The Sokuten-class minelayer (測天型敷設特務艇,, Sokuten-gata Fusetsu-Tokumutei) was a class of auxiliaryminelayers 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.
The IJN intended to update their mineboats for local guards.
Constructionedit
In 1911, the IJN built the first experimental boat Natsushima (Natsushima Maru). Natsushima attached importance to gun-fights. Therefore, she was equipped with two 3-inch (76 mm) 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 historyedit
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 classedit
Ship
Builder
Launched
Completed
Fate
Natsushima (夏島) (ex-Natsushima Maru)
Yokohama Dock Company
March 1911
June 1911
Renamed Nastushima on 1 July 1920. Sold on 27 August 1927. Later scrapped.
Sokuten (測天) (ex-Sokuten Maru No. 1)
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
March 1913
4 July 1913
Renamed Sokuten on 1 July 1920. Decommissioned on 25 August 1936.
Toshima (戸島) (ex-Toshima Maru)
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
October 1914
20 March 1915
Renamed Toshima on 1 July 1920. Sunk by aircraft at Maizuru on 30 July 1945.
Kuroshima (黒島) (ex-Kuroshima Maru)
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
October 1914
25 April 1915
Renamed Kuroshima on 1 July 1920. Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China on 3 October 1947. Decommissioned in 1960.
Ashizaki (葦埼) (ex-Ashizaki Maru)
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
October 1915
12 May 1916
Renamed Ashizaki on 1 July 1920. Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Aground at Kamikaifu on 17 November 1945. Later scrapped.
Katoku (加徳) (ex-Katoku Maru)
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
October 1915
4 April 1916
Renamed Katoku on 1 July 1920. Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States on 3 October 1947. Sold to Japan on 8 March 1948. Transferred to Maritime Safety Agency and given the pennant number PS-29 (later PB-29) on 1 May 1948. Decommissioned on 16 April 1952. Sold to Setonaikai Kisen inc., and renamed Tsurumi. Retired in 1970.
Entō (円島) (ex-Entō Maru)
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
March 1917
16 May 1917
Renamed Entō on 1 July 1920. Heavy damaged by aircraft at Fangliao on 15 January 1945, later sank in shallow water.
Kurokami (黒神) (ex-Kurokami Maru)
Kure Naval Arsenal
February 1917
1 May 1917
Renamed Kurokami on 1 July 1920. Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom on 14 November 1947. Later scrapped.
Katashima (片島) (ex-Katashima Maru)
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
February 1917
19 May 1917
Renamed Katashima on 1 July 1920. Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union on 3 October 1947. Transferred to PLAN in 1956 at Dalian.
Enoshima (江之島) (ex-Enoshima Maru)
Maizuru Naval Arsenal
31 March 1919
Renamed Enoshima on 1 July 1920. Decommissioned on 30 April 1946.
Ninoshima (似島)
Kure Naval Arsenal
May 1920
15 October 1920
Decommissioned on 30 November 1945.
Kurosaki (黒埼)
Uchida Zōsen
24 December 1921
Aground at Hachinohe on 18 November 1945. Later scrapped.
Washizaki (鷲埼) (ex-Minelayer No. 45)
Yokohama Iron Works
30 September 1921
Renamed Washizaki on 16 May 1926. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom on 24 November 1947. Later scrapped.
Photosedit
Natsushima (as Natsushima Maru) on 10 October 1912
"Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol. 51, "The truth histories of the Imperial Japanese Vessels Part-2", Gakken (Japan), June 2002, ISBN4-05-602780-3
Ships of the World special issue Vol. 45, Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), February 1996
The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No. 47, "Japanese naval mine warfare crafts", "Ushio Shobō". (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
May 03, 2024
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations October 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message The Sokuten class minelayer 測天型敷設特務艇 Sokuten gata Fusetsu Tokumutei 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 Kurosaki in 1934Class overview NameNatsushima Sokuten class BuildersKure Naval Arsenal Maizuru Naval Arsenal Uchida Zōsen Yokohama Iron Works Yokohama Dock Company OperatorsImperial Japanese Navy Japan Maritime Safety Agency Republic of China Navy Soviet Navy People s Liberation Army Navy Succeeded byTsubame class Built 1921 In commission1911 1970 Planned13 Completed13 Lost4 Retired9 General characteristics Natsushima TypeMinelayer Displacement405 long tons 411 t standard