IJN YUGUMO CLASS DESTROYER YUGUMO/KAZAGUMO (SET OF 2)

Yugumo was a Japanese destroyer whose keel was laid in 1940, launched in March 1941, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in December 1941. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 119 m, width 10.8 m, and the actual full displacement - 2,520 tons. Destroyer Yugumo's top speed was up to 35.5 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 6 127 mm guns in three twin turrets, and the secondary armament was 4 25 mm cannons, depth charge launchers and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes with eight spare torpedoes. The Yugumo was the first destroyer of the type with the same name - the Yugumo. Units of this type were created as part of the 1939 and 1941 Japanese fleet expansion program. Units of this class were in fact an improved Kagero type: they were slightly larger, with new main artillery turrets and an extended stern. The stock of depth charges was also increased. However, they had the same engine room, similar ship layout, and identical main and torpedo armaments. The weak anti-aircraft armament, which was systematically strengthened during the war in the Pacific, was still a drawback. The first major battle in which destroyer Yugumo took part in World War II was the Battle of Midway (June 1942), where she was part of the Japanese carrier's protection team. From the second half of 1942, Yugumo served in the area of the Solomon Islands archipelago, fighting in the struggle for Guadalcanal, taking part in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands (October 1942) there. The ship also took part in the evacuation of Japanese troops from Gudalcanal in February 1943, from Kolombangary Island in October of the same year. Destroyer Yugumo was sunk shortly after this last action - in the battle of Vella Lavella on October 7, 1943.Kazagumo was a Japanese WWII destroyer keel laid in December 1940, launched in September 1941, and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy in March 1942. The length of the ship at the time of launching was 119.2 m, width 10.8 m, and the actual full displacement - 2,520 tons. The destroyer's maximum speed was 35-36 knots. The main armament was 6 127 mm guns in three twin turrets and eight 610 mm torpedo tubes with eight spare torpedoes. During the course of the war in the Pacific, anti-aircraft weapons were significantly strengthened, which at one point in the service of the destroyer consisted of 28 25 mm cannons and 4 13.2 mm machine guns. Kazagumo was the fourth of nineteen Yugumo-class destroyers built. Units of this type were created as part of the 1939 and 1941 Japanese fleet expansion program. Units of this class were in fact an improved Kagero type: they were slightly larger, with new main artillery turrets and an extended stern. However, they had the same engine room, similar ship layout, and identical main and torpedo armaments. The weak anti-aircraft armament, which was systematically strengthened during the war in the Pacific, was still a drawback. Destroyer Kazagumo began her participation in the Pacific War with the Battle of Midway in June 1942, in which she rescued Japanese survivors from sinking aircraft carriers. In the second half of the same year, he operated mainly in the Solomons region, taking part, among others, in the battle near the island of Santa Cruz (October 1942). The unit also took an active part in the evacuation of Japanese troops from the island of Guadalcanal in February 1943. In the period from the end of April to the beginning of June 1943, the unit was overhauled in Japan as a result of being hit by a mine. Shortly after returning to service, Kazagumo was directed to the Aleutian region, and in October 1943 he took part in the naval battle near Vell Lavell. The destroyer Kazagumo was sunk on June 8, 1944 as a result of a torpedo attack by the USS Hake submarine.