The Hayabusa-class torpedo boats were constructed for the Imperial Japanese Navy

Imperial Japanese Navy

The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...

 as part of the ten-year naval expansion program. They were completed between 1900 and 1904.

All of the vessels served in the Russo-Japanese war

Russo-Japanese War

The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...

, the Kiji being mined off Port Arthur

Lüshunkou

Lüshunkou is a district in the municipality of Dalian, Liaoning province, China. Also called Lüshun City or Lüshun Port, it was formerly known as both Port Arthur and Ryojun....

, though a new Kiji was built as a replacement. They were notable for their attacks on the Russian fleet on the night of 27/28 May 1905 during the Battle of Tsushima

Battle of Tsushima

The Battle of Tsushima , commonly known as the “Sea of Japan Naval Battle” in Japan and the “Battle of Tsushima Strait”, was the major naval battle fought between Russia and Japan during the Russo-Japanese War...

, expending a large number of torpedoes. They were able to inflict significant damage on a number of Russian ships, that were scuttled or sunk the next day.

After serving in World War I, all remaining fifteen vessels were decommissioned between 1919 and 1923, some were scrapped, others turned into auxiliaries.

Ships

France Normand Shipyard

• Hayabusa
• Kasasagi
• Manazuru
• Chidori

Kure Arsenal

• Kari
• Aotoka
• Hato
• Tsubame
• Hibari
• Kiji (Mined off Port Arthur)
• Kiji II (built as replacement)
• Sagi
• Uzura
• Kamome

Kawasaki Shipyard, Kobe

• Hashitaka
• Otori