Toku Daihatsu-class landing craft

The Toku Daihatsu Class or 17m landing craft was a type of landing craft, used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. It was designated the "Super Type A" landing craft by the United States.^[1]

Class overview
Name	Toku Daihatsu Class, Landing Craft
Builders	Daihatsu
Operators	during World War II: Imperial Japanese Navy
General characteristics (Toku Daihatsu-class landing craft)
Type	Landing Craft
Tonnage	35 tons
Length	57.9 ft (17.65 m)o/a
Beam	12.2 ft (3.72 m)
Draught	3.3 ft (1.01 m)
Installed power	150 horsepower
Speed	11 knots (20.4 km/h)
Range	100 nautical miles (185 km) at 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h) 50 nautical miles (93 km) at 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h)
Capacity	1 Type 97 15.6 ton tank or 100 men
Complement	15
Armament	1 heavy machine gun or 2 light machine guns or 3 25mm/60 AA guns

History

It was a larger design of the Daihatsu Class landing craft, with a bow ramp that was lowered to disembark cargo upon riding up onto the beach. It was constructed of a metal hull and powered by a diesel engine.

Designed to carry a medium-sized tank or two eight ton tanks. The landing craft was used extensively to run troops and supplies to isolated garrisons, referred to as ant runs by the Japanese. The Allied air forces and U.S. PT boats undertook increasingly successful raids at intercepting and destroying these craft towards the end of World War II.