Japanese destroyer Keyaki (1944)
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 Keyaki at Kure, Japan, 16 October 1945 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Keyaki |
| Namesake | Japanese elm |
| Builder | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal |
| Laid down | 22 June 1944 |
| Launched | 30 September 1944 |
| Completed | 15 December 1944 |
| Stricken | 5 October 1945 |
| Fate | Sunk as a target, 1947 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class & type | Matsu-class escort destroyer |
| Displacement | 1,282 t (1,262 long tons) (standard) |
| Length | 100 m (328 ft 1 in) (o/a) |
| Beam | 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in) |
| Draft | 3.3 m (10 ft 10 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) |
| Complement | 210 |
| Sensors & processing systems | |
| Armament |
|
Keyagi (欅; "Japanese Elm") was one of 18 Matsu-class 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.
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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.[1] The ships measured 100 meters (328 ft 1 in) long overall, with a beam of 9.35 meters (30 ft 8 in) and a draft of 3.3 meters (10 ft 10 in).[2] Their crew numbered 210 officers and enlisted men.[3] They displaced 1,282 metric tons (1,262 long tons) at standard load and 1,554 metric tons (1,529 long tons) at deep load.[4] 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 Matsus had a range of 4,680 nautical miles (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[5]
The main armament of the Matsu-class ships 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 twenty-five 25-millimeter (1 in) Type 96 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.[6] The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mount amidships for 610-millimeter (24 in) torpedoes. They could deliver their 36 depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers.[2][6]
