Name Hakachi Laid down 1 February 1943 Construction started 1 February 1943 Draft 3.81 m | Namesake Cape of Hakachi Commissioned 18 November 1943 Launched 27 June 1943 Builder IHI Corporation | |
 | ||
Ordered fiscal 1941 under the Maru Tsui Programme (Ship number 660) Cost 4.8 millions JPY in 1941 | ||
The Hakachi (波勝) was a bomb target ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) serving during the Second World War, the only ship of her class.
Contents
Background
Project number J32. Before the pacific war, the IJN wanted to raise the training efficiency of bombers for the outbreak of war. The Yakaze was converted to a target ship for bombing training, however, her armour was thin because she was converted from a destroyer. Yakaze was able to bear only 1 kilogram bomb. The IJN wanted the target ship which Combined Fleet could use in the southern front. Hakachi was built by such a background, she was able to bear 10 kilogram bomb dropped from 4,000 m (13,000 ft) meters sky. The IJN built Ōhama-class as a next generation target ships, because Hakachi was only one.
Service
The Hakachi was commissioned on 18 November 1943, on 1 December, she was assigned to the Combined Fleet. On 24 December, 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 24 February 1944, and was repaired by Akashi. On 18 March, she sailed to Lingga Islands. On 24 May, she sailed to Davao Gulf. She worked in each place. On 1 October, she undertook convoy escort operations. She survived the war at the Seto Inland Sea.