Japanese target ship Hakachi

The Hakachi (波勝^?) was a bomb target ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) serving during the Second World War, the only ship of her class.

Background

Project number J32. In before the pacific war, the IJN wanted to raise the training efficiency of bomber for the outbreak of war. The Yakaze was converted to a target ship for bombing training, however, her armour was thin because she converted from destroyer. Yakaze was able to bear only 1 kilogram bomb. The IJN wanted the target ship which Combined Fleet could use in the southern front. Hakachi was built by such a background, she was able to bear 10 kilogram bomb dropped from 4,000 m (13,000 ft) meters sky. The IJN built Ōhama-class as a next generation target ships, because Hakachi was only one.

Service

The Hakachi as commissiones on 18 November 1943, on 1 December, she assigned to the Combined Fleet. On 24 December, she sailed to Truk and she worked bombing training. Two months later, she was heavily damaged by U.S. carrier aircraft during Operation Hailstone. She sheltered to Palau on 24 February 1944, and repaired by Akashi. On 18 March, she sailed to Lingga Islands. On 24 May, she sailed to Davao Gulf. She worked in each place. On 1 October, she undertook convoy escort operation. She Survived war at the Seto Inland Sea.

Bibliography

• Ships of the World special issue Vol.47 Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, Kaijinsha, (Japan), March 1997
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.34, Japanese Auxiliary ships, Ushio Shobō (Japan), December 1979
• Senshi Sōsho Vol.31, Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), November 1969