Natsushima-class minelayer (1933)

(Redirected from Natsushima-class minelayer)

The Natsushima-class minelayer (夏島型敷設艇,, Natsushima-gata Fusetsutei) was a class of minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during and after the 1930s through World War II. Their design was based on the Tsubame class, but with increased armament.

Natsushima in 1933
Class overview
NameNatsushima class
Builders
Operators Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded byTsubame class
Succeeded bySokuten class
Subclasses
  • Natsushima class
  • Sarushima class
Built1931–1934
In commission1933–1944
Planned3
Completed3
Lost3
General characteristics Natsushima class
TypeNetlayer/Minelayer
Displacement475.8 long tons (483 t) standard
Length73.00 m (239 ft 6 in) overall
Beam7.50 m (24 ft 7 in)
Draught1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × triple expansion stages reciprocating engines
  • 2 × Kampon mix-fired boilers
  • 2 shafts, 2,300 shp (1,700 kW)
Speed19.0 knots (35.2 km/h; 21.9 mph)
Range2,500 nmi (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement74
Armament
  • 2 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 AA guns
  • 1 × 13 mm AA guns
  • 120 × Type 89 naval mines or 18 × depth charges or 1 × Type 14 510 m anti-submarine net
General characteristics Sarushima class
TypeNetlayer/Minelayer
Displacement566 long tons (575 t) standard
Length73.00 m (239 ft 6 in) overall
Beam7.49 m (24 ft 7 in)
Draught2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
Propulsion2 × MAN Mk.2 Model 9 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,100 bhp (1,600 kW)
Speed18.0 knots (33.3 km/h; 20.7 mph)
Range4,639 nmi (8,591 km; 5,338 mi) at 14.4 kn (26.7 km/h; 16.6 mph)
Complement64
Armamentsame as Natsushima class

Ships in class

edit

Natsushima class

edit

Project number H5. Three vessels were planned under the Maru 1 Programme. However, the third ship, Sarushima, was used as a diesel engine experiment ship.

Natsushima (夏島)

Nasami (那沙美)

  • 19 January 1933: Laid down at Harima Zōsen.
  • 26 March 1934: Launched.
  • 20 September 1934: Completed.
  • In 1938: Sortie for the Second Sino-Japanese War.
  • 1941-1943: Sortie for the naval mine laying at Japan Mainland and convoy escort operations at East China Sea.
  • 31 December 1943: Dispatched to southeast area.
  • 1 April 1944: Sunk by air raid at Rabaul.
  • 10 April 1944: Removed from naval ship list.

Sarushima class

edit

Project number H5B. She was built as diesel engine experiment ship. Her results were made use of in the Sokuten class.

Sarushima (猿島)

  • 28 March 1933: Laid down at Mitsubishi, Yokohama shipyard.
  • 16 December 1933: Launched.
  • 20 July 1934: Completed.
  • In 1938: Sortie for the Second Sino-Japanese War.
  • 1941-1944: Sortie for the naval mine laying and convoy escort operations at Japan Mainland.
  • 4 July 1944: Sunk by air raid off Otōto-jima.
  • 10 September 1944: Removed from naval ship list.

Photos

edit

Bibliography

edit
  • Ships of the World special issue Vol.45, "Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy", "Kaijinsha"., (Tokyo, Japan), 1996.
  • The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.47, "Japanese naval mine warfare crafts", "Ushio Shobō". (Tokyo, Japan), 1981.