Hashima-class cable layer

{{Short description|Imperial Japanese cable-laying ship}}

{{Infobox ship begin}}

{{Infobox ship image

|Ship image= Japanese cable layer Hashima in 1940.jpg

|Ship caption= Hashima on 25 October 1940

}}

{{Infobox ship class overview

|Name=Hashima-class cable layer

|Builders=*Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation

|Operators=*{{navy|Empire of Japan}}

|Class before=

|Class after=

|Subclasses=

|Cost=1,760,000 JPYSenshi Sōsho Vol.31 (1969), p.804

|Built range=1939–1941

|In service range=

|In commission range=1940–1968

|Reclassified=

|Total ships building=

|Total ships planned=4

|Total ships completed=4

|Total ships cancelled=

|Total ships active=

|Total ships laid up=

|Total ships lost=3

|Total ships retired=1

|Total ships preserved=

}}

{{Infobox ship characteristics

|Hide header=

|Header caption=

|Ship class=

|Ship type=Cable layer

|Ship tonnage=

|Ship displacement= {{convert|1560|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} standard

|Ship length= {{convert|76.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}} overall

|Ship beam= {{convert|10.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship height=

|Ship draught= {{convert|3.53|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship draft=

|Ship propulsion=*2 × triple expansion stages reciprocating engines

  • 2 × Kampon coal-fired boilers
  • 2 shafts, 600 shp

|Ship power=

|Ship speed= {{convert|14.0|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}}

|Ship range= {{convert|1000|nmi|km|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|12|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}

|Ship boats=

|Ship troops=

|Ship complement= 109

|Ship capacity=

|Ship crew=

|Ship EW=

|Ship armament=*1 × 8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun L/40 AA gun

|Ship armour=

}}

The {{nihongo|Hashima-class cable layers|初島型電纜敷設艇,|Hashima-gata Denran-Fusetsutei}} were the only class of purpose-built cable layers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. Four vessels were built in 1939–41 under the Maru 4 Programme.

Apart from laying communications cables, these ships were also designed as mine planters, for the installation of controlled mines in coastal fortifications.

Ships in class

Project number J21.

class="wikitable" width="75%"

| width="9%" | Ship

| width="9%" bgcolor= | Builder

| width="9%" bgcolor= | Laid downSenshi Sōsho Vol.31 (1969), p.806

| width="9%" bgcolor= | Launched

| width="9%" bgcolor= | Completed

| width="25%" bgcolor= | Fate

{{nihongo|{{ship|Japanese cable layer|Hashima2}}|初島}}
ex-Hatsushima

| Kawasaki,
Kōbe Shipyard

| 15 October 1939
as Hatsushima

| 10 April 1940

| 25 October 1940
as Hashima

| Renamed Hashima on 25 October 1940. Sunk by {{USS|Sennet|SS-408|6}} off Owase {{coord|33|58|N|136|17|E}} on 28 April 1945. Decommissioned on 10 July 1945.

{{nihongo|{{ship|Japanese cable layer|Tsurushima2}}|釣島}}

| Kawasaki,
Kōbe Shipyard

| 15 January 1940

| 24 May 1940

| 28 March 1941

| Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Transferred to Ministry of Communications and Transportation and renamed {{nihongo|Tsurushima Maru|釣島丸}} in 1945. Transferred to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation on 8 September 1951. Retired in March 1968.

{{nihongo|{{ship|Japanese cable layer|Ōtate2}}|大立}}10 December 1940, Notice No. 288, Named one minesweeper, one submarine chaser and two cable layers, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy, 1940.

| Harima Zōsen

| 22 April 1940

| 11 December 1940

| 31 July 1941

| Sunk by air raid off Kusagaki Islands {{coord|30|40|N|127|50|E}} on 27 March 1945. Decommissioned on 10 July 1945.

{{nihongo|{{ship|Japanese cable layer|Tateishi2}}|立石}}

| Harima Zōsen

| 22 April 1940

| 1 March 1941

| 31 August 1941

| Sunk by air raid in South China Sea {{coord|11|50|N|109|18|E}} on 21 March 1945. Decommissioned on 10 May 1945.

Photos

Image:Japanese cable layer Tsurushima in 1941.jpg|Tsurushima on 20 March 1941

Image:Japanese cable layer Odate in 1941.jpg|Ōtate in 1941

Image:Japanese cable layer Tateishi in 1945.jpg|Tateishi on 21 March 1945

Image:Japanese cable layer TsurushimaMaru-1946.jpg|Tsurushima Maru in postwar

Footnotes

{{reflist}}

Bibliography

  • Monthly Ships of the World, Special issue Vol.45, "Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy", {{cite web |url=http://www.ships-net.co.jp/ |title=Kaijinsha}}, (Japan), February 1996
  • The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.47, "Japanese naval mine warfare crafts", {{cite web |url=http://www.kojinsha.co.jp/ |title=Ushio Shobō}} (Japan), January 1981
  • Senshi Sōsho Vol.31, Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), November 1969

{{WWII Japanese auxiliary ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hashima-class cable layer}}

Category:World War II naval ships of Japan

Category:Auxiliary ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Category:Cable laying ships

Category:Coastal fortifications

Category:Mine warfare vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Category:Nippon Telegraph and Telephone