Matsu-class destroyer


The Matsu-class destroyers were a class of destroyer built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the late stages of World War II. The class was also designated the Type-D Destroyer. 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.

Background

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 or Modified Type-D Destroyer. 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".

Design and description

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. The ships measured long overall, with a beam of and a draft of. Their crew numbered 210 officers and enlisted men. They displaced at standard load and at deep load. 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 for a speed of. The Matsus had a range of at.
The main armament of the Matsu-class ships consisted of three 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 anti-aircraft guns in four triple and eight single mounts. The Matsus were equipped with a Type 22 surface-search radar. The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mount amidships for torpedoes. They could deliver their 36 depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers.
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.
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,, 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.

Operational history

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 did.

''Matsu'' and ''Tachibana'' classes comparison

PropertyMatsu classTachibana class
Project numberF55F55B
Building methodOrdinaryModular design
Main materialsHigh-Tensile Strength steel and Carbon steelCarbon steel only
HullDouble bottomSingle bottom
BowKnuckle bowStraight bow
SternDestroyer sternTransom stern
Bilge KeelBoxy Flat board
Active sonarType 93Type 3
HydrophoneType 93Type 4
Turbineshigh-pressure, intermediate-pressure, low-pressure, and cruisinghigh-pressure and low-pressure

Ships of the classes

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 design which became known as the Tachibana class. Eight of this batch were completed to that design, while orders for sixteen were subsequently cancelled.
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.
Ship nameShip #Kanji & translationClassBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedFate
5481松 MatsuMaizuru Naval Arsenal8 August 19433 February 194428 April 1944Sunk on 4 August 1944 by US Navy ships 50 miles northwest of Chichijima
5482竹 MatsuYokosuka Naval Arsenal15 October 194328 March 194416 June 1944Surrendered to United Kingdom on 16 July 1947 at Singapore, scrapped
5483梅 MatsuFujinagata Shipyards25 January 194424 April 194428 June 1944Sunk 31 January 1945 by US Army Air Force aircraft 20 miles south of Taiwan
5484桃 MatsuMaizuru Naval Arsenal5 November 194325 March 194410 June 1944Sunk 15 December 1944 by US Navy submarine USS Hawkbill 140 miles south-west of m.Bolinao
5485桑 MatsuFujinagata Shipyards20 December 194325 May 194415 July 1944Sunk 3 December 1944 by US Navy destroyers during the Battle of Ormoc Bay
5486桐 MatsuYokosuka Naval Arsenal1 February 194427 May 194414 August 1944Delivered to Soviet Union on 29 July 1947 at Nakhodka, renamed Vozrozhdionny, converted to target ship TsL-25 and depot ship PM-65, scrapped in 1969.
5487杉 MatsuFujinagata Shipyards25 February 19443 July 194425 August 1944Surrendered at Kure. Handed over to the Republic of China on 6 July 1947 in Shanghai, called List of [Republic of China Navy ships#Ex Imperial Japanese Navy Ships|ROCN Hui Yang]. Removed from the ROC Navy list 11 November 1954 and scrapped.
5488槇 MatsuMaizuru Naval Arsenal19 February 194410 June 194410 August 1944Surrendered to United Kingdom on 14 August 1947 at Singapore, scrapped 1947
5489樅 MatsuYokosuka Naval Arsenal1 February 194416 June 19443 September 1944Sunk on 5 January 1945 by US Navy carrier aircraft 28 miles west-southwest of Manila
5490樫 MatsuFujinagata Shipyards5 May 194413 August 194430 September 1944Surrendered to United States on 7 August 1947 at Sasebo, scrapped 20 March 1948
Yaezakura5491八重櫻 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal18 December 194417 March 1945Discontinued on 23 June 1945. Sunk 18 July 1945
5492榧 MatsuMaizuru Naval Arsenal10 April 194430 July 194430 September 1944Transferred to the Soviet Union 5 July 1947 in Nakhodka, It was called "Volevoy", converted to target ship "TSL-23", then to the floating heater "OT-61" ; excluded from the lists of the fleet on 1 August 1959 and scrapped.
5493楢 MatsuFujinagata Shipyards10 June 194412 October 194426 November 1944Scrapped 1 July 1948
Yadake5494矢竹 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal2 January 19451 May 1945Construction stopped 17 April 1945. Launched to empty the dock. Converted to breakwater, 1948
Kuzu or Madake5495葛 or 真竹 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal19 March 1945Discontinued on 17 April 1945.
5496櫻 MatsuYokosuka Naval Arsenal2 June 19446 September 194425 November 1944Sunk by a mine in the port of Osaka 11 July 1945
5497柳 MatsuFujinagata Shipyards20 August 194425 November 19448 January 1945Heavily damaged by aircraft and ran aground on 14 July 1945 at Ōminato, scrapped on 1 April 1947
5498椿 MatsuMaizuru Naval Arsenal20 June 194430 September 194430 November 1944Scrapped 28 July 1948
