Type C escort ship

The Type C escort ships (丙型海防艦, Hei-gata kaibōkan) were a class of escort ships in the service of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The Japanese called them "Type C" ocean defense ships, and they were the fifth class of Kaibōkan (Kai = sea, ocean, Bo = defense, Kan = ship), a name used to denote a multi-purpose vessel.^[1]

No.1 off the coast of Kure, March 1, 1944
Class overview
Name	No.1-class escort ship
Builders	Maizuru Naval Arsenal Kyōwa Zōsen Corporation Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Naniwa Dock Company Nihonkai Dock Company Nihon Kōkan Niigata Iron Works
Operators	Imperial Japanese Navy  Republic of China Navy  Republic of China Army  People's Liberation Army Navy  Soviet Navy
Preceded by	Ukuru class
Cost	5,015,000 JPY
Built	1943–1946
In commission	1944–1980
Planned	300
Completed	56
Cancelled	79
Lost	28
Retired	28
General characteristics
Type	Escort ship
Displacement	745 long tons (757 t) standard
Length	67.5 m (221 ft)
Beam	8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
Draught	2.9 m (10 ft)
Propulsion	2 shaft, geared diesel engines, 1,900 hp (1,417 kW)
Speed	16.5 knots (19.0 mph; 30.6 km/h)
Range	6,500 nmi (12,000 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Complement	136
Sensors & processing systems	Type 22-Go radar Type 93 sonar Type 3 hydrophone
Armament	As built : 2 × 120 mm (4.7 in)/45 cal DP guns 6 × Type 96 25 mm (0.98 in) AA machine guns (2×3) 12 × Type 3 depth charge throwers 1 × depth charge chute 120 × depth charges From 1944 : as above, plus 1 × 81 mm (3.2 in) mortar

Background

The Type C, like the Ukuru and Mikura classes, were dedicated to the anti-aircraft and anti-submarine roles.

On 22 April 1943, the Navy General Staff decided a mass production of escort ships, because of the urgent need to protect the convoys which were under constant attack. The plan was to build a basic escort ship of around 800 tons, with a simple design for easy construction. The first designs, for "Type A" Etorofu class and "Type B" Mikura class, still needed too many man-hours for building, so in June 1943, the Navy General Staff planned for a simplified design. The result was the Ukuru class, and a scaled-down model of the Mikura class, which became the "Type C" and "Type D" escort classes.

Design

Because of Japan's deteriorating war situation, the Type C was a further simplification of the Ukuru design. They were smaller by 200 tons and the diesel engines that propelled them were also smaller, at 1,900 shaft horsepower (1,400 kW) versus 4,200 shaft horsepower (3,100 kW) for the Ukurus. Because of the decrease in engine power, the speed fell from 19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph) to 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). The range remained the same, 6,500 nautical miles (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph). The number of 4.7-inch (119 mm) guns went from three to two. The number of depth charges aboard was the same, 120, but the number of depth charge throwers was decreased from 18 to 12 and the depth charge chutes were decreased from two to one.

Due to the simplifications of the design, a significant saving was made in construction time. The Type C escorts required approximately 20,000 man-hours each, compared to the 35,000 man-hours of the Ukurus and the 57,000 man-hours of the Mikuras.

Construction

The design work of the Type C ships started in March 1943, the same time as the Ukuru class. They were built concurrently with the Ukuru class and the Type D. The Type C vessels were given odd numbers, while the Type D were given even numbers. The Type C were constructed using prefabricated sections that enabled them to be built in as little as three to four months. The lead ship, No.1 (CD-1) was constructed at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, laid down on 15 September 1943, and completed with No.3 (CD-3) on 29 February 1944.

Service

No.1 sinking south of Xiamen after an attack by USAAF aircraft, 6 April 1945

The Type C escorts were assigned to the Destroyer Divisions and Escort Divisions for convoy escort operations. However, by 1944 the advantage had passed to the US, and many Type C vessels became casualties as the Japanese merchant fleet was devastated by the American submarine offensive. There were 53 finished during the war of the 300 planned, and several completed after World War II ended. 26 were sunk during the war.

Successes against submarines

• USS Growler was sunk on 8 November 1944 by CD-19 with Mikura-class escort ship Chiburi and destroyer Shigure.^[2]
• USS Trigger was sunk on 28 March 1945 by CD-33 and CD-59 with Mikura.^[2]
• USS Bonefish was sunk on 19 June 1945 by Type C vessels CD-63, CD-75 and CD-207 with Okinawa and CD-158.^[2]
• USS Salmon was rendered unfit for further service by damage from CD-33 and CD-29 with CD-22 on 30 October 1944.

