Landing craft carrier
Landing craft carriersorlanding craft depot shipswere an innovative type ofamphibious warfare shipdeveloped by theImperial Japanese ArmyduringWorld War II.The prototype was developed in secrecy under thepseudonymsRyujo MaruandFuso Maru[1]using features later adopted by other navies fordock landing shipsandamphibious transport docks.Additional ships were built after combat experience validated the concept, but most were completed after theJapaneseinvasions of the early war, and used primarily astroopshipsduring later operations. Today'samphibious assault shipsbear a strong similarity to this concept.
Prototype
[edit]Shinshū Maruwas completed in 1935 and modified in 1936 to include a floodablewell dock.She was the world's first ship specifically designed to carry and launchlanding craft.[1]She introducedsternand side gates to launch landing craft for the 2,200 soldiers she carried. She demonstrated the advantages of the concept at the invasions ofShanghai,MalayaandJava.[2]
Hei-type
[edit]Hei-type landing craft carriers included aflight deckwith a capacity for 28 aircraft, but nohangardeck, since the deck beneath the flight deck was used to carry 25 landing craft launched through stern doors.[3]Akisu Maruwas completed in time to participate in the invasion of Java; but she and the other Hei-types were thereafter used primarily as ferries to transport short-range aircraft to distant bases. The first two were completed from 11,800-ton, 20knots(37 km/h; 23 mph) Nippon Kaiun, K. K.passenger shipsunder construction by Harima Shipbuilding. They operated twoKayaba Ka-1autogyros.[2]Both were sunk by submarines in 1944.[1]
- Akitsu Maruwas completed in January 1942.[3]
- Nigitsu Maruwas completed in March 1943.[3]
The others were based onHitachi Shipbuilding Corporation's standard 8,000-ton, 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) Type-M cargo steam ship modified (Type-MC)[1]to carry twelveToku Daihatsu-class landing craftlaunched through stern doors[2]with funnels installed horizontally on the starboard side to accommodate a flight deck.[1]
- Kumano Maruwas completed in March 1945[3]and survived for use as a repatriation ship.[1]
- Tokitsu Maruwas incomplete when World War II ended.[3]She was completed as awhaling shipin 1946 and sank in theAntarcticin 1953.[2]
Ko-type
[edit]The larger type were 11,910-ton, 20.8 knots (38.5 km/h; 23.9 mph) diesel-engined ships fitted with stern ramp gates for launching twentyDaihatsu-class landing craftstored in floodableholds.At the time, this launching method was unprecedented. Both were sunk by submarines with very heavy loss of life.[2]
- Mayasan Maruwas completed in December 1942.[3]
- Tamatsu Maruwas completed in January 1944.[3]
Later production was Hitachi's standard Type-M steam ship modified (Type-MA) to carry twelve Toku-Daihatsu-class landing craft.[2]The landing craft were launched from rails which ran along the main deck (between port and starboardfunnelsfor those carried forward of thesuperstructure) down to thewaterlinethrough large hinged doors at the stern.Settsu Marusurvived for use as a repatriation ship, but her sister ships were sunk in air raids on Japanese ports.[1]
- Kibitsu Maruwas completed in December 1943.[3]
- Hyuga Maruwas completed in November 1944.[3]
- Settsu Maruwas completed as a 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) coal-burner[1]in January 1945.[3]
Otsu-type
[edit]Takatsu Maruwas a 5,656-ton, 19-knot steam ship[2]completed in January 1944 withicebreakercapability,[3]and used conventional cranes rather than gates for handling nine Toku-Daihatsu-class landing craft.[2]She was sunk by United States aircraft inOrmoc Bayduring theinvasion of the Philippines.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghiWatts, Anthony J. (1967).Japanese Warships of World War II.New York: Doubleday & Company. pp. 307–311.
- ^abcdefghHackett, Bob; Cundall, Peter (2012)."IJA Landing Craft Depot Ships".combinedfleet.Retrieved26 September2012.
- ^abcdefghijk"Landing Craft Carrier Model Ko, Otsu, Hei".Taki.Retrieved26 November2013.