Japanese seaplane carrier Notoro 1919-1947

as seaplane carrier

as tanker

According to Jane’s Fighting Ships 1944/1945 was she laid down on 24 November 1919 at the yard of the Kawasaki Company at Kobe, Japan, launched on 3 May 1920 and completed on 10 August 1920. She was original a tanker of the Erimo-class converted into a seaplane carrier able to carry with her 8-16 aircraft. With a displacement of 14,050 tons/8,000 gross tons were her dimensions 455 (between perpendiculars)-470¾ (over all) x 58 x 27½ feet. The armament consisted of 2-4.7” guns and 2-3”anti aircraft guns. The reciprocating engines provided 5,850 hp allowing a speed of 12 knots with a oil bunker capacity of 1,000 tons.

The website www.globalsecurity.org said that she was originally a tanker of the Shiretoko-class and of which the conversion into a seaplane carrier was ordered in 1924. The planes were placed beneath a platform placed over the well deck and with derricks transported. In 1942 again fitted out as a tanker was she finally broken up in 1947.


The website www.combinedfleet.com gives the same dates as Jane’s and said that she was completed as a Shiretoko-class fleet oil tanker of 14,050 tons. On 1 June 1924 was the conversion into a seaplane carrier completed although she was till able to serve as a tanker. This website said that she carried with her 8 Type 14-1Yokosuka E1Y1 floatplanes for recognisance purposes. On the red painted tails of the planes was in white the tail code painted namely No To Ro. The reconversion into a tanker started in November 1941. Broken up on 12 January 1946 and on 3 May of the same year stricken from the naval list.

The website www,navypedia.org said she had 4 Miyabara boilers and vertical triple expansion engines, the dates are similar to the site above mentioned. This site said she carried with her 10 planes of the W33 type carried on the upper deck and with decks lifted from the water and lowered to the water.