Sunosaki-class combat support ship

The Sunosaki-class combat support ship (洲埼型給油艦, Sunosaki-gata kyūyukan) was a class of two support ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II.

Sunosaki in 1943
Class overview
Name	Sunosaki-class combat support ship
Builders	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Operators	Imperial Japanese Navy
Built	1942–1943
In commission	1943–1944
Planned	5
Completed	2
Cancelled	3
Lost	2
General characteristics
Displacement	4,465 long tons (4,537 t) standard
Length	108.5 m (356 ft 0 in) overall
Beam	15.0 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draught	5.0 m (16 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	2 × MAN Mk.4 diesels 2 shafts, 4,500 bhp
Speed	16 knots (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Range	4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Capacity	1,080 tons for gasoline 440 tons for ammunitions and food
Complement	161
Armament	Sunosaki, 1943 2 × 120 mm (4.7 in) L/45 AA gun 4 × Type 96 25mm AA guns

Construction

In 1939, the IJN planned two support ship classes to help their aircraft carriers. One was the 8,000-ton Ashizuri class, the other one the 4,500 ton Sunosaki class. The Sunosaki was planned to support for two medium-sized carriers (Sōryū and Hiryū) in the battlefield. The thought is the same as USS Sacramento.

Service

The Sunosaki class was unable to support Japan's carrier task force, because their commissions were delayed. They sailed between the Japanese mainland and Southeast Asia, and were lost before participating in a naval battle.

Ships in class

Ship #	Ship	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
103	Sunosaki (洲埼)	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama Shipyard	25-03-1942	28-12-1942	15-05-1943	Burned by air raid at Manila Bay 21-09-1944. Scuttled 04-10-1944.
233	Takasaki (高崎)	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama Shipyard	16-07-1942	03-05-1943	02-09-1943	Sunk by USS Puffer at Sulu Sea 06°33′N 122°55′E 05-06-1944.
234	Tsurugizaki (剣埼)					Cancelled on 05-05-1944.
235	Kōzaki (神埼)
236	Hijirizaki (聖埼) or Toyosaki (豊埼)

References

• "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol.62 "Ships of The Imperial Japanese Forces, Gakken (Japan), January 2008, ISBN 978-4-05-605008-0
• Ships of the World special issue Vol.47, Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), March 1997