5499柿 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal5 October 194411 December 19445 March 1945Surrendered to United States on 4 July 1947 at Qingdao. Sunk as target off, 19 August 1947
5500樺 TachibanaFujinagata Shipyards15 October 194427 February 194529 May 1945Surrendered to United States on 4 August 1947 at Sasebo, scrapped 1 March 1948
Hayaume5501早梅 TachibanaYokosuka Naval ArsenalCancelled in 1945.
5502檜 MatsuYokosuka Naval Arsenal4 March 19444 July 194430 September 1944Damaged 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
Katsura5503桂 TachibanaFujinagata Shipyards30 November 194423 June 1945Construction stopped 23 June 1945. Converted to breakwater.
Tobiume5504飛梅 TachibanaYokosuka Naval ArsenalCancelled in 1945.
5505楓 MatsuYokosuka Naval Arsenal4 March 194425 June 194430 October 1944Surrendered 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.
Fuji5506藤 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenalrowspan=2 rowspan=2 Cancelled in 1945.
Wakazakura5507若櫻 TachibanaFujinagata Shipyards15 January 1945Discontinued on 11 May 1945, scrapped.--
5508欅 MatsuYokosuka Naval Arsenal22 June 194430 September 194415 December 1944Surrendered to United States on 5 July 1947 at Yokosuka, Sunk as target off, 29 October 1947
Yamazakura5509山櫻 TachibanaFujinagata Shipyardsrowspan=2 rowspan=2 rowspan=2 Cancelled in 1945.
Ashi5510葦 TachibanaYokosuka Naval ArsenalCancelled on 26 March 1945.---
5511橘 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal8 July 194414 October 194420 January 1945Sunk on 14 July 1945 by US Navy carrier aircraft off Hakodate
Shinodake5512篠竹 TachibanaFujinagata Shipyardsrowspan=2 rowspan=2 rowspan=2 Cancelled in 1945.
Yomogi5513蓬 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal---Cancelled in 1945.
5514蔦 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal31 July 19442 November 19448 February 1945Surrendered 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.
Aoi5515葵 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenalrowspan=2 rowspan=2 rowspan=2 Cancelled in 1945.
Shiraume5516白梅 TachibanaFujinagata Shipyards---Cancelled in 1945.
5517萩 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal11 September 194427 November 19441 March 1945Surrendered to United Kingdom on 16 July 1947 at Singapore, scrapped
Kiku5518菊 TachibanaFujinagata Shipyardsrowspan=2 rowspan=2 rowspan=2 Cancelled in 1945.
Kashiwa5519柏 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal---Cancelled in 1945.
5520菫 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal21 October 194427 December 194426 March 1945Surrendered to United Kingdom on 23 August 1947 at Hong Kong, sunk as target 1947
5521楠 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal9 November 19448 January 194528 April 1945Surrendered to United Kingdom on 1947
5522初櫻 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal4 December 194410 February 194518 May 1945Delivered to Soviet Union on 29 July 1947 at Nakhodka, renamed Vetrenny and soon Vyrazitel'ny, converted to target ship TSL-26, scrapped in 1958.
Kigiku4801黄菊 Tachibanarowspan=8 rowspan=8 rowspan=8 rowspan=8 Cancelled in March 1945.
Hatsugiku4802初菊 Tachibana----Cancelled in March 1945.
Akane4803茜 Tachibana----Cancelled in March 1945.
Shiragiku4804白菊 Tachibana----Cancelled in March 1945.
Chigusa4805千草 Tachibana----Cancelled in March 1945.
Wakakusa4806若草 Tachibana----Cancelled in March 1945.
Natsugusa4807夏草 Tachibana----Cancelled in March 1945.
Akikusa4808秋草 Tachibana----Cancelled in March 1945.
4809楡 TachibanaMaizuru Naval Arsenal14 August 194425 November 194431 January 1945Scrapped April 1948
4810梨 TachibanaKawasaki Dockyard Co.1 September 194417 January 194515 March 1945Sunk 28 July 1945 at Kure by US aircraft. Salvaged on 30 September 1954, Transferred to 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.
4811椎 TachibanaMaizuru Naval Arsenal18 September 194413 January 194513 March 1945Delivered to Soviet Union on 5 July 1947 at Nakhodka, renamed Vol'ny, converted to target ship TSL-24, scrapped in 1960.
4812榎 TachibanaMaizuru Naval Arsenal14 October 194427 January 194531 March 1945Sunk 26 June 1945 sunk in shallow water by contact mine at Obama, Fukui, raised and scrapped 1948.
Azusa4813梓 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal29 December 1944Discontinued on 17 April 1945.
4814雄竹 TachibanaMaizuru Naval Arsenal5 November 194410 March 194515 May 1945Surrendered to United States on 14 July 1947 at Qingdao. Sunk as target off, 17 September 1947
4815初梅 TachibanaMaizuru Naval Arsenal8 December 194425 April 194518 June 1945Surrendered 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.
Tochi4816栃 TachibanaMaizuru Naval Arsenal23 January 1945rowspan=7 Discontinued on 18 May 1945. Converted to breakwater.
Hishi4817菱 TachibanaMaizuru Naval Arsenal10 February 1945rowspan=6 Discontinued on 17 April 1945.-
Susuki4818薄 Tachibanarowspan=2 rowspan=2 Cancelled in March 1945.--
Nogiku4819野菊 Tachibana--Cancelled in March 1945.--
Sakaki4820榊 TachibanaYokosuka Naval Arsenal29 December 1944Discontinued on 17 April 1945.--
scope="row" 4821–4832Tachibanarowspan=2 rowspan=2 Cancelled in March 1945.--
scope="row" Kai-Tachibana Cancelled on 30 June 1945.----