Tsubame-class minelayer

The Tsubame class minelayer (燕型敷設艇,, Tsubame-gata Fusetsutei) was a class of minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during and after 1929 through World War II.

Tsubame in April 1929
Class overview
Name: Tsubame class minelayer
Builders:
Operators: Imperial Japanese Navy
Preceded by: Sokuten-class
Succeeded by: Natsushima-class
Built: 1928–1929
In commission: 1929–1945
Planned: 2
Completed: 2
Lost: 2
General characteristics
Type: Netlayer/Minelayer
Displacement: 450 long tons (457 t) standard
Length: 68.80 m (225 ft 9 in) overall
Beam: 7.20 m (23 ft 7 in)
Draught: 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × triple expansion stages reciprocating engines
  • 2 × Kampon mix-fired boilers
  • 2 shafts, 2,500 shp
Speed: 19.0 knots (21.9 mph; 35.2 km/h)
Range: 1,200 nmi (2,200 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h)
Complement: 43
Armament:

Ships in class

Tsubame (燕)
  • 17 September 1928: Laid down as the Capture netlayer (捕獲網艇, Hokakumōtei) at Yokohama Dock Company.
  • 22 March 1929: Reclassified to 2nd class minelayer (二等敷設艇, Nitō-Fusetsutei).
  • 24 April 1929: Launched.
  • 10 July 1929: Completed.
  • 30 May 1931: Reclassified to Special service ship (特務艇, Tokumutei).
  • In 1936: Rebuilding by the Tomozuru Incident at Sasebo Naval Arsenal.
  • In 1938: Sortie for the Second Sino-Japanese War.
  • 18 December 1941: Sortie for the invasion of the Lingayen Gulf.
  • (after): She spent all her time on convoy escort operations in East China Sea and Java Sea.
  • 1 February 1944: Reclassified to Minelayer (敷設艇, Fusetsutei).
  • 1 March 1945: Sunk by air raid from U.S. Navy aircraft carrier at Ishigaki Island.
  • 10 May 1945: Removed from Navy List.

Kamome (鷗)
  • 11 October 1928: Laid down as the Capture netlayer at Ōsaka Iron Works.
  • 22 March 1929: Reclassified to 2nd class minelayer.
  • 27 April 1929: Launched.
  • 30 August 1929: Completed.
  • 30 May 1931: Reclassified to Special service ship.
  • In 1936: Rebuilding by the Tomozuru Incident at Sasebo Naval Arsenal.
  • In 1938: Sortie for the Second Sino-Japanese War.
  • 18 December 1941: Sortie for the invasion of the Lingayen Gulf.
  • (after): She spent all her time on convoy escort operations in East China Sea, South China Sea and Java Sea.
  • 1 February 1944: Reclassified to Minelayer.
  • 27 April 1944: Sunk by USS Halibut at north off Naha 27°37′N 128°11′E.
  • 10 June 1944: Removed from Navy List.

Photos
  • Kamome in 1929

Bibliography
  • Ships of the World special issue Vol.45, Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), February 1996
  • The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.47, Japanese naval mine warfare crafts, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan), January 1981
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