The Akizuki-class ships were originally designed as anti-aircraft escorts for carrier battle groups, but were modified with torpedo tubes and depth charges to meet the need for more general-purpose destroyer. Her crew numbered 300 officers and enlisted men. The ships measured 134.2 meters (440 ft 3 in) overall, with a beam of 11.6 meters (38 ft 1 in) and a draft of 4.15 meters (13 ft 7 in).[1] They displaced 2,744 metric tons (2,701 long tons) at standard load and 3,759 metric tons (3,700 long tons) at deep load.[2]
The ship had two Kampon geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by three Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 52,000 indicated horsepower (39,000 kW) for a designed speed of 33 knots (61 km/h; 38 mph). The ship carried up to 1,097 long tons (1,115 t) of fuel oil which gave them a range of 8,300 nautical miles (15,400 km; 9,600 mi) at a speed of 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).[3]
On the night of 4–5 July 1943, Niizuki led a troop transport run to Kolombangara. With her radar she detected U.S. ships in Kula Gulf, and she, along with the destroyers Yūnagi and Nagatsuki, fired a salvo of torpedoes, which sank the destroyer USS Strong. The attack, from a distance of 11 nautical miles (20 km), is believed to be longest-range successful torpedo attack in history.
Niizuki's wreck was discovered by RV Petrel in January 2019. She sits upright in 745 meters (2,444 feet) of water and is heavily damaged. Surprisingly, her mast is still attached and completely upright. The wreck's discovery is noteworthy in that no photos of Niizuki in service are known to exist.
Ahlberg, Lars & Nevitt, Allyn D. (1986). "Question 10/84". Warship International. XXIII (3): 317–318. ISSN 0043-0374.
Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN0-87021-893-X.
Sturton, Ian (1980). "Japan". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
japanese, destroyer, niizuki, niizuki, 新月, moon, akizuki, class, destroyer, imperial, japanese, navy, historyempire, japannameniizukibuildermitsubishi, nagasaki, shipyardlaid, down8, december, 1941launched29, june, 1942completed31, march, 1943commissioned31, m. Niizuki 新月 New Moon was an Akizuki class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy HistoryEmpire of JapanNameNiizukiBuilderMitsubishi Nagasaki ShipyardLaid down8 December 1941Launched29 June 1942Completed31 March 1943Commissioned31 March 1943 11th Destroyer SquadronStricken10 September 1943FateSunk Battle of Kula Gulf 6 July 1943General characteristicsClass and typeAkizuki class destroyerDisplacement2 700 long tons 2 743 t standard 3 700 long tons 3 759 t full loadLength134 2 m 440 ft 3 in Beam11 6 m 38 ft 1 in Draft4 15 m 13 ft 7 in Propulsion4 Kampon type boilers 2 Parsons geared turbines 2 shafts 50 000 shp 37 MW Speed33 knots 38 mph 61 km h Range8 300 nmi 15 400 km at 18 kn 21 mph 33 km h Complement263Armament8 100 mm 4 in 65 cal Type 98 DP guns 12 Type 96 25 mm 0 98 in AA guns 3 4 4 610 mm 24 in torpedo tubes for Type 93 torpedoes 54 depth charges Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 Wreck 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksDesign and description editThe Akizuki class ships were originally designed as anti aircraft escorts for carrier battle groups but were modified with torpedo tubes and depth charges to meet the need for more general purpose destroyer Her crew numbered 300 officers and enlisted men The ships measured 134 2 meters 440 ft 3 in overall with a beam of 11 6 meters 38 ft 1 in and a draft of 4 15 meters 13 ft 7 in 1 They displaced 2 744 metric tons 2 701 long tons at standard load and 3 759 metric tons 3 700 long tons at deep load 2 The ship had two Kampon geared steam turbines each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by three Kampon water tube boilers The turbines were rated at a total of 52 000 indicated horsepower 39 000 kW for a designed speed of 33 knots 61 km h 38 mph The ship carried up to 1 097 long tons 1 115 t of fuel oil which gave them a range of 8 300 nautical miles 15 400 km 9 600 mi at a speed of 18 knots 33 km h 21 mph 3 The main armament of the Akizuki class consisted of eight Type 98 100 millimeter 3 9 in dual purpose guns in four twin gun turrets two superfiring pairs fore and aft of the superstructure They carried four Type 96 25 millimeter 1 0 in anti aircraft guns in two twin gun mounts The ships were also armed with four 610 millimeter 24 0 in torpedo tubes in a single quadruple traversing mount one reload was carried for each tube Their anti submarine weapons comprised six depth charge throwers for which 72 depth charges were carried 4 Construction and career editOn the night of 4 5 July 1943 Niizuki led a troop transport run to Kolombangara With her radar she detected U S ships in Kula Gulf and she along with the destroyers Yunagi and Nagatsuki fired a salvo of torpedoes which sank the destroyer USS Strong The attack from a distance of 11 nautical miles 20 km is believed to be longest range successful torpedo attack in history On the night of 5 6 July 1943 Niizuki led another troop transport run to Kolombangara In the Battle of Kula Gulf she was sunk by gunfire from a U S cruiser destroyer group 5 nautical miles 9 3 km 5 8 mi east of Kolombangara 7 57 S 157 12 E 7 950 S 157 200 E 7 950 157 200 All 290 people including the captain the crew and the command of 3rd Destroyer squadron were killed Wreck editNiizuki s wreck was discovered by RV Petrel in January 2019 She sits upright in 745 meters 2 444 feet of water and is heavily damaged Surprisingly her mast is still attached and completely upright The wreck s discovery is noteworthy in that no photos of Niizuki in service are known to exist Notes edit Sturton p 195 Whitley p 204 Jentschura Jung amp Mickel p 150 Whitley pp 204 05References editAhlberg Lars amp Nevitt Allyn D 1986 Question 10 84 Warship International XXIII 3 317 318 ISSN 0043 0374 Jentschura Hansgeorg Jung Dieter amp Mickel Peter 1977 Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1869 1945 Annapolis Maryland United States Naval Institute ISBN 0 87021 893 X Sturton Ian 1980 Japan In Chesneau Roger ed Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 Whitley M J 2000 Destroyers of World War Two An International Encyclopedia London Cassell amp Co ISBN 1 85409 521 8 External links editCombinedFleet com Akizuki class destroyers CombinedFleet com Niizuki history CombinedFleet com Niizuki s last mission Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Japanese destroyer Niizuki amp oldid 1159183930, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
