No.101-class landing ship

The No.101-class landing ships (第百一号型輸送艦,, Dai 101 Gō-gata Yusōkan) were a class of amphibious assault ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), serving during and after World War II. The No.101 class ships were powered by diesel engines, while the similar No.103-class landing ships (第百三号型輸送艦,, Dai 103 Gō-gata Yusōkan) were powered by a steam turbine engine. The IJN called them 2nd class transporter (二等輸送艦,, 2-Tō Yusōkan). The No.103 class included the IJA's SB craft (SB艇,, SB-tei) [1] variant. This article handles them collectively.

No.149 on 2 March 1944 at Kurahashijima Island.
Class overview
Name:
  • No.101-class landing ship
  • No.103-class landing ship
Builders:
Operators:
Preceded by: SS-class
Built: 1943–1945
In commission: 1944–1955
Planned: 103
Completed: 69 (Navy: 49, Army: 20)
Cancelled: 32
Lost: 41 (Navy: 40, Army: 1)
Retired: 30 (Navy: 9, Army: 19)
General characteristics No.101 class
Displacement:
  • 950 long tons (965 t) standard
  • 1,010 long tons (1,026 t) trial
Length:
  • 80.50 m (264 ft 1 in) overall
  • 75.50 m (247 ft 8 in) waterline
Beam: 9.10 m (29 ft 10 in)
Draught: 2.89 m (9 ft 6 in)
Draft: 5.65 m (18 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:
  • 3 × intermediate diesels
  • 3 shafts, 1,200 bhp
Speed: 13.4 knots (15.4 mph; 24.8 km/h)
Range: 3,000 nmi (5,600 km) at 13.4 kn (15.4 mph; 24.8 km/h)
Capacity:
Complement: 90
Armament:
General characteristics No.103 class
Displacement:
  • 870 long tons (884 t) standard
  • 1,020 long tons (1,036 t) trial
Length:
  • 80.50 m (264 ft 1 in) overall
  • 75.00 m (246 ft 1 in) waterline
Beam: 9.10 m (29 ft 10 in)
Draught: 2.94 m (9 ft 8 in)
Draft: 5.65 m (18 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:
  • 1 × Kampon geared turbine
  • 2 × Kampon water tube boilers
  • single shaft, 2,500 shp
Speed: 16.0 knots (18.4 mph; 29.6 km/h)
Range:
  • Going: 1,000 nmi (1,900 km) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
  • Returning: 1,000 nmi (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity:
  • 120 troops, 22 tons freight and
  • Example 1: 13 × Type 95 Ha-Go
  • Example 2: 9 × Type 97 Chi-Ha
  • Example 3: 7 × Type 2 Ka-Mi
  • Example 4: 5 × Type 3 Ka-Chi
  • Example 5: 220 tons freight
  • Example 6: approx. 280 troops
Complement: 100
Armament:
  • No.104, 20 August 1944
  • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 AA gun
  • 16 × Type 96 25 mm AA guns
  • 4 × 13 mm AA guns
  • 12 × depth charges

Background
IJA SS craft No.19
  • In June 1943, after its defeat in the Guadalcanal Campaign, the IJN realized it needed high-speed military transport vessels, and designed two classes of ship in response. One (the No.1 class) was to be the 1,500-ton mothership of the Daihatsu-class landing craft and Kō-hyōteki-class submarines, the other was to be a 900-ton amphibious assault ship, the No.101 class.
  • The IJA already had an amphibious assault ship, the SS-class landing ship. However, the SS craft were not suitable for mass-production, leading to IJA support for the new amphibious assault ships.
  • The IJN and IJA therefore cooperated on the production of the new amphibious assault ships with the IJN providing design and shipyards while the IJA offered mineral resources.

Design
  • The IJN had obtained information regarding Operation Torch from Germany, including some photographs and sketches of the LCT Mk.V.
  • In August 1943, the Navy Technical Department (Kampon) studied these and finished a basic design. It was a scaled-up model of the LCT.
  • In September 1943, the Kampon entrusted the detailed design to the Kure Naval Arsenal. The Kure Naval Arsenal completed this within two months, and the No.101 was laid down in November 1943.

