No.101 class landing ship

No.149 on 2 March 1944 at Kurahashijima Island.
Class overview
Name:	No.101 class landing ship No.103 class landing ship
Builders:	Sasebo Naval Arsenal Hitachi Zōsen Corporation Kawanami Kōgyō Corporation Ōsaka Zōsen Corporation
Operators:	Imperial Japanese Navy Imperial Japanese Army Republic of China Navy Soviet Navy
Built:	1943–1945
In commission:	1944–1955
Planned:	103
Completed:	69 (Navy: 49, Army: 20)
Cancelled:	32
Lost:	41 (Navy: 40, Army: 1)
Retired:	30 (Navy: 9, Army: 19)
General characteristics No.101 class
Displacement:	950 long tons (965 t) standard 1,010 long tons (1,026 t) trial
Length:	80.50 m (264 ft 1 in) overall 75.50 m (247 ft 8 in) waterline
Beam:	9.10 m (29 ft 10 in)
Draught:	2.89 m (9 ft 6 in)
Draft:	5.65 m (18 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	3 × intermediate diesels 3 shafts, 1,200 bhp
Speed:	13.4 knots (15.4 mph; 24.8 km/h)
Range:	3,000 nmi (5,600 km) at 13.4 kn (15.4 mph; 24.8 km/h)
Capacity:	320 troops, 26 tons freight and Example 1: 13 × Type 95 Ha-Go Example 2: 9 × Type 97 Chi-Ha Example 3: 7 × Type 2 Ka-Mi Example 4: 5 × Type 3 Ka-Chi Example 5: 250 tons freight
Complement:	90
Armament:	No.101, March 1944 • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 AA gun • 6 × Type 96 25 mm AA guns • 6 × depth charges
General characteristics No.103 class
Displacement:	870 long tons (884 t) standard 1,020 long tons (1,036 t) trial
Length:	80.50 m (264 ft 1 in) overall 75.00 m (246 ft 1 in) waterline
Beam:	9.10 m (29 ft 10 in)
Draught:	2.94 m (9 ft 8 in)
Draft:	5.65 m (18 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	1 × Kampon geared turbine 2 × Kampon water tube boilers single shaft, 2,500 shp
Speed:	16.0 knots (18.4 mph; 29.6 km/h)
Range:	Going: 1,000 nmi (1,900 km) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) Returning: 1,000 nmi (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity:	120 troops, 22 tons freight and Example 1: 13 × Type 95 Ha-Go Example 2: 9 × Type 97 Chi-Ha Example 3: 7 × Type 2 Ka-Mi Example 4: 5 × Type 3 Ka-Chi Example 5: 220 tons freight Example 6: approx. 280 troops
Complement:	100
Armament:	No.104, 20 August 1944 • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 AA gun • 16 × Type 96 25 mm AA guns • 4 × 13 mm AA guns • 12 × depth charges

The No.101 class landing ship (第一〇一号型輸送艦,, Dai 101 Gō-gata Yusōkan^?) was a class of amphibious assault ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), serving during and after World War II. The No.101 class was equipped with diesel engines, while the similar No.103 class landing ship (第一〇三号型輸送艦,, Dai 103 Gō-gata Yusōkan^?) was equipped with turbine engine. The IJN called them 2nd class transporter (二等輸送艦,, 2-Tō Yusōkan^?). The No.103 class has the IJA's SB craft (SB艇,, SB-tei^?) ^[1] variant. This article handles them collectively.

Background

IJA SS craft No.19

• In June 1943, the IJN defeated by in Guadalcanal Campaign realized the necessity of a high-speed military transporter, and they devised two type of ships. One was the 1,500 ton Daihatsu and Kō-hyōteki mother ship (the No.1 class), the other the 900 ton amphibious assault ship for beachhead (described in this article).
• The IJA already had amphibious assault ships the SS craft. However, the SS craft was not suitable for mass-production for a structure elaborate very much. Therefore, the IJA wanted the new amphibious assault ships.
• The plans of the IJN and the IJA were accorded. They cooperated for new amphibious assault ships. The IJN offered a design and shipyards while the IJA offered mineral resources.

