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| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name | Hakachi |
| Namesake | Cape of Hakachi |
| Ordered | fiscal 1941 under theMaru Tsui Programme (Ship number 660) |
| Builder | Harima Zōsen Corporation, Aioi |
| Cost | 4.8 million JPY in 1941 |
| Laid down | 1 February 1943 |
| Launched | 25 May 1943 |
| Completed | 18 November 1943 |
| Commissioned | 18 November 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 30 November 1945 |
| Fate | Used as a repatriation transport, later scrapped |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Target ship |
| Displacement | 1,641 long tons (1,667 t) standard |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 11.30 m (37 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 3.81 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 19.3knots (22.2 mph; 35.7 km/h) |
| Range | 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 14 knots |
| Complement | 148 |
| Armament | Originally 4 × Type 93 13 mm AA guns |
TheHakachi (波勝) was a bombtarget ship of theImperial Japanese Navy (IJN) serving during theSecond World War, the only ship of her class.
Project numberJ32. Before thePacific War, the IJN wanted to raise the training efficiency of bomber pilots. The old destroyerYakaze was converted to a target ship for bombing training, however, her armour was too thin.Yakaze was only able to sustain the impact of 1 kilogram bombs. The IJN wanted a better target ship to join theCombined Fleet for use in the southern front.Hakachi was built for this propose, she was able to sustain 10 kilogram bombs dropped from 4,000 m (13,000 ft) meters.Hakachi was the only purpose-built vessel in the IJN designed and used as a bombing target ship. Her flat steel deck gave her the appearance of an escort carrier and protected against 10 and 30 kilogram training bombs. The IJN later built theŌhama-class as next generation target ships, but the only completed ship of the class was used as an escort ship instead. HenceHakachi was the only ship that remained available for training new bomber pilots.
TheHakachi was commissioned on 18 November 1943[2] and on 1 December, she was assigned to the Combined Fleet. On 24 December, she sailed toTruk where she was used for bomber training. Two months later, she was heavily damaged by U.S. carrier aircraft duringOperation Hailstone. She sheltered atPalau on 24 February 1944, and was repaired byAkashi. She was modified to serve as an escort for local convoys and rearmed with two 4.7-inch and 28 Type 96 25-mm AA guns and carried 36depth charges. On 18 March, she sailed to theLingga Islands. On 24 May, she sailed toDavao Gulf. She worked in each place. On 1 October, she undertook convoy escort operations. She survived the war in theSeto Inland Sea. On 1 December 1945 the ship was assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service as a special transport ship. On 11 December 1946,Hakachi arrived at Sasebo on her last repatriation voyage. In all, she transported 1,641 former military personnel back to Japan. In 1947 she was scrapped inOsaka at Fujinagata Zosensho.