Ayanami is accepted as the second Fubuki batch, while Akatsuki's greater differences justify treating it separately in this classification. Hibiki's all-welded construction was part of an effort to reduce weight through new methods. Corrective work after the Tomozuru incident included about 40 tons of ballast, with a corresponding reduction in maximum speed. Range and top speed are judged useful, but economical cruising speed remains a weakness for distant Pacific operations. Hibiki survived the war and was later sunk as a Soviet target. Akatsuki was sunk by American cruiser and destroyer gunfire, while the submarines USS Harder and Bonefish sank two sister ships.
Chapter · 52:13-55:29
Akatsuki, welded construction and stability repairs
Akatsuki is treated as more than another Fubuki batch, while welding and later ballast reveal the class's weight and stability tradeoffs.