The was a class of four reefer ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during and after World War II. Eleven vessels were planned under the Maru 4 Programme, Maru Rin Programme (Ship #261–263), and Kai-Maru 5 Programme (Ship #5401–5407); however, only four vessels were completed.
Construction
In 1939, the IJN planned two food supply ships for the China Area Fleet under the Maru 4 Programme. One was the 600-ton type Nosaki (initially named Support ship No. 4007), the other the 1,000-ton type Kinesaki (initially named Support ship No. 4006). The Navy then ordered several more ships to the design of the Kinesaki; these became the Hayasaki, Shirasaki, and Arasaki. The Navy intended to order several more ships of this design by 1942, but Japan's worsening situation in the war by this stage led to the abandonment of these plans.
Service The Kinesaki served in the Central Pacific Area, the Hayasaki in the Southwest Area, the Shirasaki in the Northeast Area, and the Arasaki in the Southeast Area. They also undertook convoy escort operations. The Kinesaki was sunk in March 1945, while the other ships of the class survived the war.
Ships in class Ship # Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate (ex-Nanshin 南進)(ex-Support ship No. 4006) Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory 7 March 1940as Support ship No. 4006 27 June 1940 30 September 1940 Renamed Nanshin on 25 October 1940. Renamed Kinesaki on 1 April 1942. Sunk by air raid at Amami Ōshima on 1 March 1945. 261 Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory 2 December 1941 21 May 1942 31 August 1942 Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to the Soviet Union on 3 October 1947 at Nakhodka. 262 Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory 18 May 1942 5 November 1942 30 January 1943 Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to the Republic of China on 3 October 1947 at Qingdao, renamed Wu Ling (AKL-311). Decommissioned on 1 May 1970. 263 Hitachi Zōsen, Sakurajima Factory 10 November 1942 27 February 1943 29 May 1943 Decommissioned on 5 October 1945. Surrendered to the United States on 3 October 1947 at Qingdao, sold to Japan that same day. Transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and renamed in April 1948. Sold to the Philippines in April 1967. 5401540254035404540554065407 Cancelled on 5 May 1944.Senshi Sōsho Vol. 88 (1975), p. 95.
Footnotes
Bibliography , History of the Pacific War Vol. 51 The truth histories of the Japanese Naval Vessels part-2, Gakken (Japan), 2005, . The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No. 34 Japanese Auxiliary ships, Ushio Shobō (Japan), 1979. Shizuo Fukui, Collection of writings by Sizuo Fukui Vol. 10, "Stories of Japanese Support Vessels", Kōjinsha (Japan), 1993, . Senshi Sōsho Vol. 31, Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), 1969. Senshi Sōsho Vol. 88, Naval armaments and war preparation (2), "And after the outbreak of war", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), 1975.