Sunosaki-class combat support ship

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

Sunosaki in 1943
Class overview
Name: Sunosaki-class combat support ship
Builders: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Operators:  Imperial Japanese Navy
Built: 19421943
In commission: 19431944
Planned: 5
Completed: 2
Cancelled: 3
Lost: 2
General characteristics
Displacement: 4,465 long tons (4,537 t) standard
Length: 108.5 m (356 ft 0 in) overall
Beam: 15.0 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draught: 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × MAN Mk.4 diesels
  • 2 shafts, 4,500 bhp
Speed: 16 knots (18 mph; 30 km/h)
Range: 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Capacity:
  • 1,080 tons for gasoline
  • 440 tons for ammunitions and food
Complement: 161
Armament:

Construction

In 1939, the IJN planned two support ship classes to help their aircraft carriers. One was the 8,000-ton Ashizuri class, the other one the 4,500 ton Sunosaki class. The Sunosaki was planned to support for two medium-sized carriers (Sōryū and Hiryū) in the battlefield. The thought is the same as USS Sacramento.

Service

The Sunosaki class was unable to support Japan's carrier task force, because their commissions were delayed. They sailed between the Japanese mainland and Southeast Asia, and were lost before participating in a naval battle.

Ships in class

Ship # Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
103 Sunosaki (洲埼) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama Shipyard 25-03-1942 28-12-1942 15-05-1943 Burned by air raid at Manila Bay 21-09-1944. Scuttled 04-10-1944.
233 Takasaki (高崎) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama Shipyard 16-07-1942 03-05-1943 02-09-1943 Sunk by USS Puffer at Sulu Sea 06°33′N 122°55′E 05-06-1944.
234 Tsurugizaki (剣埼) Cancelled on 05-05-1944.
235 Kōzaki (神埼)
236 Hijirizaki (聖埼) or Toyosaki (豊埼)

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
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