Japanese fleet oiler Kazahaya

History
Name:	Kazahaya
Namesake:	Kazahaya-zaki
Builder:	Harima Dock Company
Laid down:	30 September 1941
Launched:	20 January 1943
Completed:	31 March 1943
Decommissioned:	1 December 1943
Fate:	Sunk 6 October 1943
General characteristics
Displacement:	18,300 long tons (18,594 t) standard
Length:	161.00 m (528 ft 3 in) overall
Beam:	20.10 m (65 ft 11 in)
Draught:	8.83 m (29 ft 0 in)
Propulsion:	1 × Ishikawajima geared turbine 2 × Kampon water tube boilers single shaft, 9,500 shp
Speed:	16.5 knots (19.0 mph; 30.6 km/h)
Capacity:	10,000 tons for heavy crude oil 1,000 tons for gasoline
Crew:	150
Armament:	3 × 120 mm (4.7 in) L/45 AA guns 6 × Type 96 25mm AA guns

The Kazahaya (風早, "Fast Wind") was a Japanese fleet oiler, serving during the Second World War.

Construction

In 1941, the IJN wanted fleet oilers for their carrier task force, because they had only the eight old, low-speed tankers. The IJN prepared sixteen Kawasaki-type tankers to solve this. However, they did not have facilities for gasoline. The IJN intended to build four Kazahayas (Ship # 304-307). However, all naval arsenals were crowded at the outbreak of war. The IJN bought one of the same type of merchant tanker made by Harima with the Kazahaya naval budget.

Service

She succeeded in one transportation duty, and was sunk by submarines.

Ships in class

Bibliography

• "Rekishi Gunzō". , History of Pacific War Vol.62 "Ships of The Imperial Japanese Forces, Gakken (Japan), January 2008, ISBN 978-4-05-605008-0
• Ships of the World special issue Vol.47, Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha". , (Japan), March 1997