Chidori - class torpedo boat The was an Imperial Japanese Navy class of torpedo boat s that served during the Second World War . They proved to have too much armament for the hull and capsize d shortly after completion in heavy weather . The entire class had to be rebuilt before they became satisfactory sea - boats . They saw service in the Battle of the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies campaign as escorts and continued in that role for the rest of the war . Three were sunk during the war and the fourth was seized by the British at Hong Kong after the end of the war where it was scrapped later . Background . In 1930 , the London Naval Treaty was concluded in which the IJN received a heavy limit on the destroyers . The IJN planned to build the under 600 tons class destroyer which were not limited by the treaty , and the category Torpedo boat was revived for them . The aim for these ships was to have half the armament of the " Fubuki " - class destroyer . Initially , four boats were constructed for evaluation , out of a planned twenty , in the Circle 1 Programme . After " Chidori " was completed , the IJN discovered on her trials that her center of gravity was too high and that she was overweight . The IJN ordered bulges fitted to the rest of the class . However , this proved to be insufficient . Description . As initially completed the Chidori - class torpedo boats displaced at standard load , but displaced at full load . They were long overall , had a beam and an average draft of . Armament . They were exceedingly heavily armed for their size with three Type 3 gun mounted in a single power - driven gun turret placed on the forecastle , ahead of the bridge , and a power - driven twin - gun turret aft . Sources are contradictory on her anti - aircraft armament , Whitley says that they had a single license - built Vickers 40 mm ( 2 pounder pom pom ) and others credit them with a single machine gun . Two sets of twin torpedo tubes were mounted abaft the single funnel . In total these weapons represented 22 . 7 % of the displacement . During the war the rear gun was landed and replaced with " Type 96 " 25mm AA gun s . A total of ten of these were carried by the end of the war . The number of depth charge s carried was also increased over the course of the war to 48 . Propulsion . Two Kampon geared turbines drove two shafts . They were powered by two Kampon water - tube boilers and produced a total of . They were rated at and had a range of at or at using the of fuel carried . The " Tomozuru " Incident . On 12 March 1934 , shortly after completion , sailed in company with her sister and the light cruiser " Tatsuta " for night torpedo training . The weather worsened during the exercise and it was called off at 0325 ; the ships returning to port . " Tomozuru " never arrived and a search was launched . She was spotted at 1405 that same day , capsized , but still afloat . Thirteen of her 113 man crew were rescued . She was towed to Sasebo and docked where she was rebuilt and returned to service . Consequences . This disaster forced the IJN to review the stability of every ship recently completed , under construction or still being designed . The " Chidori ' s " themselves exchanged their Type 3 guns for hand - worked " 12 cm 11th Year Type M " guns , landed the rear twin torpedo tube mount and the bridge structure was cut down by one level . The bulges were removed , but displacement increased to with the addition of ballast . Their speed dropped to and range decreased to at . Their successors , the " Ōtori " - class torpedo boats were redesigned to reduce the top - heaviness that caused Tomozuru to capsize . Service . In 1937 , the 4 sisters were organized into " Torpedo Flotilla 21 " and made a sortie for the Battle of Shanghai . All four saw action in the Battle of the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies campaign . " Chidori " and " Manazuru " returned to home waters after " Torpedo Flotilla 21 " was disbanded in the spring of 1942 and were on escort duties for the rest of the war . " Hatsukari " and " Tomozuru " remained in that area for most of the rest of the war on escort operations . " Tomozuru " returned to Japan late in the war , but " Hatsukari " entered Hong Kong on 21 May 1945 and was engaged in anti - aircraft battles until the end of war . Following Japan ' s surrender , the " Hatsukari " was seized by the Royal Navy , and later scrapped .