No.251 class auxiliary submarine chaser

No.251 class auxiliary submarine chaser
HIJMS PC-251.jpg
Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.251 in 1938
Class overview
Name: No.251-class aux. submarine chasers
• No.251-class (Project number K5A)
• No.253-class (Project number K5B)
Builders: Nihon Kōkan Corporation
Ōsaka Iron Works
Operators: Naval Ensign of Japan.svg Imperial Japanese Navy
Built: 1936 – 1939
In commission: 1937 – 1945
Planned: 3
Completed: 3
Retired: 3
IJN No53 Submarine Chaser 1937.jpg
Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.253 in 1937
General characteristics
Type: Submarine chaser
Displacement: 170 long tons (173 t) standard
Length: 45.0 m (147 ft 8 in) overall
Beam: 4.80 m (15 ft 9 in)
Draught: No.251 and No.252
1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
No.253
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Propulsion: No.251
2 × original MAN Mk.1 diesels
2 shafts, 3,000 bhp
No.252
2 × copied MAN Mk.1 diesels
2 shafts
No.253
1 × Kampon geared turbine
2 × Kampon water tube boilers
2 shafts, 3,000 shp
Speed: 23.0 knots (26.5 mph; 42.6 km/h)
Range: 800 nmi (1,500 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Complement: 41
Armament: • 1 × 40 mm heavy machine gun
• 18 × Type 95 depth charges
• 2 × Type 94 depth charge projectors
• 1 × depth charge thrower
• 1 × Type 93 active sonar
• 1 × Type 93 hydrophone

The No.251 class auxiliary submarine chaser (第二五一号型駆潜特務艇, Dai 251 Gō-gata Kusen-Tokumutei?)[1] was a class of submarine chasers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. 3 vessels were built in 1936 – 1939 under the Maru 2 Programme. They have two sub classes, this article handles them collectively.

Contents

Background

  • In 1934, the IJN planned an experimental model of high-speed coast defense submarine chaser. The IJN wanted over 20 kn (23 mph; 37 km/h), however the Navy Technical Department (Kampon) have not designed such a small-sized and high-powered diesels yet.
  • The IJN ordered hull design to the Thornycroft, and high-powered diesel design to the MAN, for study a small-sized high-speed boat.

Design

  • The Thornycroft drawings were not able to satisfy the IJN, because their designs center of gravity was too high, and bad drainage. The Kampon made a based on the Hayabusa class torpedo boat and finished hull designs.
  • The IJN was satisfied with MAN diesel specifications, however their designs were very complicated and very high-prices. The IJN bought two diesels and named MAN Mk.1 diesel (マ式1号ディーゼル, Ma-Shiki 1 Gō diesel?). Furthermore, the IJN ordered a copy of this diesel to the Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
  • Also, 1 vessel was equipped with a Kampon turbine, because diesel engine was unsuitable for a mass production.

Service

  • The IJN deployed them to a mine warfare school after having finished their examination, because they were too small.
  • They became a training ship of the mine warfare school, and they acted in Tokyo Bay.

Ships in classes

No.251-class

  • Project number K5A. 2 vessels were completed. They were equipped with MAN design diesels. The No.252 was equipped the copied MAN diesels by Kawasaki and Mitsubishi.

No.251

  • 14 December 1936: Laid down as the Submarine Chaser No.51 (第51号駆潜艇, Dai 51 Gō Kusentei?) at Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard.
  • 9 June 1937: Launched.
  • 30 September 1937: Completed.
  • 15 November 1940: Classified to the Auxiliary submarine chaser, and renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.51 (第51号駆潜特務艇, Dai 51 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei?).
  • (after): Assigned to the mine warfare school (Kurihama).
  • 30 April 1943: Renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.251 (第251号駆潜特務艇, Dai 251 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei?).
  • 28 August 1944: Classified to the Support vessel (tugboat), and renamed No.1658 (公称第1658号, Kōshō-Dai 1658 Gō?).
  • August 1945: The end of war at Uraga, later nothing more was heard.

No.252

  • 14 December 1936: Laid down as the Submarine Chaser No.52 (第52号駆潜艇, Dai 52 Gō Kusentei?) at Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard.
  • 25 August 1937: Launched.
  • 25 July 1939: Completed.
  • 15 November 1940: Classified to the Auxiliary submarine chaser, and renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.52 (第52号駆潜特務艇, Dai 52 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei?).
  • (after): Assigned to the mine warfare school (Kurihama).
  • 30 April 1943: Renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.252 (第252号駆潜特務艇, Dai 252 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei?).
  • 15 February 1944: Classified to the Support vessel (tugboat), and renamed No.1650 (公称第1650号, Kōshō-Dai 1650 Gō?).
  • August 1945: The end of war at Uraga, later nothing more was heard.

No.253-class

  • Project number K5B. 1 vessels was completed. She was equipped with Kampon turbine. She was classed in the No.251-class in the IJN official documents.

No.253

  • 9 January 1937: Laid down as the Submarine Chaser No.53 (第53号駆潜艇, Dai 53 Gō Kusentei?) at Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory.
  • 15 July 1937: Launched.
  • 31 October 1937: Completed.
  • 15 November 1940: Classified to the Auxiliary submarine chaser, and renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.53 (第53号駆潜特務艇, Dai 53 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei?).
  • (after): Assigned to the mine warfare school (Kurihama).
  • 30 April 1943: Renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.253 (第253号駆潜特務艇, Dai 253 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei?).
  • 15 February 1944: Classified to the Support vessel (tugboat), and renamed No.1651 (公称第1651号, Kōshō-Dai 1651 Gō?).
  • August 1945: The end of war at Uraga.
  • August 1946: Sink by unknown effect.

Footnotes

  1. ^ At first No.51 class submarine chaser (第五一号型駆潜艇, Dai 51 Gō-gata Kusentei?), until 15 November 1940.

Bibliography