Type C escort ship

No.17 on 10 April 1944 at Tokyo Bay
Class overview
Name:	No.1 class escort ship
Builders:	Maizuru Naval Arsenal Kyōwa Zōsen Corporation Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Naniwa Dock Company Nihonkai Dock Company Nihon Kōkan Corporation Niigata Iron Works
Operators:	Imperial Japanese Navy Republic of China Navy Republic of China Army Soviet Navy People's Liberation Army Navy
Preceded by:	Ukuru class
Cost:	5,015,000 JPY
Built:	1943–1946
In commission:	1944–1980
Planned:	300
Completed:	56
Cancelled:	241
Lost:	28
Retired:	28
General characteristics
Type:	Escort ship
Displacement:	745 long tons (757 t) standard
Length:	67.5 m (221 ft)
Beam:	8.4 m (27 ft 7 in)
Draught:	2.9 m (10 ft)
Propulsion:	2 shaft, geared diesel engines, 1,900 hp (1,417 kW)
Speed:	16.5 knots (19.0 mph; 30.6 km/h)
Range:	6,500 nmi (12,000 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Complement:	136
Sensors and processing systems:	Type 22-Go radar Type 93 sonar Type 3 hydrophone
Armament:	As built : • 2 × 120 mm (4.7 in)/45 cal DP guns • 6 × Type 96 25 mm (0.98 in) AA machine guns (2×3) • 12 × Type 3 depth charge throwers • 1 × depth charge chute • 120 × depth charges From 1944 : • as above, plus • 1 × 80 mm (3.1 in) mortar

The Type C escort ships (丙型海防艦, Hei-gata kaibōkan^?) were a class of ships in the service of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The Japanese called them "Type C" ocean defense ships, and they were the fifth class of Kaibokan (Kai = sea, ocean, Bo = defense, Kan = ship), a name used to denote a multi-purpose vessel.^[1]

Background

The Type C, like the Ukuru-class and Mikura-class, were dedicated to the anti-aircraft and anti-submarine role.

In 22 April 1943, the Navy General Staff decided a mass production of escort ships, because of the urgent need to protect the convoys which were under constant attack. The plan was to build a basic escort ship of around 800 tons, with a simple design for easy construction. The first designs, for "Type A" Etorofu class and "Type B" Mikura class, still needed too many man-hours for building, so in June 1943, the Navy General Staff planned for a simplified design. The result was the Ukuru class, and a scaled down model of the Mikura class, which became the "Type C" and "Type D" escort classes.

Design

Because of Japan's deteriorating war situation, the Type C was a further simplification of the Ukuru design. They were smaller by 200 tons and the Diesel engines that propelled them were also smaller, at 1900 SHP vs 4200 for the Ukurus. Because of the decrease in engine power, the speed fell from 19.5 knots to 16.5. The range remained the same, 6500 miles at 14 knots. The number of 4.7" guns went from three to two. The number of depth charges aboard was the same, 120, but the number of depth charge throwers was decreased from 18 to 12 and the depth charge chutes were decreased from two to one.

Due to the simplifications of the design, a significant saving was made in construction time. The Type C escorts required approximately 20,000 man-hours each, compared to the 35,000 man-hours of the Ukurus and the 57,000 man-hours of the Mikuras.

Construction

The design work of the Type C ships started in March, 1943, the same time as the Ukuru class. They were built concurrently with the Ukuru class and the Type D. The Type C class were given odd numbers, while the D Type were given even numbers. The Type C were constructed using prefabricated sections that enabled them to be built in as little as three to four months. The lead ship, No.1 (CD-1) was constructed at Mitsubishi, laid down on 15 September 1943, and completed with the No.3 (CD-3) on 29 February 1944.

Service

No.1 on 6 April 1945

The C Type escorts were assigned to the Destroyer Divisions and Escort Divisions for convoy escort operations. However by 1944 the advantage had passed to the US, and many C Type vessels became casualties as the Japanese merchant fleet was devastated by the American submarine offensive. There were 53 finished during the war of the 300 planned, and several completed after World War II ended. 26 were sunk during the war.

Successes

• USS Growler was sunk on November 8, 1944 by CD-19 with Chiburi and destroyer Shigure.^[2]
• USS Trigger was sunk on March 28, 1945 by CD-33 and CD-59 with Mikura.^[2]
• USS Bonefish was sunk on June 19, 1945 by C Types CD-63, CD-75 and CD-207 with Okinawa and CD-158.^[2]
• USS Salmon was rendered unfit for further service by damage from CD-33 and CD-29 with CD-22 on October 30, 1944.

