No.1-class minelayer explained

The was a class of minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. They were built to supplement the timeworn Sokuten-class. 4 vessels were built in 1941–42 under the Maru Rin Programme (Ship # 257–260).

Background

• In 1939, the Sokuten-class was the main minelayer of the local guard districts. However, they were too old. The IJN wanted new small minelayers for local guard districts.
• In 1940, the IJN found out a handy boat. It was a standard longline fishing ship Sōyō Maru (160 tons) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry. The IJN made a model of it and completed a design of new small minelayer. Uraga Dock Company built all of the vessels.

Ships in class

Ship #	Ship	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
257	Auxiliary minelayer No. 1^[1] ex-Minelayer No. 1	4 June 1941	20 August 1941	28 February 1942 as Minelayer No. 1	Renamed Auxiliary minelayer No. 1 on 1 February 1944, struck a naval mine and sunk off Medan on 27 March 1945, decommissioned on 3 May 1947.
258	Minelayer No. 2^[2]	4 June 1941	30 August 1941	10 April 1942	Struck a naval mine and sunk off Surabaya on 31 December 1942, decommissioned on 20 March 1943.
259	Auxiliary minelayer No. 3^[3] ex-Minelayer No. 3	8 September 1941	14 January 1942	30 June 1942 as Minelayer No. 3	Renamed Auxiliary minelayer No. 3 on 1 February 1944, survived war at Chuuk, decommissioned on 3 May 1947.
260	Auxiliary minelayer No. 4^[4] ex-Minelayer No. 4	8 September 1941	24 January 1942	20 August 1942 as Minelayer No. 4	Renamed Auxiliary minelayer No. 4 on 1 February 1944, sunk by HMS Tally-Ho off Car Nicobar on 20 November 1944, decommissioned on 3 May 1947.

Bibliography

• 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

Notes and References

1. 第一号敷設特務艇 (Dai Ichi Gō Fusetsu-Tokumutei)
2. 第二号敷設艇 (Dai Ni Gō Fusetsutei), she sank before the revision of the law.
3. 第三号敷設特務艇 (Dai San Gō Fusetsu-Tokumutei)
4. 第四号敷設特務艇 (Dai Yon Gō Fusetsu-Tokumutei)