No.101-class landing ship explained

The were a class of amphibious assault ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), serving during and after World War II. The No.101 class ships were powered by diesel engines, while the similar were powered by a steam turbine engine. The IJN called them . The No.103 class included the IJA's ^[1] variant. This article handles them collectively.

Background

• In June 1943, after its defeat in the Guadalcanal Campaign, the IJN realized it needed high-speed military transport vessels, and designed two classes of ship in response. One (the) was to be the 1,500-ton mothership of the and Kō-hyōteki-class submarines, the other was to be a 900-ton amphibious assault ship, the No.101 class.
• The IJA already had an amphibious assault ship, the . However, the SS craft were not suitable for mass-production, leading to IJA support for the new amphibious assault ships.
• The IJN and IJA therefore cooperated on the production of the new amphibious assault ships with the IJN providing design and shipyards while the IJA offered mineral resources.

Design

• The IJN had obtained information regarding Operation Torch from Germany, including some photographs and sketches of the LCT Mk.V.
• In August 1943, the Navy Technical Department (Kampon) studied these and finished a basic design. It was a scaled-up model of the LCT.
• In September 1943, the Kampon entrusted the detailed design to the Kure Naval Arsenal. The Kure Naval Arsenal completed this within two months, and the No.101 was laid down in November 1943.

Construction

• The Kampon designed a new turbine engine^[2] for this class. However, it was not ready in time for the first 6 vessels. The Kampon therefore installed the wartime standard diesel engine in the first 6 vessels. The IJN called them No.101 class or SB (D). Turbine engines were available in time for the remaining production, which the IJN designated the No.103 class or SB (T). Completed vessels were split between the IJN and IJA.
• The IJA received 32 vessels from the No.103 class, however the IJA had difficulties with the steam turbines engine and returned 10 vessels ^[3] to the IJN.
• Several No.103 and SB class vessels were converted to use coal-fired boilers in January 1945. Detailed construction records do not exist, but photographic evidence confirms the conversion of No.147, SB No.101 and SB No.108 with the presence of a tall funnel.

Navy service

• Most of the Navy vessels took part in the Battle of Leyte, where 18 of them were lost. Most, however, succeeded in landing their tanks and troops.
• Only 9 vessels survived the war.

Army service

• As of 2009 a detailed record of the vessels in the Army service is not known to exist in Japan.
• The armaments were not standardized.
• The IJA let ten SB craft participate in the Philippines Campaign. Their actions were limited to the Luzon northern coast, Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands. The IJA lost only one SB craft.
• After the Philippines Campaign, the SB craft were used only in the Japanese mainland peripheral sea area.

Ships in classes

No.101 class

Ship	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
	Ōsaka Zōsen	01-12-1943	25-01-1944	08-03-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Ormoc Bay, 28-10-1944.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	15-12-1843	08-02-1944	15-03-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west of Negros, 26-10-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	21-10-1943	13-01-1944	28-02-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Ticao Island, 25-09-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	10-11-1943	10-02-1944	18-03-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Morotai, 04-06-1944.
	Hitachi Zōsen	01-11-1943	25-12-1943	20-02-1944	Converted to miscellaneous service ship (traffic boat) and renamed on 10-02-1945. Sunk by USN submarine off Sumatra on 01-06-1945.
	Hitachi Zōsen	28-12-1943	27-01-1944	10-03-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Palau, 27-07-1944.

No.103 class

Ship	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
	Ōsaka Zōsen	28-01-1944	09-03-1944	01-05-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Iwo Jima, 04-07-1944.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	12-02-1944	25-03-1944	25-05-1944	Sunk by aircraft west of Luzon, 15-12-1944.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	12-03-1944	12-04-1944	15-06-1944	Sunk by south of Omaezaki, 11-10-1944
	Ōsaka Zōsen	28-03-1944	25-04-1944	30-06-1944	Completed as Army SB No.120 at first. Sunk by aircraft at Lingayen Gulf, 15-12-1944.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	15-04-1944	21-05-1944	20-07-1944	Completed as Army SB No.123 at first. Sunk by USN destroyer west of Haha-jima, 05-01-1945.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	28-04-1944	25-05-1944	31-07-1944	Completed as Army SB No.125 at first. Decommissioned 03-05-1947. Surrendered to United Kingdom at Singapore, 17-10-1947.
No.109	Ōsaka Zōsen			15-08-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	28-05-1944	23-06-1944	05-09-1944	Completed as Army SB craft at first. Decommissioned 15-09-1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom at Singapore, 17-10-1947.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	13-06-1944	10-07-1944	15-09-1944	Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft at Masbate, 24-11-1944.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	26-06-1944	22-07-1944	05-10-1944	Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft west of Luzon, 07-01-1945.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	13-07-1944	08-08-1944	15-10-1944	Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft west of Luzon, 25-11-1944.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	25-07-1944	20-08-1944	30-10-1944	Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft off Taiwan, 17-02-1945.
	Ōsaka Zōsen	12-08-1944	07-09-1944	13-11-1944	Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft north of Luzon, 02-02-1945.
No.116	Ōsaka Zōsen			24-11-1944	Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.103.
No.117	Ōsaka Zōsen			22-12-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.118	Ōsaka Zōsen			30-12-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.119	Ōsaka Zōsen			16-01-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.120	Ōsaka Zōsen			05-02-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.121	Ōsaka Zōsen			20-02-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.122	Ōsaka Zōsen			22-03-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.123	Ōsaka Zōsen			22-03-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.124	Ōsaka Zōsen			08-05-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.125	Ōsaka Zōsen				Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.127. Not completed until the end of war.
No.126	Ōsaka Zōsen				Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.128. Not completed until the end of war.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	10-12-1943	25-02-1944	12-05-1944	Sunk by in the Banda Sea, 14-08-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	20-01-1944	05-04-1944	03-06-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Iwo Jima, 04-07-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	05-02-1944	23-04-1944	24-06-1944	Converted to miscellaneous service ship (traffic boat) and renamed on 10-02-1945. Sunk by USN submarine in the Strait of Malacca on 27-07-1945.^[4]
	Kawanami Kōgyō	25-02-1944	05-05-1944	28-06-1944	Sunk by USN destroyer at Iwo Jima, 27-12-1944.
	Sasebo Naval Arsenal	10-04-1944	07-06-1944	04-07-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Iwo Jima, 04-08-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	10-04-1944	15-06-1944	15-07-1945	Scuttled by stormy weather at Iwo Jima, 04-10-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	28-04-1944	26-06-1944	25-07-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 18-10-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	10-05-1944	15-07-1944	20-08-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 18-10-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	01-06-1944	20-07-1944	28-08-1944	Decommissioned 05-10-1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union at Nakhodka, 03-10-1947.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	18-06-1944	03-08-1944	04-09-1944	Sunk by off Iwo Jima, 26-10-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	05-07-1944	18-08-1944	25-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 12-11-1944.
	Sasebo Naval Arsenal	26-07-1944	16-09-1944	14-10-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Saigon, 13-01-1945.
	Sasebo Naval Arsenal	29-07-1944	16-09-1944	19-10-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Masbate, 24-11-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	01-08-1944	20-09-1944	02-11-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 25-11-1944.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	14-08-1944	03-10-1944	25-11-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Penghu, 26-03-1945.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	20-08-1944	20-10-1944	01-12-1944	Decommissioned 05-10-1945, later scrapped.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	05-09-1944	15-11-1944	16-12-1944	Sunk by USN aircraft at Amami Ōshima, 02-04-1945.^[5]
	Kawanami Kōgyō	24-09-1944	30-11-1944	30-12-1944	Sunk by south of Gotō Islands, 28-04-1945.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	06-10-1944	15-12-1944	25-01-1945	Decommissioned 15-09-1945. Surrendered to United States at Yokosuka, 13-11-1947. Scrapped 31-03-1948.
No.148	Kawanami Kōgyō			31-01-1945	Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.113.
	Hitachi Zōsen	29-01-1944	27-02-1944	23-04-1944	Sunk by north of Palawan, 23-11-1944.
	Hitachi Zōsen	29-02-1944	24-03-1944	25-05-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Iwo Jima, 04-08-1944.
	Hitachi Zōsen	15-02-1944	08-04-1944	15-06-1944	Decommissioned 30-11-1945. Scrapped 1948.
	Hitachi Zōsen	26-03-1944	23-04-1944	05-07-1944	Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by USN destroyer at Iwo Jima, 05-01-1945.
No.155	Hitachi Zōsen			19-07-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.156	Hitachi Zōsen			05-08-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
	Hitachi Zōsen	12-05-1944	06-09-1944	19-08-1944	Sunk by USN destroyer at Iwo Jima, 24-12-1944.
	Hitachi Zōsen	24-05-1944	23-06-1944	04-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Naha, 10-10-1944.
	Hitachi Zōsen	10-06-1944	08-07-1944	16-09-1944	Sunk by a bombardment of US Army tanks and artillery at Ormoc Bay, 12-12-1944.
	Hitachi Zōsen	01-07-1944	08-08-1944	30-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Masbate, 24-11-1944.
	Hitachi Zōsen	09-07-1944	22-08-1944	14-10-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 25-11-1944.
No.162	Hitachi Zōsen			23-10-1944	Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.101. Scrapped April 1948.
No.163	Hitachi Zōsen			31-10-1944	Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.102.
No.164	Ōsaka Zōsen	11-04-1945			Construction stopped; later scrapped.
No.165	Ōsaka Zōsen	28-04-1945			Construction stopped; later scrapped.
6 vessels					They were cancelled before being named.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	24-11-1944	27-01-1945	10-03-1945	Decommissioned 15-09-1945. Surrendered to Republic of China at Qingdao, 03-10-1947. Renamed Lui Shan (AP-308). Decommissioned 1955.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	08-12-1944	15-02-1945	01-04-1945	Sunk by aircraft at Ryukyu Islands, 22-05-1945.
	Kawanami Kōgyō	03-01-1945	15-03-1945	14-07-1945	Decommissioned 20-11-1945; scrapped in 1948.
No.175	Kawanami Kōgyō	02-02-1945	11-04-1945		Construction stopped 11-04-1945. Sunk by typhoon 15-09-1945; scrapped on 01-10-1948.
No.176	Kawanami Kōgyō	22-02-1945	25-06-1945		Construction stopped 25-06-1945; later scrapped.
7 vessels					They were cancelled before being named.
No.184	Hitachi Zōsen			30-11-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.185	Hitachi Zōsen			10-12-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.186	Hitachi Zōsen			24-12-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.187	Hitachi Zōsen			13-01-1945	Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.114. Scrapped May 1948.
No.188	Hitachi Zōsen			29-01-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
15 vessels					Cancelled before being named.

