The Japanese Akatsuki class destroyer Ikazuchi in Chinese waters, circa 1938.

The Imperial Japanese Navy Akatsuki class of destroyers (暁型) consisted of four "special-type" destroyers, all built in Sasebo, Japan and completed in 1932. Only one of the four ships survived World War II, to be sold to the USSR (as the Pritky) and scrapped in 1963[1]. Image File history File links The Ikazuchi, one of the Akatsuki class of destroyers. ... Image File history File links The Ikazuchi, one of the Akatsuki class of destroyers. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer (French: contre-torpilleur, German: Zerstörer, Spanish: destructor, Italian: cacciatorpediniere) is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers... Ikazuchi (Japanese: 雷 meaning thunder) was an Akatsuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Ensign of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Sasebo (佐世保市; -shi) is a city located in Nagasaki, Japan. ... Combatants Allies: Poland, British Commonwealth, France/Free France, Soviet Union, United States, China, and others Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan, and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total dead: 50 million Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total dead: 12 million World War II... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ...

General characteristics

• Displacement: 1680 tons
• Length: 371 ft (113 meters)
• Beam: 34 ft (10 meters)
• Draft: 11 ft (3 meters)
• Armament: 6 × 5-inch guns, up to 28 25 mm anti-aircraft guns, up to 10 13 mm anti-aircraft guns, 9 × 24inch torpedoes, 36 depth charges.
• Built: 1932
• Complement: 197

American troops man an anti-aircraft gun near the Algerian coastline in 1943 Anti-aircraft, or air defense, is any method of combating military aircraft from the ground. ... A modern torpedo, historically called a self propelled torpedo, is a self-propelled guided projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... Depth Charge used by U.S. Navy later in World War II The depth charge is the oldest anti-submarine weapon. ...

Ships

• IJN Akatsuki
• IJN Hibiki
• IJN Ikazuchi
• IJN Inazuma

Akatsuki was the lead ship of her class of special type destroyers in the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... Ikazuchi (Japanese: 雷 meaning thunder) was an Akatsuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ... The Inazuma was a Akatsuki-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. ...

External link

• US Navy page on the Akatsuki