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No.31 class patrol boat

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Built
  
1940

No.31-class patrol boat

Name
  
No. 31-class patrol boat

Builders
  
Kure Naval Arsenal Sasebo Naval Arsenal Hakodate Dock Corporation

Operators
  
Imperial Japanese Navy People's Security Army

Succeeded by
  
Matsu-class destroyer No.1-class landing ship

Subclasses
  
No. 31 class (ex-Momi class) No. 46 class (ex-Wakatake class)

The No. 31-class patrol boats (第三十一号型哨戒艇,, Dai Sanjūichi Gō-gata Shōkaitei) were a class of patrol boats of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. 9 vessels were converted from Momi-class destroyers and 1 vessel was converted from a Wakatake-class destroyer in 1940.

Contents

Background

In 1939, the IJN was liberated from London Naval Treaty, and they built many Kagerō-class destroyers. On the other hand, aging of the Momi-class destroyers was serious. Their boilers were worn down very much because they were destroyers. Some Momi-class destroyers were not able to show 30 knots speed. The Navy General Staff made the Confidential Document No. 456. It was an order to rebuild them into patrol boats - about four Minekaze-class destroyers and six Momi-class destroyers. The IJN chose nine Momi class and one Wakatake class. Three Momis and one Wakatake were increased, because two Minekazes were decreased.

Rebuilding

  • Ten vessels were sent to dockyards for rebuilding. "Q" turret, all of torpedo tubes and one boiler were removed in 1940.
  • In the second half of 1941, the IJN rebuilt them once again for war preparations. They were rebuilt to the landing craft carrier. The Y turret was moved to a place of the "Q" turret. Furthermore, a slope for Daihatsu-class landing craft was installed to their stern, and added deck house for one company of Navy Landing Force. As for the No. 31 and the No. 46, those rebuilt were not done.

    • Service

  • 10 and 23 December 1941: Sortie for the Battle of Wake Island. (No. 32 and No. 33)
  • 12 December 1941: Sortie for the invasion of Legazpi. (No. 34, No. 35 and No. 36)
  • 20 December 1941: Sortie for invasion of Davao. (No. 36 and No. 37)
  • 25 December 1941: Sortie for invasion of Jolo. (No. 36 and No. 37)
  • 11 January 1942: Sortie for the Battle of Tarakan. (No. 36, No. 37 and No. 38)
  • 11 January 1942: Sortie for the Battle of Manado. (No. 34, No. 1 and No. 2)
  • 31 January 1942: Sortie for the Battle of Ambon. (No. 34 and No. 39)
  • 20 February 1942: Sortie for invasion of Kupang. (No. 39, No. 1 and No. 2)
  • 1 March 1942: Sortie for invasion of Surabaya. (No. 34, No. 36, No. 37, No. 38 and No. 39)
  • 31 March 1942: Sortie for the Battle of Christmas Island. (No. 34 and No. 36)
  • (after): The IJN which finished First Phase Operations allotted them to the convoy escort operations. Only No. 36 was survived war.

    • No. 46 class

    No. 40 to No. 45 were a space to the vessels numbers. These numbers were going to be given to all of Wakatakes.

    References

    No.31-class patrol boat Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA