Type D escort ship explained

The were a class of escort ships in the service of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The Japanese called them "Type D" coast defence ships, and they were the sixth class of Kaibōkan (Kai = sea, ocean, Bo = defence, Kan = ship), a name used to denote a multi-purpose vessel.[1] 143 ships were ordered under the 1943–44 Programme, and a further 57 units were planned (but never ordered) under the 1944–45 Programme, for an overall total of 200 ships. However, only 67 were completed, with the remainder being cancelled.

Background

The Type D, like the and es, were dedicated to the anti-aircraft (AA) and anti-submarine role.

On 22 April 1943, the Navy General Staff decided a mass production of escort ships, because of the urgent need to protect the convoys which were under constant attack. The plan was to build a basic escort ship of around 800 tons, with a simple design for easy construction. The first designs, for "Type A" and "Type B" Mikura class, still needed too many man-hours for building, so in June 1943, the Navy General Staff planned for a simplified design. The result was the Ukuru class, and a scaled-down model of the Mikura class, which became the "Type C" (with diesel engines driving twin screws) and "Type D" (with turbine engines driving a single screw) escort classes.

Design

Because of Japan's deteriorating war situation, the Type D version was a further simplification of the Ukuru design and were built to the same design as the Type C escort ship. However, due to a shortage of diesel engines to power both groups of vessels, the Type D were powered by a single steam turbine. This gave a slight increase in speed, from 16.5kn to, but a reduction in range and endurance, 4500nmi at instead of . The Type D was the only Kaibōkan type to use turbines.

They were smaller by 200 tons than the Ukurus and engines that propelled them were also smaller, at 2500shp versus 4200shp for the Ukurus. Because of the decrease in engine power, the speed fell from to . The number of 4.7inches guns went from three to two. The number of depth charges aboard was the same, 120, but the number of depth charge throwers was decreased from 18 to 12 and the depth charge chutes were decreased from two to one.

Due to the simplifications of the design, a significant saving was made in construction time. The Type D escorts required approximately 20,000 man-hours each, compared to the 35,000 man-hours of the Ukurus and the 57,000 man-hours of the Mikuras.

Construction

The design work for the Type D ships started in March 1943, at the same time as for the Ukuru class. They were built concurrently with the Ukuru class and Type C vessels. The Type D were given even number designations while the Type C were given odd numbers. The Type D were constructed using prefabricated sections that enabled them to be built in as little as three to four months. The lead ship, No.2 (CD-2) was constructed at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, laid down on 5 October 1943, launched on 30 December 1943, and completed on 28 February 1944. CD-198 was the fastest build, being constructed in only 71 days; she was laid down on 31 December 1944, and completed on 11 March 1945.[2] CD-204 was the last of the class being laid down on 27 February 1945 at the Nagasaki shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, launched on 14 April 1945, and completed on 14 April 1945.

Service

Most of the Type D escorts were assigned to the Escort Fleet. However, they were not able to stop the American submarine offensive. One drawback was they did not have an effective fire-control system. They were equipped only with one height rangefinder for the AA guns and were powerless against an air attack. Despite being simple to construct they proved themselves very durable for their size. Of the 22 instances of torpedoes striking them, they survived 9 times, with CD-30 being struck and surviving on two separate occasions. Of the seven occasions when they struck mines, only one sank. During the war 68 ships were finished out of the 200 planned; 25 were sunk during the war.[3]

Successes

Ships in class

Under the Wartime Naval Armaments Supplement Programme, it was proposed to build 300 Type C and 200 Type D escorts. These were assigned the Programme numbers #2401-#2700 for the Type C vessels, with #2701-#2900 for the Type D vessels. In view of the vast number intended, no names were allocated, but only numbers; odd numbers from No.1 upwards were assigned to Type C escorts, while even numbers from No.2 upwards were assigned to Type D escorts. The first 143 of the Type D escorts were authorised under the 1943 Fiscal Year, but just 66 were completed and the others cancelled. The remaining 57 Type D vessels were intended to be built under the 1944 Fiscal Year, but no contracts were ever issued.

Ship #ShipBuilderLaid downLaunchedCompletedFate
  1. 2701

the same shall apply hereinafter		Yokosuka Naval Arsenal5 October 194330 December 194328 February 1944Decommissioned on 20 September 1945. Scrapped on 20 July 1948.
  1. 2702
No.4Yokosuka Naval Arsenal5 October 194330 December 19437 March 1944Sunk by Royal Navy aircraft at Toba, 28 July 1945. Salvaged and scrapped on 30 June 1948.[7] [8]
  1. 2703
No.6Yokosuka Naval Arsenal5 October 194315 January 194415 March 1944Sunk by at south of Hidaka, 13 August 1945.
  1. 2704
No.8Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard20 October 194311 January 194429 February 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 16 July 1947. Later scrapped.
  1. 2705
No.10Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard20 October 194311 January 194429 February 1944Sunk by USS Plaice at west of Tokara Islands, 27 September 1944.
  1. 2706
No.12Yokosuka Naval Arsenal5 October 194315 January 194422 March 1944Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United States, 5 September 1947. Scrapped on 30 November 1947.
  1. 2707
No.14Yokosuka Naval Arsenal5 October 194325 January 194427 March 1944Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 6 July 1947, and renamed Tsinan. Captured by People's Liberation Army 1949, and renamed Wuchang (215). Decommissioned in 1982.
  1. 2708
No.16Yokosuka Naval Arsenal5 October 194325 January 194431 March 1944Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 14 August 1947. Later scrapped.
  1. 2709
No.18Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 November 194311 January 19448 March 1944Sunk by USAAF aircraft to east of Quảng Ngãi, 29 March 1945.
  1. 2710
No.20Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 November 194311 January 194411 March 1944Heavy damaged by USAAF aircraft to northwest of San Fernando, 29 December 1944. Sunk on 30 December 1944.
  1. 2711
No.22Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 November 194327 January 194424 March 1944Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United States, 5 September 1947. Scrapped on 31 December 1947.
  1. 2712
No.24Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 November 194327 January 194428 March 1944Sunk by USS Archerfish at west of Iwo Jima, 28 June 1944.
  1. 2713
No.26Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 February 194411 April 194431 May 1944Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United States, 6 September 1947. Scrapped on 13 October 1947.
  1. 2714
No.28Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 February 194411 April 194431 May 1944Sunk by USS Blenny at Dasol Bay, 24 December 1944.
  1. 2715
No.30Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard15 February 194410 May 194426 June 1944Sunk by British P-51s from the 15th Fighter Squadron at Yura, 28 July 1945. Salvaged and scrapped 1948.[9]
  1. 2716
No.32Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard15 March 194410 May 194430 June 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 16 July 1947. Later scrapped.
  1. 2717
No.34Tōkyō Ishikawajima Shipyard25 March 19446 July 194425 August 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 5 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-32 (1947), target ship TsL-63 (1954), repair ship PM-75 (1957). Decommissioned on 23 July 1958 and scrapped.
  1. 2718
No.36Fujinagata Shipyards20 March 194416 September 194421 October 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States, 19 July 1947. Scrapped on 3 January 1948.
  1. 2719
No.38Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard2 April 194415 June 194410 August 1944Sunk by USS Hardhead at west of Corregidor, 25 November 1944.
  1. 2720
No.40Fujinagata Shipyards20 March 194415 November 194422 December 1944Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 29 August 1947, and renamed Chenan (PF-72). Decommissioned 1963.
  1. 2721
No.42Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard15 April 19447 July 194425 August 1944Sunk by USS Puffer to northwest of Agunijima Island, 10 January 1945.
  1. 2722
No.44Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard15 April 19447 July 194431 August 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States, 5 July 1947. Sunk as target at 34.8°N 181°W, 25 August 1947.
  1. 2723
No.46Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard1 May 194430 June 194429 August 1944Sunk by naval mine at Mokpo, 17 August 1945.
  1. 2724
No.48Fujinagata Shipyards15 May 194418 January 194513 March 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 28 August 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-42 (1947), target ship TsL-42 (1948), dispatch ship Abakan (1949). Decommissioned on 2 June 1959 and scrapped.
  1. 2725
No.50Tōkyō Ishikawajima Shipyard8 July 19449 September 194413 October 1944Decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Scrapped on 5 May 1948.
  1. 2726
No.52Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard15 May 19447 August 194425 September 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 29 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-36 (1947), tdispatch ship Naryn (1954). Decommissioned on 11 March 1958 and scrapped.