Construction
  • The Kampon designed a new turbine engine[2] for this class. However, it was not ready in time for the first 6 vessels. The Kampon therefore installed the wartime standard diesel engine in the first 6 vessels. The IJN called them No.101 class or SB (D). Turbine engines were available in time for the remaining production, which the IJN designated the No.103 class or SB (T). Completed vessels were split between the IJN and IJA.
  • The IJA received 32 vessels from the No.103 class, however the IJA had difficulties with the steam turbines engine and returned 10 vessels [3] to the IJN.
  • Several No.103 and SB class vessels were converted to use coal-fired boilers in January 1945. Detailed construction records do not exist, but photographic evidence confirms the conversion of No.147, SB No.101 and SB No.108 with the presence of a tall funnel.
  • Most of the Navy vessels took part in the Battle of Leyte, where 18 of them were lost. Most, however, succeeded in landing their tanks and troops.
  • Only 9 vessels survived the war.

Army service
  • As of 2009 a detailed record of the vessels in the Army service is not known to exist in Japan.
  • The armaments were not standardized.
  • The IJA let ten SB craft participate in the Philippines Campaign. Their actions were limited to the Luzon northern coast, Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands. The IJA lost only one SB craft.
  • After the Philippines Campaign, the SB craft were used only in the Japanese mainland peripheral sea area.

Ships in classes

No.101 class
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
No.101 Ōsaka Zōsen 01-12-1943 25-01-1944 08-03-1944 Sunk by aircraft at Ormoc Bay, 28-10-1944.
No.102 Ōsaka Zōsen 15-12-1843 08-02-1944 15-03-1944 Sunk by aircraft at west of Negros, 26-10-1944.
No.127 Kawanami Kōgyō 21-10-1943 13-01-1944 28-02-1944 Sunk by aircraft off Ticao Island, 25-09-1944.
No.128 Kawanami Kōgyō 10-11-1943 10-02-1944 18-03-1944 Sunk by aircraft off Morotai, 04-06-1944.
No.149 Hitachi Zōsen 01-11-1943 25-12-1943 20-02-1944 Converted to miscellaneous service ship (traffic boat) and renamed Kuroshio No. 2 (第二黒潮,, Dai 2 Kuroshio) on 10-02-1945. Sunk by USN submarine off Sumatra on 01-06-1945.
No.150 Hitachi Zōsen 28-12-1943 27-01-1944 10-03-1944 Sunk by aircraft off Palau, 27-07-1944.

No.103 class
Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
No.103 Ōsaka Zōsen 28-01-1944 09-03-1944 01-05-1944 Sunk by aircraft off Iwo Jima, 04-07-1944.
No.104 Ōsaka Zōsen 12-02-1944 25-03-1944 25-05-1944 Sunk by aircraft west of Luzon, 15-12-1944.
No.105 Ōsaka Zōsen 12-03-1944 12-04-1944 15-06-1944 Sunk by USS Trepang south of Omaezaki, 11-10-1944
No.106 Ōsaka Zōsen 28-03-1944 25-04-1944 30-06-1944 Completed as Army SB No.120 at first. Sunk by aircraft at Lingayen Gulf, 15-12-1944.
No.107 Ōsaka Zōsen 15-04-1944 21-05-1944 20-07-1944 Completed as Army SB No.123 at first. Sunk by USN destroyer west of Haha-jima, 05-01-1945.
No.108 Ōsaka Zōsen 28-04-1944 25-05-1944 31-07-1944 Completed as Army SB No.125 at first. Decommissioned 03-05-1947. Surrendered to United Kingdom at Singapore, 17-10-1947.
No.109 Ōsaka Zōsen 15-08-1944 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.110 Ōsaka Zōsen 28-05-1944 23-06-1944 05-09-1944 Completed as Army SB craft at first. Decommissioned 15-09-1945. Surrendered to United Kingdom at Singapore, 17-10-1947.
No.111 Ōsaka Zōsen 13-06-1944 10-07-1944 15-09-1944 Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft at Masbate, 24-11-1944.
No.112 Ōsaka Zōsen 26-06-1944 22-07-1944 05-10-1944 Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft west of Luzon, 07-01-1945.
No.113 Ōsaka Zōsen 13-07-1944 08-08-1944 15-10-1944 Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft west of Luzon, 25-11-1944.
No.114 Ōsaka Zōsen 25-07-1944 20-08-1944 30-10-1944 Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft off Taiwan, 17-02-1945.
No.115 Ōsaka Zōsen 12-08-1944 07-09-1944 13-11-1944 Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by aircraft north of Luzon, 02-02-1945.
No.116 Ōsaka Zōsen 24-11-1944 Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.103.
No.117 Ōsaka Zōsen 22-12-1944 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.118 Ōsaka Zōsen 30-12-1944 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.119 Ōsaka Zōsen 16-01-1945 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.120 Ōsaka Zōsen 05-02-1945 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.121 Ōsaka Zōsen 20-02-1945 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.122 Ōsaka Zōsen 22-03-1945 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.123 Ōsaka Zōsen 22-03-1945 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.124 Ōsaka Zōsen 08-05-1945 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.125 Ōsaka Zōsen Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.127. Not completed until the end of war.
No.126 Ōsaka Zōsen Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.128. Not completed until the end of war.
No.129 Kawanami Kōgyō 10-12-1943 25-02-1944 12-05-1944 Sunk by USS Cod in the Banda Sea, 14-08-1944.
No.130 Kawanami Kōgyō 20-01-1944 05-04-1944 03-06-1944 Sunk by aircraft off Iwo Jima, 04-07-1944.
No.131 Kawanami Kōgyō 05-02-1944 23-04-1944 24-06-1944 Converted to miscellaneous service ship (traffic boat) and renamed Kuroshio No. 1 (第一黒潮,, Dai 1 Kuroshio) on 10-02-1945. Sunk by USN submarine in the Strait of Malacca on 27-07-1945.[4]
No.132 Kawanami Kōgyō 25-02-1944 05-05-1944 28-06-1944 Sunk by USN destroyer at Iwo Jima, 27-12-1944.
No.133 Sasebo Naval Arsenal 10-04-1944 07-06-1944 04-07-1944 Sunk by aircraft off Iwo Jima, 04-08-1944.
No.134 Kawanami Kōgyō 10-04-1944 15-06-1944 15-07-1945 Scuttled by stormy weather at Iwo Jima, 04-10-1944.
No.135 Kawanami Kōgyō 28-04-1944 26-06-1944 25-07-1944 Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 18-10-1944.
No.136 Kawanami Kōgyō 10-05-1944 15-07-1944 20-08-1944 Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 18-10-1944.
No.137 Kawanami Kōgyō 01-06-1944 20-07-1944 28-08-1944 Decommissioned 05-10-1945. Surrendered to Soviet Union at Nakhodka, 03-10-1947.
No.138 Kawanami Kōgyō 18-06-1944 03-08-1944 04-09-1944 Sunk by USS Kingfish off Iwo Jima, 26-10-1944.
No.139 Kawanami Kōgyō 05-07-1944 18-08-1944 25-09-1944 Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 12-11-1944.
No.140 Sasebo Naval Arsenal 26-07-1944 16-09-1944 14-10-1944 Sunk by aircraft at Saigon, 13-01-1945.
No.141 Sasebo Naval Arsenal 29-07-1944 16-09-1944 19-10-1944 Sunk by aircraft at Masbate, 24-11-1944.
No.142 Kawanami Kōgyō 01-08-1944 20-09-1944 02-11-1944 Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 25-11-1944.
No.143 Kawanami Kōgyō 14-08-1944 03-10-1944 25-11-1944 Sunk by aircraft at Penghu, 26-03-1945.
No.144 Kawanami Kōgyō 20-08-1944 20-10-1944 01-12-1944 Decommissioned 05-10-1945, later scrapped.
No.145 Kawanami Kōgyō 05-09-1944 15-11-1944 16-12-1944 Sunk by USN aircraft at Amami Ōshima, 02-04-1945.[5]
No.146 Kawanami Kōgyō 24-09-1944 30-11-1944 30-12-1944 Sunk by USS Trepang south of Gotō Islands, 28-04-1945.
No.147 Kawanami Kōgyō 06-10-1944 15-12-1944 25-01-1945 Decommissioned 15-09-1945. Surrendered to United States at Yokosuka, 13-11-1947. Scrapped 31-03-1948.
No.148 Kawanami Kōgyō 31-01-1945 Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.113.
No.151 Hitachi Zōsen 29-01-1944 27-02-1944 23-04-1944 Sunk by USS Besugo north of Palawan, 23-11-1944.
No.152 Hitachi Zōsen 29-02-1944 24-03-1944 25-05-1944 Sunk by aircraft at Iwo Jima, 04-08-1944.
No.153 Hitachi Zōsen 15-02-1944 08-04-1944 15-06-1944 Decommissioned 30-11-1945. Scrapped 1948.
No.154 Hitachi Zōsen 26-03-1944 23-04-1944 05-07-1944 Completed as Army SB craft at first. Sunk by USN destroyer at Iwo Jima, 05-01-1945.
No.155 Hitachi Zōsen 19-07-1944 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.156 Hitachi Zōsen 05-08-1944 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.157 Hitachi Zōsen 12-05-1944 06-09-1944 19-08-1944 Sunk by USN destroyer at Iwo Jima, 24-12-1944.
No.158 Hitachi Zōsen 24-05-1944 23-06-1944 04-09-1944 Sunk by aircraft at Naha, 10-10-1944.
No.159 Hitachi Zōsen 10-06-1944 08-07-1944 16-09-1944 Sunk by a bombardment of US Army tanks and artillery at Ormoc Bay, 12-12-1944.
No.160 Hitachi Zōsen 01-07-1944 08-08-1944 30-09-1944 Sunk by aircraft at Masbate, 24-11-1944.
No.161 Hitachi Zōsen 09-07-1944 22-08-1944 14-10-1944 Sunk by aircraft at west coast of Luzon, 25-11-1944.
No.162 Hitachi Zōsen 23-10-1944 Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.101. Scrapped April 1948.
No.163 Hitachi Zōsen 31-10-1944 Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.102.
No.164 Ōsaka Zōsen 11-04-1945 Construction stopped; later scrapped.
No.165 Ōsaka Zōsen 28-04-1945 Construction stopped; later scrapped.
6 vessels They were cancelled before being named.
No.172 Kawanami Kōgyō 24-11-1944 27-01-1945 10-03-1945 Decommissioned 15-09-1945. Surrendered to Republic of China at Qingdao, 03-10-1947. Renamed Lui Shan (AP-308). Decommissioned 1955.
No.173 Kawanami Kōgyō 08-12-1944 15-02-1945 01-04-1945 Sunk by aircraft at Ryukyu Islands, 22-05-1945.
No.174 Kawanami Kōgyō 03-01-1945 15-03-1945 14-07-1945 Decommissioned 20-11-1945; scrapped in 1948.
No.175 Kawanami Kōgyō 02-02-1945 11-04-1945 Construction stopped 11-04-1945. Sunk by typhoon 15-09-1945; scrapped on 01-10-1948.
No.176 Kawanami Kōgyō 22-02-1945 25-06-1945 Construction stopped 25-06-1945; later scrapped.
7 vessels They were cancelled before being named.
No.184 Hitachi Zōsen 30-11-1944 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.185 Hitachi Zōsen 10-12-1944 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.186 Hitachi Zōsen 24-12-1944 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
No.187 Hitachi Zōsen 13-01-1945 Transferred to the Army, and renamed SB No.114. Scrapped May 1948.
No.188 Hitachi Zōsen 29-01-1945 Transferred to the Army, SB craft.
15 vessels Cancelled before being named.

