IJN Yukikaze

The Yukikaze as seen in-game. \*(Table statistics do not reflect flag bonuses)\*

## Armament Details

### Main Battery

(2x2) \*2 Twin turretsDamage: 6,832 - 9,005

Reload time: 6 -5 seconds

### Anti-Aircraft Gun

(7x) Class 1361 - 430 DPS

(14x) Class 2

437 - 570 DPS

### Torpedo

(2x4) \*2 Quadruple Torpedo LaunchersDamage: 10,844 - 12,913

Speed: 60 - 68 m/s

Rounds: (2x4) \*8 total rounds

### Interceptors

None

> "Longevity and Prosperity!" - *unknown*
>
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## Background History

The IJN *Yukikaze* (雪風, "Snowy Wind") was a Japanese *Kagero*-class destroyer that was famous among the Japanese fleet for surviving many battles, and was one of the few destroyers to survive World War II. Launched on March 24th of 1939, the *Yukikaze* participated heavily in World War II, taking part in 10 major battles (Battle of Midway, Leyte Gulf, etc.) and over a hundred escort and resupply transport missions. It has escorted notable ships such as the *Yamato* and *Shinano* which were both sunk. She served the last few months on security duty for Japanese harbors and survived many allied air raids.

After World War II, the *Yukikaze* was transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) as a war reparation, renamed *Tan Yang*. She performed her duties just as well as in Taiwan's fleet as it did in the Japanese fleet. After being hit by a Typhoon in 1969, she was beyond repair and scrapped in 1970.

## Overview

The IJN *Yukikaze* is a Japanese *Kagero-*class destroyer featured in the game with a focus on gun on gun firepower and in turn, trades torpedo damage for this.

The ship can only be obtained via the Daily Rewards, during the seventh day or by containers.

## Tactics and Overview

*Yukikaze* is arguably the best gun on gun destroyer in the game (bar the *Shimakaze* for higher damage and Z20 for its ever ludicrous rate of fire of 600 shells per minute) due to its high HP of 116k, alpha damage of 9.5k per broadside and with a decent loading time of 5 seconds (can be improved to 10k and 4 seconds with flags). it can give even early tier battleships and even mid tier cruisers a hard time. it's only major downside is that it is the slowest destroyer of the bunch at 41 knots even with full upgrades. this can be improved to a more acceptable ~45-47 knots with Swedish or Canadian flags. And to top the already sweet cake off with some frosting, *Yukikaze* is capable of dealing ~1000+ anti air damage making her a great protection against high level carriers for the team. A nice quirk of *Yukikaze* is also it's torpedoes. While weak (second only to the *Z20*) they reload in 53 seconds which is only outdone by *Shimakaze*. In conclusion, *Yukikaze's* play style represents a middle-ground of less aggressive and more utilitarian destroyers (such as Z20, Fletcher, *Melvin*) to more aggressive and higher firepower ships (*Mahan, Leningrad, Shimakaze*). Either way, she can be used very effectively. If aggression is the preferred choice of battle, simply pointing your thin bow at the enemy would give them a hard time hitting you, as you slowly rip their Hp off their chart. Once within range, all hell from torpedoes can be unleashed on the enemy.

**When playing as a Yukikaze**

The *Yukikaze* mainly plays the role of an escort, but can also be a successful raiding hunter under proper circumstances. Unlike most destroyers, the *Yukikaze* trades main armament firepower and powerful torpedoes for faster torpedo reload, decent maneuverability, and high HP. The ship also comes equipped with powerful AA. Combined with this and its high maneuverability, this makes the *Yukikaze* a bane amongst Carriers. This should be very useful, especially if you wish to ensure survivability to your teammates, so if a nearby hostile carrier is harassing your teammate, don't be afraid to strike.

With its powers, does come drawbacks. Although the ship has strong torpedoes, it is usually not advised to attack powerful Battleships. Some of these ships may survive a full set of your torpedo salvo and end up eliminating you instead. Also, its low main gun firepower makes it struggle in a gun to gun skirmish with even the weaker destroyers.

**When playing alongside with a Yukikaze**

The Yukikaze is an very useful and capable escort. Like a destroyer their high speed and maneuverability mean that they can zip across the map and draw fire away from you as you attack the distracted enemy warships. They also prove to be effective at dealing with carriers, and thus save you from any dangerous air strikes from said carriers.

**When playing against a Yukikaze**

The *Yukikaze* mainly struggles in a gun to gun fight, to which it can be an advantage to you if you have a ship with high firepower. Aside from its poor main guns, the ship is slightly larger than most destroyers, making it a fairly easy target compared to its counterparts. Though the ship has fast reloading torpedoes, they do a fairly low amount of damage, so if your ship survives a torpedo strike, do not hesitate to retaliate.

## Advantages and Disadvantages

**Advantages**

* Hard-Hitting guns.
* THE fastest reloading torpedoes.
* Fantastic turret angles, allow you to say angled while using all your guns.
* Decent HP for it's tier.
* Marvelous AA for a DD.

**Disadvantages**

* One of the slowest DD in the game.
* Large size for a DD.
* Slow reload of 4 secs.
* Quite underwhelming maneuverability.

## Editor/Contributor's Opinion

1) **XercesDenial** :- " I mean, I won't say that this ship is bad... but it lacks the basic features of a DD... namely speed, maneuverability, torpedo damage.. "

## Trivia

* Another victim of poor reputation, it's often dubbed the "Yucky-kaze."
* Named the "lucky ship from Saesbo" *Yukikaze* gained a reputation on the Japanese side as a unsinkable ship due to the fact that she participated in all of the major conflicts of the Pacific war and survived all of them.
	+ The IJN *Shigure*, *Shiratsuyu*-class destroyer, was the previous Japanese warship nicknamed "lucky" or "unsinkable." However, unlike the *Yukikaze*, she did not survive the war.
* She was one of the few Japanese ships to survive the war and continue operating post war. This time as a Taiwanese destroyer *Tan Yang* as part of war reparations. In that career, she served equally famously as Taiwan's flagship until she was displaced by more modern surplus American destroyers such as the *Gearing*-Class.
* As serving as a symbol of longevity to the Japanese, Taiwan sent the *Yukikaze's* rudder and one of her anchors over as a gesture of good will after being scrapped.
* Out of 82 destroyers built before World War II, only 3 survived - *Oshio, Hibiki, and Yukikaze.*
	+ She was the only one of her class to survive the war.

### Historical inaccuracies

* *Yukikaze* had 3 gun turrets. The configuration seen in game never existed, even in the Taiwanese reconfiguration of *Yukikaze*, there were still 3 main gun turrets.
	+ Apparently, most kit models available to build the IJN *Yukikaze* show her with only two turrets, claiming this was the appearance of the ship during Ten-Ichi-Go operation (Operation Ten-Go).