Torpedo Vessels: Chidori Class

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Brian James
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Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:58 am

Torpedo Vessels: Chidori Class

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Lead Ship, Torpedo Vessel Chidori pictured off Maizuru Naval Arsenal in November 1933...Per the terms of the 1930 London Naval Treaty, the IJN was constricted on the total tonnage of Destroyers it was allowed to construct. In response, Japanese naval planners designed a 600-ton Class vessel (which was small enough not to be limited by the treaty), but planned to arm it with half the armament of a Fubuki Class Destroyer. The new vessels were designated 'Torpedo Boats' to further ensure that they would not be considered as 'Destroyers'. Four vessels were ordered as part of the 1931 Maru 1 Programme, out of a planned twenty..The Chidori Class were exceedingly heavily armed for their size. The main battery consisted of three 5.0 inch Type 3 guns mounted in a single-gun power-driven gun turret placed on the forecastle, ahead of the bridge, and a power-driven twin-gun turret aft. They had a single license-built Vickers 40 mm (2 pounder pom pom) and two sets of twin 21.0 inch torpedo launchers were mounted abaft the single funnel. In total these weapons represented 22.7% of her displacement. One Type 94 depth charge launcher was also carried.After the lead vessel Chidori was completed, it was discovered during trials that her center of gravity was too high and that she was 92 tonnes (91 long tons; overweight. To compensate, 9.8 inch bulges were fitted to the rest of the Class. However, this proved to be insufficient. The 'Tomozuru Incident' of March 12th, 1934 (capsizing of her sister), resulted in an extensive redesign in which the Type 3 guns were replaced by smaller single 12 cm/45 3rd Year Type naval guns and one of the twin torpedo launchers was removed. An additional 100 tons of ballast also helped lower the center-of-gravity, but also meant the top speed was reduced to 28 knots...She was sunk on December 21st 1944 by Balao Class Submarine USS Tilefish west of Omaezaki.
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designeraccd
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Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 7:08 pm

Re: Torpedo Vessels: Chidori Class

Unread post by designeraccd »

Here are 2 views post rebuilds to lighten them............... :) DFO
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