Japanese destroyer Miyuki

Miyuki on September 5, 1931.
Career
Name:	Miyuki
Owner:	Empire of Japan
Operator:	Imperial Japanese Navy
Ordered:	1923 Fiscal Year
Builder:	Uraga Dock Company
Yard number:	Destroyer No. 38
Laid down:	April 30, 1927
Launched:	June 26, 1928
Commissioned:	June 29, 1929
Struck:	15 August 1934
Fate:	Sunk in collision with Inazuma on 29 June 1934
General characteristics
Class and type:	Fubuki-class destroyer
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	1,750 long tons (1,780 t) standard 2,050 long tons (2,080 t) re-built
Length:	111.96 m (367.3 ft) pp, 115.3 m (378 ft) waterline 118.41 m (388.5 ft) overall
Beam:	10.4 m (34 ft 1 in)
Draft:	3.2 m (10 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	4 × Kampon type boilers, 2 × Kampon Type Ro geared turbines, 2 × shafts at 50,000 ihp (37,000 kW)
Speed:	38 knots (44 mph; 70 km/h)
Range:	5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement:	219
Armament:	6 × Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval guns (3×2) up to 22 × Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Guns up to 10 × 13 mm AA guns, 9 × 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes 36 × depth charges

Miyuki (深雪, ”Deep Snow”)^[1] was the fourth of twenty-four Fubuki-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) following World War I. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world.^[2] They served as first-line destroyers through the 1930s, and remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War.

History

Construction of the advanced Fubuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the IJN's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships.^[3] The Fubuki-class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated Special Type destroyers (特型, Tokugata). The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruisers in other navies.^[4] Miyuki, built at the Uraga Dock Company was laid down on April 30, 1927, launched on June 29, 1928 and commissioned on June 29, 1929.^[5] Originally assigned hull designation “Destroyer No. 38”, she was completed as Miyuki.

Operational history

On completion, Miyuki, along with her sister ships, Fubuki, Shirayuki, and Hatsuyuki, were assigned to Destroyer Division 11 under the IJN 2nd Fleet. From October to December 1931, she was at Kure Naval Arsenal for repairs to her boilers.^[6]

Miyuki was lost in a collision with the Japanese destroyer Inazuma on 29 June 1934 in the Korea Strait, south of Cheju. (33°00′N 125°30′E / 33.000°N 125.500°E / 33.000; 125.500Coordinates: 33°00′N 125°30′E / 33.000°N 125.500°E / 33.000; 125.500) 　The number of casualties is not certain, but at least five crewmen perished in the accident. Miyuki was struck from the navy list on 15 August 1934.^[7]

She was the only modern Japanese destroyer that did not make it into World War II, and was the only instance a Japanese destroyer was lost in a collision against other Japanese destroyers.

References

• Howarth, Stephen (1983). The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895–1945. Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-11402-8. 
• Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X. 
• Nelson, Andrew N. (1967). Japanese–English Character Dictionary. Tuttle. ISBN 0-8048-0408-7. 
• Whitley, M J (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-521-8. 

External links

• Nishidah, Hiroshi (2002). "Fubuki class destroyers". Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy. 
• Globalsecurity.org. "IJN Fubuki class destroyers". 

Notes