Shimushu-class escort ship

Shimushu 1940
Class overview
Operators:  Imperial Japanese Navy
Succeeded by: Etorofu class
Built: 1939–1941
In commission: 1940–1948
Completed: 4
Lost: 1
General characteristics
Type:Escort vessel
Displacement:860 long tons (874 t) standard
Length:77.7 m (255 ft)
Beam:9.1 m (29 ft 10 in)
Draught:3.05 m (10 ft)
Speed:19.7 knots (22.7 mph; 36.5 km/h)
Range:6,017 mi (5,229 nmi) at 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h) Fuel: 150 tons
Complement:150
Armament:• 3 × 120 mm (4.7 in)/45 cal DP guns
• Up to 15 × 25 mm (0.98 in) AA guns
• 6 × depth charge throwers
• Up to 60 × depth charges
• 1 × 80 mm (3.1 in) mortar

The Shimushu-class escort ships (占守型海防艦 Shimushu-gata kaibōkan) were a class of ships in the service of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

The Japanese called these ships Kaibōkan, "ocean defence ships", (Kai = sea, ocean, Bo = defence, Kan = ship), to denote a multi-purpose vessel. They were initially intended for patrol and fishery protection, minesweeping and as convoy escorts. The four ships of the Shimushu class would provide the foundation for the five following classes of 171 Japanese Kaibōkan-type escort ships.

The Shimushu class was initially armed with just twelve depth charges, but this was doubled in May 1942 when their minesweeping gear was removed. The ASW weaponry would later rise to 60 depth charges with a 8 cm trench mortar and six depth charge throwers. The number of AA machine guns was increased to 15.

Ships

References