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Hatsutaka in 1939
Class overview
Name	Hatsutaka-class minelayers Hatsutaka-class Wakataka-class Asadori-class (only a project)
Builders	Harima Zōsen Corporation
Operators	Imperial Japanese Navy Royal Malaysian Navy Republic of Singapore Navy
Preceded by	Shirataka
Cost	4,733,000 JPY (Hatsutaka) 4,900,000 JPY (Wakataka)
Built	1938 – 1941
In commission	1939 – 1946 (IJN)
Planned	4
Completed	3
Cancelled	1
Lost	2
Retired	1
General characteristics
Type	Minelayer/Netlayer
Displacement	1,600 long tons (1,626 t) standard
Length	91.00 m (298 ft 7 in) overall 86.50 m (283 ft 10 in) waterline
Beam	11.30 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draught	4.0 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	2 × Kampon geared turbines 3 × Kampon coal/oil-fired boilers 2 shafts, 6,000 shp
Speed	20.0 knots (23.0 mph; 37.0 km/h)
Range	3,000 nmi (5,600 km) at 14 kn (16 mph; 26 km/h)
Complement	Hatsutaka and Aotaka 199 Wakataka 202
Armament	Hatsutaka, 1939 4 × 40 mm heavy machine guns 18 × Type 95 depth charges 1 × Type 94 depth charge projector 4 × depth charge throwers 1 × Type 93 active sonar 1 × Type 93 hydrophone 24 × Type 96 510 m (1,673 ft 3 in) anti-submarine nets or 100 × Type 93 naval mines Wakataka, 1941 2 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 AA guns 4 × Type 93 13.2 mm (0.52 in) AA guns 18 × Type 95 depth charges 1 × Type 94 depth charge projector 4 × depth charge throwers 1 × Type 93 active sonar 1 × Type 93 hydrophone 24 × Type 96 510 m (1,673 ft 3 in) anti-submarine nets or 100 × Type 93 naval mines

The Hatsutaka-class minelayer (初鷹型敷設艦,, Hatsutaka-gata Fusetsukan) was a class of minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. There were three sub-classes, as well.

Design

• The Hastutaka-class minelayer was a reinforced model of the Shirataka. The Harima Zōsen Corporation dealt with all of the Hatsutaka-class.

Ships in classes

Hatsutaka-class

• Project number was H12. First production model of the Hatsutaka-class. Two vessels were built in 1938-40 under the Maru 3 Programme (Ship # 7 - 8). They were equipped with 4 × 40 mm quick-firing guns for anti-submarine warfare.

Wakataka-class

• Project number was H12B. Second production model of the Hatsutaka-class. Only 1 vessel was built under the Maru 4 Programme (Ship # 102). She was equipped with 2 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) anti-aircraft cannons. The Wakataka was classed in the Hatsutaka-class in the IJN official documents. The IJN called her the Modified Hatsutaka-class (改初鷹型,, Kai Hatsutaka-gata) unofficially.

Asadori-class

• Project number was H12C. The Navy Technical Department revised the Wakataka drawings. Only 1 vessel was planned under the Kai-Maru 5 Programme (Ship # 5039). The IJN called her the Modified Wakataka-class (改若鷹型,, Kai Wakataka-gata) unofficially.

Photos

• Aotaka in June 1940 at Harima Zōsen.
• Wakataka as repatriation transport in Spring 1947 at Sasebo Naval Base.

Footnotes

1. Free translation: Hawk in early fall.
2. Blue hawk.
3. "Young hawk."
4. "Morning bird."

See also

• Japanese minelayer Shirataka

Bibliography

• Ships of the World special issue Vol.47, Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), March 1997
• Model Art Extra No.360, Drawings of Imperial Japanese Naval Vessels Part-2, "Model Art Co. Ltd". Archived from the original on 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2009-05-20. (Japan), October 1989
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.42, Japanese minelayers, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan), August 1980
• Daiji Katagiri, Ship Name Chronicles of the Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet, Kōjinsha (Japan), June 1988, ISBN 4-7698-0386-9

• World War II minelayers of Japan
• Mine warfare vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy