Kinesaki-class food supply ship explained

The was a class of four reefer ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during and after World War II. Eleven vessels were planned under the Maru 4 Programme, Maru Rin Programme (Ship #261 - 263), and Kai-Maru 5 Programme (Ship #5401 - 5407); however, only four vessels were completed.

Construction

In 1939, the IJN planned two food supply ships for the China Area Fleet under the Maru 4 Programme. One was the 600-ton type Nosaki (initially named Support ship No. 4007), the other the 1,000-ton type Kinesaki (initially named Support ship No. 4006). The Navy then ordered several more ships to the design of the Kinesaki; these became the Hayasaki, Shirasaki, and Arasaki. The Navy intended to order several more ships of this design by 1942, but Japan's worsening situation in the war by this stage led to the abandonment of these plans.

Service

The Kinesaki served in the Central Pacific Area, the Hayasaki in the Southwest Area, the Shirasaki in the Northeast Area, and the Arasaki in the Southeast Area. They also undertook convoy escort operations. The Kinesaki was sunk in March 1945, while the other ships of the class survived the war.

Ships in class

Ship #ShipBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedFate

(ex-Nanshin 南進)
(ex-Support ship No. 4006)
Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory7 March 1940
as Support ship No. 4006
27 June 194030 September 1940Renamed Nanshin on 25 October 1940. Renamed Kinesaki on 1 April 1942. Sunk by air raid at Amami Ōshima on 1 March 1945.
261Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory2 December 194121 May 194231 August 1942Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to the Soviet Union on 3 October 1947 at Nakhodka.
262Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory18 May 19425 November 194230 January 1943Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to the Republic of China on 3 October 1947 at Qingdao, renamed Wu Ling (AKL-311). Decommissioned on 1 May 1970.
263Hitachi Zōsen, Sakurajima Factory10 November 194227 February 194329 May 1943Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to the United States on 3 October 1947 at Qingdao, sold to Japan that same day. Transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and renamed in April 1948. Sold to the Philippines in April 1967.
5401
5402
5403
5404
5405
5406
5407






Cancelled on 5 May 1944.[1]

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Senshi Sōsho Vol. 88 (1975), p. 95.