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IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY (JAPAN)

AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT

"SBT" type tank landing ships (1944-1945)

103-go 1945

Project history: Design of SB class landing ships was prepared in the second half of 1943. On request of Naval Staff they should were to exceed the ships of SS class, insufficiently fast for carrying out of operations in the conditions of domination of the air enemy.

New landing ships were very similar to USN contemporaries of LST(2) type, but were smaller and faster. There were prepared two variants of the design, differing by machinery: SBD class ships had 3-shafts diesels, and SBT single-shaft turbine. Latter ensured higher on 2.5kts speed, but diesel ships had increased capacity of cargo holds. In remaining diesel and turbine variants resembled each other, and outwardly they could be distinguished under the funnel form: on SBD it was more low and more widely, while on SBT it was higher, wider and more close to a superstructure. Beaching was effected through a folding bow ramp. For raise of a hull strength keel at fore end was fulfilled doubled, however operating experience of first ships has demanded carrying out of hull reinforcement.

They were built under the 1943 programme. 67 SBT class ships were completed. 28 ships of SBT class were originally served under Army control and had designation SB, but in October, 1944 - January, 1945 six of them were transferred under Naval control. Building of Т164 and Т165 was suspended in May, and Т175, Т176, SB127 and SB128 in August, 1945. Incomplete hulls of T175 and T176 foundered in storm off Imari 18.9.1945.

Modernizations: 5.1944, all completed: + 2 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki, 1 DCT (12)

9/1944, all completed and survived: + 2 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 7 x 1 - 25/60 96-shiki

Naval service: Many ships were lost: Т103 (sunk by US carrier aircraft 4.7.1944 off Chichijima), Т130 (sunk 4.7.1944 off Iojima, Kazan), Т152 (2.8.1944), Т133 ( heavy damaged by US carrier aircraft near Iojima, Kazan, and abandoned 4.8.1944), Т129 (sunk 14.8.1944 by US destroyer Cole off Boeroe (Banda Sea)), Т134 (ran aground 4.10.1944 off Iojima), Т158 (sunk 10.10.1944 by US carrier aircraft off Okinawa), Т105 (sunk by US submarine Trepang in 150nm SSW off Yokosuka 11.10.1944), Т135 and Т136 (sunk 18.10.1944 by US carrier aircraft near Luzon), Т138 (sunk by US submarine Kingfish 27.10.1944 off Iojima), Т112 (ran aground 5.11.1944 at Luzon and abandoned), Т139 (sunk 6.11.1944 by US carrier aircraft off Luzon), Т151 (sunk 22.11.1944 by US submarine Besugo off Palawan), Т111 and T160 (sunk 24.11.1944 by US aircraft at Masbate), Т141 (sunk by US aircraft 24.11.1944 off Luzon), Т113 (sunk by US aircraft 25.11.1944 off Luzon), Т142 and T161 (sunk 25.11.1944 by US carrier aircraft at Luzon), Т159 (badly damaged by US aircraft off Camotes 12.12.1944 and abandoned), Т104 (sunk 13.12.1944 by US submarine Pintado in 200nm off Takao), Т106 (15.12.1944 sunk by US carrier aircraft near Luzon), Т157 (sunk 24.12.1944 by US destroyers Case and Roe off Iojima), Т132 (sunk 27.12.1944 by US destroyers off Iojima, Kazan), Т107 (5.1.1945 sunk by US destroyers off Hahajima), Т154 (sunk 5.1.1945 by US destroyers near Iojima), Т140 (sunk 12.1.1945 by US aircraft in Saigon harbour), Т143 (8.2.1945 ran aground SE off Pescadores), Т114 (sunk 17.2.1945 by US aircraft off Shanghai), SB107 (March, 1945), Т145 (badly damaged by US aircraft near Amami 2.4.1945 and ran aground 4.4.1945, salvaged 3.9.1945 but sunk again there), Т146 (sunk 28.4.1945 by US submarine Trepang off Osezaki), Т173 (sunk by US carrier aircraft off Kagoshima 22.5.1945) and SB113 (sunk by US carrier aircraft near Innoshima 28.7.1945). T152 foundered in storm between Chichijima and Iojima 2.8.1945.

    T108 was badly damaged 16.1.1945 by US carrier aircraft at Hong Kong and surrendered in damaged condition. T115 was badly damaged 1.2.1945 in Luzon Straits and never repaired completely. T131 was badly damaged 12.1.1945 by US aircraft at Saigon and repaired month later as passenger ferry. T153 and T174 surrendered in damaged condition.

151-go 4.1944

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-14