The was a class of minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. They were built to supplement the timeworn Sokuten-class. 4 vessels were built in 1941–42 under the Maru Rin Programme (Ship # 257–260).
Background In 1939, the Sokuten-class was the main minelayer of the local guard districts. However, they were too old. The IJN wanted new small minelayers for local guard districts. In 1940, the IJN found out a handy boat. It was a standard longline fishing ship Sōyō Maru (160 tons) by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry. The IJN made a model of it and completed a design of new small minelayer. Uraga Dock Company built all of the vessels.
Ships in class Ship # Ship Laid down Launched Completed Fate 257 Auxiliary minelayer No. 1第一号敷設特務艇 (Dai Ichi Gō Fusetsu-Tokumutei)ex-Minelayer No. 1 4 June 1941 20 August 1941 28 February 1942as Minelayer No. 1 Renamed Auxiliary minelayer No. 1 on 1 February 1944, struck a naval mine and sunk off Medan on 27 March 1945, decommissioned on 3 May 1947. 258 Minelayer No. 2第二号敷設艇 (Dai Ni Gō Fusetsutei), she sank before the revision of the law. 4 June 1941 30 August 1941 10 April 1942 Struck a naval mine and sunk off Surabaya on 31 December 1942, decommissioned on 20 March 1943. 259 Auxiliary minelayer No. 3第三号敷設特務艇 (Dai San Gō Fusetsu-Tokumutei)ex-Minelayer No. 3 8 September 1941 14 January 1942 30 June 1942as Minelayer No. 3 Renamed Auxiliary minelayer No. 3 on 1 February 1944, survived war at Chuuk, decommissioned on 3 May 1947. 260 Auxiliary minelayer No. 4第四号敷設特務艇 (Dai Yon Gō Fusetsu-Tokumutei)ex-Minelayer No. 4 8 September 1941 24 January 1942 20 August 1942as Minelayer No. 4 Renamed Auxiliary minelayer No. 4 on 1 February 1944, sunk by HMS Tally-Ho off Car Nicobar on 20 November 1944, decommissioned on 3 May 1947.
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Bibliography Ships of the World special issue Vol.45, Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, , (Japan), February 1996 The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.47, Japanese naval mine warfare crafts, (Japan), January 1981