// On-Senin, 06 Maret 2017
HISTORICAL NOTE:
Hibiki (響 "Echo"?) was the twenty-second of twenty-four Fubuki-class destroyers, or the second of the Akatsuki class (if that sub-class is regarded independently), built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They remained formidable ships well into the Pacific War.
Construction of the advanced Fubuki-class destroyers was authorized as part of the Imperial Japanese Navy's expansion program from fiscal 1923, intended to give Japan a qualitative edge with the world's most modern ships. The Fubuki class had performance that was a quantum leap over previous destroyer designs, so much so that they were designated Special Type destroyers (特型 Tokugata?). The large size, powerful engines, high speed, large radius of action and unprecedented armament gave these destroyers the firepower similar to many light cruisers in other navies. The Akatsuki sub-class was an improved version of the Fubuki, externally almost identical, but incorporating changes to her propulsion system.
Hibiki, built at the Maizuru Naval Arsenal in Osaka was the third in the “Type III” improved series of Fubuki destroyers, incorporating a modified gun turret which could elevate her main battery of 12.7 cm/50 Type 3 naval guns to 75° as opposed to the original 40°, thus giving the gun a nominal ability as an anti-aircraft weapon. Hibiki was laid down on 21 February 1930, launched on 16 June 1932 and commissioned on 31 March 1933.
In Soviet service
On 5 April 1947, Hibiki was turned over to the Soviet Union at Nahodka as a prize of war, and placed in service with the Soviet Navy under the name Verniy (Russian: Верный "Faithful" Pron.), after being rearmed with Soviet-made weapons (six 130 mm guns, seven 25 mm guns, four to six 12.7 mm machine guns, and six 533 mm torpedo tubes). She was placed in service with the Soviet Pacific Fleet based at Vladivostok on 7 July 1947. She was renamed again on 5 July 1948 as Dekabrist (Russian: Декабрист "Decembrist"). She stood at the piers almost a year, waiting for rearming, before being retired from active service and used as a floating barracks ship, until retirement from service on 20 February 1953 and transferred to the OMS resourcing fund. Eventually, she was used as target-practice somewhere in the 1970s, where she was finally sunk.
The wreck of Hibiki lies close to Karamsin island and can be explored with diving gear. Local diving tours in Russia for exploring the wreckage can be arranged as well.
source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_destroyer_Hibiki_(1932)
CHARACTER:
Appearance:
Wears a similar serafuku to the rest of her class with an anchor emblem on the chest.
She and Akatsuki wear navy hats that also bear an anchor emblem.
She has bleached hair that is slightly disheveled, in a similar manner to her sisters.
Another trait shared with her sisters is the matching colour of her eyes and hair.
Second Remodel:
Interestingly, her attire and armaments don't change significantly between her first and second remodels, despite historical stripping and rearmament of the latter with Soviet-made weapons.
The most distinctive change in her second remodel is her change of hat; the red-coloured star and hammer-and-sickle (hard to discern) are direct references to the Naval Flag of the Soviet Union.
A pair of Soviet 533mm quadruple torpedo tubes replaces her two Japanese 61cm triple torpedo mounts.
Personality:
Characterized in the anime by her vacant attitude and expression.
A calm and stoic Russophile who tends to include Russian words in her speech. As Верный, she speaks more Russian.
TRIVIA:
Hibiki means "echo", Верный means "faithful" and her final name, Декабрист is a tribute to the Decembrist revolt.
Hibiki was first carried by the twenty-first ship of the first Kamikaze class in 1906. Her name is now used as a part of Ocean surveillance ship known as Hibiki class.
Верный was first carried by a submarine class in the old USSR.
Can speak in Russian. Ура!!! (night battle) (pronounced oo-ra [Ura]; the Russian equivalent to Oo-Rah/Hua).
Occasionally says "до свидания" (do svidaniya) [Good Bye] at the menu screen.
Received her Kai Ni (Верный) on 11/09/2013.
Shunsaku Kudō was transferred to Hibiki after his humanitarian rescue of enemy personnel while captain of Ikazuchi.
She was retired from service on February 20 1953 and sunk as a target by the Soviet Naval Aviation team sometime in the 1970's at Karamzina Island near Vladivostok. After being discovered in 2012, her wreckage is now a popular diving site. Seasonal diving tours to her wreckage are available.
source: http://kancolle.wikia.com/wiki/Hibiki
