Japanese escort Kunashiri
 Kurahashi in 1944
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan | |
| Name | Kunashiri |
| Builder | Nihon Kokan, Tsurumi |
| Laid down | 1 March 1939 |
| Launched | 6 May 1940 |
| Commissioned | 3 October 1940 |
| Stricken | 5 November 1945 |
| Fate | Wrecked, 4 June 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | escort ship |
| Displacement | 870 long tons (884 t) |
| Length | 77.7 m (255 ft) |
| Beam | 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) |
| Draught | 3.05 m (10 ft) |
| Speed | 19.7 knots (22.7 mph; 36.5 km/h) |
| Complement | 150 |
| Armament |
|
Kunashiri (国後) was one of four
escort ships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy
during World War II.
Background and description
The Japanese called these ships propeller shaft, which were rated at a total of 4,200 brake horsepower (3,100 kW) for a speed of 19.7 knots (36.5 km/h; 22.7 mph). The ships had a range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[2]
The main armament of the Shimushu class consisted of three
Type 96 25-millimeter (1.0 in) anti-aircraft guns in two twin-gun mounts, but the total was increased to 15 guns by August 1943. A dozen depth charges were stowed aboard initially, but this was doubled in May 1942 when their minesweeping gear was removed.[2] The anti-submarine weaponry later rose to 60 depth charges with a Type 97 81-millimeter (3.2 in) trench mortar
and six depth charge throwers.
Construction and career
In July 1943 Kunashiri participated in the
Sasebo and was later used by the Allied Repatriation Service. On 4 June 1946 while en route to Uraga the vessel ran aground and was later abandoned. In attempts to rescue her, the Kamikaze also ran aground, while at the same time, she too was repatriating Japanese troops from Singapore.[3]
Notes
- ^ Chesneau, p. 205
- ^ a b Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 186
- ^ "IJN Escort Kunashiri: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
References
- Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