Ships in class

Under the Wartime Naval Armaments Supplement Programme, it was proposed to build 300 Type C and 200 Type D escorts. These were assigned the Programme numbers #2401-#2700 for the Type C vessels, with #2701-#2900 for the Type D vessels. In view of the vast number intended, no names were allocated, but only numbers; odd numbers from No.1 upwards were assigned to Type C escorts, while even numbers from No.2 upwards were assigned to Type D escorts.

The first 132 of the Type C escorts were authorised under the 1943 Fiscal Year, but just 53 were completed and the others cancelled. The remaining 168 Type C vessels were authorised under the 1944 Fiscal Year, but no contracts were ever issued.

Prog. No.	Ship	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
#2401	No.1	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	15 September 1943	29 December 1943	29 February 1944	Sunk by USAAF aircraft south of Xiamen, 6 April 1945.
#2402	No.3	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	15 September 1943	29 December 1943	29 February 1944	Sunk by USN aircraft northwest of Keelung, 9 January 1945.
#2403	No.5	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	23 October 1943	15 January 1944	19 March 1944	Sunk by USN aircraft west of Masinloc, 21 September 1944.
#2404	No.7	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	23 October 1943	18 January 1944	10 March 1944	Sunk by USS Ray west of Vigan City, 14 November 1944. Rebuilt in Jiangnan Shipyard, recommissioned as PLAN FFG Nanning. Decommissioned 1979.
#2405	No.9	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	15 October 1943	15 January 1944	10 March 1944	Sunk by USS Gato in Yellow Sea , 14 February 1945.
#2406	No.11	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	15 October 1943	15 January 1944	15 March 1944	Heavy damaged by USAAF aircraft in Ormoc Bay, 10 November 1944. Later scuttled.
#2407	No.13	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	18 November 1943	9 February 1944	3 April 1944	Sunk by USS Torsk at south of Hyōgo, 14 August 1945.
#2408	No.15	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	18 November 1943	21 February 1944	8 April 1944	Sunk by USS Raton to west of Spratly Island, 6 June 1944.
#2409	No.17	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	15 December 1943	26 February 1944	13 April 1944	Sunk by USN aircraft off Saint Jacques, 12 January 1945.
#2410	No.19	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	15 December 1943	28 February 1944	28 April 1944	Sunk by USN aircraft off Saint Jacques, 12 January 1945.
#2411	No.21	Nihonkai Dock Company	1 December 1943	31 March 1944	18 July 1944	Sunk by USS Seahorse to east of Pratas Island, 6 October 1944.
#2412	No.23	Nihonkai Dock Company	10 February 1944	20 May 1944	15 September 1944	Sunk by USN aircraft at north of Qui Nhon Bay, 12 January 1945.
#2413	No.25	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	1 February 1944	14 May 1944	2 July 1944	Sunk by USS Springer in Yellow Sea, 3 May 1945.
#2414	No.27	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	16 February 1944	3 June 1944	20 July 1944	Decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 14 August 1947. Later scrapped.
#2415	No.29	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	2 March 1944	26 June 1944	8 August 1944	Decommissioned on 20 November 1945. Scrapped on 1 March 1948.
#2416	No.31	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	3 March 1944	4 July 1944	21 August 1944	Sunk by USS Tirante in Yellow Sea, 14 April 1945.
#2417	No.33	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	26 May 1944	22 July 1944	31 August 1944	Sunk by USN aircraft to east of Aoshima, 28 March 1945.
#2418	No.35	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	30 May 1944	3 September 1944	11 October 1944	Sunk by USN aircraft at south of French Indochina, 12 January 1945.
#2419	No.37	Nihonkai Dock Company	5 April 1944	5 August 1944	3 November 1944	Decommissioned on 15 September 1945. Surrendered to United States, 4 September 1947. Scrapped on 30 November 1947.
#2420	No.39	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	10 June 1944	13 August 1944	27 September 1944	Sunk by USAAF aircraft off Geoje Island, 7 August 1945.
#2421	No.41	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	1 July 1944	8 September 1944	16 October 1944	Sunk by USS Sea Owl at Tsushima Strait, 9 June 1945.
#2422	No.43	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	10 April 1944	22 June 1944	31 July 1944	Sunk by USN aircraft off Cape Padaran, 12 January 1945.
#2423	No.45	Nihonkai Dock Company	25 May 1944	5 October 1944	23 December 1944	Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Scrapped on 30 April 1948.