Photos
  • No.149 on 16 February 1944 at Yugeshima Island.
  • Type 3 Ka-Chi departure from No.149 on 29 February 1944 at Nasakejima Island.
  • Type 95 Ha-Gō departure from No.149 on 27 February 1944 at Nasakejima Island.
  • (left to right) No.150, No.101, No.127 and No.149 on 13 March 1944 at Kure Naval Arsenal.
  • No.151 on 20 April 1944 at Yugeshima Island.
  • No.159 on 12 December 1944 at Ormoc Bay.
  • No.147 w/ coal-fired boilers on 16 December 1946 at Yokosuka Naval Base.
  • IJA SB No. 101 on 17 February 1947 at Hiroshima Bay.

See also

Footnotes
  1. The SB meaning are S = Sensha, and B = Kaigun.
  2. The Kampon Mk.A Model 25 (艦本式甲二五型,, Kampon Kō 25-gata) all geared turbine.
  3. The No.106, No.107, No.108, No.110, No.111, No.112, No.113, No.114, No.115 and No.154.
  4. "Memorial stone in Sasebo". Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
  5. "Japanese Escorts". Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 2 April 2013.

Bibliography
  • "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of the Pacific War Vol. 51, "The truth histories of the Imperial Japanese Vessels Part.2", Gakken (Japan), 2005, ISBN 4-05-604083-4.
  • Rekishi Gunzō, History of the Pacific War Vol. 62, "Ships of the Imperial Japanese Forces", Gakken (Japan), January 2008, ISBN 978-4-05-605008-0
  • The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No. 50, "Japanese minesweepers and landing ships", Ushio Shobō (Japan), 1981.
  • Ships of the World, Special issue Vol. 47, "Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy", "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), 1997.
  • Shizuo Fukui, Japanese Naval Vessels Survived, "Their post-war activities and final disposition", Shuppan Kyodosha (Japan), 1961.
  • Shizuo Fukui, FUKUI SHIZUO COLLECTION "Japanese Naval Vessels 1869–1945", KK Bestsellers (Japan), 1994.

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