Japanese destroyer Yūdachi (1906)

The Yūdachi was a Kamikaze-class destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Completed in 1906, she was part of the second group of destroyers ordered after the Russo-Japanese War, reflecting the Imperial Japanese Navy's growing emphasis on fleet modernization and torpedo warfare.

Yūdachi, like her sister ships, was designed by John Thornycroft & Company and built in Japan at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal. The Kamikaze-class destroyers were notable for being among the first destroyers built domestically in Japan. They were characterized by a turtleback forecastle, providing increased seaworthiness compared to earlier destroyer designs.

The Yūdachi displaced around 375 tons and was powered by coal-fired reciprocating steam engines, allowing for a top speed of approximately 29 knots. Her armament typically consisted of two QF 12-pounder (76 mm) guns and three 18-inch (457 mm) torpedo tubes.

While the Yūdachi saw service during World War I, her role was primarily patrol and escort duties in the waters surrounding Japan. By this point in her career, she was considered outdated compared to newer destroyer designs. She was eventually decommissioned and scrapped, reflecting the rapid advancements in naval technology during the early 20th century. Information regarding her specific operational deployments and eventual fate is limited but she represented a significant step in the development of Japanese shipbuilding capabilities.