#2424	No.47	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	15 July 1944	29 September 1944	2 November 1944	Sunk by USS Torsk at south of Hyōgo, 14 August 1945.
#2425	No.49	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	31 July 1944	15 October 1944	16 November 1944	Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United States, 1 September 1947. Scrapped on 1 February 1948.
#2426	No.51	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	1 May 1944	20 August 1944	21 September 1944	Sunk by USN aircraft to north of Qui Nhon Bay, 12 January 1945.
#2427	No.53	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	15 August 1944	29 October 1944	28 November 1944	Sunk by USS Bergall east of Cam Ranh Bay, 7 February 1945.
#2428	No.55	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	20 August 1944	4 November 1944	20 December 1944	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 16 July 1947. Later scrapped.
#2429	No.57	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	10 September 1944	15 November 1944	13 January 1945	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Converted to breakwater at Ube, May 1948.
#2430	No.59	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	25 September 1944	22 November 1944	2 February 1945	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Collided with Hyūga and sunk at Kure, 30 July 1946. Salvaged and scrapped on 9 November 1947.
#2431	No.61	Maizuru Naval Arsenal	1 April 1944	25 July 1944	15 September 1944	Decommissioned on 3 May 1947. Later scrapped.
#2432	No.63	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	1 July 1944	20 September 1944	15 October 1944	Decommissioned on 30 September 1945. Scrapped on 30 April 1948.
#2433	No.65	Nihonkai Dock Company	10 August 1944	30 November 1944	13 February 1945	Sunk by USN aircraft at Muroran, 14 July 1945. Salvaged and scrapped in July 1947.
#2434	No.67	Maizuru Naval Arsenal	15 June 1944	15 September 1944	12 November 1944	Decommissioned on 25 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China, 6 July 1947, and renamed Yingkan. Renamed Rui'an (PF-73) 1952. Decommissioned 1963.
#2435	No.69	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	24 August 1944	28 November 1944	20 December 1944	Heavy damaged by USAAF aircraft off Hainan Island, 9 March 1945. Sank on 16 March 1945.
#2436	No.71	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	5 October 1944	3 December 1944	12 March 1945	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 28 August 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-43 (1947), oceanographic research ship West (1948), renamed Ostrovnoy (1953). Decommissioned on 31 January 1964 and scrapped.
#2437	No.73	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	8 October 1944	10 December 1944	5 April 1945	Sunk by USS Sunfish at southeast of Iwate, 16 April 1945.
#2438	No.75	Nihonkai Dock Company	18 October 1944	20 February 1945	21 April 1945	Sunk (probably by mine) off Nō 10 August 1945.
#2439	No.77	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	2 November 1944	18 December 1944	31 March 1945	Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 28 August 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-45 (1947), target ship TsL-45 (1948), repair ship PM-63 (1955). Decommissioned on 25 January 1969 and scrapped.
#2440	No.79	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	6 November 1944	30 December 1944	6 May 1945	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 29 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-39 (1947), target ship TsL-39 (1948), oceanographic research ship Sozh (1949). Decommissioned on 30 August 1960 and scrapped.
#2441	No.81	Maizuru Naval Arsenal	7 August 1944	15 October 1944	15 December 1944	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China, 29 August 1947, and renamed Yuan. Escape to People's Liberation Army 13 February 1949, and renamed Shengyang. Decommissioned 1980.
#2442	No.83	Kyōwa Zōsen and Naniwa Dock Company	1944	16 January 1945	-	Still incomplete at the end of war (85%). Scrapped on 17 March 1948.
#2443	No.85	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	20 November 1944	27 January 1945	31 May 1945	Decommissioned on 25 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 6 July 1947, and renamed Shian. Escape to People's Liberation Army 23 April 1949. Sunk by aircraft at Yanziji, 28 April 1949.
#2444	No.87	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	27 November 1944	15 February 1945	20 May 1945	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States, 29 July 1947. Scrapped on 1 March 1948.
