Escorts for the IJNS Fuso

I found some suitable escorts for my 1:122th-scale model of IJNS Fuso on eBay, placed my bid, and won. As a result, I am now the proud owner of some metal models of the light cruiser IJNS Yubari, and the destroyers IJNS Shimakaze, and IJNS Asagiri.

The IJNS Yubari was a one-off experimental light cruiser that was commissioned in July 1923. She weighed just over 3,500 tons and could reach a speed of just under 35 knots. When built, her armament consisted of two twin and two single-mounted 5.5-inch (14cms) guns, a single 3-inch (76mm) anti-aircraft gun, two twin 24-inch (61cm) torpedo tubes, and 48 mines.

Lieutenant Commander Kikuo Fujimoto designed Yūbari under the direction of the very influential and innovative naval architect Captain Yuzuru Hiraga. Fujimoto incorporated the armoured belt and deck into the ship's strength structure, thus removing the need for the hull to include structural members to support the armour. As a result, the Yubari was able to carry the same armament as the earlier Sendai-class light cruisers on a displacement that weighed 40% less. This design philosophy was later adopted for future Japanese cruiser designs.

The destroyer IJNS Shimakaze was also a one-off experimental vessel that was commissioned in May 1943. She was intended to be the lead ship for a new class of destroyers but none of these were ever built. Shimakaze was almost was heavy as Yubari (she weighed 3,300 tons) and had a maximum speed of just under 41 knots. When built, her armament comprised three twin 5-inch (127mm) guns, two triple 1-inch (25mm) automatic anti-aircraft guns, two single 0.52-inch (13.2mm) anti-aircraft machine guns, three quintuple 24-inch (61cm) torpedo tubes, and 8 depth charges.

The IJN Asagiri was one of the twenty-four-strong Fubuki-class destroyers that entered service between 1928 and 1933. She was a member of the second batch that was built (the Type II [Ayanami]), was commissioned in June 1930, and weighed just over 2,000 tons. Her top speed was 38 knots and her armament comprised (when built) three twin 5-inch (127mm) guns, a number of 1-inch (25mm) and 0.52-inch (13.2mm) anti-aircraft guns, three triple 24-inch torpedo tubes, and 36 depth charges.