No.251 class auxiliary submarine chaser
Encyclopedia
The was a class of submarine chasers of the Imperial Japanese Navy
(IJN), serving during World War II
. 3 vessels were built in 1936 – 1939 under the Maru 2 Programme
. They have two sub classes, this article handles them collectively.
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 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...
. 3 vessels were built in 1936 – 1939 under the Maru 2 Programme
2nd Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1934)
The otherwise known as the "Circle Two" Plan was the second of four expansion plans of the Imperial Japanese Navy between 1930 and the start of World War II.-Background:...
. They have two sub classes, this article handles them collectively.
Background
- In 1934, the IJN planned an experimental model of high-speed coast defense submarine chaser. The IJN wanted over 20 kn (24.4 mph; 39.2 km/h), however the Navy Technical Department (Kampon)Imperial Japanese Navy Technical DepartmentThe was the externally operating division of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan responsible for the administration of naval vessel construction. From 1923 onward, it took on the role of a research institution for the research and development of naval technologies and engineering...
have not designed such a small-sized and high-powered diesels yet. - The IJN ordered hull design to the ThornycroftJohn I. Thornycroft & CompanyJohn I. Thornycroft & Company Limited, usually known simply as Thornycroft was a British shipbuilding firm started by John Isaac Thornycroft in the 19th century.-History:...
, and high-powered diesel design to the MAN, for study a small-sized high-speed boat.
Design
- The Thornycroft drawings were not able to satisfy the IJN, because their designs center of gravity was too high, and bad drainage. The Kampon made a based on the Hayabusa class torpedo boatHayabusa class torpedo boatThe Hayabusa-class torpedo boats were constructed for the Imperial Japanese Navy as part of the ten-year naval expansion program. They were completed between 1900 and 1904....
and finished hull designs. - The IJN was satisfied with MAN diesel specifications, however their designs were very complicated and very high-prices. The IJN bought two diesels and named . Furthermore, the IJN ordered a copy of this diesel to the Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesKawasaki Heavy Industriesis an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
and Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesMitsubishi Heavy Industries, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
. - Also, 1 vessel was equipped with a Kampon turbine, because diesel engine was unsuitable for a mass production.
Service
- The IJN deployed them to a mine warfare school after having finished their examination, because they were too small.
- They became a training ship of the mine warfare school, and they acted in Tokyo BayTokyo Bayis a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
.
No.251-class
- Project number K5A. 2 vessels were completed. They were equipped with MAN design diesels. The No.252 was equipped the copied MAN diesels by Kawasaki and Mitsubishi.
No.251
- 14 December 1936: Laid down as the at Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard.
- 9 June 1937: Launched.
- 30 September 1937: Completed.
- 15 November 1940: Classified to the Auxiliary submarine chaser, and renamed .
- (after): Assigned to the mine warfare school (KurihamaYokosuka, Kanagawais a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 419,067 and a population density of 4,160 people per km². It covered an area of 100.62 km²...
). - 30 April 1943: Renamed .
- 28 August 1944: Classified to the Support vessel (tugboat), and renamed .
- August 1945: The end of war at UragaUragais a subdivision of the city of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is located on the south eastern side of the Miura Peninsula, at the northern end of the Uraga Channel, at the entrance of Tokyo Bay.-History:...
, later nothing more was heard.
No.252
- 14 December 1936: Laid down as the at Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard.
- 25 August 1937: Launched.
- 25 July 1939: Completed.
- 15 November 1940: Classified to the Auxiliary submarine chaser, and renamed .
- (after): Assigned to the mine warfare school (Kurihama).
- 30 April 1943: Renamed .
- 15 February 1944: Classified to the Support vessel (tugboat), and renamed .
- August 1945: The end of war at Uraga, later nothing more was heard.
No.253-class
- Project number K5B. 1 vessels was completed. She was equipped with KamponImperial Japanese Navy Technical DepartmentThe was the externally operating division of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan responsible for the administration of naval vessel construction. From 1923 onward, it took on the role of a research institution for the research and development of naval technologies and engineering...
turbine. She was classed in the No.251-class in the IJN official documents.
No.253
- 9 January 1937: Laid down as the at Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory.
- 15 July 1937: Launched.
- 31 October 1937: Completed.
- 15 November 1940: Classified to the Auxiliary submarine chaser, and renamed .
- (after): Assigned to the mine warfare school (Kurihama).
- 30 April 1943: Renamed .
- 15 February 1944: Classified to the Support vessel (tugboat), and renamed .
- August 1945: The end of war at Uraga.
- August 1946: Sink by unknown effect.