Akizuki-Class Destroyer, JDS Akizuki- Akizuki Lives On

Would you like to see this in-game?
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Which Version?
  • 1960
  • 1978
  • Both
  • I said no!
0 voters

Hello and welcome to my next suggestion which will be on a post war JMSDF vessel, the rebirth of the Akizuki name, JDS Akizuki.

Short History
The Akizuki class was ordered by the U.S military aid program in 1957, the ship was financed by the Off Shore Procurement (OSP) of the United States at the time, however the design and construction of the ship was domestic in origin. And so in 1957 the ship JDS Akizuki was laid down by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries at Nagasaki Shipyard. Akizuki was then launched in June 26, 1959, not long after the ship was commissioned in February 13, 1960 and registered in the U.S as (DD-960) though in Japan as (DD-161). In 1961, Akizuki became the flagship of the 3rd Self-Defense Fleet which replaced the JDS Yukikaze, Then in 1963 theJDS Fleet Command moved to the land and the flagship was abolished, so it was transferred to the escort fleet squadron as a ship in direct control it also replaced the JDS Teruzuki as the flagship of the escort fleet in that same year. Over time the ship received upgrades and changes such as in March 3, 1968 Depth charge and launchers removed and equip VDS (Variable depth sonar) and In April 1978 the Mk.108 anti submarine mortar and Mk.2 short torpedo launcher were removed, and replaced with the Type 71 Bofors rocket launcher and triple short torpedo launcher. In March of 1985 the Flagship of the escort ship which was Akizuki at the time was transferred over to JDS Murakumo, Akizuki was changed to a special service vessel and it’s hull number changed to (ASU-7010) not long after its assignment was put into the Yokosuka district force. Not long after this in March of 1987 it was again changed assignment now into fleet research and development Command where it served as a ship for testing. During this new assignment the Akizuki in 1989 triled a tactical towed array sonar it also removed the third turret of the 5 inch gun in order to test that new system. Akizuki was decommissioned in December 7, 1993 and was scrapped, ending it’s rather long career.

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In Game
In War Thunder JDS Akizuki would give Japan more gun boats, while the ship is not as heavily armed as a Fletcher it would still be a DD with SAP and quick firing guns it also has access to good amount of torpedos and other weapons such as the 76mm guns

Specifications

Displacement: 2,890 long tons (2,936 t) normal
Length: 118 m (387 ft 2 in)
Beam: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Draft: 4 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion: 2 steam turbines, 4 boilers 45,000 shp (34,000 kW) / 2 shafts, 2 propellers
Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) max.
Complement: 330

Akizuki (1960)

3x Mk.39 54 caliber 5-inch dual purpose gun

2x Type 68 50 caliber 3 inch twin quick firing gun

1x Mk.108 anti-submarine mortar launcher “Weapon-Alpha”

2x Type 54/67 depth charge launcher

Type of depth charges: USN Mark 6, Mark 9 or JMSDF Type 67
2x Type 54/67 depth charge launcher (Y-Gun)

Type of depth charges: USN Mark 6, Mark 9 or Type 67
2x Type 54 anti-submarine mortar launcher (Hedgehog Mk.10)

1x Type 68 53 cm quadruple torpedo tube (HO-401)

8x Experimental Type 54 Torpedo (4 in tubes and 4 in loader)
2x Mark 2 torpedo launcher

Mk.32 torpedo
2x Mk.57 GFCS for 5-inch gun

1x Mk.63 GFCS for 3-inch gun

1x OPS-1 air search radar

1x OPS-5 surface search radar

1x AN/SQS-4 search sonar

Akizuki (1978)

3x Mk.39 54 caliber 5-inch dual purpose gun

2x Type 68 50 caliber 3 inch twin quick firing gun

1x Type 71 Bofors Rocket Launcher

1x Type 68 53 cm quadruple torpedo tube (HO-401)

8x Experimental Type 54 Torpedo (4 in tubes and 4 in loader)
2x Type 68 Triple Torpedo Launcher (HOS-302)

6x Mk.44 or Type 73 torpedoes
2x Mk.57 GFCS for 5-inch gun

1x Mk.63 GFCS for 3-inch gun

1x OPS-1 air search radar

1x OPS-5 surface search radar

1x AN/SQS-29J search sonar

1x OQA-1B variable depth sonar

Pictures

Spoiler

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Pitroad 1/350 JMSDF DD-161 Akizuki

Sources

Spoiler

Akizuki 1960 class Destroyer Japan Maritime Self Defense Force
Naval Analyses: The evolution of Japanese destroyers after WWII
AKIZUKI destroyers (1960)
Akizuki-class Destroyer (1960) - Canadian Power Wiki

4 Likes

Question: Coastal TT or Bluewater TT? Based on the predecessing Ayanami class Destroyer being coastal (since we skip over the Murasame class which isn’t in game) while the Harukaze class Destroyer being bluewater (the furtherest predecessor class).

I too would enjoy seeing this class in any tree an could see both ships in the as built & refit configurations, Hell maybe even as a premium due the trees lack of.

1 Like

I would probably say blue water considering it has better capabilities then Harukaze

1 Like

Much better fit as a DD. If it went coastal it would likely end up needing a Bluewater spawn anyway as fast firing 5" mains and 3" secondaries would wreck as easily as the SKR used to, plus it’s a big boat to navigate in shallow waters.

2 Likes