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:

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


Last Updated: 6 October, 2002.

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