Japanese destroyer Enoki (1945)

The Tachibana sub-class was a simplified version of the preceding Matsu-class escort destroyers to make them even more suited for mass production. The ships measured 100 meters (328 ft 1 in) in overall length, with a beam of 9.35 meters (30 ft 8 in) and a draft of 3.37 meters (11 ft 1 in).[1] They displaced 1,309 metric tons (1,288 long tons) at standard load and 1,554 metric tons (1,529 long tons) at deep load.[2] The ships had two Kampon geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Kampon water-tube boilers. The turbines were rated at a total of 19,000 shaft horsepower (14,000 kW) for a speed of 27.8 knots (51.5 km/h; 32.0 mph). The Tachibanas had a range of 4,680 nautical miles (8,670 km; 5,390 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[3]

The main armament of the Tachibana sub-class consisted of three Type 89 127-millimeter (5 in) dual-purpose guns in one twin-gun mount aft and one single mount forward of the superstructure. The single mount was partially protected against spray by a gun shield. The accuracy of the Type 89 guns was severely reduced against aircraft because no high-angle gunnery director was fitted. They carried a total of 25 Type 96 25-millimeter (1 in) anti-aircraft guns in 4 triple and 13 single mounts. The Tachibanas were equipped with Type 13 early-warning and Type 22 surface-search radars.[4] The ships were also armed with a single rotating quadruple mount amidships for 610-millimeter (24 in) torpedoes. They could deliver their 60 depth charges via two stern rails and two throwers.[1][4]

Enoki (Nettle Tree)[5] was ordered in Fiscal Year 1944 under the Wartime Naval Armaments Supplement Program[3] and she was laid down at Maizuru Naval Arsenal on 14 October 1944. The ship was launched on 27 January 1945 and completed on 31 March.[6] The destroyer was assigned to the 11th Destroyer Squadron of the Second Fleet the following day for working up. Enoki began training in the Seto Inland Sea on 8 April and continued to do so until 27 May. During this time, the squadron was reassigned to the Combined Fleet on 20 April.[5]

On 26 June the ship's stern struck a naval mine which caused the aft magazine to explode, sinking the ship in shallow water at 35°28′N 135°44′E near Obama, Fukui. The number of survivors is not known. Enoki was stricken from the navy list on 30 September. Her wreck was refloated on 1 July 1948 and subsequently broken up.[3][5]

• Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
• Nevitt, Allyn D. (1998). "IJN Enoki: Tabular Record of Movement". www.combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
• Stille, Mark (2013). Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919–45 (2): Asahio to Tachibana Classes. Botley, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-987-6.
• Sturton, Ian (1980). "Japan". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-326-1.