Japanese destroyer Kusunoki (1945)

Kusunoki (楠, "Camphor") was one of 23 escort destroyers of the Tachibana sub-class of the Matsu class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during the final stages of World War II. She was used to repatriate Japanese personnel after the war until 1947. Mid-year the destroyer was turned over to Great Britain and subsequently scrapped.

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese destroyer Kusunoki.

Sister ship Nire in January or February 1945
History
Empire of Japan
Name: Kusunoki
Namesake: Camphor
Ordered: 1943
Builder: Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
Laid down: 9 November 1944
Launched: 18 January 1945
Completed: 28 April 1945
Stricken: 5 October 1945
Fate: Turned over to the Royal Navy, 16 July 1947, and scrapped
General characteristics
Class and type: Tachibana sub-class of the Matsu-class escort destroyer
Displacement: 1,309 t (1,288 long tons) (standard)
Length: 100 m (328 ft 1 in) (o/a)
Beam: 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
Draft: 3.37 m (11 ft 1 in)
Installed power: 2 × water-tube boilers; 19,000 shp (14,000 kW)
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 × geared steam turbines
Speed: 27.8 knots (51.5 km/h; 32.0 mph)
Range: 4,680 nmi (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Sensors and
processing systems:
Armament:

Design and description

The Tachibana sub-class was a simplified version of the preceding Matsu class to make them even more suited for mass production. The ships measured 100 meters (328 ft 1 in) overall, with a beam of 9.35 meters (30 ft 8 in) and a draft of 3.37 meters (11 ft 1 in).[1] They displaced 1,309 metric tons (1,288 long tons) at standard load and 1,554 metric tons (1,529 long tons) at deep load.[2] 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 Tachibanas had a range of 4,680 nautical miles (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[3]

The main armament of the Tachibana sub-class 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 25 Type 96 25-millimeter (1 in) anti-aircraft guns in 4 triple and 13 single mounts. The Tachibanas were equipped with Type 13 early-warning and Type 22 surface-search radars.[4] The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mount amidships for 610-millimeter (24 in) torpedoes. They could deliver their 60 depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers.[1][4]

Construction and service

Kusunoki (Camphor)[5] was ordered in Fiscal Year 1943 under the Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Program as part of the Matsu class, but the design was simplified to facilitate production and the ship was one of those built to the modified design.[3] She was laid down on 9 November 1944 by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, launched on 18 January 1945 and completed on 28 April.[6] Kusunoki was assigned that day to Destroyer Squadron 11 under the Combined Fleet for working up and was transferred to the Maizuru Naval District on 15 July. The ship was turned over to Allied forces at Maizuru at the time of the surrender of Japan and was stricken from the navy list on 5 October.[5] The destroyer was disarmed and used to repatriate Japanese personnel in 1945–1947. Kusunoki was turned over to Great Britain on 16 July of the latter year and subsequently broken up.[3]

Notes
  1. Chesneau, p. 196
  2. Whitley, p. 208
  3. Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 153
  4. Stille, p. 41
  5. Nevitt
  6. Stille, p. 40

Bibliography
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
  • Nevitt, Allyn D. (1998). "IJN Kusunoki: Tabular Record of Movement". www.combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  • Stille, Mark (2013). Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919–45 (2): Asahio to Tachibana Classes. Botley, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-987-6.
  • 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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