So some time ago I noticed that none of these ships had ever been done in SB scale, and finding them quite handsome and attractive I set myself to find resources to draw them. Even trawling the web using the japanese characters brought up nothing spectacular, so I settled on using colouring guides from the 1/700 Pit-Road kits, which include the underwater hull, as main reference. With modern ships I discovered the joys of having recent, high-res full colour photographs and youtube videos (!) to use as accurate references, but also the slippery slope of detailing, it's very tempting to go "I can see this, therefore I must put it in the drawing". I will be posting all of the ships in the class on this thread and update the front page as I go, hopefully I can achieve a representative spread of dates.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsuyuki-class_destroyer
The Hatsuyuki-class Destroyer is the third generation of general purpose Destroyers of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, and like its predecessors, the Yamagumo-class, they are focused on anti-submarine warfare. The type is referred in Japan as Escort Ship (護衛艦: Goei-kan), and due to their displacement and mission, by western standards they could be considered as ASW Frigates.
The class represents a number of innovations for the JMSDF, introducing COGOG propulsion, an integrated combat system, Sea Sparrow, and the ability to carry an ASW Helicopter, the Sikorsky HSS-2B Sea King, in a small general-purpose Destroyer though the use of an almost comically large hangar and a beartrap system.
The ships are well equipped for ASW, using a medium-frequency OQS-4 hull sonar, the aforementioned Sea King ASW helo, ASROC and HOS-301 torpedo launchers, a domestic variant of the Mk.32 SVTT.
Equipment is rounded up by a 76.2mm/62 Mark 75 autogun on the bow, Sea Sparrow on Mk.29 launcher aft, Harpoon canisters next to the funnel, OPS-14B air search radar and OPS-18 surface search. Ships were later upgraded with Phalanx Mk.15 Block 0 on the bridge wings, OLT-3 ECM domes behind the foremast, mounts for dismountable machine guns on the bridge wings and a towed array set on the quarterdeck. Ships started receiving Mitsubishi SH-60Js to replace their Sea Kings after 1991.
DD-122 Hatsuyuki (はつゆき) first snow
B: Sumitomo, Uraga L/D: '79/03/14 L: '80/11/07 C: '82/03/23 S: Stricken '10/06
DD-123 Shirayuki (しらゆき) white snow
DD-124 Mineyuki (みねゆき) summit snow
DD-125 Sawayuki (さわゆき) marsh snow
DD-126 Hamayuki (はまゆき) beach snow
DD-127 Isoyuki (いそゆき) snow on the beach
DD-128 Haruyuki (はるゆき) spring snow
Yamayuki subclass
From DD-129 to DD-132, these ships increased in displacement from 2950 to 3050 t standard, and from 3700 to 3800 t at full load. Draught increased from 4.1 m (13.5 ft) to 4.3 m (14.1 ft), due to the replacement of the superstructure material from aluminium to steel.
DD-129/TV-3519 Yamayuki (やまゆき) mountain snow
B: Hitachi, Maizuru L/D: '83/02/25 L: '84/07/10 C: '85/12/03 S: converted to training vessel '16/04, in service (2018)
Here's the first ship of the Yamayuki-subclass or batch II Hatsuyukis, seen on 2013/11/29 at Yokosuka.
As far as my research has shown, there are no photos or videos of Yamayuki with an SH-60 embarked, so I have left the helicopter out. She is shown carrying 3 Harpoon canisters per side. She has been equipped with OLT-3 ECM domes abaft her foremast, two Block 0 Phalanx, a civilian model satcom dome abaft her funnel, a winch on her quarterdeck and features a single com dish on her bridge.
In general the Hatsuyukis evolved together similarly and the equipment carried is practically the same at any given date.
DD-130 Matsuyuki (まつゆき) pine snow
B: IHI, Tokyo L/D: '83/04/07 L: '84/10/25 C: '86/03/19 S: in service (2018)
This is Matsuyuki as departing the port of Shimonoseki in 2017, sporting a commander's pennant hanging up high from her halyards. She features the typical late modifications for these ships, OLT-3 domes, Phalanx, various satcom antennas, a yagi-type antenna and a winch on her quarterdeck. She carries 3 Harpoon canisters per side.
DD-131 Setoyuki/TV-3518 (せとゆき) channel snow
B: Mitsui, Tamano L/D: '84/01/16 L: '85/07/03 C: '86/12/11 S: converted to training vessel '12/03, in service (2018)
This is Setoyuki as Training Vessel 3518, seen as arriving at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on June 3, 2014, for a scheduled port visit. Setoyuki's mast top structure is different from her sisters, taking advantage of the rear support members to place another full platform at the top, from what I can gather, since the ship was built. This platform and an additional one above the OPS-18-1 surface search set carry numerous electronic equipment, surpassing her sister-ships. Besides this her gear is standard for late Hatsuyukis. She carries four Harpoon canisters per side.
DD-132 Asayuki (あさゆき) morning snow
B: Sumitomo, Uraga L/D: '83/12/22 L: '85/10/16 C: '87/02/20 S: in service (2018)
This is Asayuki as seen on the Kanmon Strait in early 2015. She is seen carrying SH-60K N°92, which would apparently later be carried by Matsuyuki. She carries the typical late modifications for these ships, OLT-3 domes in a blueish paint, Phalanx, various satcom antennas, a yagi-type antenna and a winch on her quarterdeck. She carries 4 Harpoon canisters per side.
DD-133/TV-3513 Shimayuki (しまゆき) island snow
B: Mitsubishi, Nagasaki L/D: '84/05/08 L: '86/01/29 C: '87/02/07 S: in service as TV-3513 (2018)
![[ img ]](https://i.imgur.com/UuRrEgy.png)
Here's Shimayuki, Training Vessel 3513, ex DD-133, as seen entering Nakagusuku harbour in Okinawa in early 2018. Shimayuki was the last sister to be laid down and the first of the class to be converted to a training vessel, on March 1999. The conversion involved primarily turning the hangar into offices and school facilities, renouncing the ability to embark a helicopter. Otherwise she retains her full armament and equipment seen on latter years on these ships. She carries two Harpoon canisters per side.
The cartoon anthropomorphization of the ship is used on a stand display, shown along the ship during visits open to the public.
I will be posting the next ships as I finish them and updating the first page as well.
I hope you like them and of course, as always, your comments and criticism are very welcome.
