The was a class of minelayers of the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrender ...

(IJN), serving during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. There were three sub-classes, as well.

Design

*The ''Hastutaka''-class minelayer was a reinforced model of the ''Shirataka''. The Harima Zōsen Corporation dealt with all of the ''Hatsutaka''-class.

Ships in classes

''Hatsutaka''-class

*Project number was H12. First production model of the ''Hatsutaka''-class. Two vessels were built in 1938-40 under the Maru 3 Programme (Ship # 7 - 8). They were equipped with 4 × 40 mm quick-firing guns for anti-submarine warfare.

''Wakataka''-class

*Project number was H12B. Second production model of the ''Hatsutaka''-class. Only 1 vessel was built under the Maru 4 Programme (Ship # 102). She was equipped with 2 × anti-aircraft cannons. The ''Wakataka'' was classed in the ''Hatsutaka''-class in the IJN official documents. The IJN called her the unofficially.

''Asadori''-class

*Project number was H12C. The Navy Technical Department revised the ''Wakataka'' drawings. Only 1 vessel was planned under the Kai-Maru 5 Programme (Ship # 5039). The IJN called her the unofficially.

Photos

Image:Japanese minelayer Aotaka in 1940.jpg, ''Aotaka'' in June 1940 at Harima Zōsen. Image:Japanese minelayer Wakataka 1947.jpg, ''Wakataka'' as repatriation transport in Spring 1947 at Sasebo Naval Base.

Footnotes

Bibliography

*''Ships of the World special issue Vol.47, Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy'', , (Japan), March 1997 *''Model Art Extra No.360, Drawings of Imperial Japanese Naval Vessels Part-2'', (Japan), October 1989 *''The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.42, Japanese minelayers'', (Japan), August 1980 *Daiji Katagiri, ''Ship Name Chronicles of the Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet'', Kōjinsha (Japan), June 1988, {{DEFAULTSORT:Hatsutaka Mine warfare vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy