Type C escort ship explained

The were a class of escort ships in the service of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The Japanese called them "Type C" ocean defense ships, and they were the fifth class of Kaibōkan (Kai = sea, ocean, Bo = defense, Kan = ship), a name used to denote a multi-purpose vessel.[1]

Background

The Type C, like the and es, were dedicated to the anti-aircraft and anti-submarine roles.

On 22 April 1943, the Navy General Staff decided a mass production of escort ships, because of the urgent need to protect the convoys which were under constant attack. The plan was to build a basic escort ship of around 800 tons, with a simple design for easy construction. The first designs, for "Type A" and "Type B", still needed too many man-hours for building, so in June 1943, the Navy General Staff planned for a simplified design. The result was the, and a scaled-down model of the Mikura class, which became the "Type C" and "Type D" escort classes.

Design

Because of Japan's deteriorating war situation, the Type C was a further simplification of the Ukuru design. They were smaller by 200 tons and the diesel engines that propelled them were also smaller, at 1900shp versus for the Ukurus. Because of the decrease in engine power, the speed fell from 19.5kn to . The range remained the same, 6500nmi at . The number of 4.7adj=onNaNadj=on guns went from three to two. The number of depth charges aboard was the same, 120, but the number of depth charge throwers was decreased from 18 to 12 and the depth charge chutes were decreased from two to one.

Due to the simplifications of the design, a significant saving was made in construction time. The Type C escorts required approximately 20,000 man-hours each, compared to the 35,000 man-hours of the Ukurus and the 57,000 man-hours of the Mikuras.

Construction

The design work of the Type C ships started in March 1943, the same time as the Ukuru class. They were built concurrently with the Ukuru class and the Type D. The Type C vessels were given odd numbers, while the Type D were given even numbers. The Type C were constructed using prefabricated sections that enabled them to be built in as little as three to four months. The lead ship, No.1 (CD-1) was constructed at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, laid down on 15 September 1943, and completed with No.3 (CD-3) on 29 February 1944.

Service

The Type C escorts were assigned to the Destroyer Divisions and Escort Divisions for convoy escort operations. However, by 1944 the advantage had passed to the US, and many Type C vessels became casualties as the Japanese merchant fleet was devastated by the American submarine offensive. There were 53 finished during the war of the 300 planned, and several completed after World War II ended. 26 were sunk during the war.

Successes against submarines

Ships in class

Under the Wartime Naval Armaments Supplement Programme, it was proposed to build 300 Type C and 200 Type D escorts. These were assigned the Programme numbers #2401-#2700 for the Type C vessels, with #2701-#2900 for the Type D vessels. In view of the vast number intended, no names were allocated, but only numbers; odd numbers from No.1 upwards were assigned to Type C escorts, while even numbers from No.2 upwards were assigned to Type D escorts.

The first 132 of the Type C escorts were authorised under the 1943 Fiscal Year, but just 53 were completed and the others cancelled. The remaining 168 Type C vessels were authorised under the 1944 Fiscal Year, but no contracts were ever issued.

Prog.
No.		ShipBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedFate
  1. 2401
No.1Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard15 September 194329 December 194329 February 1944Sunk by USAAF aircraft south of Xiamen, 6 April 1945.
  1. 2402
No.3Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard15 September 194329 December 194329 February 1944Sunk by USN aircraft northwest of Keelung, 9 January 1945.
  1. 2403
No.5Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard23 October 194315 January 194419 March 1944Sunk by USN aircraft west of Masinloc, 21 September 1944.
  1. 2404
No.7Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard23 October 194318 January 194410 March 1944Sunk by USS Ray west of Vigan City, 14 November 1944. Rebuilt in Jiangnan Shipyard, recommissioned as PLAN FFG Nanning. Decommissioned 1979.
  1. 2405
No.9Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard15 October 194315 January 194410 March 1944Sunk by in Yellow Sea, 14 February 1945.
  1. 2406
No.11Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard15 October 194315 January 194415 March 1944Heavy damaged by USAAF aircraft in Ormoc Bay, 10 November 1944. Later scuttled.
  1. 2407
No.13Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard18 November 19439 February 19443 April 1944Sunk by USS Torsk at south of Hyōgo, 14 August 1945.
  1. 2408
No.15Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard18 November 194321 February 19448 April 1944Sunk by USS Raton to west of Spratly Island, 6 June 1944.
  1. 2409
No.17Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard15 December 194326 February 194413 April 1944Sunk by USN aircraft off Saint Jacques, 12 January 1945.
  1. 2410
No.19Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard15 December 194328 February 194428 April 1944Sunk by USN aircraft off Saint Jacques, 12 January 1945.
  1. 2411
No.21Nihonkai Dock Company1 December 194331 March 194418 July 1944Sunk by USS Seahorse to east of Pratas Island, 6 October 1944.
  1. 2412
No.23Nihonkai Dock Company10 February 194420 May 194415 September 1944Sunk by USN aircraft at north of Qui Nhon Bay, 12 January 1945.
  1. 2413
No.25Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard1 February 194414 May 19442 July 1944Sunk by USS Springer in Yellow Sea, 3 May 1945.
  1. 2414
No.27Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard16 February 19443 June 194420 July 1944Decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 14 August 1947. Later scrapped.
  1. 2415
No.29Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard2 March 194426 June 19448 August 1944Decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Scrapped on 1 March 1948.
  1. 2416
No.31Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard3 March 19444 July 194421 August 1944Sunk by USS Tirante in Yellow Sea, 14 April 1945.
  1. 2417
No.33Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard26 May 194422 July 194431 August 1944Sunk by USN aircraft to east of Aoshima, 28 March 1945.
  1. 2418
No.35Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard30 May 19443 September 194411 October 1944Sunk by USN aircraft at south of French Indochina, 12 January 1945.
  1. 2419
No.37Nihonkai Dock Company5 April 19445 August 19443 November 1944Decommissioned on 15 September 1945. Surrendered to United States, 4 September 1947. Scrapped on 30 November 1947.
  1. 2420
No.39Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard10 June 194413 August 194427 September 1944Sunk by USAAF aircraft off Geoje Island, 7 August 1945.
  1. 2421
No.41Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard1 July 19448 September 194416 October 1944Sunk by USS Sea Owl at Tsushima Strait, 9 June 1945.
  1. 2422
No.43Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard10 April 194422 June 194431 July 1944Sunk by USN aircraft off Cape Padaran, 12 January 1945.
  1. 2423
No.45Nihonkai Dock Company25 May 19445 October 194423 December 1944Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Scrapped on 30 April 1948.
  1. 2424
No.47Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard15 July 194429 September 19442 November 1944Sunk by USS Torsk at south of Hyōgo, 14 August 1945.
  1. 2425
No.49Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard31 July 194415 October 194416 November 1944Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United States, 1 September 1947. Scrapped on 1 February 1948.
  1. 2426
No.51Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard1 May 194420 August 194421 September 1944Sunk by USN aircraft to north of Qui Nhon Bay, 12 January 1945.
  1. 2427
No.53Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard15 August 194429 October 194428 November 1944Sunk by USS Bergall east of Cam Ranh Bay, 7 February 1945.
  1. 2428
No.55Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard20 August 19444 November 194420 December 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 16 July 1947. Later scrapped.
  1. 2429
No.57Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard10 September 194415 November 194413 January 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Converted to breakwater at Ube, May 1948.
  1. 2430
No.59Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard25 September 194422 November 19442 February 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Collided with Hyūga and sunk at Kure, 30 July 1946. Salvaged and scrapped on 9 November 1947.
  1. 2431
No.61Maizuru Naval Arsenal1 April 194425 July 194415 September 1944Decommissioned on 3 May 1947. Later scrapped.
  1. 2432
No.63Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard1 July 194420 September 194415 October 1944Decommissioned on 30 September 1945. Scrapped on 30 April 1948.
  1. 2433
No.65Nihonkai Dock Company10 August 194430 November 194413 February 1945Sunk by USN aircraft at Muroran, 14 July 1945. Salvaged and scrapped in July 1947.
  1. 2434
No.67Maizuru Naval Arsenal15 June 194415 September 194412 November 1944Decommissioned on 25 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China, 6 July 1947, and renamed Yingkan. Renamed Rui'an (PF-73) 1952. Decommissioned 1963.
  1. 2435
No.69Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard24 August 194428 November 194420 December 1944Heavy damaged by USAAF aircraft off Hainan Island, 9 March 1945. Sank on 16 March 1945.
  1. 2436
No.71Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard5 October 19443 December 194412 March 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 28 August 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-43 (1947), oceanographic research ship West (1948), renamed Ostrovnoy (1953). Decommissioned on 31 January 1964 and scrapped.
  1. 2437
No.73Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard8 October 194410 December 19445 April 1945Sunk by USS Sunfish at southeast of Iwate, 16 April 1945.
  1. 2438
No.75Nihonkai Dock Company18 October 194420 February 194521 April 1945Sunk (probably by mine) off Nō 10 August 1945.
  1. 2439
No.77Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard2 November 194418 December 194431 March 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 28 August 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-45 (1947), target ship TsL-45 (1948), repair ship PM-63 (1955). Decommissioned on 25 January 1969 and scrapped.
  1. 2440
No.79Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard6 November 194430 December 19446 May 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 29 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-39 (1947), target ship TsL-39 (1948), oceanographic research ship Sozh (1949). Decommissioned on 30 August 1960 and scrapped.
  1. 2441
No.81Maizuru Naval Arsenal7 August 194415 October 194415 December 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China, 29 August 1947, and renamed Yuan. Escape to People's Liberation Army 13 February 1949, and renamed Shengyang. Decommissioned 1980.
  1. 2442
No.83Kyōwa Zōsen and Naniwa Dock Company194416 January 1945-Still incomplete at the end of war (85%). Scrapped on 17 March 1948.
  1. 2443
No.85Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard20 November 194427 January 194531 May 1945Decommissioned on 25 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 6 July 1947, and renamed Shian. Escape to People's Liberation Army 23 April 1949. Sunk by aircraft at Yanziji, 28 April 1949.
  1. 2444
No.87Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard27 November 194415 February 194520 May 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States, 29 July 1947. Scrapped on 1 March 1948.
  1. 2445
No.89Nihonkai Dock Company19443 May 1945-Incomplete until the end of war (95%). Scrapped in November 1947.
  1. 2446
No.91---Cancelled in August 1944.
  1. 2447
No.93Kyōwa Zōsen20 May 1944--Company was closed and construction stopped in May 1945. Later scrapped.
  1. 2448
No.95Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard27 November 194414 April 19454 July 1945Decommissioned on 15 September 1945. Scrapped on 20 July 1948.
  1. 2449
No.97Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard5 October 194425 May 194516 December 1945Surrendered incomplete in August 1945. Decommissioned on 1 April 1946. Scrapped on 27 October 1947.
  1. 2450
No.99---Cancelled in August 1944.
  1. 2451
No.101Kyōwa Zōsen8 September 1944--Company was closed and construction stopped in May 1945. Later scrapped.
  1. 2452
No.103---Cancelled in August 1944.
  1. 2453
No.105Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard24 December 1944January 194615 April 1946Surrendered to Soviet Union, 5 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-34 (1947), target ship TsL-34 (1948), oceanographic research ship Khersones (1949). Decommissioned on 3 December 1960 and scrapped.
  1. 2454
No.107Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard3 January 194516 March 194630 May 1946Surrendered to Republic of China 29 August 1947, and renamed Chaoan (PF-74). Decommissioned 1963.
  1. 2455
No.109Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard26 January 1945--Construction stopped on 1 April 1945. Later scrapped.
  1. 2456
    #2457
    #2458
No.111
No.113
No.115		---Cancelled in August 1944.
  1. 2459
No.117Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard1 February 1945--Construction stopped in March 1945. Later scrapped.
  1. 2460 to #2502
Odd numbers from No.119 to No.203---Cancelled in August 1944.
  1. 2503
No.205Nihonkai Dock Company10 May 194415 August 194430 October 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 31 July 1947, and renamed Chinan (PF-75). Decommissioned 1960.
  1. 2504
No.207Naniwa Dock Company17 May 194424 August 194415 October 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States, 4 July 1947. Sunk as target at, 13 August 1947.
  1. 2505
    #2506
No.209
No.211		---Cancelled in August 1944.
  1. 2507
No.213Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard24 September 194415 January 194512 February 1945Sunk by naval mine at Busan, 18 August 1945.
  1. 2508
No.215Niigata Iron Works20 July 194410 November 194430 December 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 6 July 1947, and renamed Liaohai. Transferred to Army, 1948. Returned to Navy, 1953. Decommissioned 1960.
  1. 2509
No.217Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard1 December 194426 February 1945 17 July 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 5 September 1947. Scrapped on 10 February 1948.
  1. 2510
No.219Naniwa Dock Company2 September 194430 November 1944 25 January 1945Sunk by USAAF aircraft at Hakodate, 12 July 1945.
  1. 2511
No.221Niigata Iron Works, Osaka11 September 194426 December 19442 April 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 29 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-40 (1947), target ship TsL-40 (1948), rescue ship Zhiguli (1949). Decommissioned on 11 March 1958 and scrapped.
  1. 2512
No.223Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard19444 July 1945-Construction stopped on 23 May 1945 (50%). Scrapped on 23 October 1947.
  1. 2513
No.225Niigata Iron Works22 November 194426 March 194528 May 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Scrapped on 30 April 1948.
  1. 2514
No.227Naniwa Dock Company, Osaka5 December 194410 February 194515 June 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 5 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-35 (1947), target ship TsL-35 (1948), oceanographic research ship Siurkum (1949)/ Decommissioned on 11 March 1958 and scrapped.
  1. 2515
No.229Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard16 January 1945--Construction stopped in January 1945. Later scrapped.
  1. 2516
    #2517
No.231
No.233		---Cancelled in August 1944.
  1. 2518
No.235Niigata Iron Works15 February 1945--Construction stopped in February 1945. Later scrapped.
  1. 2519 to #2532
Odd numbers from No.237 to No.263---Cancelled between August 1944 and March 1945.
  1. 2533 to #2700
168 vesselsThey were projected only, and never ordered.

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Worth P. 208
  2. Web site: U.S. Submarines Lost through Enemy Action and through Accidents . www.history.navy.mil . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20000511033455/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq39-1.htm . 2000-05-11.

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