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Wednesday, 1 September 2021

Japanese escort ship Kunashiri 1939-1946

Laid down by NKK-Tsurumi Shipyards on 1 March 1939, launched on 6 May 1940, completed on 3 October 1940, after the Second World War used by the Allied Repatriation Service and wrecked underway to Uraga on 4 June 1946 and afterwards abandoned. Part of the Shimushu-class escort ships, succeeded by Etorofu-class. The kaibokan is comparable with the American destroyer escorts and British frigates. Her design was limited by the limitations under the 1930 London Naval Treaty and to be financed under the 1937 3rd Naval Armaments Supplement Program. The intention of the Japanese Imperial Navy was a simple design suitable for prefabrication or mass production. After the outbreak of the war in the Pacific this was a necessity. The ships were to be used as patrol and fishery protection vessels in the Kurilen Islands, furthermore as minesweepers and just on the third place as convoy escorts. Instead of those demands developed Mitsbubishi a vessel with double-curved bow and forecastle deck, wel suited for rough northern waters and cold weather conditions but to complex for prefabricaton or mass production building. General technical specifications are a standard displacement of 874 tons and as dimensions 77.7 x 9.1 x 3.05 metres or 255 x 29.10 x 10 feet. A speed of 19.7 knots and with oil fuel bunker capacity of 150 tons and 16 knots speed a range of 6.017 nautical miles. Their crew numbered 150 men. Armament consisted of 3x1-12cm/4.7” /45 cal dual purpose guns, maximum 15-2.5cm/0.98” Type 96 anti aircraft guns, 6 depth charge throwers (with maximum 60 depth charges) and 1-8.1cm/3.2”Type 87 trench mortar.

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