List of destroyers of Japan

The following is a list of destroyers of Japan grouped by battle in which they were used. In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. The Japanese torpedo boat^[1] Kotaka of 1885 was "the forerunner of torpedo boat destroyers that appeared a decade later".^[2] They were designed to Japanese specifications and ordered from the London Yarrow shipyards in 1885. The Yarrow shipyards, builder of the parts for the Kotaka, "considered Japan to have effectively invented the destroyer".^[3]

Imperial Japanese Navy

Russo-Japanese War

• Ikazuchi class — 5 ships
• Murakumo class — 5 ships
• Shirakumo class — 2 ships
• Akatsuki class — 4 ships
• Harusame class — 7 ships

World War I

• Kamikaze class — 32 ships
• Umikaze class — 2 ships
• Sakura class — 3 ships
• Kaba class — 10 ships
• Momo class — 4 ships

The Second Sino-Japanese War

• Enoki class — 6 ships
• Isokaze class — 4 ships
• Kawakaze class — 2 ships

World War II

• Urakaze class — 2 ships (1 served in war. Kawakaze sold to Italy in 1915)
• Minekaze class — 15 ships
• Momi class — 21 ships (17 served in war. Momi, Kaya and Nashi scrapped by 1940, Warabi lost in 1927)
• Wakatake class — 8 ships (7 served in war. Sawarabi lost in 1932)
• Kamikaze class — 9 ships
• Mutsuki class — 12 ships
• Fubuki class — 20 ships (19 served in war. Miyuki lost in 1934)
• Akatsuki class — 4 ships
• Hatsuharu class — 6 ships
• Shiratsuyu class — 10 ships
• Asashio class — 10 ships
• Kagerō class — 19 ships
• Akizuki class — 12 ships
• Yūgumo class — 19 ships
• Shimakaze class — 1 ships
• Matsu class — 18 ships
• Tachibana class (Matsu Flight B) — 23 ships

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

• Asakaze class (DD) — 2 ships
• Ariake class (DD) — 2 ships
• Harukaze class (DD) — 2 ships
• Ayanami class (DDK) — 7 ships
• Murasame class (1958) (DDA) — 3 ships
• Akizuki class (1959) (DD) — 2 ships
• Yamagumo class (DDK) — 6 ships
• Amatsukaze (DDG) — 1 ship
• Takatsuki class (DDA) — 4 ships
• Minegumo class (DDK) — 3 ships
• Haruna class (DDH) — 2 ships
• Tachikaze class (DDG) — 3 ships
• Shirane class (DDH) — 2 ships
• Hatsuyuki class (DD) — 11 ships
• Hatakaze class (DDG) — 2 ships
• Asagiri class (DD) — 8 ships
• Kongō class (DDG) — 4 ships
• Murasame class (1994) (DDH) — 9 ships
• Takanami class (DD) — 5 ships
• Atago class (DDG) — 2 ships
• Hyūga class (DDH) — 2 ships
• Akizuki class (2010) (DD) — 4 ships building
• Cannon class (DE)
• Akebono (DE)
• Ikazuchi class (DE)
• Wakaba (DE)
• Isuzu class (DE)
• Chikugo class (DE)
• Ishikari (DE)
• Yubari class (DE)
• Abukuma class (DE)

References