See also

• Landing Ship, Tank
• Landing Ship Medium
• Landing craft tank
• Landing Craft Utility
• SS-class landing ship
• Daihatsu-class landing craft

Footnotes

1. The SB meaning are S = Sensha, and B = Kaigun.
2. The all geared turbine.
3. The No.106, No.107, No.108, No.110, No.111, No.112, No.113, No.114, No.115 and No.154.
4. Web site: Memorial stone in Sasebo . 30 January 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160306032850/http://www.geocities.jp/bane2161/131yusoukan.htm . 6 March 2016 . dead .
5. Web site: Japanese Escorts . Combinedfleet.com . 2 April 2013.

Bibliography

• Web site: Rekishi Gunzō. , History of the Pacific War Vol. 51, "The truth histories of the Imperial Japanese Vessels Part.2", Gakken (Japan), 2005, .
• Rekishi Gunzō, History of the Pacific War Vol. 62, "Ships of the Imperial Japanese Forces", Gakken (Japan), January 2008,
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No. 50, "Japanese minesweepers and landing ships", Ushio Shobō (Japan), 1981.
• Ships of the World, Special issue Vol. 47, "Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy", Web site: Kaijinsha., (Japan), 1997.
• Shizuo Fukui, Japanese Naval Vessels Survived, "Their post-war activities and final disposition", Shuppan Kyodosha (Japan), 1961.
• Shizuo Fukui, FUKUI SHIZUO COLLECTION "Japanese Naval Vessels 1869 - 1945", KK Bestsellers (Japan), 1994.