Ships in class

Ship #	Ship	Builder	Completed	Fate
2401	Xiamen, 06-04-1945.
2402	No.3	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	29-02-1944	Sunk by aircraft northwest of Keelung, 09-01-1945.
2403	No.5	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	19-03-1944	Sunk by aircraft west of Masinloc, 21-09-1944.
2404	No.7	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	10-03-1944	Sunk by USS Ray west of Vigan City, 14-11-1944.
2405	No.9	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	10-03-1944	Sunk by USS Gato in Yellow Sea , 14-02-1945.
2406	No.11	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	15-03-1944	Heavy damaged by aircraft in Ormoc Bay, 10-11-1944. Later scuttled.
2407	No.13	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	03-04-1944	Sunk by USS Torsk at south of Hyōgo, 14-08-1945.
2408	No.15	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	08-04-1944	Sunk by USS Raton to west of Spratly Island, 06-06-1944.
2409	No.17	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	13-04-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Saint Jacques, 12-01-1945.
2410	No.19	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	28-04-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Saint Jacques, 12-01-1945.
2411	No.21	Nihonkai Dock Company	18-07-1944	Sunk by USS Seahorse to east of Pratas Islands, 06-10-1944.
2412	No.23	Nihonkai Dock Company	15-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft at north of Qui Nhon Bay, 12-01-1945.
2413	No.25	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	02-07-1944	Sunk by USS Springer in Yellow Sea, 03-05-1945.
2414	No.27	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	20-07-1944	Decommissioned on 20-11-1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 14-08-1947. Later scrapped.
2415	No.29	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	08-08-1944	Decommissioned on 20-11-1945. Scrapped on 01-03-1948.
2416	No.31	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	21-08-1944	Sunk by USS Tirante in Yellow Sea, 14-04-1945.
2417	No.33	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	31-08-1944	Sunk by aircraft to east of Aoshima, 28-03-1945.
2418	No.35	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	11-10-1944	Sunk by aircraft at south of French Indochina, 12-01-1945.
2419	No.37	Nihonkai Dock Company	03-11-1944	Decommissioned on 15-09-1945. Surrendered to United States, 04-09-1947. Scrapped on 30-11-1947.
2420	No.39	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	27-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Geoje Island, 07-08-1945.
2421	No.41	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	16-10-1944	Sunk by USS Sea Owl at Tsushima Strait, 09-06-1945.
2422	No.43	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	31-07-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Cape Padaran, 12-01-1945.
2423	No.45	Nihonkai Dock Company	23-12-1944	Decommissioned on 30-11-1945. Scrapped on 30-04-1948.
2424	No.47	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	02-11-1944	Sunk by USS Torsk at south of Hyōgo, 14-08-1945.
2425	No.49	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	16-11-1944	Decommissioned on 30-11-1945. Surrendered to United States, 01-09-1947. Scrapped on 01-02-1948.
2426	No.51	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	21-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft at north of Qui Nhon Bay, 12-01-1945.
2427	No.53	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	28-11-1944	Sunk by USS Besugo at east of Cam Ranh Bay, 07-02-1945.
2428	No.55	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	20-12-1944	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 16-07-1947. Later scrapped.
2429	No.57	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	13-01-1945	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Converted to breakwater at Ube, May 1948.
2430	No.59	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	02-02-1945	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Collided with Hyūga and sunk at Kure, 30-07-1946. Salvaged and scrapped on 09-11-1947.
2431	No.61	Maizuru Naval Arsenal	15-09-1944	Decommissioned on 03-05-1947. Later scrapped.
2432	No.63	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	15-10-1944	Decommissioned on 30-09-1945. Scrapped on 30-04-1948.
2433	No.65	Nihonkai Dock Company	13-02-1945	Sunk by aircraft at Muroran, 14-07-1945. Salvaged and scrapped in July 1947.
2434	No.67	Maizuru Naval Arsenal	12-11-1944	Decommissioned on 25-10-1945. Surrendered to Republic of China, 06-07-1947, and renamed Yingkan. Renamed Rui'an (PF-73) 1952. Decommissioned 1963.
2435	No.69	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	20-12-1944	Heavy damaged by aircraft off Hainan Island, 09-03-1945. Sank on 16-03-1945.
2436	No.71	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	12-03-1945	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 28-08-1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-43 (1947), oceanographic research ship West (1948), renamed Ostrovnoy (1953). Decommissioned on January 31, 1964 and scrapped.
2437	No.73	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	05-04-1945	Sunk by USS Sunfish at southeast of Iwate, 16-04-1945.
2438	No.75	Nihonkai Dock Company	21-04-1945	Sink off Nō 23-08-1945.
2439	No.77	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	31-03-1945	Decommissioned on 30-11-1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 28-08-1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-45 (1947), target ship "TsL-45 (1948), repair ship PM-63 (1955). Decommissioned on January 25, 1969 and scrapped.
