Japanese icebreaker Ōtomari
Encyclopedia
The was a icebraker of the Imperial Japanese Navy
(IJN) serving during the 1920s through World War II
, the only ship of her class. She was an only icebreaker as warship in the IJN.
s under the Eight-eight fleet
plan at first. However, Nikolayevsk Incident
changed her future. IJN was not able to dispatch their warship to Nikolayevsk which froze, because they did not have an icebreaker. All Japanese civilians were killed by terrorist in this incident. Japan was afraid that this dire disaster occur once again, because the Russian Civil War
continued in this time. Japan built only lead ship about the Kamoi-class oiler. Other 5 vessels, they rearranged a budget and built three oilers (Ondo-class
), one food supply ship (Mamiya), and one icebreaker (Ōtomari).
As for Japan, the icebreaker architecture was the first experience. IJN began by observing a sample of neighboring various countries, They decided to make a model of the Russian icebreaker Dobrynya Nikitich. The IJN hurried work of Otomari, because they wanted her until Winter 1921, she was completed from a building start in only four months.
She was assigned to Ōminato Guard District
and took northern patrol duties, and continued being active for her life.
In the WWII, the IJN planned her succeeding ship Esan (Project Number J23, 6,800 tons standard) under the Kai-Maru 5 program
in 1942, because Ōtomari was old and small, however, Esan was canceled in 1943.
, Kuril Islands
and Sea of Okhotsk
between all time except maintenance. In July 1945, she sailed to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
for maintenance. However, she was not able to take maintenance because Japan was surrendered
. Japan was going to employ her as repatriation transport, however, it was given up, because her boiler was worn out. She was scrapped in March 1950.
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...
(IJN) serving during the 1920s through 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...
, the only ship of her class. She was an only icebreaker as warship in the IJN.
Background
Ōtomari was planned as one of the Kamoi-class oilerJapanese seaplane tender Kamoi
The was a oiler/seaplane tender/flying boat tender of the Imperial Japanese Navy, serving during the 1920s and the World War II. She was initially planned in 1920 as one of six of the oilers under the Eight-eight fleet final plan.-Service:...
s under the Eight-eight fleet
Eight-eight fleet
The was a Japanese naval strategy formulated for the development of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the first quarter of the 20th century, which laid down that the Japanese navy should include eight first-class battleships and eight armoured cruisers or battlecruisers.-History and development:The...
plan at first. However, Nikolayevsk Incident
Nikolayevsk Incident
The was a series of events from February through March 1920 during the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War, cumulating in the massacre of several hundred Japanese expatriates and most of the Russian inhabitants of the town of Nikolayevsk-on-Amur in the Russian Far East.Nikolayevsk-on-Amur...
changed her future. IJN was not able to dispatch their warship to Nikolayevsk which froze, because they did not have an icebreaker. All Japanese civilians were killed by terrorist in this incident. Japan was afraid that this dire disaster occur once again, because the Russian Civil War
Russian Civil War
The Russian Civil War was a multi-party war that occurred within the former Russian Empire after the Russian provisional government collapsed to the Soviets, under the domination of the Bolshevik party. Soviet forces first assumed power in Petrograd The Russian Civil War (1917–1923) was a...
continued in this time. Japan built only lead ship about the Kamoi-class oiler. Other 5 vessels, they rearranged a budget and built three oilers (Ondo-class
Ondo class oiler
The was a class of three oilers of the Imperial Japanese Navy , serving during the 1920s and the World War II.-Construction:The Ondo class were initially planned in 1920 as the six of the Kamoi class oilers under the Eight-eight fleet final plan. However, the Kamoi class oilers were built only the...
), one food supply ship (Mamiya), and one icebreaker (Ōtomari).
As for Japan, the icebreaker architecture was the first experience. IJN began by observing a sample of neighboring various countries, They decided to make a model of the Russian icebreaker Dobrynya Nikitich. The IJN hurried work of Otomari, because they wanted her until Winter 1921, she was completed from a building start in only four months.
She was assigned to Ōminato Guard District
Ominato Guard District
The was the major navy base for the Imperial Japanese Navy in northern Honshu before and during World War II. Located in Mutsu Bay, The was the major navy base for the Imperial Japanese Navy in northern Honshu before and during World War II. Located in Mutsu Bay, The was the major navy base for...
and took northern patrol duties, and continued being active for her life.
In the WWII, the IJN planned her succeeding ship Esan (Project Number J23, 6,800 tons standard) under the Kai-Maru 5 program
Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1942)
The was one of the wartime armaments expansion plans of the Imperial Japanese Navy .-Background:In September 1942, after being defeated in the Battle of Midway, the IJN drew up a new armaments expansion plan. This plan was combined by the 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme and the 6th Naval...
in 1942, because Ōtomari was old and small, however, Esan was canceled in 1943.
Service
Ōtomari acted in SakhalinSakhalin
Sakhalin or Saghalien, is a large island in the North Pacific, lying between 45°50' and 54°24' N.It is part of Russia, and is Russia's largest island, and is administered as part of Sakhalin Oblast...
, Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
and Sea of Okhotsk
Sea of Okhotsk
The Sea of Okhotsk is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, lying between the Kamchatka Peninsula on the east, the Kuril Islands on the southeast, the island of Hokkaidō to the far south, the island of Sakhalin along the west, and a long stretch of eastern Siberian coast along the west and...
between all time except maintenance. In July 1945, she sailed to Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was located at Yokosuka city, Kanagawa prefecture on Tokyo Bay, south of Yokohama...
for maintenance. However, she was not able to take maintenance because Japan was surrendered
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
. Japan was going to employ her as repatriation transport, however, it was given up, because her boiler was worn out. She was scrapped in March 1950.