No.1-class auxiliary minesweeper

Auxiliary Minesweeper No.1 in January 1942
Class overview
NameNo.1 class auxiliary minesweeper
Builders
Operators
Built1941–1943
In commission1942–1945 (IJN)
Planned22
Completed22
Lost7
Retired15
General characteristics
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement215 long tons (218 t) standard
Length33.00 m (108 ft 3 in) overall
Beam5.92 m (19 ft 5 in)
Draught2.29 m (7 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
  • 1 × Akasaka Model diesel
  • single shaft, 300 bhp
Speed9.5 knots (10.9 mph; 17.6 km/h)
Range1,500 nmi (2,800 km) at 9.5 kn (10.9 mph; 17.6 km/h)
Complement43
Armament

The No.1 class auxiliary minesweeper (第一号型掃海特務艇,, Dai Ichi Gō-gata Sōkai-Tokumutei) was a class of minesweepers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. 22 vessels were planned and built in 1941–43 under the Maru Rin Programme (Ship # 251–256) and the Maru Kyū Programme (Ship # 480–495).

Background

[edit]
  • In 1938, the IJN was troubled by drifting contact mines from the National Revolutionary Army at Yangtze River. The IJN dispatched a lot of minesweepers and paravane equipment vessels (minelayers, torpedo boats and more) to Yangtze River, but they were damaged by a drifting contact mines too.
  • The IJN wanted a small and light-footed minesweepers. The IJN already commandeered a lot of fishing boats and gave minesweeping operations to them. The Kampon designed minesweeper similar to the trawlers. It is No.1-class auxiliary minesweeper (Project Number I5).
  • They have begun to be commissioned from 1942. However, all of them was dispatched to Pacific front, and they were no match for the magnetic mine because their hull was made by steel.

