NAVYPEDIA

Photo

  Saishu after war

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate	Modification
測天 [Sokuten]			Mitsubishi, Yokohama	6.1937	27.4.1938	12.1938	sunk 25.7.1944	Sokuten
白神 [Shirakami]			Ishikawajima, Tokyo	9.1937	25.6.1938	4.1939	collision 3.3.1944	Sokuten
成生 [Naryu]			Mitsubishi, Yokohama	3.1939	28.8.1939	6.1940	sunk 16.2.1945	Sokuten
巨済 [Kyosai]			Ishikawajima, Tokyo	6.1938	29.6.1939	12.1939	surrendered 8.1945, to United Kingdom 11.1947, BU	Sokuten
浮島 [Ukishima]			Ishikawajima, Tokyo	7.1939	9.12.1939	10.1940	lost 16.11.1943	Sokuten
平島 [Hirashima]			Mitsubishi, Yokohama	9.1939	6.6.1940	12.1940	sunk 27.7.1943	Hirashima
澎湖 [Hoko]			Mitsui, Tamatsukuri	11.1940	8.9.1941	12.1941	sunk 29.8.1943	Hirashima
石埼 [Ishizaki]			Mitsubishi, Yokohama	3.1941	13.8.1941	2.1942	surrendered 8.1945, to USA 10.1947, BU	Hirashima
鷹島 [Takashima]			Tsurumi, Yokohama	12.1940	18.10.1941	3.1942	sunk 10.10.1944	Hirashima
済州 [Saishu]			Sasebo K K	1.1941	15.11.1941	4.1942	surrendered 8.1945, to China 10.1947 (永靖 [Yung Ching])	Hirashima
新井埼 [Niizaki]			Mitsui, Tamano	7.1941	2.3.1942	8.1942	surrendered 8.1945, BU 1947	Hirashima
由利島 [Yurijima]			Tsurumi, Yokohama	10.1941	4.7.1942	11.1942	sunk 14.1.1945	Hirashima
怒和島 [Nuwashima]			Osaka SB, Osaka	11.1941	31.7.1942	11.1942	sunk 7.5.1945	Hirashima
前島 [Maeshima]			Nippon Kokan	7.1942	18.4.1943	7.1943	sunk 18.10.1944	Hirashima
網代 [Ajiro]			Hitachi, Innoshima	9/1943	4/1944	7.1944	sunk 1.10.1944	Ajiro

Technical data

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

Standard scale images

Graphics

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.