Design

• The IJN already obtained information regarding Operation Torch from Germany. Some photographs and sketches about the LCT Mk.V were included in this information.
• In August 1943, the Navy Technical Department (Kampon) studied these and finished a basic design. It was a scaled-up model of the LCT.
• In September 1943, the Kampon entrusted the detailed design to the Kure Naval Arsenal. The Kure Naval Arsenal finished it within two months, and the No.101 was laid down in November 1943.

Construction

• The Kampon designed a new turbine engine^[2] for this class. However, it was time-out for first 6 vessels. The Kampon put the wartime standard diesel engine on first 6 vessels. The IJN called them No.101 class or SB (D). About the all others, turbine engines were supplied smoothly. The IJN called them No.103 class or SB (T). Completed vessels were halved to IJN and IJA.
• The IJA received 32 vessels from No.103 class, however the IJA did not master handling of a turbine engine. The IJA returned 10 vessels^[3] to the IJN. The completed vessels were spent one by one to the front.
• About the No.103 class and SB crafts, several vessels were changed the coal fired boilers on January 1945. Detailed construction records were not left.^[4]

Navy service

• Most of the Navy vessels were sent to the Battle of Leyte, 18 of them were lost. Most of them, however, succeeded in the landing of tanks and troops.
• Only 9 vessels survived war.

Army service

• As of 2009 a detailed record about the vessels in the Army service is not known to exist in Japan.
• The armaments were not unified.
• The IJA let ten SB crafts participate in the Philippines Campaign. Their actions were limited to the Luzon northern coast, Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands. The IJA lost only one SB craft.
• After the Philippines Campaign, the SB crafts were used only in Japanese mainland peripheral sea area.

Ships in classes

No.101 class

Ship	Builder	Completed	Fate
No.101	Ōsaka Zōsen	08-03-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Ormoc Bay, 28-10-1944.
No.102	Ōsaka Zōsen	15-03-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west of Negros, 26-10-1944.
No.127	Kawanami Kōgyō	28-02-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Ticao island, 25-09-1944.
No.128	Kawanami Kōgyō	18-03-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Morotai, 04-06-1944.
No.149	Hitachi Zōsen	20-02-1944	Converted to support craft and renamed No.2 Kuroshio on 10-02-1945. Sunk by USN submarine off Sumatra on 01-06-1945.
No.150	Hitachi Zōsen	10-03-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Palau, 27-07-1944.

