Notoro class oiler

Tsurumi in 1922
Class overview
Name:	Notoro class oiler later Erimo class oiler
Builders:	Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation Yokohama Dock Company Ōsaka Iron Works
Operators:	Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded by:	Noma
Succeeded by:	Kamoi
Cost:	1,500,000 JPY
Built:	1919–1922
In commission:	1920–1945
Planned:	7
Completed:	7
Lost:	6
General characteristics
Displacement:	15,400 long tons (15,647 t) standing
Length:	138.68 m (455 ft 0 in) p/p
Beam:	17.68 m (58 ft 0 in)
Draught:	8.08 m (26 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:	Irō 1 × triple expansion reciprocating engine 4 × Kampon water tube boilers single shaft, 3,750 shp All others 1 × triple expansion reciprocating engine 4 × Scotch boilers single shaft, 3,750 shp
Speed:	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Capacity:	8,000 tons of fuel oil
Complement:	Irō: 157 All others: 142
Armament:	Notoro, Shiretoko, Erimo and Irō • 2 × 120 mm (4.7 in) L/45 naval guns • 2 × 76.2 mm (3 in) L/40 AA guns Sata, Tsurumi and Shiriya • 2 × 140 mm (5.5 in) L/50 naval guns • 2 × 76.2 mm (3 in) L/40 AA guns

The Notoro class oiler (能登呂型給油艦, Notoro-gata kyūyukan^?) was a class of seven oilers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during the 1920s and the World War II. They were also called the Erimo class oiler (襟裳型給油艦, Erimo-gata kyūyukan^?), after the Notoro and the Shiretoko were converted to other ship types.

Construction

They were built under pre-Eight-eight fleet plans, the Eight-four fleet plan and the Eight-six fleet plan.

Pre-war service

The class devoted themselves to importing crude oil from North America and Southeast Asia. The Notoro and the Ondo class made 388 voyages carrying a total of 3,000,000 tons of oil up to 1941.

Service in the Pacific War

They were not able to accompany the fleet, because of their low speed. Instead they were engaged in a supply duties at naval bases.

Ships in class

Ship	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Completed	Fate
能登呂?)	Kawasaki-Kōbe Shipyard	24 November 1919	17 July 1920	20 September 1920	Converted to seaplane tender, 1 June 1934. Scuttled off Singapore, 12 January 1947.
知床?)	Kawasaki-Kōbe Shipyard	24 November 1919	3 May 1920	10 August 1920	Converted to collier, 1928. Later re-converted to munition ship. Sunk by air raid at Singapore, 1 February 1945.
襟裳?)	Kawasaki-Kōbe Shipyard	3 May 1920	28 October 1920	16 December 1920	Heavily damaged by Dutch submarine O 15, 4 March 1942 and grounded at Belitung.
佐多?)	Yokohama Dock Company	6 March 1920	28 October 1920	24 February 1921	Converted to submarine rescue ship in 1938. Sunk by air raid at Palau, 31 March 1944.
鶴見?)	Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory	10 March 1921	29 September 1921	14 March 1922	Sunk by USS Cero (SS-225) south of Davao 05°53′N 125°41′E / 5.883°N 125.683°E / 5.883; 125.683, 5 August 1944.
尻矢?)	Yokohama Dock Company	7 April 1921	29 September 1921	8 February 1922	Sunk by USS Trigger (SS-237) northeast of Keelung 26°23′N 122°40′E / 26.383°N 122.667°E / 26.383; 122.667, 22 September 1943.
Irō (石廊?)	Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory	2 September 1921	5 August 1922	30 October 1922	Heavily damaged by air raid at Palau, 31 March 1944. Sank, 17 April 1944.

Photo

• 

  Notoro as seaplane tender on 28 May 1943 at Seletar

• 

  Shiretoko as collier in 1933

• 

  Erimo in 1938

• 

  Sata in 1921

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  Shiriya on 28 April 1938 at Yokosuka

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  Irō in 1920s

• 

  Shiretoko as munition ship in 1943

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  Tsurumi and cruiser Furutaka on 18 May 1935

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  Irō under attack on 30 March 1944, Palau

Bibliography

• 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
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.34 Japanese auxiliary vessels, "Ushio Shobō". http://www.kojinsha.co.jp/.  (Japan), December 1979
• Senshi Sōsho Vol.31, Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), November 1969