Japanese food supply ship Nosaki

The Nosaki (野埼) was a food supply ship (reefer ship) of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) serving during World War II, the only ship of her class.

Nosaki (as Nankai) trial run in 1941
History
Japan
Name: Nosaki
Namesake: Nosaki Point
Ordered: fiscal 1939
Builder: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki shipyard
Cost: 1,574,000 JPY
Laid down: 18 October 1939
Launched: 22 July 1940
Completed: 18 March 1941
Decommissioned: struck on 10 March 1945
Renamed:
  • Support ship No.4007
  • Nankai on 25 October 1940
  • Nosaki on 1 April 1942
Reclassified:
  • Miscellaneous service ship as built
  • Food supply ship on 1 April 1942
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk by USS Dace, 28 December 1944
General characteristics
Type: Food supply ship
Displacement: 640 long tons (650 t) standard
Length: 48.37 m (158.7 ft) waterline
Beam: 8.20 m (26 ft 11 in)
Draught: 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
Propulsion: 2 × Kampon Mk.23B model 6 diesels, 2 shafts, 1,200 bhp
Speed: 13 knots (15 mph; 24 km/h)
Range: 2,000 nmi (3,700 km) at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Endurance: Fuel: 39 tons oil
Capacity:
  • 43.1 tons frozen food
  • 40 tons fresh water
Complement: 35
Armament: 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 AA gun

Background

In 1939, the IJN planned two food supply ships for China Area Fleet under the Maru 4 Programme. One was the 1000 ton Kinesaki (initial named Support ship No.4006), the other the 600 ton Nosaki (initial named Support ship No.4007). Their duty was deliver fresh fish to the fleet. Therefore, they installed a large freezer in the hull, and their appearance looked just like fishing trawler. The IJN compared Kinesaki with Nosaki, and they decided to mass-produce Kinesaki.

Career

  • 18 October 1939: Laid down as Support ship No.4007 (公称第4007号) at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Shimonoseki shipyard.
  • 22 July 1940: Launched.
  • 25 October 1940: Renamed Nankai (南海).
  • 18 March 1941: Completed and assigned to the Sasebo Naval District.
  • 1 April 1942; Renamed Nosaki, classified miscellaneous service ship to special service ship (food supply ship), and assigned to the Kainan Guard District.
  • (later): She engaged in the food transportation in China coast, Taiwan and French Indochina.
  • 28 December 1944: Sunk by USS Dace off Cape Varella.
  • 10 March 1945: Removed naval ship list.

Bibliography

  • Ships of the World special issue Vol.47 Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Kaijinsha, (Japan), March 1997
  • The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.34, Japanese auxiliary vessels, Ushio Shobō (Japan), December 1979
  • Senshi Sōsho Vol.31, Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), November 1969
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