At the same time, design work had begun in 1935 on a successor to the 12.7cm 40cal HA (high angle) AA gun.  Eventually known as the Type 98 10cm 65cal gun, it would be recognized as perhaps the Japanese Navy’s best secondary weapon design of the war. Adopted in 1939, it was a true dual-purpose gun, and highly regarded by the IJN.

By 1938, the foreseeable need for such a vessel had become pressing. Six vessels incorporating the new gun and a new, sizable hull were authorized under the Maru 4 building plan of 1939 as the Akizuki class destroyer. A further ten ships were authorized under the 1941 Additional Naval Armaments Supplemental programs.  All six vessels of the first program and six vessels under the second program were completed. The remaining four vessels were cancelled, as were another sixteen vessels that were authorized but never laid down. 

Construction of the first four ships began prior to the start of the war, but all twelve vessels were completed during wartime. Later construction featured some changes to fit and AA armament. The last four ships were completed too late to see any meaningful action.
 

Design

Designated the “B” type destroyer, the Akizukis utilized a longer (by 50 feet) and slightly wider hull displacing approximately 40% more than the concurrent “A” type destroyers (Asashio, Kagero and Yugumo classes). The powerplant and machinery remained the same as with the Type A destroyers: two propellers driven by two Kampon geared steam turbines fed by three boilers and producing 52,000shp. A slight change in the reduction gearing allowed for a slightly lower RPM. Top speed was 33 knots and the maximum range was 8000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

These new ships had a long forecastle and a larger bridge than previous destroyers. Though nominally three stories in height, the bridge was built two meters higher than the earlier types to provide better visibility over the superimposed B turret. It also incorporated the helm station on the compass bridge deck level, as opposed to the more common IJN practice of being located one deck lower. The bridge was topped by an open, air defense position and a modern Type 94 High Angle director for the forward main batteries. Another Type 94 HA director was to be emplaced on the aft deckhouse for the rear main batteries. 

Eight of the Type 98 10cm/65cal guns were carried in twin mountings in four large, fully enclosed turrets, two forward and two aft, with B and C turrets superimposed over A and D turrets.  The Japanese Naval General Staff insisted on a torpedo battery to provide for an offensive capability, so one shielded mount of four tubes carrying four 61cm Type 93 (Long Lance) torpedoes was situated amidships, along with one set of four reloads. 

Defensively, two twin 25mm AA mounts equipped the initial ships, but changes to the AA fit came quickly. Triple mounts replacing the twins, and additional triple mounts were emplaced in port and starboard pairs opposite the bridge, funnel, and aft deck house. Production lags for the Type 94 HA directors led to its deletion from the rear position and replacement by yet another triple 25mm AA mount. By late in the war, numerous single 25mm AA mounts were added as well.

For ASW work, two athwartship depth charge racks and two Y throwers were installed aft of D turret. Six individual roll-off racks ringed the stern, three per side. As the war advanced, the single racks were replaced by the more typical, multi-charge roll off racks and a greater number of depth charges carried.

The first seven vessels laid down followed the original design and are known as the Akizuki group. Fuyuzuki became the lead ship of a slightly modified second group of four sisters. Originally identical to the first batch, this subgroup featured some simplifications of the design to aid and speed wartime production. 

Most prominent of these new features was a simplified bow form below the waterline and a re-arrangement of the main engine room air intakes around the funnel with simplified ducts. There were also changes to the layout of torpedo trolley rails on the main deck, repositioned placements and bandstands for the triple 25mm AA mounts, and the elimination of the aft Type 94 HA main gun director. As mentioned, this director was replaced by another triple 25mm AA mount and bandstand.   Some changes to the upper foremast to better accommodate new radars was also enacted. The rear of the bridge superstructure was also enlarged, to better accommodate a radar compartment.

The design of the last vessel was further simplified, and was considered part of a third batch known as the Michitsuki group. Of these, only Hanazuki was completed. Mitchitsuki’s construction was halted when 16% complete and she was broken up after the war. The rest of the group was cancelled. 
 

Ship history

Though hers was a relatively short career, Fuyuzuki’s was eventful. Laid down in May, 1943 at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal, she was launched the following January and completed by the end of May, 1944, a fairly quick interval for construction. She was assigned to the 11th Destroyer Squadron for training, which included several forays as an escort for various small convoys. 

On July 14, Fuyuzuki was assigned to the 41st DesDiv, 10th Destroyer Squadron of 3rd Fleet along with sister Shimotsuki. Convoy escort duty continued, mostly to and from Japanese home waters in the company of the light carrier Zuiho, which provided air cover for the various convoys. 

In mid-October of 1944, she was torpedoed by USS Trepang while escorting light cruiser Oyodo in Japanese home waters. Hit by one torpedo, her bow collapsed back to number one turret, which also suffered some damage.  Fuyuzuki was repaired at Kure and returned to duty in mid-November.  As such, she missed participating on the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Fuyuzuku rejoined Shimozuki as part of DesDiv41 along with a second sister, Suzutsuki.  Shimozuki was sunk a few days later by submarine torpedo. The reduced DesDiv 41 engaged in escort duty for Junyo; mostly to and from Manila between late November thorough mid-December.  A brief refit took place at Kure in mid-December. Additional 25mm AA were added, the Type 21 radar atop the foremast was replaced by a Type 22, and a new Type 13 radar affixed to the mainmast. The division then engaged in training on the Inland Sea for the first three months of 1945, Fuyuzuki’s brief grounding upon a sandbar in mid-January notwithstanding. 

