IJN Ships -- Some Less Well-Known Photos

[Brian James]

Minelayer Yaeyama pictured on launch day at Kure Naval Arsenal on October 15th 1931...At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Yaeyama was assigned to 'Operation M' (the invasion of the southern Philippines) deploying from Palau to mine the Surigao Strait. On January 3rd 1942, she became flagship for Admiral Rokuzo Sugiyama’s Third Southern Expeditionary Fleet and covered landings at Subic Bay. While at Subic Bay on February 1st, she was attacked unsuccessfully by USS PT-32. Yaeyama was based at Manila from July 1942 under the overall command of the Southwest Area Fleet. Yaeyama was refitted at Cavite Naval Yards as an Anti-Submarine convoy Escort Ship in December 1943, with all minelaying rails removed and replaced by 36 depth charges, and was reassigned to the First Southern Expeditionary Fleet. She escorted a convoy of transports from Manila to Singapore in January 1944, and a convoy from Manila to Halmahera Island in May 1944. On the early morning of September 24th 1944 Yaeyama was sunk after being hit by at least ten bombs during an air attack by 96 Grumman F6F Hellcat and 24 Curtiss SB2C Helldiver aircraft from the Carriers USS Intrepid and USS Lexington and the Light Carrier USS Cabot while anchored in Coron Bay, Busuanga Island, off Palawan Island in the Philippines.

[designeraccd]

ABUKUMA as part of the Pearl Harbor attack force, 6 dec 41........... DFO

[Brian James]

Japanese Torpedo Boat No 8 pictured in 1891.

[Brian James]

W-19 Class Minesweeper No 29 pictured off Ishikawajima Shipyard on October 22nd 1943...She struck a naval mine and sunk off Shimonoseki on May 7th 1945.

[designeraccd]

The IJN carrier force in June of 1944; not the POWERFUL Kido Butai of Dec, '41......... DFO

[Brian James]

Bomb Target Ship Hakachi pictured off Harima Zōsen Shipyards, Tokyo on November 19th 1943...Project number J32 was instigated before the Pacific War, the IJN wanted to raise the training efficiency of bombers for the outbreak of war. Minekaze Class Destroyer Yakaze was converted to a Target Ship for bombing training, however, her armour was too thin because having been converted from a Destroyer. Yakaze was able to sustain only the impact of 1 kilogram bombs. The IJN wanted a Target Ship for the Combined Fleet to use it in the southern front. Hakachi was built with such a background, she was able to sustain 10 kilogram bombs dropped from 4,000 m (13,000 ft) altitude. Hakachi was the only purpose-built vessel in the IJN designed as a bombing Target Ship. Her flat steel deck gave her the appearance of an Escort Carrier and protected against 10 and 30 kilogram training bombs. The IJN later built the Ōhama Class as a next generation target ship, because Hakachi was the only one available for training new pilots of bomber aircraft. Hakachi was commissioned on November 18th 1943, on December 1st, she was assigned to the Combined Fleet. On December 24th, she sailed to Truk and she worked bombing training. Two months later, she was heavily damaged by U.S. Carrier aircraft during Operation Hailstone. She sheltered at Palau on February 24th 1944, and was repaired by the Repair Ship Akashi. She was modified to serve as an escort for local convoys and rearmed with two 4.7-inch and 28 Type 96 25-mm AA guns and carried 36 Depth charges. On March 18th, she sailed to Lingga Islands. On May 24th, she sailed to Davao Gulf. On October 1st, she undertook convoy escort operations. She survived the war in the Seto Inland Sea. From December 1st 1945 she was assigned to the Allied Repatriation Service as a Special Transport Ship. On December 11th 1946 Hakachi arrived at Sasebo on her last repatriation voyage. In all, she transported 1,641 former military personnel back to Japan. 1947 she was scrapped in Osaka at Fujinagata Zosensho.

[designeraccd]

A very early view of the HOSHO with the predreadnought MIKASA behind. Also, a view of her after her return from the failed Midway operation. DFO

[Brian James]

Emperor Hirohito pictured wearing the uniform of an Admiral with Prince Takamatsu Nobuhito,(front row, center) with senior officers of the IJN, taken during a top-secret visit to Yamato Class Battleship Musashi at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on June 24th 1943.

[designeraccd]

Three views of IJN repair ship AKASHI......... DFO

[Brian James]

Fleet Oiler Kanzaki pictured on completion at Kure Naval Arsenal on December 9th 1917.