The Etorofu class was an improved version of the preceding Shimushu class with a greater emphasis on anti-submarine warfare. The ships measured 77.72 meters (255 ft 0 in) overall, with a beam of 9.1 meters (29 ft 10 in) and a draft of 3.05 meters (10 ft 0 in).[1] They displaced 880 metric tons (870 long tons) at standard load and 1,040 metric tons (1,020 long tons) at deep load. The ships had two diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft, which were rated at a total of 4,200 brake horsepower (3,100 kW) for a speed of 19.7 knots (36.5 km/h; 22.7 mph). The ships had a range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[2]
The main armament of the Etorofu class consisted of three Type 3 120-millimeter (4.7 in) guns in single mounts, one superfiring pair aft and one mount forward of the superstructure. They were built with four Type 96 25-millimeter (1.0 in) anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts, but the total was increased to 15 guns by August 1943. 36 depth charges were stowed aboard initially, but this later increased by August 1943 to 60 depth charges with a Type 97 81-millimeter (3.2 in) trench mortar[2] and six depth charge throwers. They received Type 22 and Type 13 radars and Type 93 sonar in 1943–44.
Construction and careeredit
Amakusa was damaged by a magnetic mine at Chichi-jima on 20 December 1944. Sailed to Yokosuka and drydocked 13 January 1945. Repairs finished 22 January. On 26 February 1945 damaged by US Navy aircraft from Task Force 58 east of Izu Shima, 26 crewmen killed. Repaired at Yokosuka with repairs finished on 16 March 1945. On 9 August 1945, while lying in harbor at the Onagawa Bay, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, the ship came under attack by a Corsair piloted by Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray and was sunk; 71 crewmen, and Lt. Gray (while he earned the Victoria Cross), were killed.[3]
In 2007, a memorial was dedicated to both the crew of Amakusa and Lt. Gray overlooking the town of Onagawa in Sakiyama Scenic Park.[4]
^Soward, Stuart E. . Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 2012.03.13
^"女川防備隊" (in Japanese). 23 December 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
Referencesedit
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN0-87021-893-X.
External linksedit
"Japanese Escorts". Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
April 11, 2024
japanese, escort, ship, amakusa, fourteen, etorofu, class, kaibōkan, destroyer, escorts, built, imperial, japanese, navy, during, world, historyempire, japannameamakusabuilderhitachi, zosen, sakurajimalaid, down5, april, 1943launched1943completed20, november, . The Japanese escort ship Amakusa was one of fourteen Etorofu class Kaibōkan destroyer escorts built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II HistoryEmpire of JapanNameAmakusaBuilderHitachi Zosen SakurajimaLaid down5 April 1943Launched1943Completed20 November 1943FateSunk 9 August 1945General characteristicsClass and typeEtorofu class escort shipDisplacement870 long tons 884 t Length77 7 m 255 ft Beam9 1 m 29 ft 10 in Draught3 05 m 10 ft Speed19 7 knots 22 7 mph 36 5 km h Complement150Armament3 120 mm 4 7 in 45 cal DP guns Up to 15 Type 96 25 mm 0 98 in AA guns 6 depth charge throwers Up to 60 depth charges Contents 1 Background and description 2 Construction and career 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksBackground and description editThe Etorofu class was an improved version of the preceding Shimushu class with a greater emphasis on anti submarine warfare The ships measured 77 72 meters 255 ft 0 in overall with a beam of 9 1 meters 29 ft 10 in and a draft of 3 05 meters 10 ft 0 in 1 They displaced 880 metric tons 870 long tons at standard load and 1 040 metric tons 1 020 long tons at deep load The ships had two diesel engines each driving one propeller shaft which were rated at a total of 4 200 brake horsepower 3 100 kW for a speed of 19 7 knots 36 5 km h 22 7 mph The ships had a range of 8 000 nautical miles 15 000 km 9 200 mi at a speed of 16 knots 30 km h 18 mph 2 The main armament of the Etorofu class consisted of three Type 3 120 millimeter 4 7 in guns in single mounts one superfiring pair aft and one mount forward of the superstructure They were built with four Type 96 25 millimeter 1 0 in anti aircraft guns in two twin gun mounts but the total was increased to 15 guns by August 1943 36 depth charges were stowed aboard initially but this later increased by August 1943 to 60 depth charges with a Type 97 81 millimeter 3 2 in trench mortar 2 and six depth charge throwers They received Type 22 and Type 13 radars and Type 93 sonar in 1943 44 Construction and career editAmakusa was damaged by a magnetic mine at Chichi jima on 20 December 1944 Sailed to Yokosuka and drydocked 13 January 1945 Repairs finished 22 January On 26 February 1945 damaged by US Navy aircraft from Task Force 58 east of Izu Shima 26 crewmen killed Repaired at Yokosuka with repairs finished on 16 March 1945 On 9 August 1945 while lying in harbor at the Onagawa Bay Miyagi Prefecture Japan the ship came under attack by a Corsair piloted by Royal Navy Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray and was sunk 71 crewmen and Lt Gray while he earned the Victoria Cross were killed 3 In 2007 a memorial was dedicated to both the crew of Amakusa and Lt Gray overlooking the town of Onagawa in Sakiyama Scenic Park 4 Notes edit Chesneau p 205 a b Jentschura Jung amp Mickel p 187 Soward Stuart E A brilliant flying spirit Lt Hampton Gray VC DSC RCNVR Archived from the original on 15 April 2012 Retrieved 2012 03 13 女川防備隊 in Japanese 23 December 2009 Retrieved 27 August 2015 References editChesneau Roger ed 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 Jentschura Hansgeorg Jung Dieter amp Mickel Peter 1977 Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1869 1945 Annapolis Maryland United States Naval Institute ISBN 0 87021 893 X External links edit Japanese Escorts Combinedfleet com Retrieved 10 August 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Japanese escort ship Amakusa amp oldid 1089347521, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
