A common design with major machinery differences

The related ships stayed close in displacement, length, beam, draft, and planned fuel load, but even the published measurements vary from hull to hull. A roughly 26-foot draft remained workable because many Japanese ports had built-up waterfronts that already reached deep water. Manning could range from about 1,100 to 1,600 people depending on the ship's mission or unit. Propulsion was a much larger break from standardization. Each arrangement used eight Kampon water-tube boilers and four geared turbines, but Kure-built Katsuragi and Aso produced 104,000 shaft horsepower for about 32 knots while the other ships were credited with 152,000 horsepower and roughly 34 knots. Small variations in tank capacity and yard practice added further differences despite high command's attempt to preserve commonality. This unintended divergence differs from the postwar Daring-class destroyers, whose electrical configurations deliberately tested alternative systems. Variation among the much larger Essex-class run instead reflected wartime upgrades introduced during serial construction. Emergency construction produced a nominal class whose members differed enough to complicate operation and maintenance.