinoki 5502 檜 (Chamaecyparis obtusa) Matsu Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 4 March 1944 4 July 1944 30 September 1944 Damaged 5 January by air attack while in company with the Momi, returned to Manila for repair and was sunk while leaving Manila Bay 7 January 1945 by US Navy destroyers[12]
Katsura 5503 桂 (Cercidiphyllum) Tachibana Fujinagata Shipyards 30 November 1944 23 June 1945 — Construction stopped 23 June 1945. Converted to breakwater.
Tobiume 5504 飛梅 (A sacred Prunus mume at Dazaifu Tenman-gū) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal — — — Cancelled in 1945.
Kaede 5505 楓 (Maple) Matsu Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 4 March 1944 25 June 1944 30 October 1944 Surrendered at Kure. Handed over to the Republic of China on 6 July 1947 in Shanghai, named ROCN Heng Yang. Removed from the ROC Navy list in 1950, then scrapped in 1962.
Fuji 5506 藤 (Wisteria) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal — — — Cancelled in 1945.
Wakazakura 5507 若櫻 (Young cherry blossom) Tachibana Fujinagata Shipyards 15 January 1945 Discontinued on 11 May 1945, scrapped.
Keyaki 5508 欅 (Zelkova serrata) Matsu Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 22 June 1944 30 September 1944 15 December 1944 Surrendered to United States on 5 July 1947 at Yokosuka, Sunk as target off 34°44′N 140°01′E / 34.733°N 140.017°E / 34.733; 140.017, 29 October 1947
Yamazakura 5509 山櫻 (Cherry blossom at mountain) Tachibana Fujinagata Shipyards — — — Cancelled in 1945.
Ashi 5510 葦 (Phragmites) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal Cancelled on 26 March 1945.
Tachibana 5511 橘 (Citrus tachibana) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 8 July 1944 14 October 1944 20 January 1945 Sunk on 14 July 1945 by US Navy carrier aircraft off Hakodate
Shinodake 5512 篠竹 (Simon bamboo) Tachibana Fujinagata Shipyards — — — Cancelled in 1945.
Yomogi 5513 蓬 (Artemisia princeps) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
Tsuta 5514 蔦 (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 31 July 1944 2 November 1944 8 February 1945 Surrendered at Kure. Used to repatriate Japanese. Handed over to the Republic of China on 31 July 1947 in Shanghai. It was renamed ROCN Hua Yang, removed from the ROC Navy list on 11 November 1954.
Aoi 5515 葵 (Malvaceae) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal — — — Cancelled in 1945.
Shiraume 5516 白梅 (White blossom of Prunus mume) Tachibana Fujinagata Shipyards
Hagi 5517 萩 (Lespedeza) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 11 September 1944 27 November 1944 1 March 1945 Surrendered to United Kingdom on 16 July 1947 at Singapore, scrapped
Kiku 5518 菊 (Chrysanthemum) Tachibana Fujinagata Shipyards — — — Cancelled in 1945.
Kashiwa 5519 柏 (Daimyo oak) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
Sumire 5520 菫 (Viola) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 21 October 1944 27 December 1944 26 March 1945 Surrendered to United Kingdom on 23 August 1947 at Hong Kong, sunk as target 1947
Kusunoki 5521 楠 (Cinnamomum camphora) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 9 November 1944 8 January 1945 28 April 1945 Surrendered to United Kingdom on 1947
Hatsuzakura 5522 初櫻 (Year's first cherry blossom) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 4 December 1944 10 February 1945 18 May 1945 Delivered to Soviet Union on 29 July 1947 at Nakhodka, renamed Vetrenny and soon Vyrazitel'ny (Выразительный), converted to target ship TSL-26 (1949), scrapped in 1958.
Kigiku 4801 黄菊 (Yellow chrysanthemum) Tachibana — — — — Cancelled in March 1945.
Hatsugiku 4802 初菊 (Year's first chrysanthemum) Tachibana
Akane 4803 茜 (Madder) Tachibana
Shiragiku 4804 白菊 (White Chrysanthemum) Tachibana
Chigusa 4805 千草 (Grass) Tachibana
Wakakusa 4806 若草 (Spring grass) Tachibana
Natsugusa 4807 夏草 (Summer grass) Tachibana
Akikusa 4808 秋草 (Autumn grass) Tachibana
Nire 4809 楡 (Elm) Tachibana Maizuru Naval Arsenal 14 August 1944 25 November 1944 31 January 1945 Scrapped April 1948
Nashi 4810 梨 (Pyrus pyrifolia) Tachibana Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation 1 September 1944 17 January 1945 15 March 1945 Sunk 28 July 1945 at Kure by US aircraft. Salvaged on 30 September 1954, Transferred to JDS Wakaba on 31 May 1956. Refitted in 1958 as a radar trials ship; sonar added in 1960. Struck on 31 March 1971 and scrapped 1972–1973.
Shii 4811 椎 (Castanopsis) Tachibana Maizuru Naval Arsenal 18 September 1944 13 January 1945 13 March 1945 Delivered to Soviet Union on 5 July 1947 at Nakhodka, renamed Vol'ny (Вольный), converted to target ship TSL-24 (1949), scrapped in 1960.
Enoki 4812 榎 (Japanese Hackberry) Tachibana Maizuru Naval Arsenal 14 October 1944 27 January 1945 31 March 1945 Sunk 26 June 1945 sunk in shallow water by contact mine at Obama, Fukui, raised and scrapped 1948.[13]
Azusa 4813 梓 (Catalpa) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 29 December 1944 — — Discontinued on 17 April 1945.
Odake 4814 雄竹 (Great Bamboo) Tachibana Maizuru Naval Arsenal 5 November 1944 10 March 1945 15 May 1945 Surrendered to United States on 14 July 1947 at Qingdao. Sunk as target off 35°29′N 122°52′E / 35.483°N 122.867°E / 35.483; 122.867, 17 September 1947
Hatsuume 4815 初梅 (Year's first Prunus mume) Tachibana Maizuru Naval Arsenal 8 December 1944 25 April 1945 18 June 1945 Surrendered at Maizuru. Handed over to the Republic of China on 6 July 1947 in Shanghai, called ROCN Xin Yang. Removed from the ROC Navy list and scrapped 1961.
Tochi 4816 栃 (Aesculus) Tachibana Maizuru Naval Arsenal 23 January 1945 (28 May 1945) — Discontinued on 18 May 1945. Converted to breakwater.
Hishi 4817 菱 (Water caltrop) Tachibana Maizuru Naval Arsenal 10 February 1945 — Discontinued on 17 April 1945.
Susuki 4818 薄 (Miscanthus sinensis) Tachibana — — Cancelled in March 1945.
Nogiku 4819 野菊 (Aster) Tachibana
Sakaki 4820 榊 (Sakaki) Tachibana Yokosuka Naval Arsenal 29 December 1944 Discontinued on 17 April 1945.
— 4821–​4832 — Tachibana — — (12 destroyers) Cancelled in March 1945.
— — — Kai-Tachibana (80 destroyers) Cancelled on 30 June 1945.

