© 2007-2010 Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall

Near the end of the First World War, the MOMI class was designed as "second class" destroyers. They were slightly smaller and more lightly armed versions of the IJN's first class destroyers. Twenty one MOMI class vessels were built. Just prior to the Pacific War, newer classes of first-line destroyers were brought into service. The older destroyers were reclassified as and modified to serve as patrol boats.

During the war, HASU, KURI and TSUGA were retained in the second class destroyer role. In 1942, the midships 4.7 mount was removed from these three ships and replaced with two triple 25mm mounts. The other surviving MOMI-class destroyers were converted to patrol boats.