Asashio - class destroyer The were a class of ten destroyer s of the Imperial Japanese Navy in service before and during World War II . Background . The Imperial Japanese Navy was not entirely satisfied with the performance of the , particularly in terms of operational range and speed . However , given the limitations of the 1930 London Naval Treaty , it was considered impossible to modify these vessels any further to improve their specifications . This obstacle was removed after the Japanese government allowed the Treaty to expire without renewal . The final four vessels of a projected 14 destroyers in the " Shiratsuyu " - class were cancelled , and the larger new " Asashio " - class vessels were approved under the Maru - 2 Supplementary Naval Expansion budget of 1934 , with construction spanning 1935 - 1936 . All ten vessels were lost in the Pacific War . Design . The " Asashio " class was the first Japanese destroyer class to exceed 2 , 000 tons displacement and the first to be equipped with sonar . Early critical issues with the " Asashio " class included the reliability of their new steam turbines engines , and issues with the design of their rudder , which were addressed by the start of the Pacific War . In terms of armament , the " Asashio " class was similar to the previous and " Akatsuki " - class classes , but with twin mount 5 - inch guns instead of a single mounts . The guns were mounted in Type C gun turrets capable of 55 degree elevation . Also , the position of the " X " turret at the shelter deck level forward of the quarterdeck " Y " turret , gave the " Asashio " class a different silhouette than the " Shiratsuyu " class , where both turrets were at quarterdeck level . The torpedo armament of eight 24 ” torpedo in two quadruple launchers was retained , with the torpedo reloads stored in a deckhouse on the centerline . This design became the basic plan for all future destroyers in the Japanese navy . The " Asashio " - class vessels had three boilers running two geared turbine shafts with an output of at the screws , giving it a top speed of and a range of 5 , 700 nautical miles at or at . In the middle of the Pacific War ( 1943 – 44 ) , on surviving vessels the " X " turret was removed and replaced by triple Type 96 25 mm anti - aircraft gun s , increasing the total number to 15 . After June 1944 , even more anti - aircraft guns were added , raising the total to between 15 and 28 Type 96 guns and four Type 93 13 mm guns . Four depth charge throwers and 36 depth charges were also fitted at between 1943 and 1944 . The last four surviving vessels were also equipped with Type 13 and Type 22 radar . Operational history . During the war the " Asashio " - class was used extensively in the protection of the Combined Fleet . " Arare " was attacked and sunk off Kiska Island during the Aleutian Islands Campaign by USS " Growler " on July 5 , 1942 . The " Kasumi " was also heavily damaged along with one other destroyer . " Asashio " and " Arashio " escorted the 7th Cruiser Division at the Battle of Midway , where both were damaged by air attack . Although repaired and returned to service , both were sunk in 1943 when a large Japanese transport force was destroyed by American planes in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea . " Michishio " , " Asagumo " , and " Yamagumo " were lost in 1944 in the Battle of Leyte Gulf . " Kasumi " , last of the class to be laid down , served as escort on the attack on Pearl Harbor and joined the battleship during Operation Ten - Go against the American fleet at Okinawa . None of the " Asashio " - class ships survived the Pacific War .