List of destroyers of Japan

The following is a list of destroyers of Japan grouped by battle in which they were used. In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. The Japanese torpedo boat Kotaka (Falcon) of 1885 was "the forerunner of torpedo boat destroyers that appeared a decade later". They were designed to Japanese specifications and ordered from the London Yarrow shipyards in 1885. The Yarrow shipyards, builder of the parts for the Kotaka, "considered Japan to have effectively invented the destroyer".

Russo-Japanese War

 * Ikazuchi class — 5 ships
 * Murakumo class — 5 ships
 * ''Shirakumo class — 2 ships
 * Akatsuki class — 4 ships
 * Harusame class — 7 ships

World War I

 * Asakaze class — 32 ships
 * Umikaze class — 2 ships
 * Sakura class — 3 ships
 * Kaba class — 10 ships
 * Momo class — 4 ships

The Second Sino-Japanese War

 * Enoki class — 6 ships
 * Isokaze class — 4 ships
 * Tanikaze class — 2 ships

World War II

 * Urakaze class — 2 ships
 * Minekaze class — 15 ships
 * Momi class — 21 ships
 * Wakatake class — 8 ships
 * Kamikaze class — 9 ships
 * Mutsuki class — 4 ships
 * Fubuki class — 20 ships
 * Akatsuki class — 4 ships
 * Hatsuharu class — 6 ships
 * Shiratsuyu class — 10 ships
 * Asashio class — 10 ships
 * Kagero class — 18 ships
 * Akizuki class — 13 ships
 * Yugumo class — 20 ships
 * Shimakaze class — 1 ships
 *  Matsu class — 18 ships
 * Tachibana class (Matsu Flight B) — 23 ships

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

 * Asakaze class (DD) — 2 ships
 * Ariake class (DD) — 2 ships
 * Harukaze class (DD) — 2 ships
 * Ayanami class (DDK) — 7 ships
 * Murasame (old) class (DDA) — 3 ships
 * Akizuki (old) class (DD) — 2 ships
 * Yamagumo class (DDK) — 6 ships
 * Amatsukaze class (DDG) — 1 ship
 * Takatsuiki class (DDA) — 4 ships
 * Minegumo class (DDK) — 3 ships
 * Haruna class (DDH) — 2 ships
 * Tachikaze class (DDG) — 3 ships
 * Shirane class (DDH) — 2 ships
 * Hatsuyuki class (DD) — 11 ships
 * Hatakaze class (DDG) — 2 ships
 * Asagiri class (DD) — 8 ships
 * Kongō class (DDG) — 4 ships
 * Murasame class (DDH) — 9 ships
 * Takanami class (DD) — 5 ships
 * Atago class (DDG) — 2 ships
 * Hyūga class (DDH) — 2 ships
 * Akizuki class (DD) — 4 ships building


 * Asahi class (DE)
 * Akebono (DE)
 * Ikazuchi class (DE)
 * Wakaba (DE)
 * Isuzu class (DE)
 * Chikugo class (DE)
 * Ishikari (DE)
 * Yubari class (DE)
 * Abukuma class (DE)