The Etorofu class was an improved version of the preceding with a greater emphasis on anti-submarine warfare. The ships measured 77.72m (254.99feet) overall, with a beam of 9.1m (29.9feet) and a draft of 3.05m (10.01feet).[1] They displaced 870sp=usNaNsp=us at standard load and 1020sp=usNaNsp=us at deep load. The ships had two diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft, which were rated at a total of 4200bhp for a speed of 19.7kn. The ships had a range of 8000nmi at a speed of .[2]
The main armament of the Etorofu class consisted of three Type 3 1201NaN1 guns in single mounts, one superfiring pair aft and one mount forward of the superstructure. They were built with four Type 96 251NaN1 anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts, but the total was increased to 15 guns by August 1943. 36 depth charges were stowed aboard initially, but this later increased by August 1943 to 60 depth charges with a Type 97 811NaN1 trench mortar[2] and six depth charge throwers. They received Type 22 and Type 13 radars and Type 93 sonar in 1943–44.
Matsuwa was launched by Mitsui, Tumano, on 19 April 1942 and completed on 1 April 1943. On 2 August 1944, she was torpedoed and sunk by the submarine in Hidai Bay.[2]