The Kamikaze class retained much of the Harusame hull, stack, and machinery arrangement, with its advances concentrated in operational refinement. Shorter funnels and spark or glow arresters addressed the risk that boiler emissions would reveal a destroyer at night. Japan's early concentration on destroyer night attacks may help explain why destroyers continued to lead its night operations into the Second World War. The contrasting British response after Jutland was to prepare the whole fleet to fight at night. Improved boilers could burn heavy fuel oil as well as coal, while short-barrelled 12-pounders replaced the earlier 6-pounders. Greater reliability and a stronger gun battery made the class a practical improvement.
Notable Point · 37:12-39:38
Kamikaze-class lessons for night operations
Stack changes, spark suppression, improved boilers, and heavier light guns show Japan turning early destroyer experience into more reliable night-fighting ships.