CH-4-class submarine chaser

The No.4 class submarine chaser (第四号型駆潜艇,, Dai 4 Gō-gata Kusentei) was a class of submarine chasers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during and after World War II. Nine vessels were built between 1937 and 1939 under the Maru 3 Programme.

No.8 in 1938
Class overview
NameNo.4 class submarine chaser
Builders
Operators
Preceded byNo.3 class
Succeeded byNo.13 class
Cost1,579,000 JPY
Built1937 – 1939
In commission1938 – 1960
Planned9
Completed9
Lost7 (or 6)[1]
Retired2 (or 3)[1]
General characteristics
TypeSubmarine chaser
Displacement
  • 291 long tons (296 t) standard
  • 309 long tons (314 t) trial
Length
  • 56.2 m (184 ft 5 in) overall
  • 55.5 m (182 ft 1 in) waterline
Beam5.6 m (18 ft 4 in)
Draught2.1 m (6 ft 11 in)
Propulsion2 × Kampon Mk.22 Model 6 diesels, 2 shafts, 2,600 bhp
Speed20.0 knots (23.0 mph; 37.0 km/h)
Range2,000 nmi (3,700 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Complement59
Armament
  • 2 × 40 mm heavy machine guns
  • 36 × depth charges
  • 2 × Type 94 depth charge projectors
  • 1 × depth charge thrower
  • 1 × Type 93 active sonar
  • 1 × Type 93 hydrophone
  • No.4, November 1944
  • 2 × 40 mm heavy machine guns
  • 3 × Type 96 25 mm AA guns
  • 36 × depth charges
  • 2 × Type 94 depth charge projectors
  • 2 × depth charge throwers (estimate)
  • 1 × 13-Gō surface search radar
  • 1 × Type 3 active sonar
  • 1 × Type 93 hydrophone

Design

Developed under project number was K7, the No.4 class submarine chaser was an improved variant of the No.3 class, with increased freeboard. Other general features were the same as the No.3 class. Their design was elaborate, because the Navy Technical Department (Kampon) devoted itself to making them small. However, the design was not able to accept additional anti-aircraft guns and depth charges.

Ships in class
Ship # Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate
62 No.7[2] Tsurumi Iron Works 30 October 1937 10 June 1938 15 November 1938 Sunk by aircraft at east of Car Nicobar on 11 April 1945.
63 No.8 Tama Shipyards 10 January 1938 9 August 1938 30 November 1938 Sunk by HMS Trenchant and HMS Terrapin at Strait of Malacca on 4 March 1945.
64 No.4 Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory 19 January 1938 13 September 1938 28 December 1938 Struck a naval mine and sank at Surabaya on 13 August 1945.
65 No.5 Mitsubishi, Yokohama Shipyard 25 January 1938 28 July 1938 6 December 1938 Scuttled by Royal Navy off Singapore on 11 July 1946. Decommissioned on 10 August 1946.
66 No.11 Tsurumi Iron Works 19 January 1938 28 June 1938 2 February 1939 Sunk by aircraft at west of Buka Island on 6 November 1943.
67 No.12 Tama Shipyards 15 July 1938 8 February 1939 30 April 1939 Probably sunk by USS Bluegill east of Mindanao on 13 August 1944.[1] Decommissioned on 30 September 1945.
68 No.10 Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory 16 September 1938 31 January 1939 15 June 1939 Aground at Angaur on 2 May 1944. Later scuttled.
69 No.9 Mitsubishi, Yokohama Shipyard 10 May 1938 15 October 1938 9 May 1939 Decommissioned on 20 December 1945. Surrendered to Republic of China on 3 October 1947, and renamed Haida. Renamed Fuling (PC-107) in January 1951. Renamed Minjiang in 1954. Decommissioned in 1960.
70 No.6 Tsurumi Iron Works 5 July 1938 6 February 1939 20 May 1939 Heavy damaged by aircraft at Palau on 30 March 1944. Later sank in shallow water.

Footnotes
  1. Another opinion: The No.12 was survived war at Palau.
  2. Submarine chaser No.7 (第7号駆潜艇, Dai 7 Gō Kusentei). The same shall apply hereinafter.

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.49, Japanese submarine chasers and patrol boats, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan), March 1981
  • "Japanese Subchasers". Combinedfleet.com.
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