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The Akizuki-class destroyers (秋月型駆逐艦 Akizuki-gata Kuchikukan?) were one of the primary classes of new destroyers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) after 1942. The IJN called them Type-B Destroyer (乙型駆逐艦, Otsu-gata Kuchikukan?) from their plan name. They were designed to fight smaller ships, aircraft and submarines.
In October 1944 Akizuki was part of the Northern Force commanded by Vice Admiral Ozawa Jisaburo, in the Japanese attack on the Allied forces supporting the invasion of Leyte. On 25 October, in the Battle off Cape Engaño, the ship was sunk, probably by torpedo, east-northeast of Cape Engaño (20°29′N 126°30′ECoordinates: 20°29′N 126°30′E), during the initial U.S. air attack on the Northern Force. Most sources credit the hit to aircraft of Task Force 38, but some give credit to the submarine USS Halibut.
