Japanese destroyer Isokaze (1916)

For other ships with the same name, see Japanese destroyer Isokaze.

Isokaze (磯風, Sea Breeze) was the name ship of her class of four destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the late 1910s.^[1] The ship served in the very final stages of World War I.^[2] She was retired on 1 April 1935^[3]

History
Empire of Japan
Name	Isokaze
Builder	Kure Naval Arsenal
Laid down	5 April 1916
Launched	5 October 1916
Completed	28 February 1917
Fate	Retired 1 April 1935
General characteristics
Type	Isokaze-class destroyer
Displacement	1,227 long tons (1,247 t) normal, 1,550 long tons (1,570 t) full load
Length	94.5 m (310 ft) pp, 96.9 m (318 ft) overall
Beam	8.5 m (28 ft)
Draught	2.8 m (9.2 ft)
Propulsion	3-shaft steam turbine, 5 heavy oil-fired boilers 27,000 ihp (20,000 kW)
Speed	34 knots (63 km/h)
Range	3,360 nautical miles (6,220 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement	128
Armament	4 × QF 4.7 inch Gun Mk I - IV 5 ×6.5mm machine guns 6× 53cm torpedoes

Design and description

The Isokaze-class destroyers were designed as part of the first phase of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Hachi-hachi Kantai, or "Eight-Eight Fleet" program. As the high speed battleships Yamashiro and Ise were commissioned in line with the program, escort vessels with equally high speed and blue ocean capabilities were required.^[4] The Isokaze was a slightly larger and updated version of the previous Umikaze class of destroyers. Externally, the design went to a three smokestack profile, with a curved, rather than straight bow.

Internally, the Isokaze used 3 Parsons steam turbine engines. Advances in turbine design and construction permitted more reliable operation than previously with the Umikaze. The rated power of 27,000 shp (20,000 kW) gave the vessels a high speed of 34 knots (63 km/h), and a range of 3,360 nautical miles (6,220 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h); however, the engines could not be run continuously at over 7,000 shp (5,200 kW), which still considerably limited performance.

Armament was increased over the previous classes of destroyers, with four QF 4.7 inch Gun Mk I - IV, pedestal-mounted along the centerline of the vessel, two in front of the smokestacks and two to the stern. The number of torpedoes was increased to three launchers, each with a pair of 533 mm torpedoes. Anti-aircraft protection was provided by four machine guns.

Construction and career

The Isokaze was laid down at the Kure Naval Arsenal in Hiroshima, Japan on April 5, 1916, launched on October 5, 1916 and completed on February 28, 1917. Following its service in the final stages of World War I, the ship continued to serve within the IJN for 17 years along with its sister ships the Amatsukaze, Hamakaze, and Tokitsukaze. All four were retired on April 1, 1935.^[2] She was retired on 1 April 1935^[3]

References

1. Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
2. Smith, Gordon. "Japanese Navy, IJN, World War 1". Naval-history.net. Retrieved 2021-04-05.
3. Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-907-3.
4. Evans, David C.; Peattie, Mark R. (1997). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. US Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-192-7.