Matsu-class destroyer

Momi, one of the members of this class
Class overview
Name:	Matsu class and Tachibana class
Builders:	Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Fujinagata Shipbuilding Yard, Kōbe-Kawasaki Shipbuilding Yard
Operators:	Imperial Japanese Navy Republic of China Navy Soviet Navy
Preceded by:	Ōtori class torpedo boat Yūgumo class destroyer
Built:	1943–1945
In commission:	1944–1971
Planned:	42 (1943, Ship #5481-5522), 32 (1944, Ship #4801-4832), 80 (1945, Kai-Tachinaba class)
Completed:	18 (Matsu class), 14 (Tachibana class)
Cancelled:	122
Lost:	10
Retired:	22 + 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
Beam:	9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
Draft:	3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
Propulsion:	2 × Kampon water tube boilers, 2 × Kampon impulse geared[1] turbines, 19,000 shp (14 MW) 2 shafts
Speed:	27.8 knots (32.0 mph; 51.5 km/h)
Range:	3,500 nmi (6,500 km) at 18 kn (21 mph; 33 km/h)
Complement:	211
Sensors and processing systems:	1 × Type 93 active sonar, 1 × Type 93 hydrophone
Electronic warfare & decoys:	1 × 22-Gō surface search radar (wavelength 10 cm)
Armament:	(Matsu, April 1944) 3 × 127 mm (5.0 in) L/40 Type 89 AA guns (1×2, 1×1)[2] 24 × 25 mm (1") Type 96 AA guns (4×3, 12×1)[2] 4 × 610 mm (24 in) Type 92 torpedo tubes (1×4) 4 × [2] Type 93 torpedoes 4 depth charge throwers[2] 36 × Type 2 depth charges[3] (Take, March 1945) 3 × 127 mm (5.0 in) L/40 Type 89 AA guns (1×2, 1×1) 39 × 25 mm (1") Type 96 AA guns (4×3, 27×1) 4 × 610 mm (24 in) Type 92 torpedo tubes (1×4) 4 × Type 93 torpedoes 4 depth charge throwers 48 × Type 2 depth charges
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
Beam:	9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
Draft:	3.41 m (11 ft 2 in)
Propulsion:	2 × Kampon water tube boilers, 2 × Kanpon impulse geared[2] turbines, 19,000 shp (14 MW) 2 shafts
Speed:	27.3 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

The Matsu-class destroyers (松型駆逐艦, Matsu-gata kuchikukan) were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), who referred to them as Type-D Destroyer (丁型駆逐艦, Tei-gata kuchikukan).

Design basis

The Matsu class were built late in World War II, and they were intended to be more cost-effective in response to the changing character of naval warfare at that time. These ships were lighter and smaller than previous Japanese destroyers, with different armament such as enhanced anti-aircraft guns and anti-submarine weapons, and radar. Since surface warfare was believed to be less likely at this stage of the war, armament such as torpedo tubes that would be useful against surface ships was reduced.

As in other navies during the war, the IJN substantially simplified the design to speed up construction, and used Ōtori class machinery, because high speed was unnecessary for convoy escort operations. However, mass production was not achieved.

The Matsu class design was subsequently further simplified, resulting in theTachibana class destroyer (橘型駆逐艦, Tachibakna-gata kuchikukan) or Modified Type-D Destroyer (改丁型駆逐艦, Kai Tei-gata kuchikukan). The Tachibana class destroyers adopted the first modular design in a Japanese destroyer. Matsu class destroyers whose construction was started late in the programme were completed as Tachibana class.

The IJN converted twelve destroyers to Kaiten mother ships to prepare for the Japanese mainland decisive battle.

Matsu and Tachibana classes compared

Matsu-class DD Take with kaiten. Lower illust is Take at Aug.1945.

Tachibana. Arrows are difference to Matsu-Class.

Ships of the classes

See also

Media related to Matsu class destroyers at Wikimedia Commons

Notes

Books

• "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.