  1. 2727
No.54Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard15 May 19447 August 194430 September 1944Heavy damaged by USN aircraft at Calayan, 15 December 1944. Later scuttled.
  1. 2728
No.56Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard1 June 194430 July 194427 September 1944Sunk by USS Bowfin to south of Tateyama, 17 February 1945.
  1. 2729
No.58Fujinagata Shipyards15 April 194519458 April 1946Surrendered incomplete, completed post-war for repatriation duties; handed over to United States 31 July 1947. Scrapped at Sasebo on 30 November 1947.
  1. 2730
No.60Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard16 June 194415 September 19449 November 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 14 August 1947. Later scrapped.
  1. 2731
No.62Hitachi Zōsen, Mukōjima ShipyardConstruction stopped on 22 May 1945. Sunk at Kure, 14 January 1946. Salvaged and scrapped, May 1948.
  1. 2732
No.64Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard8 July 19445 September 194415 October 1944Sunk by USS Pipefish at east of Hainan Island, 3 December 1944.
  1. 2733
No.66Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard8 July 19445 September 194421 October 1944Sunk by USN aircraft off Shantou, 13 March 1945.
  1. 2734
No.68Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard3 July 194430 September 194420 November 1944Sunk by USN aircraft to west of Amami Ōshima, 24 March 1945.
  1. 2735
No.70Hitachi Zōsen, Mukōjima Shipyard1945Construction stopped on 1 April 1945. Later scrapped.
  1. 2736
No.72Tōkyō Ishikawajima Shipyard18 August 194423 October 194425 November 1944Sunk by USS Haddo at west of Taedong River, 1 July 1945.
  1. 2737
No.74Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 August 19442 November 194410 December 1944Sunk by USN aircraft at Muroran, 14 July 1945.
  1. 2738
No.76Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 August 194418 November 194423 December 1944Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 28 August 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-44 (1947), target ship TsL-44 (1948), patrol ship SKR-49 (1954). Refitted, rearmed and ceded to Chinese People's Liberation Army on 25 June 1955.
  1. 2739
No.78Kawasaki, Senshū Shipyard19454 April 1946Surrendered to Soviet Union, 29 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-37 (1947), dispatch ship Murgab (1954). Decommissioned on 11 March 1958 and scrapped.
  1. 2740
No.80Hitachi Zōsen, Mukōjima Shipyard1945Construction stopped on 1 April 1945. Later scrapped.
  1. 2741
No.82Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard6 September 194418 November 194431 December 1944Sunk by Russian aircraft to ENE of Kimchaek, 10 August 1945.
  1. 2742
No.84Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard6 September 194418 November 194431 December 1944Sunk by USS Hammerhead at ENE of French Indochina, 29 March 1945.
  1. 2743 to #2750
Even numbers from No.86 to No.100Cancelled in August 1944.
  1. 2751
No.102Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 September 19444 December 194420 January 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 28 August 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-46 (1947), target ship TsL-46 (1948). Decommissioned on 21 January 1960 and scrapped.
  1. 2752
No.104Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard1 September 194416 December 194431 January 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 29 August 1947, and renamed Taian (PF-71). Decommissioned 1963.
  1. 2753
No.106Tōkyō Ishikawajima Shipyard18 September 19447 December 194414 January 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States, 5 July 1947. Sunk as target at 34.75°N 183°W, 21 July 1947.
  1. 2754
    #2755
No.108
No.110		---Cancelled in Spring 1944.
  1. 2756
No.112Kawasaki, Senshū Shipyard10 May 19445 September 194424 October 1944Sunk by USS Barb at northeast of Cape Crillon, 18 July 1945.
  1. 2757
No.114Cancelled in Spring 1944.
  1. 2758
No.116Ishikawajima Heavy Industries194528 November 1945Decommissioned 25 March 1946. Later scrapped.
  1. 2759
No.118Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard8 June 194420 November 194427 December 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 31 July 1947. Captured by People's Liberation Army, May 1949, and renamed Changsha (216). Decommissioned in 1982.
  1. 2760
No.120Cancelled in Spring 1944.
  1. 2761
No.122Tōkyō Ishikawajima ShipyardConstruction stopped in March 1945. Later scrapped.
  1. 2762
No.124Kawasaki, Senshū Shipyard29 June 194412 January 19459 February 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Scrapped on 1 February 1948.
  1. 2763
No.126Kawasaki, Senshū Shipyard7 November 194425 February 194526 March 1945Decommissioned on 5 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 14 August 1947. Later scrapped.
  1. 2764
No.128Cancelled in Spring 1944.
  1. 2765
No.130Harima Zōsen22 February 194424 May 194412 August 1944Sunk by USAAF aircraft at east of Quảng Ngãi, 29 March 1945.
