So... the Akizuki-class was a powerful anti-aircraft destroyer? Japs finally thinking in the third dimension? Wonder how they were sunk
Akizuki: Sunk by Carrier-Airstrike at the Battle of Cape Engaño (A-wha?) Teruzuki: Sunk by PT Boats on Tokyo Express mission ... 3 months after being commissioned (*Sigh*) Suzutsuki: Survived (Maybe they're not all bad?) Hatsuzuki: Sunk at Battle of Cape Engaño by surface gunnery (Phew, had me worried there) Niizuki: Sunk by surface gunnery at Kula Gulf ... 4 months after being commissioned (*Facepalm*) Wakatsuki: Sunk by Carrier airstrike at Ormoc Bay (*Headdesk* *Headdesk* *Headdesk*) Shimotsuki: Sunk by submarine (Oh right, third dimension also includes down)
So... the Akizuki-class was a powerful anti-aircraft destroyer? Japs finally thinking in the third dimension? Wonder how they were sunk
Akizuki: Sunk by Carrier-Airstrike at the Battle of Cape Engaño (A-wha?) Teruzuki: Sunk by PT Boats on Tokyo Express mission ... 4 months after being commissioned (*Sigh*) Suzutsuki: Survived (Maybe they're not all bad?) Hatsuzuki: Sunk at Battle of Cape Engaño by surface gunnery (Phew, had me worried there) Niizuki: Sunk by surface gunnery at Kula Gulf ... 4 months after being commissioned (*Facepalm*) Wakatsuki: Sunk by Carrier airstrike at Ormoc Bay (*Headdesk* *Headdesk* *Headdesk*) Shimotsuki: Sunk by submarine (Oh right, third dimension also includes down)
As to elaborate, they were TOO LATE by the time war becomes worse for the IJN. Even so, their crews were pretty much not well experience unlike the earlier Destroyers.
So... the Akizuki-class was a powerful anti-aircraft destroyer? Japs finally thinking in the third dimension? Wonder how they were sunk
Akizuki: Sunk by Carrier-Airstrike at the Battle of Cape Engaño (A-wha?) Teruzuki: Sunk by PT Boats on Tokyo Express mission ... 3 months after being commissioned (*Sigh*) Suzutsuki: Survived (Maybe they're not all bad?) Hatsuzuki: Sunk at Battle of Cape Engaño by surface gunnery (Phew, had me worried there) Niizuki: Sunk by surface gunnery at Kula Gulf ... 4 months after being commissioned (*Facepalm*) Wakatsuki: Sunk by Carrier airstrike at Ormoc Bay (*Headdesk* *Headdesk* *Headdesk*) Shimotsuki: Sunk by submarine (Oh right, third dimension also includes down)
Hanazuki survived as well. Spent a little under two years in Japanese service, including post-war time where I'm not sure what was going with her.
She then went on to spend 6 months in the USN as DD-934
So... the Akizuki-class was a powerful anti-aircraft destroyer? Japs finally thinking in the third dimension? Wonder how they were sunk
Akizuki: Sunk by Carrier-Airstrike at the Battle of Cape Engaño (A-wha?) Teruzuki: Sunk by PT Boats on Tokyo Express mission ... 3 months after being commissioned (*Sigh*) Suzutsuki: Survived (Maybe they're not all bad?) Hatsuzuki: Sunk at Battle of Cape Engaño by surface gunnery (Phew, had me worried there) Niizuki: Sunk by surface gunnery at Kula Gulf ... 4 months after being commissioned (*Facepalm*) Wakatsuki: Sunk by Carrier airstrike at Ormoc Bay (*Headdesk* *Headdesk* *Headdesk*) Shimotsuki: Sunk by submarine (Oh right, third dimension also includes down)
I'm not quite sure it's fair to write them off for sinking in air attacks given the sheer number of aircraft that got thrown at them. That said, I'm betting the B-17 was only hit because it was flying slow enough for her director (which was ABYSMAL) to come up with a solution in time to hit it before the solution became invalid. Which is the entire reason there were planes overhead for 3 hours during Ten-Go and the IJN managed to shoot down a grand total of ten[/].
Which is the entire reason there were planes overhead for 3 hours during Ten-Go and the IJN managed to shoot down a grand total of ten.
Five with Yamato's explosion.
...I really wish I were making that up.
Updated
The American forces analyzed the photos, and determined Akizuki as a new type of a powerful anti-air destroyer. During the operation, all aircraft were forbidden to fly near Akizuki.The same day, A B17 that bombed Shortland Anchorage was shot down by Akizuki's first shot! It was the first B17 shot down by an anti-aircraft gun from a surface ship.September 27, 1942
Akizuki is spotted by an American patrolling aircraft.