W-7-class minesweeper
The No.7-class minesweepers (第七号型掃海艇,, Dai Nana Gō-gata Sōkaitei) were a class of minesweepers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II. Six vessels were built in 1937–1939 under the Maru 3 Keikaku.
 No.7 on 23 September 1942 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | No.7-class minesweeper |
| Builders | |
| Operators |  Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Preceded by | No.13 class |
| Succeeded by | No.19 class |
| Cost | 2,230,823 JPY (in 1937) |
| Built | 1937 – 1939 |
| In commission | 1938 – 1946 |
| Planned | 6 |
| Completed | 6 |
| Lost | 5 |
| Retired | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Displacement | 630 long tons (640 t) standard |
| Length | 72.50 m (237 ft 10 in) overall |
| Beam | 7.85 m (25 ft 9 in) |
| Draught | 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h) |
| Range | 2,000 nmi (3,700 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h) |
| Complement | 98 |
| Armament |
|
Background
- Project number I4. Improved model of the No.13 class. They were built to update timeworn No.7 class, No.9 class and No.11 class.[1] Kampon deleted minelayer facility from them, because IJN hoped they act in Yangtze River. And they added to one 120 mm (5 in) naval gun for engage with National Revolutionary Army. Therefore, the No.7 class had the silhouette which resembled the Chidori and Ōtori-class torpedo boats.
Ships in class
| Ship # | Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
| 49 | No. 7[2] | Tama Shipyard | 27 October 1937 | 16 June 1938 | 15 December 1938 | Sunk by HMS Storm off Port Blair on 15 April 1944. Decommissioned on 10 June 1944. |
| 50 | No. 8 | Uraga Dock Company | 11 December 1937 | 28 May 1938 | 15 February 1939 | Scuttled by Royal Navy at Singapore on 10 July 1946. Decommissioned on 10 August 1946. |
| 51 | No. 9 | Maizuru Naval Arsenal | 7 February 1938 | 10 September 1938 | 15 February 1939 | Struck a naval mine and sunk at Ambon on 1 February 1942. Decommissioned on 10 April 1942. |
| 52 | No. 10 | Tōkyō Ishikawajima Shipyard | 21 December 1937 | 22 September 1938 | 15 February 1939 | Sunk by air raid off Pandan, Caoayan (near Vigan) on 10 December 1941. Decommissioned on 15 March 1942. |
| 53 | No. 11 | Uraga Dock Company | 30 May 1938 | 28 December 1938 | 15 July 1939 | Sunk by air raid off Makassar on 28 March 1945. Decommissioned on 10 May 1945. |
| 54 | No. 12 | Tōkyō Ishikawajima Shipyard | 28 May 1938 | 18 February 1939 | 15 August 1939 | Sunk by USS Besugo off Flores 08°13′S 119°14′E on 6 April 1945. Decommissioned on 25 May 1945. |
Footnotes
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.50, Japanese minesweepers and landing ships, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan), April 1981
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