Japanese Destroyer Identifying Letters

The following information, and request for further information, was posted by Bob Todd on MARHST-L in October 2002.

In the 1917-1919 period a number of Japanese destroyers operated in European waters, principally the Mediterranean but some visited the UK after hostilities. By way of identification these vessels were allocated a letter of the alphabet which was painted on the hull forward. Does anyone have a complete listing of all of the destroyers that came to Europe and their corresponding letters?

I have identified the following letters in use and alongside is the name of the ship that I think carried the letter and its year of launch:

• H = SUGI (1915)
• I = SAKAKI (1915)
• J = MATSU (1915)
• O = UME (1915)
• P = KUSUNOKI (1915)
• Q = KAEDE (1915)
• R = KATSURA (1915)
• S = a MOMO Class vessel but which one?
• T = TSUBAKI (1918)
• U = a MOMO class but which one?
• V = MOMO (1916)

Are these pairings correct? Were there vessels with A-G, K-N and W-Z?

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