Minekaze-class destroyer
Kanji Name and meaning Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
峯風 Minekaze ( Mountain wind ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 20 April 1918 8 February 1919 29 May 1920 Torpedoed E of Taiwan [ 23.12N , 121.30E ] 10 February 1944 ; struck 31 March 1944
澤風 Sawakaze ( Wind from the swamp ) Mitsubishi-Nagasaki shipyards , Japan 7 January 1918 7 January 1919 6 March 1920 Retired 15 September 1945 ; scuttled 1948
沖風 Okikaze ( Offshore wind ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 22 February 1919 3 October 1919 17 August 1920 Torpedoed S of Yokosuka [ 35.02N , 140.12E ] 10 January 1943 ; struck 1 March 1943
島風 Shimakaze ( Wind on the island ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 5 September 1919 31 March 1920 15 November 1920 Renamed Patrol Boat PB-1 on 1 April 1940 ; torpedoed WSW of Kavieng [ 02.51S , 149.43E ] 13 January 1943 ; struck 10 February 1943
灘風 Nadakaze ( Wind on the open sea ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 9 January 1920 26 June 1920 30 September 1921 Renamed Patrol Boat PB-2 on 1 April 1940 ; torpedoed Lombok Strait [ 07.06S , 115.42E ] 25 July 1945 ; struck 30 September 1945
矢風 Yakaze ( Wind of an arrow 's flight ) Mitsubishi-Nagasaki shipyards , Japan 15 August 1918 10 April 1920 19 July 1920 Torpedo School vessel 20 July 1942 ; lost in explosion 20 July 1945 ; struck 15 September 1945
羽風 Hakaze ( Wind of a bird 's flight ) Mitsubishi-Nagasaki shipyards , Japan 11 November 1918 21 June 1920 16 September 1920 Torpedoed SW of Kavien [ 02.47S , 150.38E ] 23 January 1943 ; struck 1 March 1943
汐風 Shiokaze ( Wind springing up at the turn of a tide ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 15 May 1920 22 October 1920 29 July 1921 Retired 5 October 1945 , scuttled 1948
秋風 Akikaze ( Autumn wind ) Mitsubishi-Nagasaki shipyards , Japan 7 June 1920 14 December 1920 16 September 1921 Torpedoed W of Luzon [ 16.48N , 117.17E ] 3 November 1944 ; struck 10 January 1945
夕風 Yūkaze ( Evening breeze ) Mitsubishi-Nagasaki shipyards , Japan 14 December 1920 28 April 1921 24 August 1921 Retired 5 October 1945 ; prize of war to UK 14 August 1947 ; BU
太刀風 Tachikaze ( Wind caused by the stroke of a sword ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 18 August 1920 31 March 1921 5 December 1921 Air attack at Truk [ 07.04N , 151.55E ] 17 February 1944 ; struck 13 March 1944
帆風 Hokaze ( Wind on the sail ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 30 November 1920 12 July 1921 22 December 1921 Torpedoed N of Celebes [ 03.24N , 125.28E ] 6 July 1944 ; struck 10 October 1944
野風 Nokaze ( Wind over the field ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 16 April 1921 1 October 1921 31 March 1922 Torpedoed off Cam Ranh Bay [ 12.48N , 109.38E ] 20 February 1945 ; struck 10 April 1945
波風 Namikaze ( Wind on the waves ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 7 November 1921 24 June 1922 11 November 1922 Retired 5 October 1945 ; Prize of war to China 3 October 1947 , BU 1960
沼風 Numakaze ( Wind over the marsh ) Maizuru Naval Arsenal , Japan 10 August 1921 22 May 1922 24 July 1922 Torpedoed SE of Okinawa [ 26.29N , 128.26E ] 19 December 1943 , struck 5 February 1944
List of ships
The was a class of fifteen 1st-class destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Obsolete by the beginning of the Pacific War, the Minekaze-class ships were relegated to mostly secondary roles, serving throughout the war as patrol vessels, high speed transports, target control vessels, and as kaiten (suicide torpedo) carriers. Most ultimately were lost to U.S. and British submarines. The basic design of the Minekaze was used for the next three classes of Japanese destroyers, a total of 36 ships.