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The Akatsuki class (1) was Japan’s attempt at cramming a small light cruiser’s offensive capability into a destroyer’s hull. The resulting “special” destroyer design would have benefitted from a hull larger than permitted for a destroyer. Staying within treaty limits yielded a structurally weak, top-heavy ship. The follow-on Hatsuhara destroyers (2) were downsized Akatsukis. They lacked the punch of the earlier Akatsukis, but were still formidable. While optimized for surface combat, the destroyers were ineffective during the Battle of the Komandorski Islands due to the extreme range at which it was fought. They could use neither their guns nor torpedoes as effectively as they did during closerange night actions.