Notes

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  1. ^ Fitzsimons, Bernard, general editor. Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare (London: Phoebus, 1978), Volume 17, p.1853, "Matsu".
  2. ^ a b c d e Fitzsimons, Volume 17, p.1853, "Matsu".
  3. ^ Microform by "The National Institute for Defense Studies". Archived from the original on 8 May 2017..
  4. ^ Converted to the Take, Kiri, Sugi, Maki, Kashi, Kaya, Kaede, Tsuta, Hagi, Nire, Nashi and Sii, from May to July 1945.
  5. ^ a b c d Stille, Mark (2013). Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919–45 (2). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 38–45. ISBN 978-1-84908-987-6.
  6. ^ Stille, p. 38
  7. ^ a b Sturton, p. 196
  8. ^ Stille, p. 45
  9. ^ Whitley, p. 206
  10. ^ Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 151
  11. ^ a b c Stille, p. 41
  12. ^ "Long Lancers". www.combinedfleet.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Long Lancers". www.combinedfleet.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2018.

Bibliography

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  • Dodson, Aidan & Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: The Fate of Enemy Fleets after Two World Wars. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1.
  • "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol.43 Matsu class destroyers, Gakken (Japan), November 2003, ISBN 4-05-603251-3
  • "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol.51 The truth of Imperial Japanese Vessels Histories 2, Gakken (Japan), August 2005, ISBN 4-05-604083-4
  • Collection of writings by Sizuo Fukui Vol.5, Stories of Japanese Destroyers, Kōjinsha (Japan) 1993, ISBN 4-7698-0611-6
  • Model Art Extra No.340, Drawings of Imperial Japanese Naval Vessels Part-1, Model Art Co. Ltd. (Japan), October 1989, Book code 08734–10
  • Daiji Katagiri, Ship Name Chronicles of the Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet, Kōjinsha (Japan), June 1988, ISBN 4-7698-0386-9
  • The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.41 Japanese Destroyers I, Ushio Shobō (Japan), July 1980, Book code 68343–42
  • Fitzsimons, Bernard, general editor. Illustrated Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare, Volume 17, p. 1854, "Matsu". London: Phoebus Publishing, 1978.
  • Sturton, Ian (1980). "Japan". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.
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