Ships in class

[edit]
Ship # Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
251 Aux. Minesweeper No.1[1] Ōsaka Iron Works 30 June 1941 9 November 1941 31 January 1942 Sunk by air raid off Savo Island on 4 May 1942. Decommissioned on 25 May 1942.
252 Aux. Minesweeper No.2 Ōsaka Iron Works 30 June 1941 9 November 1941 28 February 1942 Sunk by air raid off Savo Island on 4 May 1942. Decommissioned on 25 May 1942.
253 Aux. Minesweeper No.3 Ōsaka Iron Works 20 June 1941 31 March 1942 30 May 1942 MIA on 24 July 1945.[2] Decommissioned on 3 May 1947.
254 Aux. Minesweeper No.4 Naniwa Dock Company 20 June 1941 19 March 1942 29 June 1942 Sunk by air raid off Timor Island 08°38′S 125°26′E / 8.633°S 125.433°E / -8.633; 125.433 on 19 July 1944. Decommissioned on 10 September 1944.
255 Aux. Minesweeper No.5 Ōsaka Iron Works 20 June 1941 31 March 1942 30 June 1942 Survived war at Chuuk Islands. Decommissioned in 1947.[3]
256 Aux. Minesweeper No.6 Naniwa Dock Company 20 February 1942 18 July 1942 30 October 1942 Sunk by air raid at Yamada Bay on 10 August 1945. Decommissioned on 20 October 1945.
480 Aux. Minesweeper No.7 Ōsaka Iron Works 10 February 1942 16 July 1942 28 December 1942 Survived war at Singapore. Surrendered to United Kingdom in July 1946.[3] Decommissioned in 1947.[3]
481 Aux. Minesweeper No.8 Ōsaka Iron Works 10 February 1942 16 July 1942 31 January 1943 Sunk by air raid at Visayan Sea 11°30′N 123°20′E / 11.500°N 123.333°E / 11.500; 123.333 on 21 October 1944. Decommissioned on 10 May 1945.
482 Aux. Minesweeper No.9 Namura Shipbuilding 20 March 1942 15 August 1942 30 November 1942 Survived war at Singapore. Surrendered to United Kingdom in July 1946.[3] Decommissioned in 1947.[3]
483 Aux. Minesweeper No.10 Sanoyasu Dock Company 3 March 1942 19 August 1942 30 November 1942 Sunk by USN destroyer off Vigan on 12 January 1945. Decommissioned on 10 May 1945.
484 Aux. Minesweeper No.11 Naniwa Dock Company 6 April 1942 30 August 1942 24 February 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom on 14 November 1947.
485 Aux. Minesweeper No.12 Naniwa Dock Company 7 September 1942 27 December 1942 31 March 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union on 3 October 1947.
486 Aux. Minesweeper No.13 Hitachi Zōsen 21 July 1942 25 January 1943 14 April 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United States on 1 October 1947. Sunk as target at 35°10′N 123°52′E / 35.167°N 123.867°E / 35.167; 123.867 on 12 February 1948.[4]
487 Aux. Minesweeper No.14 Hitachi Zōsen 21 July 1942 25 January 1943 14 May 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China on 3 October 1947 and renamed Sao Lei 201. Defected to People's Liberation Army on 17 February 1949 and renamed Qiu Feng. Decommissioned in 1976.
488 Aux. Minesweeper No.15 Namura Shipbuilding 29 August 1942 25 January 1943 30 April 1943 Survived war.[5] Decommissioned on 30 November 1945.
489 Aux. Minesweeper No.16 Sanoyasu Dock Company 24 August 1942 19 December 1942 31 March 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom on 14 November 1947.
490 Aux. Minesweeper No.17 Naniwa Dock Company 7 September 1942 12 March 1943 28 May 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union on 3 October 1947.
491 Aux. Minesweeper No.18 Namura Shipbuilding 15 February 1943 16 May 1943 31 July 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United States on 3 October 1947. Sunk as target at 35°16′N 123°20′E / 35.267°N 123.333°E / 35.267; 123.333 on 21 January 1948.[4]
492 Aux. Minesweeper No.19 Sanoyasu Dock Company 25 December 1942 25 March 1943 30 June 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China on 3 October 1947 and renamed Sao Lei 202. Renamed Jiang Yong (YP-542) in 1952. Decommissioned in 1968. Scrapped.
493 Aux. Minesweeper No.20 Naniwa Dock Company 5 February 1943 27 April 1943 31 July 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union on 3 October 1947.
494 Aux. Minesweeper No.21 Hitachi Zōsen 16 October 1942 11 March 1943 15 June 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United States on 1 October 1947. Sunk as target at 35°24′N 123°56′E / 35.400°N 123.933°E / 35.400; 123.933 on 30 October 1947.[4]
495 Aux. Minesweeper No.22 Namura Shipbuilding 20 May 1943 5 July 1943 20 October 1943 Survived war. Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China on 3 October 1947 and renamed Sao Lei 203. Renamed Jiang Yi (YP-541) in 1952. Decommissioned in 1968. Scrapped.

Photos

[edit]
  • Auxiliary Minesweeper No.11 on 24 February 1943 at Osaka Bay.
    Auxiliary Minesweeper No.11 on 24 February 1943 at Osaka Bay.
  • ROCS Sao Lei 202 in 1947.
    ROCS Sao Lei 202 in 1947.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Auxiliary Minesweeper No.1 (第一号掃海特務艇, Dai 1 Gō Sōkai-Tokumutei). The same shall apply hereinafter.
  2. ^ One opinion: Sunk by USN carrier task force off Surabaya.
  3. ^ a b c d e Detailed date was unidentified.
  4. ^ a b c Disposition of U.S. Share of Japanese Naval Vessels, Report on. [File: CNFE/OS-15/L11-3]
  5. ^ Another opinion: Exploded and sunk by cause unknown at Jinhae on 14 August 1945.

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.45, Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), 1996.
  • The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.50, Japanese minesweepers and landing ships, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan), 1981.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=No.1-class_auxiliary_minesweeper&oldid=1170774461"