Sokuten-class minelayer (1938)

Sokuten class
Class overview
NameSokuten class
Builders
Operators
Preceded byNatsushima class
Succeeded byKamishima class
Subclasses
  • Sokuten class (Pr. H11)
  • Hirashima class (Pr. H11B)
  • Ajiro class
Cost
  • 2,540,064 JPY in 1937
  • 2,943,000 JPY in 1939
  • 4,334,400 JPY in 1941
  • 4,487,000 JPY in 1942
Built1937–1944
In commission1938–1960
Planned41
Completed15
Canceled26
Lost12
Retired3
Hirashima class Niizaki on 31 August 1942
General characteristics
TypeMinelayer/Netlayer
Displacement720 long tons (732 t) standard
Length74.70 m (245 ft 1 in) overall
Beam7.85 m (25 ft 9 in)
Draught
  • Sokuten class
  • 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in)
  • Hirashima class and Ajiro class
  • 2.62 m (8 ft 7 in)
Propulsion2 × MAN Mk.3 Model 10 diesels, 2 shafts, 3,600 bhp
Speed20.0 knots (37.0 km/h; 23.0 mph)
Range
  • Nuwajima, 1943
  • approx. 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
  • all others
  • 2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement
  • Sokuten class and Ajiro class
  • 74
  • Hirashima class
  • 67
Armament
  • Sokuten class
  • 2 × 40 mm heavy machine guns
  • 2 × Type 93 13 mm AA guns
  • 36 × Type 95 depth charges
  • 1 × Type 94 depth charge projector
  • 10 × depth charge throwers
  • 1 × Type 93 active sonar
  • 1 × Type 93 hydrophone
  • 120 × Type 93 naval mines or 2 × Type 96 510 m (1,673 ft 3 in) anti-submarine nets or 8 × 502.5 m (1,648 ft 7 in) capture nets
  • Hirashima class and Ajiro class
  • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 AA gun
  • 2 × Type 93 13 mm AA guns
  • 36 × Type 95 depth charges
  • 1 × Type 94 depth charge projector
  • 10 × depth charge throwers
  • 1 × Type 93 active sonar
  • 1 × Type 93 hydrophone
  • 120 × Type 93 naval mines or 2 × Type 96 510 m anti-submarine nets or 8 × 502.5 m capture nets

The Sokuten-class minelayer (測天型敷設艇,, Sokuten-gata Fusetsutei) was a class of minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during and after World War II. The class consists of three subclasses, which this article handles collectively.