In April, DesDiv 41 was tasked as part of the escort for battleship Yamato and light cruiser Yahagi for the Ten-Ichi Go Operation to eliminate US naval and landing forces off Okinawa. The task force was decimated by US naval aircraft before reaching its objective. Only four destroyers, all damaged to some extent, survived, including Fuyuzuki. She rescued hundreds of men, primarily from Yamato and destroyer Kasumi. She was also tasked with scuttling Kasumi with torpedoes. 

Fortunately, Fuyuzuki had incurred only light damage and light losses, mostly due to strafing and some rockets, and was repaired at Sasebo Naval Base after her return.

She relocated to the port of Moji in early June, on the far west side of the Inland Sea, not far from Kure. Fuyuzuki remained there until Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 15th.  Unluckily for her, she hit a mine five days later, severing her stern around her aftmost athwartship depth charge rack. The severed portion included her rudder and props, rendering her immovable. 

Otherwise, she was in good condition. She was disarmed and designated a special transport ship. The authorities used her as a floating repair depot vessel to support minesweeping duties in the immediate postwar period. Eventually, she was partially scrapped at Sasebo in 1948. The remnants of the hull were subsequently used as part of a nearby breakwater, along with the partial hulls of several other destroyers. 
 

In turn, the Monochrome label represents a division of Trumpeter Models, meant for Japanese distribution. Between 2008 and 2011, Monochrome subsequently released a 1942 limited edition and a 1944 version of Akizuki, and then again as a kit of Suzutsuki 1945 with new parts, including a bridge structure specific to Suzutsuki. 

In 2016, the kit re-appeared under the Wave label as an Akizuki 1942/44 kit, meaning that it contained parts for either fit. A new variant, Fuyuzuki, also with some new parts, was released in late 2017.  The Hobby-Wave Corporation is a Japanese hobby designer and distributor, mostly of anime related items. I’m not sure if they have actually purchased the molds for this kit, or they are just acting as a new distributor.  These kits remain the only styrene injection molded versions of an Akizuki class destroyer to appear in 1/350.

The Fuyuzuki kit is very sharply molded in a light gray styrene plastic. Various sprues are protected by styrene foam. There are eleven spruces plus hull, base, forecastle and main deck. The kit totals approximately 320 pieces, plus a small PE fret and decal sheet. There is a small amount of flash on a few pieces (on the older sprues from the original kits), but no sinkholes appeared on my review sample.

The kit is labeled as a 1945 version, but one aspect of its fit is really more appropriate for 1944. It could conceivably be used to represent any of the four sisters in Fuyuzuki subgroup.  I happened to have a Hobby Station Akizuki 1942 and a Monochrome Akizuki 1944 in the stash, so comparisons could be made. 

Surprisingly, there is no base ring or reinforced deck plate for A turret, which is mounted directly on top of the deck in the kit. I think there’s supposed to be a ring there, though it would be hidden by the turret. Everything else is clearly delineated. 

This is a simple looking piece, devoid of any standing structures so as to enable easier painting. Like the forecastle deck, it’s sharply but subtly detailed, with more metal deck treading, linoleum tie-down strips, spurnwaters, hatches, engine room skylights, rails for the torpedo trolley, one molded-on hawser reel (medium), the base for the torpedo tube mount, a raised section to anchor the aft deckhouse, and rails leading to roll-off depth charge racks at the stern. As with the foredeck, there’s no base ring for D turret.
 

Again, the quality of the moldings is very high. The funnel grill is extremely nice for styrene, though not quite as airy as a photoetched version. The bridge facing has open window frames up at the compass bridge deck level. There’s a little flash on the torpedo tube mount shield, but the shape and detailing of the piece, including rivets, is superb. Ditto some flash on the torpedo tubes themselves. The mainmast is an early war type and not used on this particular kit. 

The guns are nice, though better versions in styrene, brass/resin, and 3D printed have appeared since these were tooled in 2008. They maybe a little short in length. The radar is nice for styrene, but a photoetch version would certainly improve appearances in this scale. 

As with the other sprues, the details are very sharp. 

The Type 21 radar is correct for Fuyuzuki in her as commissioned 1944 fit, but for 1945 and the Ten-Ichi Go operation, she had replaced this radar with a horn-like Type 22 radar. That piece is not included with the kit, and would have to be obtained elsewhere.  As with the Type 13 radar, a photoetched version of the Type 21 would greatly improve its appearance. 

Regarding fit: This is probably a good time to mention that there are no long, bulwark-like splinter shields included for the single 25mm AA guns. She would have worn neither single 25mm AA nor splinter shields at her commissioning, but these were installed by the time of her sortie with Yamato on the Ten-Ichi Go operation. 

Highly recommended. 

The official retail price is 6000 yen, about $57. However, there seems to be limited availability in the US, so shipping from overseas will add to the overall cost. Sample kit courtesy of Hobbylink Japan.