Sunosaki-class combat support ship
The Sunosaki-class combat support ship (洲埼型給油艦, Sunosaki-gata kyūyukan) was a class of two support ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II.
 Sunosaki in 1943 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Sunosaki-class combat support ship |
| Builders: | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Operators: |
 Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Built: | 1942–1943 |
| In commission: | 1943–1944 |
| Planned: | 5 |
| Completed: | 2 |
| Cancelled: | 3 |
| Lost: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 4,465 long tons (4,537 t) standard |
| Length: | 108.5 m (356 ft 0 in) overall |
| Beam: | 15.0 m (49 ft 3 in) |
| Draught: | 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 16 knots (18 mph; 30 km/h) |
| Range: | 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h) |
| Capacity: |
|
| Complement: | 161 |
| Armament: |
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Construction
In 1939, the IJN planned two support ship classes to help their aircraft carriers. One was the 8,000-ton Ashizuri class, the other one the 4,500 ton Sunosaki class. The Sunosaki was planned to support for two medium-sized carriers (Sōryū and Hiryū) in the battlefield. The thought is the same as USS Sacramento.
Service
The Sunosaki class was unable to support Japan's carrier task force, because their commissions were delayed. They sailed between the Japanese mainland and Southeast Asia, and were lost before participating in a naval battle.
Ships in class
| Ship # | Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
| 103 | Sunosaki (洲埼) | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama Shipyard | 25-03-1942 | 28-12-1942 | 15-05-1943 | Burned by air raid at Manila Bay 21-09-1944. Scuttled 04-10-1944. |
| 233 | Takasaki (高崎) | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yokohama Shipyard | 16-07-1942 | 03-05-1943 | 02-09-1943 | Sunk by USS Puffer at Sulu Sea 06°33′N 122°55′E 05-06-1944. |
| 234 | Tsurugizaki (剣埼) | Cancelled on 05-05-1944. | ||||
| 235 | Kōzaki (神埼) | |||||
| 236 | Hijirizaki (聖埼) or Toyosaki (豊埼) | |||||
References
- "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
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