 Nomi in 1944 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mikura class |
| Builders |
|
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Etorofu class |
| Succeeded by | Ukuru class |
| Built | 1942–1944 |
| In commission | 1943–1948 |
| Completed | 8 |
| Lost | 5 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Escort ship |
| Displacement | 940 long tons (955 t) standard |
| Length | 77.7 m (255 ft) |
| Beam | 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) |
| Draught | 3.05 m (10 ft) |
| Propulsion | 2 shaft, geared diesel engines, 4,400 hp (3,281 kW) |
| Speed | 19.5knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement | 150 |
| Armament |
|
TheMikura-class escort ships (御蔵型海防艦,Mikura-gata kaibōkan) were aclass of eightkaibōkan escort vessels built for theImperial Japanese Navy duringWorld War II. Five of the eight ships were sunk during the war. The class was also referred to by internal Japanese documents as the "B-class" coastal defense vessel (乙型海防艦,Otsu-gata kaibōkan).
TheMikura-classkaibōkan, as with theChidori class torpedo boat, was a consequence of the 1930London Naval Treaty, which placed limitations on the total destroyer tonnage the Imperial Japanese Navy was permitted. One way in which the treaty could be circumvented was to use a loophole in the treaty which permitted ships of between 600 and 2,000 tons, with no more than four guns over 76mm, no torpedoes, and with a maximum speed of no more than 20 knots. A new class of vessel was designed to use this loophole, and was given the obsolete designation ofkaibōkan (Kai = sea, ocean,Bo = defence,Kan = ship), which had previously been used to designate obsolete battleships which had been reassigned to coastal defense duties. The first of these vessels were theShimushu class andEtorofu; however, after the start of thePacific War, it became apparent that a design more capable ofanti-submarine warfare was needed. The 1941Rapid Naval Armaments Supplement Programme authorized eight of these new vessels, which were designated theMikura-class.[1]
Production began in late 1942 concurrently with laterEtorofu-class vessels.[1]
Although theMikura-class was based on the two previous classes of escort vessels and used a simplified version of the Etorofu-class hull, it presented a much different appearance, with a stepped bridge, smaller single smokestack located further aft, shape of the aft deckhouse, and the type of main gun.[1]
The ships measured 77.7 meters (254 ft 11 in)overall, with abeam of 9.1 meters (29 ft 10 in) and adraft of 3.05 meters (10 ft 0 in).[2] They displaced 960 metric tons (940 long tons) atstandard load and 970 metric tons (955 long tons) at deep load. The ships had twodiesel engines, each driving onepropeller shaft, which were rated at a total of 4,400brake horsepower (3,300 kW) for a speed of 19.5knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph). The ships had a range of 5,000nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[3]
Themain battery of theMikura-class consisted of threeType 10 120 mm AA guns — one in a enclosed turret forward and two in an open twin mount aft. These were dual-purpose guns capable of attacking both surface and aircraft targets. Anti-aircraft protection was by fourType 96 25-millimeter (1.0 in) anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts abreast the bridge. TheMikura class was initially armed with 120 Type 95depth charges with two Type 94 depth charge launchers and had a Model 93 sonar and a Type 93 hydrophone.[1]
Later in the war, a third Type 94 depth charge launcher was added on the stern and theparavanes were removed. During the Pacific War, the number of Type 96 anti-aircraft guns was increased with the addition of a triple-mount in front of the bridge and an additional four single-mounts. A Type 22 and a Type 13 radar were also added. AType 97 81-millimeter (3.2 in) trench mortar was also installed front of the bridge[3]
All eight vessels in the class saw extensive combat service in theSouth China Sea and theEast China Sea, where they were used for convoy escort. Two American submarines may have been destroyed byMikura-class vessels, withChiburi given credit for the sinking ofUSS Growler on 8 November 1944 andMikura given credit for assisting in the destruction ofUSS Trigger on March 28, 1945. Of the eight vessels in the class, five were lost in combat (four to USN submarines). One ship survived the war to be used for repatriation duties and one was given as a reparations to theRepublic of China Navy, under whose flag it continued to serve until scrapped in 1963.
| Number | Kanji | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #320 | 御蔵 | Mikura | Nihon Kōkan | 1 October 1942 | 16 July 1943 | 31 October 1943 | Sunk byUSS Threadfin on 28 March 1945, SW ofShikoku [31-45N, 131-45E] |
| #322 | 三宅 | Miyake | Nihon Kōkan | 12 February 1943 | 30 August 1943 | 30 November 1943 | Scrapped 2 July 1948 |
| #324 | 淡路 | Awaji | Hitachi Zōsen | 1 June 1943 | 30 October 1943 | 25 January 1944 | Sunk byUSS Picuda on 2 June 1944, Bashi Strait [22-34N, 121-51E] |
| #326 | 能美 | Nōmi | Hitachi Zōsen | 10 August 1943 | 3 December 1943 | 28 February 1944 | Sunk byUSS Tirante on 14 April 1945, NW ofJeju Island [33-25N, 126-15E] |
| #327 | 倉橋 | Kurahashi | Nihon Kōkan | 1 June 1943 | 15 October 1943 | 19 February 1944 | Ceded to UK in 1947, scrapped 1948 |
| #329 | 千振 | Chiburi | Nihon Kōkan | 20 July 1943 | 30 November 1943 | 3 April 1944 | Sunk by USN aircraft 12 January 1945 off Cape St. Jacques [10-20N, 107-50E] |
| #331 | 屋代 | Yashiro | Hitachi Zōsen | 18 November 1943 | 16 February 1944 | 10 May 1944 | Ceded toRepublic of China Navy 29 August 1947, renamedCheng An, scrapped 1963 |
| #334 | 草垣 | Kusagaki | Nihon Kōkan | 7 September 1943 | 12 January 1944 | 1 July 1944 | Sunk byUSS Guitarro on 14 April 1945, Off Capones Island, Luzon [14-50N, 119-57E] |
