Kagerō class, DESTROYERS, 駆逐艦
 
IJN Destroyer DD-31 "Nowaki"
Displacement: 2,490 t (2,033 t Std)Machinery: 3 boilers, 2 shafts  DP Guns: 3×2×5 in (127 mm)/50
Max Length: 388 ft 9 in 118.5 mMax Power: 52,000 hp 38 776 kW AA Guns: 2×2×.98 in (25 mm)
Beam: 35 ft 5 in 10.8 mMax Speed: 35.5 kts 65.7 km/h Torpedo Battery: 2×4×24 in (610 mm) tubes      
Draght: 12 ft 4 in 3.76 mRange: 5,000 nm 9 260 km Depth Charges: 2 throwers, 16 charges
Complement: 239 officers & enlisted Bunkerage: 500 t fuel oil Sensors: Sonar

   * Armament as during the Battle of Midway (June 1942).

Nineteen Kagerō class destroyers benefitted greatly from the many teething troubles of the previous Asashio class, and as a result, experienced almost none of their own. Virtually identical in appearance to their predecessors, they also mounted the same armament of eight 24 in (610 mm) torpedo tubes in two quadruple centerline mounts carried Type 93 “Long Lance” torpedoes, and six 5 in (127 mm) dual- purpose guns mounted in twin splinter-proof turrets. Although the Kagerōs were heavier and sported a slightly thicker bridge structure, their stability was improved by lowering the fore quadruple torpedo tube mount and moving its reloads forward abaft the bridge.

The ships of the Kagerō class were arguably the best of the early war Japanese destroyers. Only the lack of radar hindered their otherwise superb design. As with most pre-WWII ships, Kagerōs were also deficient in anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weaponry as designed—four .98 in (25 mm) autocannons in two twin mounts and two depth charge throwers respectively.

Nine Kagerō class destroyers (DD-27 Urakaze, DD-28 Isokaze, DD-29 Hamakaze, DD-30 Tanikaze, DD-31 Nowaki, DD-112 Arashi, DD-113 Hagi­kaze, DD-114 Maikaze, DD-115 Akigumo) took part in the Battle of Midway as Destroyer Divisions 4, 10, and 17 of Destroyer Squadron 10, the destroyer screen of First Mobile Force.

 

Ship Builder Laid Down    Launched    Commisioned    Fate
 DD-17 陽炎 Kagerō Naval Arsenal, Maizuru   3 Sep 1937   27 Sep 1938     6 Nov 1939   Sunk in action   8 May 1943
 DD-18 不知火 Shiranui Uraga Dock Company 30 Aug 1937     25 Oct 1938     27 Jan 1940     Sunk in action 28 Apr 1943
 DD-19 黒潮 Kuroshio Fujinagata Shipbuilding 31 Aug 1937   25 Oct 1938   27 Jan 1940   Sunk by mine 28 Apr 1943
 DD-20 親潮 Oyashio Naval Arsenal, Maizuru 29 Mar 1938   29 Nov 1938   20 Aug 1940   Sunk in action   8 May 1943
 DD-21 早潮 Hayashio Uraga Dock Company 30 Jun 1938   19 Apr 1939   31 Aug 1940   Sunk in action 24 Nov 1942
 DD-22 夏潮 Natsushio  Fujinagata Shipbuilding   9 Dec 1937   23 Feb 1939   31 Aug 1940   Sunk in action   9 Feb 1942
 DD-23 初風 Hatsukaze Kawasaki Shipbuilding   3 Dec 1937   24 Jan 1939   15 Feb 1940   Sunk in action 12 Nov 1943
 DD-24 雪風 Yukikaze Naval Arsenal, Sasebo   2 Aug 1938     24 Mar 1939     20 Jan 1940     Chinese Navy   6 Jul 1947
 DD-25 天津風 Amatsukaze Naval Arsenal, Maizuru 14 Feb 1939   19 Oct 1939   26 Oct 1940   Sunk in action   6 Apr 1945
 DD-26 時津風 Tokitsukaze Uraga Dock Company 26 Feb 1939   10 Nov 1939   15 Dec 1940   Sunk in action   3 Mar 1943
 DD-27 浦風 Urakaze Fujinagata Shipbuilding 11 Apr 1939   19 Apr 1940   15 Dec 1940   Sunk in action 21 Nov 1944
 DD-28  磯風 Isokaze  Naval Arsenal, Sasebo 25 Nov 1938   19 Jun 1939   30 Nov 1940   Sunk in action   7 Apr 1945
 DD-29 濱風 Hamakaze Uraga Dock Company 20 Nov 1939   25 Nov 1940   30 Jun 1941   Sunk in action   7 Apr 1945
 DD-30 谷風 Tanikaze Fujinagata Shipbuilding 18 Oct 1939       1 Nov 1940     25 Apr 1941     Sunk in action   9 Jun 1944
 DD-31 野分 Nowaki Naval Arsenal, Maizuru   8 Nov 1939   17 Sep 1940   28 Apr 1941   Sunk in action 25 Oct 1944
 DD-112 Arashi  Naval Arsenal, Maizuru   4 May 1939   22 Apr 1940   27 Jan 1941   Sunk in action   6 Aug 1943
 DD-113 萩風 Hagikaze Uraga Dock Company 23 May 1939   18 Jun 1940   31 Mar 1941   Sunk in action   6 Aug 1943
 DD-114 舞風 Maikaze  Fujinagata Shipbuilding 22 Apr 1940   13 Mar 1941   15 Jul 1941   Sunk in action 17 Feb 1944
 DD-115 秋雲 Akigumo Uraga Dock Company   2 Jul 1940   11 Apr 1941   27 Sep 1941   Sunk in action 11 Apr 1944