This type of sloped deck was common in japanese construction, notably cruisers in the interwar, despite their flush deck hull. Ayanami was laid down at mitsubishi heavy industries nagasaki shipyard on 20 november 1956 and launched on 1 june 1957 Four ships were built under the 1955 programme, one under the 1957 and two under the 1958 programmes
The 76mm guns were us mk 33s but the shields were uniquely japanese
Later units of the class had a bulwark aft of the hull break.
Laid down january 20, 1928 as destroyer no Launched october 5, 1929 as ayanami 綾波 meaning twilled waves or waves like woven damask [fabric with intricate and reversible patterns] in japanese.
