Japanese gunboat Uji (1940)
Encyclopedia
was the second and final vessel in the gunboat
s in the Imperial Japanese Navy
, that operated in China during the 1940s.
of 1937. She was laid down at Osaka Iron Works on January 20, 1940 and launched on September 29, 1940, and was commissioned into the Japanese Navy as on April 30, 1941 .
She was intended initially for support of combat operations by the Imperial Japanese Army
in the Second Sino-Japanese War
off the coast of China. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
, Hashidate was assigned to the China Area Fleet as part of the 1st China Expeditionary Fleet’s 11th Escort Group. At some point in 1943, five additional Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Guns were added, along with depth charge
s in 1944. She remained based in the Shanghai
area, patrolling the lower reaches of the Yangtze River
throughout most of World War II
On April 21, 1944, she was assigned to the Take Convoy
mission to transport the Imperial Japanese Army
’s IJA 32nd Division and IJA 35th Division
from China via Takao
, Keelung
, and Manila
to New Guinea
. The convoy was attacked by in the East China Sea
and Uji was detached to escort the damaged fleet supply ship Mamiya
to Moji
, arriving on May 9. In August, 1944, she departed Moji for convoy escort to Taiwan
and Okinawa, returning to Shanghai in January 1945.
After the surrender of Japan, she was transferred as a prize of war
to the Republic of China Navy
, and renamed Chang Chi (長治) on September 13, 1945, but was not formally removed from the Japanese navy list
until October 25, 1945. At some point in 1949, she was captured by the People’s Liberation Army Navy and rearmed in 1955 with Soviet supplied weaponry.
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s in the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, that operated in China during the 1940s.
History
Uji was authorized under the Maru-3 Naval Expansion Budget3rd Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1937)
The otherwise known as the "Circle Three" Plan was the third of four expansion plans of the Imperial Japanese Navy between 1930 and the start of World War II.-Background:...
of 1937. She was laid down at Osaka Iron Works on January 20, 1940 and launched on September 29, 1940, and was commissioned into the Japanese Navy as on April 30, 1941 .
She was intended initially for support of combat operations by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
off the coast of China. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, Hashidate was assigned to the China Area Fleet as part of the 1st China Expeditionary Fleet’s 11th Escort Group. At some point in 1943, five additional Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Guns were added, along with depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s in 1944. She remained based in the Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
area, patrolling the lower reaches of the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
throughout most of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
On April 21, 1944, she was assigned to the Take Convoy
Take Ichi convoy
The convoy was a Japanese convoy of World War II. The convoy left Shanghai on 17 April 1944, carrying two infantry divisions to reinforce Japan's defensive positions in the Philippines and western New Guinea. United States Navy submarines attacked the convoy on 26 April and 6 May, sinking four...
mission to transport the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
’s IJA 32nd Division and IJA 35th Division
IJA 35th Division
The 35th Division was a line division of the Imperial Japanese Army which fought in China and western New Guinea during the Pacific War. The division was formed in 1939 and was disbanded in 1945.-History:...
from China via Takao
Takao
Takao may refer to:* Mount Takao in Tokyo, Japan* Kaohsiung, Taiwan: The Taiwanese and Japanese name before administration of Taiwan was handed to the Republic of China...
, Keelung
Keelung
Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
, and Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. The convoy was attacked by in the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
and Uji was detached to escort the damaged fleet supply ship Mamiya
Japanese food ship Mamiya
The was a food supply ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy which was in service from the 1920s to the Second World War.-Construction:The Mamiya was originally meant to be an oil transporter but was instead out-fitted to be a food supply ship...
to Moji
Moji-ku, Kitakyushu
is a ward of Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is the former city of Moji which was one of five cities merged to create Kitakyūshū in 1963. It faces the city of Shimonoseki across the Kanmon Straits between Honshū and Kyūshū....
, arriving on May 9. In August, 1944, she departed Moji for convoy escort to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
and Okinawa, returning to Shanghai in January 1945.
After the surrender of Japan, she was transferred as a prize of war
Prize of war
A prize of war is a piece of military property seized by the victorious party after a war or battle, typically at sea. This term was used nearly exclusively in terms of a captured ship during the 18th and 19th centuries....
to the Republic of China Navy
Republic of China Navy
The Republic of China Navy is the maritime branch of the Armed forces of the Republic of China . The ROC Navy's primary mission is to defend ROC territories and the sea lanes that surround Taiwan against a blockade, attack, or possible invasion by forces of the People's Republic of China...
, and renamed Chang Chi (長治) on September 13, 1945, but was not formally removed from the Japanese navy list
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
until October 25, 1945. At some point in 1949, she was captured by the People’s Liberation Army Navy and rearmed in 1955 with Soviet supplied weaponry.