  1. 2766
No.132Harima Zōsen10 April 194425 June 19447 September 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Scrapped on 2 July 1948.
  1. 2767
No.134Harima Zōsen26 May 194429 July 194430 September 1944Sunk by USAAF aircraft to south of Xiamen, 6 April 1945.
  1. 2768
No.136Cancelled in Autumn 1944.
  1. 2769
No.138Harima Zōsen27 June 19441 September 194423 October 1944Sunk by aircraft at San Fernando, 2 January 1945.
  1. 2770
No.140Cancelled in Autumn 1944.
  1. 2771
No.142Kawasaki, Senshū Shipyard19457 April 1946Surrendered to Soviet Union, 29 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-38 (1947), target ship TsL-38 (1948), dispatch ship Arkhara (1949), patrol ship SKR-48 (1954). Refitted, rearmed and ceded to Chinese People's Liberation Army on 11 February 1955. Under the name Chih-17 served until 1987.
  1. 2772
No.144Harima Zōsen1 August 194410 October 194423 November 1944Sunk by USS Besugo at east of Malay Peninsula, 2 February 1945.
  1. 2773
    #2774
No.146
No.148		Cancelled in Autumn 1944.
  1. 2775
No.150Harima Zōsen4 September 194415 November 194424 December 1944Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States, 4 July 1947. Sunk as target at 35.4667°N 148°W, 18 August 1947.
  1. 2776
No.152Cancelled in Autumn 1944.
  1. 2777
No.154Harima Zōsen12 October 194426 December 19447 February 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 4 September 1947. Scrapped on 1 March 1948.
  1. 2778
No.156Harima Zōsen17 November 194425 January 19458 March 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 4 September 1947. Scrapped on 11 December 1947.
  1. 2779
No.158Harima Zōsen28 December 194425 February 194513 April 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States, 25 July 1947. Scrapped on 31 December 1947.
  1. 2780
No.160Harima Zōsen27 January 194510 April 194516 August 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 8 September 1947. Scrapped on 21 February 1948.
  1. 2781 to #2792
Even numbers from No.162 to No.184Cancelled in Autumn 1944.
  1. 2793
No.186Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard4 November 194430 December 194415 February 1945Sunk by USN aircraft at Amami Ōshima, 2 April 1945.
  1. 2794
No.188Cancelled in Autumn 1944.
  1. 2795
No.190Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard20 November 194416 January 194521 February 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Scrapped on 31 March 1948.
  1. 2796
No.192Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard5 December 194430 January 194528 February 1945Decommissioned on 25 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 31 July 1947, and renamed Tsuan. Decommissioned 1952.
  1. 2797
No.194Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard18 December 194415 February 194515 March 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 6 July 1947, and renamed Weihai. Captured by People's Liberation Army, 23 April 1949, and renamed Tsinan (219). Decommissioned 1982.
  1. 2798
No.196Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard31 December 194426 February 194531 March 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 5 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-33 (1947), dispatch ship Turgai (1954). Decommissioned on 11 March 1958 and scrapped.
  1. 2799
No.198Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard17 January 194526 February 194531 March 1945Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 31 July 1947. Captured by People's Liberation Army, May 1949, and renamed Sian (220). Decommissioned 1982.
  1. 2800
No.200Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard31 January 194519 March 194520 April 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Scrapped on 1 July 1948.
  1. 2801
No.202Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard16 February 19452 April 19457 July 1945Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Scrapped on 1 January 1948.
  1. 2802
No.204Mitsubishi, Nagasaki Shipyard27 February 194514 April 194511 July 1945Decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Scrapped on 31 January 1948.
  1. 2803 to #2843
Even numbers from No.206 to No.286Cancelled in Autumn 1944.
57 shipsEven numbers from No.288 onwards----Projected only, never ordered

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. ""coast defense ships." The Japanese used this curious rating to denote a multi-purpose vessel." Worth, p. 208
  2. Web site: Japanese Escorts.
  3. Conway p. 207
  4. Web site: U.S. Submarines Lost through Enemy Action and through Accidents . www.history.navy.mil . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20000511033455/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq39-1.htm . 2000-05-11.
  5. Web site: Japanese Escorts.
  6. Web site: Japanese Escorts.
  7. Web site: Japanese Escorts. 2020-06-27. www.combinedfleet.com.
  8. Book: Smith, Peter C. Task Force 57. William Kimber. 1969. London. 177.
  9. Book: Winton, John. The Forgotten Fleet. Michael Joseph. 1969. London. 323.

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