Sakura class destroyer

The nihongo|Sakura class destroyers|櫻型駆逐艦|Sakuragata kuchikukan was a class of two destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. [ Jentsura, Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945 ]

Background

Although unable to obtain funding in fiscal year 1907 for additional "Umikaze"-class destroyers, which were expensive due to their large size and imported turbine engines, the Imperial Japanese Navy was also unwilling to purchase three additional "Kamikaze"-class destroyers as recommended by the government. In a compromise, the Navy agreed to purchase two medium size ships instead.

Both were designed and built at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal in Japan. [ Howarth, The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun]

Design

The "Sakura"-class ships were half the displacement of the previous "Umikaze" class but with the same basic hull design. Externally, the design went from four to three smokestacks, which was a first for the Japanese Navy; however, internally the troublesome heavy oil-fired Parsons steam turbine engines of the "Umikaze"-class were replaced by standard coal-fired triple expansion steam engines, which gave better reliability and fuel consumption. The lower rated power of 9,500 shp gave the vessels a maximum speed of 30 knots, however, better fuel consumption equated to longer range, which was what the Imperial Japanese Navy needed.

Armament was similar to that of the "Umikaze"-class, with one QF 4.7 inch Gun Mk I - IV, mounted on the deck forward of the bridge, and four 3-inch QF 12 pounder 12 cwt naval guns, mounted one on either side and two towards the stern of the ship, with two 450-mm torpedoes launchers.

Operational history

Japan had fifty destroyers operational at the start of World War I. [ [http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyJapanese.htm] WWI at Sea] Although intended for coastal operation [ [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/sakura-dd.htm] Global Security.org] , with the "Umikaze"-class destroyers too short in range to operate overseas and with all previous classes of destroyers too small and/or obsolete for front-line service, the two "Sakura"-class destroyers were Japan’s most advanced front-line destroyers during the opening stages of the war. Both were deployed extensively overseas as part of Japan’s contribution to the war effort under the terms of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.

The "Sakura" class ships were re-rated as second-class destroyers on August 28, 1912, and served to April 1, 1932 when both were retired. [Nishida, Imperial Japanese Navy ]

List of Ships

References

Books

*cite book
last = Evans
first = David
year = 1979
title = Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941
publisher = US Naval Institute Press
location =
id = ISBN 0870211927
*cite book
last = Howarth
first = Stephen
year = 1983
title = The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun: The Drama of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1895-1945
publisher = Atheneum
location =
id = ISBN 0689114028
*cite book
last = Jentsura
first = Hansgeorg
year = 1976
title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945
publisher = US Naval Institute Press
location =
id = ISBN 087021893X

External Links

*cite web
last = Nishida
first = Hiroshi
url = http://homepage2.nifty.com/nishidah/e/stc0409.htm
title = Materials of IJN: Sakura class destroyer
work = Imperial Japanese Navy
*cite web
last = Globalsecurity.org
first =
url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/sakura-dd.htm
title = IJN Sakura class destroyers
work =
*cite web
last = Naval History Home Page
first =
url = http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyJapanese.htm
title = WWI at Sea: Imperial Japanese Navy
work =

Notes