The was a class of minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. There were three sub-classes, as well.

Design

*The ''Hastutaka''-class minelayer was a reinforced model of the Japanese minelayer Shirataka, ''Shirataka''. The IHI Corporation, 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 3rd Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1937), 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 4th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1939), Maru 4 Programme (Ship # 102). She was equipped with 2 × 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun, 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 Imperial Japanese Navy Technical Department, Navy Technical Department revised the ''Wakataka'' drawings. Only 1 vessel was planned under the Modified 5th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme (Japan, 1942), 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 World War II minelayers of Japan, Mine warfare vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy