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, Potsdam Declaration, when it was dissolved followin ...
(IJN), serving during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. They were built to supplement the timeworn
''Sokuten''-class. 4 vessels were built in 1941–42 under the
Maru Rin Programme (Ship # 257–260).
Background
* In 1939, the
''Sokuten''-class was the main minelayer of the local guard districts. However, they were too old. The IJN wanted new small minelayers for local guard districts.
* In 1940, the IJN found out a handy boat. It was a standard longline fishing ship ''Sōyō Maru'' (160 tons) by the
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry. The IJN made a model of it and completed a design of new small minelayer.
Uraga Dock Company built all of the vessels.
Ships in class
Photos
Image:Japanese minelayer No2.jpg, ''Minelayer No.2'' on 7 April 1942
Image:Japanese minelayer No3.jpg, ''Auxiliary Minelayer No.3'' in 1942
Image:Japanese minelayer No4 in 1942.jpg, ''Auxiliary Minelayer No.4'' in 1942
Notes
Bibliography
*''Ships of the World special issue Vol.45, Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy'', , (Japan), February 1996
*''The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.47, Japanese naval mine warfare crafts'', (Japan), January 1981
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Minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy