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Arasaki in May 1943 at Osaka Bay
Class overview
Name	Kinesaki class
Builders	Ōsaka Iron Works Hitachi Zōsen Corporation
Operators	Imperial Japanese Navy  Republic of China Navy  Soviet Navy Government of Japan
Cost	1,574,000 JPY in 1939 2,110,000 JPY in 1940 2,928,000 JPY in 1942
Built	1940–1943
In commission	1940–1945 (Imperial Japanese Navy) 1947–1970 (Republic of China Navy)
Planned	11
Completed	4
Cancelled	7
Lost	1
Retired	3
General characteristics
Type	Food supply ship
Displacement	910 long tons (925 t) standard 950 long tons (965 t) trial
Length	62.29 m (204 ft 4 in) overall
Beam	9.40 m (30 ft 10 in)
Draught	3.11 m (10 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	2 × Kampon Mk. 23A Model 8 diesels 2 shafts, 1,600 bhp
Speed	15 knots (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Range	3,500 nmi (6,500 km) at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Capacity	Kinesaki, 1940 82 tons frozen food 57.7 tons fresh water Hayasaki, 1942 85 tons frozen food 71.7 tons fresh water
Complement	67
Armament	Kinesaki, 1940 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 AA gun 2 × 13.2 mm (0.52 in) AA guns 8 × depth charges

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.

Construction

In 1939, the IJN planned two food supply ships for the China Area Fleet under the Maru 4 Programme. One was the 600-ton type Nosaki (initially named Support ship No. 4007), the other the 1,000-ton type Kinesaki (initially 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 in March 1945, while the other ships of the class survived the war.

Ships in class

Footnotes

1. Senshi Sōsho Vol. 31 (1969), p. 804.
2. Senshi Sōsho Vol. 31 (1969), p. 805.
3. Senshi Sōsho Vol. 88 (1975), p. 37.
4. Senshi Sōsho Vol. 88 (1975), p. 95.

Bibliography

• "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of the Pacific War Vol. 51 The truth histories of the Japanese Naval Vessels part-2, Gakken (Japan), 2005, ISBN 4-05-604083-4.
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No. 34 Japanese Auxiliary ships, Ushio Shobō (Japan), 1979.
• Shizuo Fukui, Collection of writings by Sizuo Fukui Vol. 10, "Stories of Japanese Support Vessels", