No.251-class auxiliary submarine chaser

Class overview
Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.251 in 1938
Name:	No.251-class aux. submarine chasers No.251-class (Project number K5A) No.253-class (Project number K5B)
Builders:	Nihon Kōkan Corporation Ōsaka Iron Works
Operators:	Imperial Japanese Navy
Built:	1936 – 1939
In commission:	1937 – 1945
Planned:	3
Completed:	3
Retired:	3
Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.253 in 1937
General characteristics
Type:	Submarine chaser
Displacement:	170 long tons (173 t) standard
Length:	45.0 m (147 ft 8 in) overall
Beam:	4.80 m (15 ft 9 in)
Draught:	No.251 and No.252 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) No.253 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Propulsion:	No.251 2 × original MAN Mk.1 diesels 2 shafts, 3,000 bhp No.252 2 × copied MAN Mk.1 diesels 2 shafts No.253 1 × Kampon geared turbine 2 × Kampon water tube boilers 2 shafts, 3,000 shp
Speed:	23.0 knots (26.5 mph; 42.6 km/h)
Range:	800 nmi (1,500 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Complement:	41
Armament:	1 × 40 mm heavy machine gun 18 × Type 95 depth charges 2 × Type 94 depth charge projectors 1 × depth charge rack 1 × Type 93 active sonar 1 × Type 93 hydrophone

The No.251 class auxiliary submarine chaser (第二百五十一号型駆潜特務艇,, Dai 251 Gō-gata Kusen-Tokumutei)^[1] was a class of submarine chasers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. 3 vessels were built in 1936 – 1939 under the Maru 2 Programme. They have two sub classes, this article handles them collectively.

Background

In 1934, the IJN planned an experimental model of high-speed coast defense submarine chaser. The IJN wanted over 20 kn (23 mph; 37 km/h), however the Navy Technical Department (Kampon) have not designed such a small-sized and high-powered diesels yet.
The IJN ordered hull design to the Thornycroft, and high-powered diesel design to the MAN, for study a small-sized high-speed boat.

Design

The Thornycroft drawings were not able to satisfy the IJN, because their designs center of gravity was too high, and bad drainage. The Kampon made a based on the Hayabusa class torpedo boat and finished hull designs.
The IJN was satisfied with MAN diesel specifications, however their designs were very complicated and very high-prices. The IJN bought two diesels and named MAN Mk.1 diesel (マ式1号ディーゼル,, Ma-Shiki 1 Gō diesel). Furthermore, the IJN ordered a copy of this diesel to the Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Also, 1 vessel was equipped with a Kampon turbine, because diesel engine was unsuitable for a mass production.

Service

The IJN deployed them to a mine warfare school after having finished their examination, because they were too small.
They became a training ship of the mine warfare school, and they acted in Tokyo Bay.

Ships in classes

No.251-class

Project number K5A. 2 vessels were completed. They were equipped with MAN design diesels. The No.252 was equipped the copied MAN diesels by Kawasaki and Mitsubishi.

No.251

14 December 1936: Laid down as the Submarine Chaser No.51 (第51号駆潜艇,, Dai 51 Gō Kusentei) at Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard.
9 June 1937: Launched.
30 September 1937: Completed.
15 November 1940: Classified to the Auxiliary submarine chaser, and renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.51 (第51号駆潜特務艇,, Dai 51 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei).
(after): Assigned to the mine warfare school (Kurihama).
30 April 1943: Renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.251 (第251号駆潜特務艇,, Dai 251 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei).
28 August 1944: Classified to the Support vessel (tugboat), and renamed No.1658 (公称第1658号,, Kōshō-Dai 1658 Gō).
August 1945: The end of war at Uraga, later nothing more was heard.

No.252

14 December 1936: Laid down as the Submarine Chaser No.52 (第52号駆潜艇,, Dai 52 Gō Kusentei) at Nihon Kōkan, Tsurumi Shipyard.
25 August 1937: Launched.
25 July 1939: Completed.
15 November 1940: Classified to the Auxiliary submarine chaser, and renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.52 (第52号駆潜特務艇,, Dai 52 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei).
(after): Assigned to the mine warfare school (Kurihama).
30 April 1943: Renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.252 (第252号駆潜特務艇,, Dai 252 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei).
15 February 1944: Classified to the Support vessel (tugboat), and renamed No.1650 (公称第1650号,, Kōshō-Dai 1650 Gō).
August 1945: The end of war at Uraga, later nothing more was heard.

No.253-class

Project number K5B. 1 vessels was completed. She was equipped with Kampon turbine. She was classed in the No.251-class in the IJN official documents.

No.253

9 January 1937: Laid down as the Submarine Chaser No.53 (第53号駆潜艇,, Dai 53 Gō Kusentei) at Ōsaka Iron Works, Sakurajima Factory.
15 July 1937: Launched.
31 October 1937: Completed.
15 November 1940: Classified to the Auxiliary submarine chaser, and renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.53 (第53号駆潜特務艇,, Dai 53 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei).
(after): Assigned to the mine warfare school (Kurihama).
30 April 1943: Renamed Auxiliary Submarine Chaser No.253 (第253号駆潜特務艇,, Dai 253 Gō Kusen-Tokumutei).
15 February 1944: Classified to the Support vessel (tugboat), and renamed No.1651 (公称第1651号,, Kōshō-Dai 1651 Gō).
August 1945: The end of war at Uraga.
August 1946: Sink by unknown effect.

Footnotes

↑ At first No.51 class submarine chaser (第五十一号型駆潜艇,, Dai 51 Gō-gata Kusentei), until 15 November 1940.

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 auxiliary ship classes of World War II

Colliers and oilers	Notoro Ondo Sunosaki Ashizuri Kazahaya^S Hayasui^S Hario^S Muroto Teiyō Maru^S Ōse (ex-Dutch tanker Genota)^SC

Food supply ships	Mamiya^S Nosaki^S Kinesaki Irako^S Kurasaki^SC

Landing ships	No.1 No.101 Shinshū Maru^S (Army) SS (Army)

Armed merchant cruisers	Aikoku Maru^S Kongō Maru^S Noshiro Maru^S

Minelayers and cable layer	Tokiwa^SC Itsukushima^S Yaeyama^S Okinoshima^S Tsugaru^S Minoo^SC Shirataka^S Hatsutaka Tsubame Natsushima (1933) Sokuten (1938) Hirashima Ajiro^S Kamishima Hashima Sokuten (1913) Aux. No.1 Aux. No.101 (ex-HMS Barlight)^SC

Minesweepers	No.1 (1923) No.5 (1928) No.13 No.17 No.7 (1938) No.19 No.101 (ex-HMS Taitam and HMS Waglan)^C Aux. No.1 Aux. No.101 (ex-HNLMS DEFG-class) Aux. No.104 (ex-HNLMS DEFG-class)

Patrol boats	No.1^C No.31^C No.46^SC No.101 (ex-HMS Thracian)^SC No.102 (ex-USS Stewart)^SC No.103 (ex-USS Finch)^SC No.104 (ex-Dutch East Indies Valk and Arend)^C No.105 (ex-Philippine customs Arayat)^SC No.106 (ex-HNLMS Banckert (1929))^SCI No.107 (ex-USS Genesee)^SC No.109 (ex-Dutch East Indies Fazant)^SC Aux. No.1

Repair ships	Asahi^SC Akashi^S Hayase (ex-Chinese passenger Chin Kiang)^SC Hitonose (ex-ROCN Min Sheng)^SC

Seaplane tenders	Notoro Kamoi^SC Chitose Mizuho^S Nisshin^S Akitsushima^S Kamikawa Maru

Submarine chasers	No.1 No.3^S No.4 No.13 No.28 No.60 Aux. No.1 Aux. No.101 (ex-HNLMS Tjerimai)^SC Aux. No.102 (ex-HNLMS Ardjoeno class)^C Aux. No.103 (ex-HNLMS B1 class)^C Aux. No.111 (ex-HNLMS P13 or P14)^SC Aux. No.112 (ex-HNLMS A class)^C Aux. No.117 (ex-HNLMS Bantam)^C Aux. No.251 Aux. No.253^S

Submarine tenders	Komahashi^SC Jingei Taigei^S

Survey ships	Tsukushi^S Katsuriki^SC Hakusa (ex-China customs Fu Hsing)^SC

Target ships	Settsu^SC Yakaze^SC Hakachi^S Ōhama^S

Training ships	Fuji^SC Shikishima^SC Asama^SC Azuma^SC Kasuga^SC Atada (ex-ROCN Yat Sen)^SC

Others	Sōya (freighter)^SC Kashino (turret transporter)^S Ōtomari (icebreaker)^S Tategami (salvage tug) Kasashima (salvage tug) Miura (salvage tug) Kaiyō No.1 (oceanographic research ship) Asuka (traffic ship, ex-ROCN Yung Chien)^SC

S Single ship of class C Converted to ship type I Incomplete until the end of war

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