The was a class of auxiliary minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during the 1910s and World War II. They were called the ''Sokuten'' class from their nameship. They were also called the ''Toshima'' class after ''Sokuten'' was retired. In some sources ''Natsushima'' was included in this class. Their official class name was not mentioned in IJN official documents.

Background

* The IJN intended to update their mineboats for local guards.

Construction

* In 1911, the IJN built the first experimental boat ''Natsushima'' (''Natsushima Maru''). ''Natsushima'' attached importance to gun-fights. Therefore, she was equipped with two

Armstrong Armstrong may refer to: Places * Armstrong Creek (disambiguation), various places Antarctica * Armstrong Reef, Biscoe Islands Argentina * Armstrong, Santa Fe Australia * Armstrong, Victoria Canada * Armstrong, British Columbia * Armstrong ...

guns. * In 1913, the IJN built the second experimental boat ''Sokuten'' (''Sokuten Maru No. 1''). She was an improved model of ''Natsushima'', and her equipment was almost the same as ''Natsushima''. * The IJN adopted ''Sokuten''s hull design, and started production. * ''Kuroshima'', ''Kurokami'' and ''Kurosaki'' were equipped with netlayer facilities. However, those armaments were not announced.

Service history

''Natsushima'' was retired in 1927, and ''Sokuten'' was retired in 1936. The other sisters participated to World War II, and nine boats survived the war.

Ships in class

Photos

File:Japanese minelayer Natsushima Maru in 1912.jpg, ''Natsushima'' (as ''Natsushima Maru'') on 10 October 1912 Image:Japanese minelyer Enoshima in the 1930s.jpg, ''Enoshima'' in 1930

Footnotes

Bibliography

*, ''History of Pacific War Vol. 51, "The truth histories of the Imperial Japanese Vessels Part-2"'',

Gakken is a Japanese publishing company founded in 1947 by Hideto Furuoka, which also produces educational toys. Their annual sales is reported at ¥ 90 billion ($789 million US). Gakken publishes educational books and magazines and produces other ...

(Japan), June 2002, *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 *Editorial Committee of the Navy, ''Navy Vol. 11, "Part of small vessels, auxiliary vessels, miscellaneous service ship and converted merchant ships'', Seibunsha K.K. (Japan), August 1981 {{DEFAULTSORT:Sokuten Minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy Auxiliary ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy Patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard Ships of the Republic of China Navy Ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy