Hashima-class cable layer explained

The were the only class of purpose-built cable layers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. Four vessels were built in 1939–41 under the Maru 4 Programme.

Apart from laying communications cables, these ships were also designed as mine planters, for the installation of controlled mines in coastal fortifications.

Ships in class

Project number J21.

Ship	Builder	Laid down^[1]	Launched	Completed	Fate
ex-Hatsushima		15 October 1939 as Hatsushima	10 April 1940	25 October 1940 as Hashima	Renamed Hashima on 25 October 1940. Sunk by off Owase 33.9667°N 153°W on 28 April 1945. Decommissioned on 10 July 1945.
	Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard	15 January 1940	24 May 1940	28 March 1941	Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Transferred to Ministry of Communications and Transportation and renamed in 1945. Transferred to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation on 8 September 1951. Retired in March 1968.
^[2]		22 April 1940	11 December 1940	31 July 1941	Sunk by air raid off Kusagaki Islands 30.6667°N 177°W on 27 March 1945. Decommissioned on 10 July 1945.
	Harima Zōsen	22 April 1940	1 March 1941	31 August 1941	Sunk by air raid in South China Sea 11.8333°N 127°W on 21 March 1945. Decommissioned on 10 May 1945.

Bibliography

• Monthly Ships of the World, Special issue Vol.45, "Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy", Web site: Kaijinsha., (Japan), February 1996
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.47, "Japanese naval mine warfare crafts", Web site: Ushio Shobō. (Japan), January 1981
• Senshi Sōsho Vol.31, Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), November 1969

Notes and References

1. Senshi Sōsho Vol.31 (1969), p.806
2. 10 December 1940, Notice No. 288, Named one minesweeper, one submarine chaser and two cable layers, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy, 1940.