SOKUTEN
Sokuten 1941
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Sokuten | |||||||
| 測天 [Sokuten] | Mitsubishi, Yokohama | 6.1937 | 27.4.1938 | 12.1938 | sunk 25.7.1944 | ||
| 白神 [Shirakami] | Ishikawajima, Tokyo | 9.1937 | 25.6.1938 | 4.1939 | collision 3.3.1944 | ||
| 成生 [Naryu] | Mitsubishi, Yokohama | 3.1939 | 28.8.1939 | 6.1940 | sunk 16.2.1945 | ||
| 巨済 [Kyosai] | Ishikawajima, Tokyo | 6.1938 | 29.6.1939 | 12.1939 | surrendered 8.1945, to United Kingdom 11.1947, BU | ||
| 浮島 [Ukishima] | Ishikawajima, Tokyo | 7.1939 | 9.12.1939 | 10.1940 | lost 16.11.1943 | ||
| Hirashima | |||||||
| 平島 [Hirashima] | Mitsubishi, Yokohama | 9.1939 | 6.6.1940 | 12.1940 | sunk 27.7.1943 | ||
| 澎湖 [Hoko] | Mitsui, Tamatsukuri | 11.1940 | 8.9.1941 | 12.1941 | sunk 29.8.1943 | ||
| 石埼 [Ishizaki] | Mitsubishi, Yokohama | 3.1941 | 13.8.1941 | 2.1942 | surrendered 8.1945, to USA 10.1947, BU | ||
| 鷹島 [Takashima] | Tsurumi, Yokohama | 12.1940 | 18.10.1941 | 3.1942 | sunk 10.10.1944 | ||
| 済州 [Saishu] | Sasebo K K | 1.1941 | 15.11.1941 | 4.1942 | surrendered 8.1945, to China 10.1947 (永靖 [Yung Ching]) | ||
| 新井埼 [Niizaki] | Mitsui, Tamano | 7.1941 | 2.3.1942 | 8.1942 | surrendered 8.1945, BU 1947 | ||
| 由利島 [Yurijima] | Tsurumi, Yokohama | 10.1941 | 4.7.1942 | 11.1942 | sunk 14.1.1945 | ||
| 怒和島 [Nuwashima] | Osaka SB, Osaka | 11.1941 | 31.7.1942 | 11.1942 | sunk 7.5.1945 | ||
| 前島 [Maeshima] | Nippon Kokan | 7.1942 | 18.4.1943 | 7.1943 | sunk 18.10.1944 | ||
| Ajiro | |||||||
| 網代 [Ajiro] | Hitachi, Innoshima | 9/1943 | 4/1944 | 7.1944 | sunk 1.10.1944 | ||
|
Displacement standard, t |
720 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
750 |
|
Length, m |
69.5 pp 73.5 wl 75.5 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
7.85 |
|
Draught, m |
2.60 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 diesels |
|
Power, h. p. |
Sokuten class: 3600 Hirashima, Ajiro classes: 3500 |
|
Max speed, kts |
20 |
|
Fuel, t |
Sokuten, Hirashima classes: diesel oil 35 Ajiro class: diesel oil 53 |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
Sokuten, Hirashima classes: 2550(14) |
|
Armament |
Sokuten class: 1 x 2 - 40/62 HI 91-shiki, 1 x 2 - 13.2/76, 120 mines or nets Hirashima class: 1 x 1 - 76/40 11-shiki, 1 x 2 - 13.2/76, 120 mines or nets Ajiro class: 1 x 1 - 76/40 11-shiki, 2 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki, 120 mines or nets, 4 DCT (36) |
|
Electronic equipment |
93-shiki sonar, 93-shiki hydrophone |
|
Complement |
100 |
Project history: Built under 3rd, 4th and 5th Supplementary programmes of 1937 (Sokuten class), 1939 (Hirashima class) and 1941 (Ajiro class). In total 5, 10 and 15 ships respectively have been ordered, but building plans of only Sokuten class in full have been fulfilled. Orders for one ship of Hirashima (Moroshima) and 13 for Ajiro (Kamishima, Shinoshima, Muso, Namizaki, Terajima, Kyobun, Kosei, Futsutsu, Sugashima, Niijima, Hikoshima, Himeshima, Tateshima) classes were cancelled in 1943.
Multi-purpose minelayers-netlayers. Intended for defence of bases and ports. Represented moderated variant of Hatsutaka class. Among themselves Sokuten and Hirashima classes insignificantly different by only armament. Ships of this classes possessed good seaworthiness and high manoeuvrability.
Modernizations: 1943, all completed Sokuten and Hirashima groups: diesel oil stowage was increased to 53t; + 4 DCT (36).
1944, all survived Sokuten and Hirashima classes: - 1 x 2 - 13.2/76; + 2 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki
late 1944, Saishu: + 3 x 3 - 25/60 96-shiki
Naval service: Hirashima 27.7.1943 was sunk at coast of Japan by US submarine Sawfish. Hoko 28.9.1943 was sunk off Buka by US aircraft. Ukishima 16.11.1943 lost by unknown cause SE off Hatsushima, possibly sunk by US submarine. Shirakami 3.3.1944 at Urup (Kuriles) during a storm collided with s/s Nichiran Maru and has sunk. Sokuten 25.7.1944 was sunk off Palau by US carrier aircraft. Ajiro 1.10.1944 was sunk off Bonin by US submarine Snapper. Takashima 10.10.1944 was sunk at Okinawa by US carrier aircraft. Maeshima 18.10.1944 ran aground at evasion from attack of US carrier aircraft at Luzon. Yurishima 14.1.1945 was sunk at eastern coast of Malacca by US submarine Cobia. Naryu 16.2.1945 was sunk S off Honshu by US submarine Sennet. Nuwashima 7.5.1945 was hard damaged at Kyushu by US aircraft (aft part was broken off) and ran ashore, subsequently she was broken up. Kyosai 6.8.1945 was hard damaged by US carrier aircraft.
Saishu was transferred to China on reparation in 1947.
Saishu after war
Hirashima
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-14