Japanese fleet oiler Kazahaya explained

The was a Japanese fleet oiler, serving during the Second World War.

Construction

In 1941, the IJN wanted fleet oilers for their carrier task force, because they had only the eight old, low-speed tankers. The IJN prepared sixteen Kawasaki-type tankers to solve this. However, they did not have facilities for gasoline. The IJN intended to build four Kazahayas (Ship # 304-307). However, all naval arsenals were crowded at the outbreak of war. The IJN bought one of the same type of merchant tanker made by Harima with the Kazahaya naval budget.

Service

She succeeded in one transportation duty, and was sunk by submarines.

Ships in class

Ship #ShipBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedFate
304Harima Dock Company30 September 194120 January 194331 March 1943Sunk by USS Steelhead and USS Tinosa northwest of Truk 6 October 1943.
305Cancelled on 25 July 1943.
306Harima Dock Company1 February 1943Converted to the Hayasui class.
307Cancelled on 25 July 1943.
5381Cancelled on 5 May 1944.
5382
5383
5384
5385
5386
5387

Bibliography