In 1937 the Imperial Japanese Navy had converted the old battleship Asahi to serve as a repair ship. After the conversion of Asahi, a decision was made to build a dedicated repair ship with better capabilities for that task. The Imperial Japanese Navy planned for her to carry out 40% of the repairs needed by the Combined Fleet (needing approximately 140,000-man-hours). Therefore, she was equipped with the latest machine tools imported from Germany.
War serviceedit
Akashi in February 1943 at Truk
During the war Akashi operated out of the Japanese base in the Trukatoll where she repaired various types of battle-damaged Japanese warships, including Shōkaku in October 1942 and Yamato in December 1943. In February 1944 the Americans made a raid on Truk (Operation Hailstone), sinking and damaging many ships. Akashi was damaged in these attacks and escaped to the Japanese atoll of Palau.[1]
On 30 March 1944, while anchored off Urukthapel in the Palau Islands, Akashi was hit numerous times by bombs and rockets from American aircraft from Task Group 58, during Operation Desecrate One. She was sunk in shallow water with her bridge still remaining above the water.[2][3]
Ships in classedit
Ship #
Ship
Builder
Laid down
Launched
Completed
Fate
Akashi (明石)
Sasebo Naval Arsenal
18 January 1937
29 June 1938
31 July 1939
Sunk on 30 March 1944; salvaged and scrapped in 1954.
"Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol.51 The truth histories of the Japanese Naval Vessels part-2, Gakken (Japan), August 2005, ISBN4-05-604083-4
Ships of the World special issue Vol.47 Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Kaijinsha, (Japan), March 1997
The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.34 Japanese Auxiliary vessels, Ushio Shobō (Japan), December 1979
Senshi Sōsho Vol.31, Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), November 1969
Senshi Sōsho Vol.88, Naval armaments and war preparation (2), "And after the outbreak of war", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), October 1975
^Morison, Samuel Eliot (2001). History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: New Guinea and the Marianas, March 1944 – August 1944. Vol. 8. University of Illinois Press (reprint). pp. 32–33. ISBN978-0-252-07038-9.Google Books limited preview
^Belote, James H.; Belote, William M. (1975). Titans of the seas: the development and operations of Japanese and American carrier task forces during World War II. New York: Harper & Row. p. 226. ISBN978-0-06-010278-4.
External linksedit
Tabular record of Akashi's movements
January 01, 1970
japanese, repair, ship, akashi, other, ships, with, same, name, japanese, ship, akashi, akashi, japanese, repair, ship, serving, during, world, only, specifically, designed, repair, ship, operated, imperial, japanese, navy, navy, based, design, navy, medusa, a. For other ships with the same name see Japanese ship Akashi Akashi was a Japanese repair ship serving during World War II She was the only specifically designed repair ship operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy The navy based her design on the US Navy s USS Medusa Akashi trial run off Sasebo in July 1939History NameAkashi NamesakeAkashi Strait BuilderSasebo Naval Arsenal Cost10 000 000 JPY as Akashi 23 027 000 JPY as Mihara and Momotori Launched29 June 1938 Completed31 July 1939 Decommissioned10 May 1944 FateSunk on 30 March 1944 General characteristics TypeRepair ship Displacement9 000 long tons 9 144 t standard 10 500 long tons 10 668 t trial Length158 50 m 520 ft 0 in overall 154 66 m 507 ft 5 in waterline Beam20 50 m 67 ft 3 in Draught6 29 m 20 ft 8 in Installed power10 000 bhp Propulsion2 Mitsubishi MAN Model 60 diesels 2 shafts Speed19 2 knots 22 1 mph 35 6 km h Range8 000 nmi 15 000 km at 14 kn 16 mph 26 km h Crew336 men and 433 engineers Armament4 127 mm 5 0 in L 40 Type 89 AA guns 12 Type 96 25mm AA guns Armournone Contents 1 Construction 2 War service 3 Fate 4 Ships in class 5 Bibliography 6 References 7 External linksConstruction edit nbsp Line drawing of Akashi as she appeared in 1940 In 1937 the Imperial Japanese Navy had converted the old battleship Asahi to serve as a repair ship After the conversion of Asahi a decision was made to build a dedicated repair ship with better capabilities for that task The Imperial Japanese Navy planned for her to carry out 40 of the repairs needed by the Combined Fleet needing approximately 140 000 man hours Therefore she was equipped with the latest machine tools imported from Germany War service edit nbsp Akashi in February 1943 at Truk During the war Akashi operated out of the Japanese base in the Truk atoll where she repaired various types of battle damaged Japanese warships including Shōkaku in October 1942 and Yamato in December 1943 In February 1944 the Americans made a raid on Truk Operation Hailstone sinking and damaging many ships Akashi was damaged in these attacks and escaped to the Japanese atoll of Palau 1 Fate edit nbsp Akashi under attack on 30 March 1944 at Palau On 30 March 1944 while anchored off Urukthapel in the Palau Islands Akashi was hit numerous times by bombs and rockets from American aircraft from Task Group 58 during Operation Desecrate One She was sunk in shallow water with her bridge still remaining above the water 2 3 Ships in class editShip Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate Akashi 明石 Sasebo Naval Arsenal 18 January 1937 29 June 1938 31 July 1939 Sunk on 30 March 1944 salvaged and scrapped in 1954 54165417 Mihara 三原 Momotori 桃取 Mitsubishi Yokohama Shipyard Cancelled on 11 August 1943 Bibliography edit Rekishi Gunzō History of Pacific War Vol 51 The truth histories of the Japanese Naval Vessels part 2 Gakken Japan August 2005 ISBN 4 05 604083 4 Ships of the World special issue Vol 47 Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy Kaijinsha Japan March 1997 The Maru Special Japanese Naval Vessels No 34 Japanese Auxiliary vessels Ushio Shobō Japan December 1979 Senshi Sōsho Vol 31 Naval armaments and war preparation 1 Until November 1941 Asagumo Simbun Japan November 1969 Senshi Sōsho Vol 88 Naval armaments and war preparation 2 And after the outbreak of war Asagumo Simbun Japan October 1975References edit Japanese Repair Ships Morison Samuel Eliot 2001 History of United States Naval Operations in World War II New Guinea and the Marianas March 1944 August 1944 Vol 8 University of Illinois Press reprint pp 32 33 ISBN 978 0 252 07038 9 Google Books limited preview Belote James H Belote William M 1975 Titans of the seas the development and operations of Japanese and American carrier task forces during World War II New York Harper amp Row p 226 ISBN 978 0 06 010278 4 External links editTabular record of Akashi s movements Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Japanese repair ship Akashi amp oldid 1114696764, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
