Shohatsu-class landing craft explained

The Shohatsu (小発) or 10m landing craft was a small landing craft used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It was used for landing personnel and stores. It was designated the "Type B" landing craft by the United States.^[1]

Design

The Shohatsu class were 34.92NaN2 long, 82NaN2 wide, and had a draft of 1.112NaN2. The class had a maximum speed of 7.51NaN1, and a range of 600NaN0, assuming they were travelling at top speed. The ship could hold 35 men, or 3.5 tons of cargo. It was built of steel, and had a single bow with no landing ramp.

Service history

It was carried by destroyers and smaller vessels as a cargo boat. Japan ordered 20 of the Shohatsu class land crafts, but it is not known how many of them were actually finished and delivered.

References

Websites

• Web site: Budge. Kent G.. The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Shohatsu Class, Japanese Landing Craft. www.pwencycl.kgbudge.com. 3 June 2017. CITEREFThe Pacific War Online Encyclopedia.

Further reading

• Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter; and Mickel, Peter. Translated by Brown, J.D. 1977. Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Naval Institute Press. .
• Military Monograph Series - Japanese Landing Craft of World War II. Merriam Press.

Notes and References

1. Book: ONI 208-J (Supplement no. 2) Far Eastern Small Craft. 23. Division of Naval Intelligence. March 1945.