No.103 class

Ship	Builder	Completed	Fate
No.103	Ōsaka Zōsen	01-05-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Iwo Jima, 04-07-1944.
No.104	Ōsaka Zōsen	25-05-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west of Luzon, 15-12-1944.
No.105	Ōsaka Zōsen	15-06-1944	Sunk by USS Trepang at south of Omaezaki, 11-10-1944
No.106	Ōsaka Zōsen	30-06-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Lingayen Gulf, 15-12-1944.
No.107	Ōsaka Zōsen	20-07-1944	Sunk by USN destroyer at west of Haha-jima, 05-01-1945.
No.108	Ōsaka Zōsen	31-07-1944	Decommissioned 03-05-1947. Surrendered to United Kingdom at Singapore, 17-10-1947.
No.109	Ōsaka Zōsen	15-08-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.110	Ōsaka Zōsen	05-09-1944	Decommissioned 15-09-1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom at Singapore, 17-10-1947.
No.111	Ōsaka Zōsen	15-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Masbate, 24-11-1944.
No.112	Ōsaka Zōsen	15-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west of Luzon, 07-01-1945.
No.113	Ōsaka Zōsen	15-10-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west of Luzon, 25-11-1944.
No.114	Ōsaka Zōsen	30-10-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Taiwan, 17-02-1945.
No.115	Ōsaka Zōsen	13-11-1944	Sunk by aircraft at north of Luzon, 02-02-1945.
No.116	Ōsaka Zōsen	24-11-1944	Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.103.
No.117	Ōsaka Zōsen	22-12-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.118	Ōsaka Zōsen	30-12-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.119	Ōsaka Zōsen	16-01-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.120	Ōsaka Zōsen	05-02-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.121	Ōsaka Zōsen	20-02-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.122	Ōsaka Zōsen	22-03-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.123	Ōsaka Zōsen	22-03-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.124	Ōsaka Zōsen	08-05-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.125	Ōsaka Zōsen		Transferred to the Army, SB craft. Not completed until the end of war.
No.126	Ōsaka Zōsen		Transferred to the Army, SB craft. Not completed until the end of war.
No.129	Kawanami Kōgyō	12-05-1944	Sunk by USS Cod at Banda Sea, 14-08-1944.
No.130	Kawanami Kōgyō	03-06-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Iwo Jima, 04-07-1944.
No.131	Kawanami Kōgyō	24-06-1944	Converted to support craft and renamed No.1 Kuroshio on 10-02-1945. Sunk by USN submarine at Strait of Malacca on 27-07-1945.[5]
No.132	Kawanami Kōgyō	28-06-1944	Sunk by USN destroyer at Iwo Jima, 27-12-1944.
No.133	Sasebo Naval Arsenal	04-07-1944	Sunk by aircraft off Iwo Jima, 04-08-1944.
No.134	Kawanami Kōgyō	15-07-1945	Scuttled by stormy weather at Iwo Jima, 04-10-1944.
No.135	Kawanami Kōgyō	25-07-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luson, 18-10-1944.
No.136	Kawanami Kōgyō	20-08-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luson, 18-10-1944.
No.137	Kawanami Kōgyō	28-08-1944	Decommissioned 05-10-1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union at Nakhodka, 03-10-1947.
No.138	Kawanami Kōgyō	04-09-1944	Sunk by USS Kingfish off Iwo Jima, 26-10-1944.
No.139	Kawanami Kōgyō	25-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luson, 12-11-1944.
No.140	Sasebo Naval Arsenal	14-10-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Saigon, 13-01-1945.
No.141	Sasebo Naval Arsenal	19-10-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Masbate, 24-11-1944.
No.142	Kawanami Kōgyō	02-11-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luson, 25-11-1944.
No.143	Kawanami Kōgyō	25-11-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Penghu, 26-03-1945.
No.144	Kawanami Kōgyō	01-12-1944	Decommissioned 05-10-1945, later scrapped.
No.145	Kawanami Kōgyō	16-12-1944	Grounded at Amami Ōshima, 04-04-1945. Scuttled 03-09-1945.
No.146	Kawanami Kōgyō	30-12-1944	Sunk by USS Trepang at south of Gotō Islands, 28-04-1945.
No.147	Kawanami Kōgyō	25-01-1945	Decommissioned 15-09-1945. Surrendered to United States at Yokosuka, 13-11-1947. Scrapped 31-03-1948.
No.148	Kawanami Kōgyō	31-01-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.151	Hitachi Zōsen	23-04-1944	Sunk by USS Besugo at north of Palawan, 23-11-1944.
No.152	Hitachi Zōsen	25-05-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Iwo Jima, 04-08-1944.
No.153	Hitachi Zōsen	15-06-1944	Decommissioned 30-11-1945. Scrapped 1948.
No.154	Hitachi Zōsen	05-07-1944	Sunk by USN destroyer at Iwo Jima, 05-01-1945.
No.155	Hitachi Zōsen	19-07-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.156	Hitachi Zōsen	05-08-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.157	Hitachi Zōsen	19-08-1944	Sunk by USN destroyer at Iwo Jima, 24-12-1944.
No.158	Hitachi Zōsen	04-09-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Naha, 10-10-1944.
No.159	Hitachi Zōsen	16-09-1944	Sunk by a bombardment of US Army tanks and artillery at Ormoc Bay, 12-12-1944.
No.160	Hitachi Zōsen	05-07-1944	Sunk by aircraft at Masbate, 24-11-1944.
No.161	Hitachi Zōsen	14-10-1944	Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luson, 25-11-1944.
No.162	Hitachi Zōsen	23-10-1944	Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.101. Scrapped April 1948.
No.163	Hitachi Zōsen	31-10-1944	Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.102.
No.164	Ōsaka Zōsen		Construction stopped 11-04-1945. Later scrapped.
No.165	Ōsaka Zōsen		Construction stopped 28-04-1945. Later scrapped.
6 vessels			They were cancelled while before naming.
No.172	Kawanami Kōgyō	10-03-1945	Decommissioned 15-09-1945. Surrendered to Republic of China at Qingdao, 03-10-1947. Renamed Luishan (AP-308). Decommissioned 1955.
No.173	Kawanami Kōgyō	01-04-1945	Sunk by aircraft at Ryukyu Islands, 22-05-1945.
No.174	Kawanami Kōgyō	14-07-1945	Decommissioned 20-11-1945. Scrapped 1948.
No.175	Kawanami Kōgyō		Construction stopped 11-04-1945. Sunk by typhoon 15-09-1945.
No.176	Kawanami Kōgyō		Construction stopped 25-06-1945. Later scrapped.
7 vessels			They were cancelled while before naming.
No.184	Hitachi Zōsen	30-11-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.185	Hitachi Zōsen	10-12-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.186	Hitachi Zōsen	24-12-1944	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.187	Hitachi Zōsen	13-01-1945	Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.114. Scrapped May 1948.
No.188	Hitachi Zōsen	29-01-1945	Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
15 vessels			They were cancelled while before naming.

