The No. 1-class submarine chaser (第一号型駆潜艇, Dai 1 Gō-gata Kusentei) was a class of submarine chasers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. Three vessels were built in 1933-36 under the Maru 1 Programme and the Maru 2 Programme. They have two sub classes.
Quick Facts Class overview, General characteristics -class ...
(left to right) No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 in 1938 |
Class overview |
Name |
- No. 1-class submarine chasers
- No. 1 class (Project number K3)
- No. 3 class (Project number K4)
|
Builders | |
Operators | Imperial Japanese Navy |
Succeeded by | No. 4 class |
Cost |
- 1,525,700 JPY (No. 1-class)
- 1,530,000 JPY (No. 3-class)
|
Built | 1933 – 1936 |
In commission | 1934 – 1946 |
Planned | 3 |
Completed | 3 |
Lost | 1 |
Retired | 2 |
General characteristics No. 1-class |
Displacement |
- 266 long tons (270 t) standard
- 280 long tons (284 t) trial
- and after late 1934
- 377 long tons (383 t) trial
|
Length |
- 65.30 m (214 ft 3 in) overall
- 64.00 m (210 ft 0 in) waterline
|
Beam | 5.90 m (19 ft 4 in) |
Draught | 1.43 m (4 ft 8 in) |
Propulsion |
- 2 × Kampon Mk.22 Model 8 diesels
- 2 shafts, 3,400 bhp
|
Speed |
- 24.0 knots (27.6 mph; 44.4 km/h)
- and after late 1934
- 21.1 knots (24.3 mph; 39.1 km/h)
|
Range | 1,500 nmi (2,800 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h) |
Complement | 65 |
Armament | |
General characteristics No. 3-class |
Displacement |
- 270 long tons (274 t) standard
- 285 long tons (290 t) trial
|
Length |
- 56.10 m (184 ft 1 in) overall
- 55.00 m (180 ft 5 in) waterline
|
Beam | 5.60 m (18 ft 4 in) |
Draught | 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) |
Propulsion |
- 2 × Kampon Mk.22 Model 6 diesels
- 2 shafts, 2,500 bhp
|
Speed | 20.0 knots (23.0 mph; 37.0 km/h) |
Range | 1,500 nmi (2,800 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h) |
Complement | 60 |
Armament |
- 2 × 40 mm heavy machine guns
- 36 × depth charges
- 2 × Type 94 depth charge projectors
- 1 × depth charge thrower
- 1 × French SCAM active sonar
- 1 × Type 93 hydrophone
|
Close
- In World War I, German U-boat raged. The IJN began maintenance of an anti-submarine boat as a lesson in this, because Japanese shoreline and sea-lanes were very long. The IJN had some submarine chaser type tugboats and yard ferries. However, they were small and their speed was low.
- The IJN wanted to give the anti-submarine boats a speed of more than 20 knots, because their Kaidai III submarine already achieved a 20kt surfaced.
- The Naval Technical Department (Kampon) made draft shallow to give them high speed. They achieved 24 kt speed hereby.
- The No. 1 and the No. 2 were completed in March 1934, and they were assigned to the 1st Submarine Chaser Division, Yokosuka Naval Defence Squadron.
- However, because of their very shallow draft they lacked the rolling performance. This fact become evident after the Tomozuru incident.
- The Tomozuru incident affected the No. 1-class. The No. 1 and the No. 2 were sent to the Uraga Dock Company in July 1934, and repairs were started. They were equipped 80 tons ballast and mounted a ballast keel. The drawings for the No. 3-class boat was also revised.
No.1-class
- Project number was K3. 2 vessels were built under the Maru 1 Programme. They equipped the MV hydrophone by Submarine signal company and latest active sonar the Type 93.
Ship |
Builder |
Laid down |
Launched |
Completed |
Fate |
No. 1[1] |
Uraga Dock Company |
19 June 1933 |
23 December 1933 |
24 March 1934 |
Scuttled by Royal Navy off Singapore on 11 July 1946. Decommissioned on 10 August 1946. |
No. 2 |
Tōkyō Ishikawajima Shipyard |
9 June 1933 |
20 December 1933 |
25 March 1934 |
Sunk by USS Blueback at north of Lombok on 27 June 1945. |
No.3-class
- Project number was K4. Only 1 vessel was built under the Maru 2 Programme. The No. 3 was equipped the French SCAM active sonar and latest hydrophone the Type 93. The No. 3 was classed in the No. 1-class in the IJN official documents.
Ship |
Builder |
Laid down |
Launched |
Completed |
Fate |
No. 3 |
Asano Shipyard |
17 April 1935 |
6 June 1936 |
5 October 1936 |
Scuttled by Royal Navy off Singapore on 11 July 1946. Decommissioned on 10 August 1946. |
No. 2 in 1934
No. 3 in 1936
Submarine chaser No. 1 (第1号駆潜艇, Dai 1 Gō Kusentei). The same shall apply hereinafter.
- Ships of the World special issue Vol. 45, Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), 1996.
- The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No. 49, Japanese submarine chasers and patrol boats, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan), 1981.