The were a class of two destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy.Jentsura, Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945 The class is sometimes referred to as the Tanikaze class in some sources; however, Tanikaze was launched and commissioned later than Kawakaze.
Background Construction of the new Kawakaze-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's 8-4 Fleet Program in fiscal 1915. A large destroyer with long range, capable of providing escort to the new battleship and the two s were considered a part of this reduced spending naval program from the previous Eight-eight fleet project..
Although funding was authorized for only one destroyer, Tanikaze, the Italian government unexpectedly refunded Japan for its down payment of 870,000 Yen on the , which had been transferred to the Royal Italian Navy before completion in England during World War I. These funds were used to complete a second vessel, which was also named Kawakaze.Howarth, The Fighting Ships of the Rising Sun
Design Initially conceived of as a follow-on version of the earlier s, however, it was the first to use the new Type 3 120 mm 45 caliber naval guns that were to be used many subsequent classes of Japanese destroyers. In addition, given the experience with deployment of Japanese destroyers for extended periods overseas in World War I, the hull and bow needed to be reinforced to handle heavy seas. Furthermore, the navy wanted to add the latest technologies in terms of the new 533 mm torpedoes in three double launchers.
It was furthermore decided to use the same Brown-Curtis heavy fuel oil fired geared steam turbine engines as on the Tenryū-class cruisers. The result was a ship was much more powerful that the earlier Isokaze class, and capable of high speed operation.
Operational history The Kawakaze-class destroyers served during the interwar period. Kawakaze was retired on 1 April 1934 and Tanikaze a year later.Nishida, Imperial Japanese Navy
List of ships + Construction dataKanjiNameBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompleted Fate 江風 "Inlet Wind" Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan 15 February 1917 10 October 1917 11 November 1918 Retired, 1 April 1934谷風 "Valley Wind" Maizuru Naval Arsenal, Japan 20 September 1916 20 July 1918 30 January 1919 Retired, 1 April 1935
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