WL414 ARASHIO

Arashio (Japanese: Stormy Sea Tide) was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1935, launched in May 1937, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in December 1937. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 118 m, width 10.3 m, and full displacement - 2,600 tons. The maximum speed of destroyer Arashio was up to 35 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 6 127 mm guns in three twin turrets, and the secondary armament was 3 25 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes. Arashio was the second Asashio class destroyer. Destroyers of this type were a development of the not very successful Shiratsuyu type. Compared to its predecessors, the main artillery was significantly strengthened, new anti-aircraft armament was added and four-tube torpedo tubes were used. The main disadvantage of the Asashio type was the low maneuverability, but until the outbreak of the war in the Pacific, this error was corrected by using a new type of rudder and redesigning the stern of the ships. Destroyer Arashio started the war in the Pacific by participating in convoying landings in Malaya in December 1941 and early 1942. He also took part in the Battle of Bandung, and in June he took part in the Battle of Midway. Then he operated in the waters surrounding the Solomon Islands archipelago, performing primarily convoy service. On March 3, 1943, it was badly damaged by the American air force, the next day it went down.