Built 1940–1943 | ||
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Name Kinesaki-class food supply ship Builders Ōsaka Iron WorksHitachi Zōsen Corporation Cost 1,574,000 JPY in 19392,110,000 JPY in 19402,928,000 JPY in 1942 In commission 1940–1945 (Imperial Japanese Navy)1947–1970 (Republic of China Navy) | ||
The Kinesaki class food supply ship (杵埼型給糧艦, Kinesaki-gata kyūryōkan) was a class of four reefer ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during and after World War II. Eleven vessels were planned under the Maru 4 Programme, Maru Rin Programme (Ship #261–263) and Kai-Maru 5 Programme (Ship #5401–5407), however, only four vessels were completed.
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Construction
In 1939, the IJN planned two food supply ships for China Area Fleet under the Maru 4 Programme. One was the 600-ton type Nosaki (initial named Support ship No. 4007), the other the 1,000-ton type Kinesaki (initial named Support ship No. 4006). The Navy then ordered several more ships to the design of the Kinesaki; these became the Hayasaki, Shirasaki and Arasaki. The Navy intended to order several more ships of this design by 1942, but Japan's worsening situation in the war by this stage led to the abandonment of these plans.
Service
The Kinesaki served in the Central Pacific Area, the Hayasaki in the Southwest Area, the Shirasaki in the Northeast Area, and the Arasaki in the Southeast Area. They also undertook convoy escort operations. The Kinesaki was sunk on March 1945, while the other ships of the class survived the war.