:Japanese destroyer Keyaki (1944)
{{Short description|1944 Imperial Japanese Navy ship}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image= Keyaki right after the end of the war.jpg |Ship caption=Keyaki at Kure, Japan, 16 October 1945 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=Empire of Japan |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Japan|naval}} |Ship name=Keyaki |Ship builder=Yokosuka Naval Arsenal |Ship ordered= |Ship laid down= 22 June 1944 |Ship launched= 30 September 1944 |Ship completed= 15 December 1944 |Ship commissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship in service= |Ship namesake=Japanese elm |Ship struck= 5 October 1945 |Ship honours= |Ship fate=Sunk as a target, 1947 |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Header caption=(as built) |Ship class={{sclass|Matsu|destroyer|0}} escort destroyer |Ship displacement={{cvt|1282|t|LT|lk=on}} (standard) |Ship length={{convert|100|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (o/a) |Ship beam={{convert|9.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draft={{convert|3.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship power=2 × water-tube boilers; {{cvt|19000|shp|lk=on}} |Ship propulsion=2 shafts, 2 × geared steam turbines |Ship speed={{convert|27.8|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range={{convert|4680|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|16|kn}} |Ship complement=210 |Ship sensors= |Ship armament=*1 × twin, 1 × single 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun DP guns
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{{nihongo|Keyagi|欅||"Japanese Elm"}} was one of 18 {{sclass|Matsu|destroyer|0}} escort destroyers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. Completed in late 1944, little is known about her activities during the rest of the war. The ship was surrendered to the Allies at the end of the war and used to repatriate Japanese troops until 1947. Mid-year the destroyer was turned over to the United States and was later sunk as a target.
Design and description
File:80-G-351887 KEYAKI (Japanese destroyer, 1945).jpg
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.Stille, p. 38 The ships measured {{convert|100|m|ftin|sp=us}} long overall, with a beam of {{convert|9.35|m|ftin|sp=us}} and a draft of {{convert|3.3|m|ftin|sp=us}}.Sturton, p. 196 Their crew numbered 210 officers and enlisted men.Stille, p. 45 They displaced {{convert|1282|t|LT|sp=us|lk=on}} at standard load and {{convert|1554|t|LT|sp=us}} at deep load.Whitley, p. 206 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 {{convert|19000|shp|lk=on}} for a speed of {{convert|27.8|kn|lk=in}}. The Matsus had a range of {{convert|4680|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|16|kn}}.Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 151
The main armament of the Matsu-class ships consisted of three 12.7 cm/40 Type 89 naval gun 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 twenty-five Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun anti-aircraft guns in 4 triple and 13 single mounts. The Matsus were equipped with Type 13 early-warning and Type 22 surface-search radars.Stille, p. 41 The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mount amidships for {{convert|610|mm|in|adj=on|0|sp=us}} torpedoes. They could deliver their 36 depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers.
Construction and career
Authorized in the late 1942 Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Program,Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 152 Keyaki (Japanese elm) was laid down on 22 June 1944 at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal and launched on 30 September.Stille, p. 40 Upon her completion on 15 December, the ship was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 11 of the Combined Fleet for training. On 15 March the ship was reassigned to the squadron's Destroyer Division 53. The squadron was briefly attached to the Second Fleet from 1–20 April before rejoining the Combined Fleet.Nevitt
The division was disbanded on 15 July and Keyaki was assigned to the Osaka Guard District. The ship was turned over to Allied forces at Yokosuka at the time of the surrender of Japan on 2 September and was stricken from the navy list on 5 October. The destroyer was disarmed and used to repatriate Japanese personnel from late 1945 to 1947. Keyaki was turned over to the United States on 5 July of the latter year and was subsequently sunk as a target.Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 153
Notes
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Bibliography
- {{cite book| last = Jentschura| first = Hansgeorg| first2 = Dieter |last2=Jung|first3=Peter |last3=Mickel| year = 1977| title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945| publisher = United States Naval Institute| location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 0-87021-893-X|name-list-style=amp}}
- {{cite web |last1=Nevitt |first1=Allyn D. |title=IJN Keyaki: Tabular Record of Movement |url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/keyaki_t.htm |website=www.combinedfleet.com |access-date=21 September 2020 |date=1998}}
- {{cite book |last1=Stille |first1=Mark |title=Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919–45 (2): Asahio to Tachibana Classes |date=2013 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Botley, UK |isbn=978-1-84908-987-6}}
- {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=0-85177-146-7|chapter=Japan|author-first=Ian|author-last=Sturton}}
- {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1988|isbn=0-87021-326-1 |location=Annapolis, Maryland |authorlink=Michael J. Whitley}}
{{Matsu class destroyer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keyaki (Type D)}}
Category:Matsu-class destroyers
Category:Ships built by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal