- Yes, for tree
- Yes, for event / battle pass
- Yes, for premium
- No
護衛艦わかば
JDS Wakaba (DE-261)
JDS Wakaba, after 5th modification (1963)
Briefly: The Missing Link Between Imperial Japanese Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Classification
Classify: Type Otsu Guard Ship [乙型警備艦]
Class in IJN: Matsu class Destroyer [松型駆逐艦] (officially) / Tachibana class Destroyer [橘型駆逐艦]
Class in JMSDF: Wakaba class Destroyer [わかば型護衛艦] (maybe)
In normally when JMSDF reclassify vessel, they also change its class name. Eg. Uwajima class minesweeper, Ieshima (MSC-673) was reclassified to Ieshima class Minesweeper Controller, Ieshima (MCL-728)
History
JDS Wakaba (DE-261) is a Japanese destroyer that have one of the most curious history.
In January 17, 1945 she launched as Destroyer(駆逐艦) of IJN, “Nashi”(梨), at Kawasaki Kobe dock. She completed in March 15 and deployed to 11th Destroyer Squadron and start training. In September she modified as Kaiten carrier, but September 28 she attacked by F6F and lots of rocket hit. She sunk in PM 2 o’clock at Yamaguchi pref. Heigu Island and over 60 crews died.
After sunk she left alone on the bottom of the sea but in 1954 local fisheries cooperative demand selvage for fishing reef. She re-floated in September 21, 1954 but unexpectedly her state is very good so they offer to Japan Defense Agency to purchase for JMSDF.
She commissioned in March 26, 1958 as “JDS Wakaba”. JDA purchase from salvage company about 900 million yens and spend 345 million yens so some diet members criticized.
Also her engines soaked about 9 years so noise was terrible.
At first Wakaba used for training ship on Yokosuka district force so she didn’t have any weapons. But after 2nd modification she equip some weapons, and in later she often used for test-bed ship of new weapons.
Notably activity of Wakawa was evacuation from Miyake-jima in Showa 2nd equption (1962).
She retired in 1971.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 76 mm twin gun had good fire rate
- Large AN/SPS-8 radar seems very curious
Cons
- Have only 2 torpedoes
- Does not have any machine gun
- 76 mm gun cannot aim front
Specification (JDS Wakaba, 5th Modification)
- Standard displacement: 1,250 t
- Length overall: 100.0 m
- Max width: 9.4 m
- Draft: 3.3 m
- Max speed: 26.0 kt
- Crew: 175
- Engine: 2x Kamhon-type Turbine, 15,000 HP
- Armaments
- 1x Type 68 50 caliber 3-inch twin rapid firing gun (3-inch Mk.33) on stern
- 1x Type 54 anti-submarine shell launcher (Hedgehog Mk.10) on front of bridge
- 4x Type 54 Depth Charge Launcher “K-gun” (Same as USN) on stern
- 2x Type 54 Depth Charge Drop Rail (Same as USN) on stern
- Mk.9 Depth Charge
- 1x Type 65 533 mm twin torpedo tube between funnels
- 2x Experimental Type 54 Torpedo Model 3
- Radar
- AN/SPS-12 AA radar
- Mk.34 radar
- US UO surface radar
- SPS-5B surface radar
- AN/SPS-8B AA radar
- Mk.63 Mod.11 FCS
- Sonar
- SQS-11A sonar
- SQR-4/SQA-4 sonar
- T-3 experimental sonar
- ESM
- OLR-4 ESM
Experimental Type 54 Torpedo Model 3 (G-4) / 試製54式魚雷3型 (G-4)
Experimental Type 54 Torpedo, launched from Type 65 Quadruple torpedo launcherThis is the Japanese first guided torpedo developed by TRDI. Model 1 was non-guided torpedo but when tested by Torpedo Boats, they have lots of fatal issues (when launch it and sunk on bottom of sea etc.) so they develop Model 2 that solve issues and add horizontal homing system. But it also have some issues for they develop Model 3. Model 3 is 3D passive sound homing torpedo that able to attack not only surface vessel but also submarines. Those torpedoes mainly used by Destroyers but also Torpedo Boats (Type Hei Sub-chaser) equip them.
After that they develop Model 3 Kai 1 for submarines. It produced over 60 and it become most mass-produced model…
Specification (Model 3)
- Weight: 1,600 kg
- Length: 7,600 mm
- Caliber: 533 mm
- Max range: 6,000 m
- Explosives: TNT 100 kg
- Speed: 24 kt (44.448 km/h)
- Engine: Battery powered, 44 HP
- Guidance system: Passive acoustic homing
- Developer: TRDI, Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyards, NEC etc.
Type 65 63 cm Twin Torpedo Launcher (HO-201) / 65式53cm連装魚雷発射管 (HO-201)
Reference: Type 65 53 cm quadruple torpedo launcher (HO-401)This is Japanese 53 cm twin torpedo launcher developed by TRDI for technical testings of 53 cm long-torpedoes. Based upon Type 55/65 53 cm quadruple torpedo launcher.
Only JDS Wakaba equip this torpedo launcher. Also, it did not had torpedo reloader.Specification
- Number of tubes: 2
- Developer: TRDI
Specification (Quadruple Launcher)
- Length of tube: 7712 mm
- Inner diameter: 534.5 mm
- Height of center of tube
- From top of deck: 850 mm
- From top of swing table: 450 mm
- Size of swing table
- Length: about 3,660 mm
- Train rate: when turning 90 degrees time is lower than 20 seconds
Type 68 50-caliber 3-inch Twin Rapid-Firing Gun (68式50口径3インチ連装速射砲)
Licence production model of USN Mk.33 3-inch gun.
This gun on JDS Wakaba didn’t have shields.
Type 54/67 Depth Charge Dropper (54式爆雷投下器)
Type 54/67 Depth Charge Dropper of JDS IkazuchiLicence production model of USN depth charge release racks.
Type 54/67 Depth Charge Launcher K-Gun (54式爆雷投射機)
Type 54/67 Depth Charge Launcher K-Gun on JDS IkazuchiLicence production model of Depth charge launcher of USN.
Mk.9 Depth Charge (Mk.9爆雷)
Depth Charge, Mark 9 and ModificationsUSN Mk.9 Depth Charge Mod.2.
Specification
- Empty weight: 120 lbs. (95.25 kg)
- Explosive weight: TNT 190 lbs (86.18 kg)
Type 54 Anti-Submarine Shell Launcher (54式対潜弾発射機)
Licence production model of USN Hedgehog Mk.10Specification
- Number of shells: 24
- Caliber: 178 mm
- Weight of shell: 29 kg
- Explosives: TNT 13.7 kg or Torpex 16 kg
Sources
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/わかば_(護衛艦)
Editorial department of magazine “Maru” (1990) “THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY vol.11 Destroyers: Hatsuharu class, Shiratsuyu class, Asashio class, Kagero class, Yugumo class, Shimakaze, Akiduki class, Matsu class, Tachibana class and Torpedo Boats” Kojin-sha publishers, p.196-197
ISBN4-7698-0461-X C0372
Koda Yoji, 2013 “History of Domestic Built Destroyers of JMSDF (5), before 1st defense power development plan, FY Showa 29-32” Ships of the World, 778, pp.150