2440	No.79	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	06-05-1945	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 29-07-1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-39 (1947), target ship TsL-39 (1948), oceanographic research ship Sozh (1949). Decommissioned on August 30, 1960 and scrapped.
2441	No.81	Maizuru Naval Arsenal	15-12-1944	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Surrendered to Republic of China, 29-08-1947, and renamed Yuan. Escape to People's Liberation Army 13-02-1949, and renamed Shengyang. Decommissioned 1980.
2442	No.83	Kyōwa Zōsen and Naniwa Dock Company		Still incomplete at the end of war (85%). Scrapped on 17-03-1948.
2443	No.85	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	31-05-1945	Decommissioned on 25-10-1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 06-07-1947, and renamed Shian. Escape to People's Liberation Army 23-04-1949. Sunk by aircraft at Yanziji, 28-04-1949.
2444	No.87	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	20-05-1945	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Surrendered to United States, 29-07-1947. Scrapped on 01-03-1948.
2445	No.89	Nihonkai Dock Company		Incomplete until the end of war (95%). Scrapped in November 1947.
2446	No.91			Cancelled in August 1944.
2447	No.93	Kyōwa Zōsen		Company was closed and construction stopped on May 1945. Later scrapped.
2448	No.95	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	04-07-1945	Decommissioned on 15-09-1945. Scrapped on 20-07-1948.
2449	No.97	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	16-12-1945	Decommissioned on 01-04-1946. Scrapped on 27-10-1947.
2450	No.99			Cancelled in August 1944.
2451	No.101	Kyōwa Zōsen		Company was closed and construction stopped on May 1945. Later scrapped.
2452	No.103			Cancelled in August 1944.
2453	No.105	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	15-04-1946	Surrendered to Soviet Union, 05-07-1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-34 (1947), target ship TsL-34 (1948), oceanographic research ship Khersones (1949). Decommissioned on December 3, 1960 and scrapped.
2454	No.107	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard	30-05-1946	Surrendered to Republic of China 29-08-1947, and renamed Chaoan (PF-74). Decommissioned 1963.
2455	No.109	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard		Construction stopped on 01-04-1945. Later scrapped.
2456–2458	No.111, No.113 and No.115			Cancelled in August 1944.
2459	No.117	Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard		Construction stopped in March 1945. Later scrapped.
2460–2502	Odd numbers from No.119 to No.203			Cancelled in August 1944.
2503	No.205	Nihonkai Dock Company	30-10-1944	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 31-07-1947, and renamed Chinan (PF-75). Decommissioned 1960.
2504	No.207	Naniwa Dock Company	15-10-1944	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Surrendered to United States, 04-07-1947. Sunk as target at , 13-08-1947.
2505–2506	No.209 and No.211			Cancelled in August 1944.
2507	No.213	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	12-02-1945	Sunk by naval mine at Busan, 18-08-1945.
2508	No.215	Niigata Iron Works	30-12-1945	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Surrendered to Republic of China 06-07-1947, and renamed Liaohai. Transferred to Army, 1948. Returned to Navy, 1953. Decommissioned 1960.
2509	No.217	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard	17-07-1945	Decommissioned on 30-11-1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom, 05-09-1947. Scrapped on 10-02-1948.
2510	No.219	Naniwa Dock Company	25-01-1945	Sunk by aircraft at Hakodate, 12-07-1945.
2511	No.221	Niigata Iron Works	02-04-1945	Decommissioned on 30-11-1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 29-07-1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-40 (1947), target ship TsL-40 (1948), rescue ship Zhiguli (1949). Decommissioned on March 11, 1958 and scrapped.
2512	No.223	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard		Construction stopped on 23-05-1945 (50%). Scrapped on 23-10-1947.
2513	No.225	Niigata Iron Works	28-05-1945	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Scrapped on 30-04-1948.
2514	No.227	Naniwa Dock Company	15-06-1945	Decommissioned on 05-10-1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union, 05-07-1947. Served in Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet as patrol ship EK-35 (1947), target ship "TsL-35 (1948), oceanographic research ship Siurkum (1949)/ Decommissioned on March 11, 1958 and scrapped.
2515	No.229	Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard		Construction stopped in January 1945. Later scrapped.
2516–2517	No.231 and No.233			Cancelled in August 1944.
2518	No.235	Niigata Iron Works		Construction stopped in February 1945. Later scrapped.
2519–2532	Odd numbers from No.237 to No.263			Cancelled in August 1944 to 1945.
168 vessels				They were cancelled while before naming.

See also

• No.2 class escort ship
• Ukuru class escort ship
• Hiburi class escort ship
• Mikura class escort ship
• Etorofu class escort ship
• Shimushu class escort ship
• Destroyer escort
• Tacoma class frigate
• Flower class corvette

Notes

1. ^ Worth P. 208
2. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq39-1.htm

References

• Kaibokan @combinedfleet.com (Retrieved May 4, 2009)
• C type escorts @IJN(Retrieved May 4, 2009)
• C class @warships of WWII (Retrieved May 4, 2009)
• US Submarine losses @NavalHistory&Heritage (Retrieved May 4, 2009)
• http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%99%E5%9E%8B%E6%B5%B7%E9%98%B2%E8%89%A6

• Worth, Richard, Fleets of World War II, Da Capo Press (2001), ISBN 0-306-81116-2