Description
The Chidori-class torpedo boats were developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy in response to the 1930 London Naval Treaty, which limited the number of auxiliary vessels such as cruisers and destroyers that could be held. They were designed as small vessels with a standard displacement of less than 600 tons, exempt from the restrictions, and equipped with heavy armament comparable to that of a destroyer. The first ship, Chidori, was completed in November 1933. However, the heavily armed, small hull suffered from insufficient stability, and in March 1934, the third ship, Tomozuru, capsized in rough seas (the Tomozuru Incident). Following this accident, many ships of this class and others at the time underwent improvement work to restore their stability.
After the outbreak of the Pacific War, they participated in the Southern Front and later served in convoy escort duties, but were sunk off Omaezaki in December 1944 by a torpedo from the US Navy Balao-class submarine USS Tilefish.
- 1/700 scale plastic model kit
- Available in waterline model or full hull model
New parts: Full hull bottom with added ballast keel for improved stability, galley chimney, and other parts.
- The Type 6 53cm twin torpedo tubes were changed to a semi-shielded version.
- It is possible to build either the version with improved performance during the 1936 restoration work, or the version with increased anti-aircraft and anti-submarine armament from the later stages of the war.
- Decals for the names of all four Chidori-class torpedo boats are included (stern: hiragana / sides: katakana): Chidori, Manazuru, Tomozuru, Hatsukari
- Includes 2 ships
- Overall length: Approximately 117mm
The image shows a prototype that has been assembled and painted.