#2445	No.89	Nihonkai Dock Company	1944	3 May 1945	-	Incomplete until the end of war (95%). Scrapped in November 1947.
#2446	No.91		-	-	-	Cancelled in August 1944.
#2447	No.93	Kyōwa Zōsen	20 May 1944	-	-	Company was closed and construction stopped in May 1945. Later scrapped.
#2448	No.95	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	27 November 1944	14 April 1945	4 July 1945	Decommissioned on 15 September 1945. Scrapped on 20 July 1948.
#2449	No.97	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	5 October 1944	25 May 1945	16 December 1945	Surrendered incomplete in August 1945. Decommissioned on 1 April 1946. Scrapped on 27 October 1947.
#2450	No.99		-	-	-	Cancelled in August 1944.
#2451	No.101	Kyōwa Zōsen	8 September 1944	-	-	Company was closed and construction stopped in May 1945. Later scrapped.
#2452	No.103		-	-	-	Cancelled in August 1944.
#2453	No.105	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	24 December 1944	January 1946	15 April 1946	Surrendered to Soviet Union, 5 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-34 (1947), target ship TsL-34 (1948), oceanographic research ship Khersones (1949). Decommissioned on 3 December 1960 and scrapped.
#2454	No.107	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	3 January 1945	16 March 1946	30 May 1946	Surrendered to Republic of China 29 August 1947, and renamed Chaoan (PF-74). Decommissioned 1963.
#2455	No.109	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	26 January 1945	-	-	Construction stopped on 1 April 1945. Later scrapped.
#2456 #2457 #2458	No.111 No.113 No.115		-	-	-	Cancelled in August 1944.
#2459	No.117	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	1 February 1945	-	-	Construction stopped in March 1945. Later scrapped.
#2460 to #2502	Odd numbers from No.119 to No.203		-	-	-	Cancelled in August 1944.
#2503	No.205	Nihonkai Dock Company	10 May 1944	15 August 1944	30 October 1944	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 31 July 1947, and renamed Chinan (PF-75). Decommissioned 1960.
#2504	No.207	Naniwa Dock Company	17 May 1944	24 August 1944	15 October 1944	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to United States, 4 July 1947. Sunk as target at , 13 August 1947.
#2505 #2506	No.209 No.211		-	-	-	Cancelled in August 1944.
#2507	No.213	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	24 September 1944	15 January 1945	12 February 1945	Sunk by naval mine at Busan, 18 August 1945.
#2508	No.215	Niigata Iron Works	20 July 1944	10 November 1944	30 December 1944	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 6 July 1947, and renamed Liaohai. Transferred to Army, 1948. Returned to Navy, 1953. Decommissioned 1960.
#2509	No.217	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	1 December 1944	26 February 1945	17 July 1945	Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 5 September 1947. Scrapped on 10 February 1948.
#2510	No.219	Naniwa Dock Company	2 September 1944	30 November 1944	25 January 1945	Sunk by USAAF aircraft at Hakodate, 12 July 1945.
#2511	No.221	Niigata Iron Works, Osaka	11 September 1944	26 December 1944	2 April 1945	Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 29 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-40 (1947), target ship TsL-40 (1948), rescue ship Zhiguli (1949). Decommissioned on 11 March 1958 and scrapped.
#2512	No.223	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	1944	4 July 1945	-	Construction stopped on 23 May 1945 (50%). Scrapped on 23 October 1947.
#2513	No.225	Niigata Iron Works	22 November 1944	26 March 1945	28 May 1945	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Scrapped on 30 April 1948.
#2514	No.227	Naniwa Dock Company, Osaka	5 December 1944	10 February 1945	15 June 1945	Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 5 July 1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-35 (1947), target ship TsL-35 (1948), oceanographic research ship Siurkum (1949)/ Decommissioned on 11 March 1958 and scrapped.
#2515	No.229	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	16 January 1945	-	-	Construction stopped in January 1945. Later scrapped.
#2516 #2517	No.231 No.233		-	-	-	Cancelled in August 1944.
#2518	No.235	Niigata Iron Works	15 February 1945	-	-	Construction stopped in February 1945. Later scrapped.
#2519 to #2532	Odd numbers from No.237 to No.263		-	-	-	Cancelled between August 1944 and March 1945.
#2533 to #2700	168 vessels					They were projected only, and never ordered.

See also

• Hiburi-class escort ship
• Shimushu-class escort ship
• Type D escort ship
• Destroyer escort
• Tacoma-class frigate
• Flower-class corvette