Propulsion2 three expansion stages reciprocating engines 1 water tube boiler 2 shafts 600 shp 450 kW Complement40 Armament2 Armstrong 3 in 76 mm L 40 guns General characteristics Sokuten class TypeMinelayer Displacement405 long tons 411 t standard Length45 7 m 149 ft 11 in Lpp Beam7 6 m 24 ft 11 in Draught2 3 m 7 ft 7 in Propulsion2 three expansion stages reciprocating engines 2 shafts 600 shp Enoshima and Kurosaki 1 Ikeda model water tube boiler all others 1 Kampon water tube boiler Speed12 knots 22 km h 14 mph EnduranceFuel 1 Sokuten and Toshima 30 tons coal Kuroshima Ashizaki Katoku and Entō 60 5 tons coal and after the Kurokami 70 tons coal Complement40 ArmamentSokuten 2 Armstrong 3 in L 40 guns all others 1 Type 41 76 2 mm 3 00 in L 40 naval gun 82 Mk 5 naval mines 18 depth charges Kurosaki 1945 1 Type 41 76 2 mm L 40 gun 2 Type 93 13 2 mm 0 52 in AA guns naval mines depth charges 2 depth charge projectors Contents 1 Background 2 Construction 3 Service history 4 Ships in class 5 Photos 6 Footnotes 7 BibliographyBackground editThe IJN intended to update their mineboats for local guards Construction editIn 1911 the IJN built the first experimental boat Natsushima Natsushima Maru Natsushima attached importance to gun fights Therefore she was equipped with two 3 inch 76 mm 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 editNatsushima 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 editShip Builder Launched Completed Fate Natsushima 夏島 ex Natsushima Maru Yokohama Dock Company March 1911 June 1911 Renamed Nastushima on 1 July 1920 Sold on 27 August 1927 Later scrapped Sokuten 測天 ex Sokuten Maru No 1 Maizuru Naval Arsenal March 1913 4 July 1913 Renamed Sokuten on 1 July 1920 Decommissioned on 25 August 1936 Toshima 戸島 ex Toshima Maru Maizuru Naval Arsenal October 1914 20 March 1915 Renamed Toshima on 1 July 1920 Sunk by aircraft at Maizuru on 30 July 1945 Kuroshima 黒島 ex Kuroshima Maru Maizuru Naval Arsenal October 1914 25 April 1915 Renamed Kuroshima on 1 July 1920 Decommissioned on 5 October 1945 Surrendered to Republic of China on 3 October 1947 Decommissioned in 1960 Ashizaki 葦埼 ex Ashizaki Maru Maizuru Naval Arsenal October 1915 12 May 1916 Renamed Ashizaki on 1 July 1920 Decommissioned on 5 October 1945 Aground at Kamikaifu on 17 November 1945 Later scrapped Katoku 加徳 ex Katoku Maru Maizuru Naval Arsenal October 1915 4 April 1916 Renamed Katoku on 1 July 1920 Decommissioned on 5 October 1945 Surrendered to United States on 3 October 1947 Sold to Japan on 8 March 1948 Transferred to Maritime Safety Agency and given the pennant number PS 29 later PB 29 on 1 May 1948 Decommissioned on 16 April 1952 Sold to Setonaikai Kisen inc and renamed Tsurumi Retired in 1970 Entō 円島 ex Entō Maru Maizuru Naval Arsenal March 1917 16 May 1917 Renamed Entō on 1 July 1920 Heavy damaged by aircraft at Fangliao on 15 January 1945 later sank in shallow water Kurokami 黒神 ex Kurokami Maru Kure Naval Arsenal February 1917 1 May 1917 Renamed Kurokami on 1 July 1920 Decommissioned on 5 October 1945 Surrendered to United Kingdom on 14 November 1947 Later scrapped Katashima 片島 ex Katashima Maru Maizuru Naval Arsenal February 1917 19 May 1917 Renamed Katashima on 1 July 1920 Decommissioned on 5 October 1945 Surrendered to Soviet Union on 3 October 1947 Transferred to PLAN in 1956 at Dalian Enoshima 江之島 ex Enoshima Maru Maizuru Naval Arsenal 31 March 1919 Renamed Enoshima on 1 July 1920 Decommissioned on 30 April 1946 Ninoshima 似島 Kure Naval Arsenal May 1920 15 October 1920 Decommissioned on 30 November 1945 Kurosaki 黒埼 Uchida Zōsen 24 December 1921 Aground at Hachinohe on 18 November 1945 Later scrapped Washizaki 鷲埼 ex Minelayer No 45 Yokohama Iron Works 30 September 1921 Renamed Washizaki on 16 May 1926 Decommissioned on 30 November 1945 Surrendered to United Kingdom on 24 November 1947 Later scrapped Photos edit nbsp Natsushima as Natsushima Maru on 10 October 1912 nbsp Enoshima in 1930Footnotes edit Editorial Committee of the Navy 1981 p 146Bibliography edit Rekishi Gunzō History of Pacific War Vol 51 The truth histories of the Imperial Japanese Vessels Part 2 Gakken Japan June 2002 ISBN 4 05 602780 3 Ships of the World special issue Vol 45 Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy Kaijinsha Japan February 1996 The Maru Special Japanese Naval Vessels No 47 Japanese naval mine warfare crafts Ushio Shobō 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sokuten class minelayer amp oldid 1208707401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
