Ashizuri-class combat support ship

The Ashizuri-class combat support ship (足摺型給油艦, Ashizuri-gata kyūyukan) was a class of two support ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II.

Ashizuri in 1943
Class overview
Name	Ashizuri-class combat support ship
Builders	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Operators	Imperial Japanese Navy
Built	1941–1943
In commission	1943–1944
Planned	2
Completed	2
Lost	2
General characteristics
Displacement	7,951 long tons (8,079 t) standard
Length	133.0 m (436 ft 4 in) overall
Beam	16.8 m (55 ft 1 in)
Draught	6.0 m (19 ft 8 in)
Propulsion	2 × Mitsubishi/MAN Model 60 diesels, 2 shafts, 6,000 bhp (4,500 kW)
Speed	16 knots (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Range	5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Capacity	2,350 tons for gasoline 880 tons for ammunition and food
Complement	192
Armament	Ashizuri, 1943 4 × 127 mm (5 in) L/40 AA gun 4 × Type 96 25mm AA guns

Construction

In 1940, the IJN planned two support ship classes to help their aircraft carriers. One was the 4,500-ton Sunosaki class, the other one the 8,000 ton Ashizuri class. The Ashizuri was planned to support for two large-sized carriers (Akagi, Kaga and Shōkaku class) in the battlefield. The thought is the same as USS Sacramento.

Service

Not joining the IJN till mid-1943 when the Japanese navy was well and truly on the back foot, the ships participated in convoy duties delivering fuel oil around Southeast Asia. Their top speed of 16 knots meant that they would not have been capable of keeping up with the fast carrier battle groups.

Ashizuri was sunk by the USS Puffer on 5 June 1944, and Shioya was lost to USS Rasher three days later.

Ships in class

Ship #	Ship	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
219	Ashizuri (足摺)	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki Shipyard	08-07-1941	16-05-1942	30-01-1943	Sunk by USS Puffer at Sulu Sea 06°33′N 122°55′E 05-06-1944.
220	Shioya (塩屋)	Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagasaki Shipyard	01-04-1942	08-03-1943	09-11-1943	Sunk by USS Rasher at west of Manado 08-06-1944.

References

• "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol.62 "Ships of The Imperial Japanese Forces, Gakken (Japan), January 2008, ISBN 978-4-05-605008-0
• Ships of the World special issue Vol.47, Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), March 1997