Photos

• 

  No.149 on 16 February 1944 at Yugeshima Island.

• 

  Type 3 Ka-Chi departure from No.149 on 29 February 1944 at Nasakejima Island.

• 

  Type 95 Ha-Gō departure from No.149 on 27 February 1944 at Nasakejima Island.

• 

  (left to right) No.150, No.101, No.127 and No.149 on 13 March 1944 at Kure Naval Arsenal.

• 

  No.151 on 20 April 1944 at Yugeshima Island.

• 

  No.159 on 12 December 1944 at Ormoc Bay.

• 

  No.147 w/ coal fired boilers on 16 December 1946 at Yokosuka Naval Base.

• 

  IJA SB craft No.101 on 17 February 1947 at Hiroshima Bay.

See also

• Landing Ship, Tank
• Landing Ship Medium
• Landing craft tank
• Landing Craft Utility
• SS class landing ship
• Daihatsu class landing craft

Footnotes

1. ^ The SB meaning are S = Sensha, and B = Kaigun.
2. ^ The Kampon Mk.A Model 25 (艦本式甲二五型,, Kampon Kō 25-gata^?) all geared turbine.
3. ^ The No.106, No.107, No.108, No.110, No.111, No.112, No.113, No.114, No.115 and No.154.
4. ^ No.147, SB No.101 and SB No.108 can confirm it from a photograph. Their chimney was very tall.
5. ^ "Memorial stone in Sasebo". http://www.geocities.jp/bane2161/131yusoukan.htm. 

Bibliography

• "Rekishi Gunzō". http://rekigun.net/. , History of Pacific War Vol.51, The truth histories of the Imperial Japanese Vessels Part.2, Gakken (Japan), August 2005, ISBN 4-05-604083-4
• Rekishi Gunzō, History of Pacific War Vol.62, Ships of the Imperial Japanese Forces, Gakken (Japan), January 2008, ISBN 4-05-605008-0
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.50, Japanese minesweepers and landing ships, Ushio Shobō (Japan), April 1981
• Ships of the World special issue Vol.47, Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha". http://www.ships-net.co.jp/. , (Japan), March 1997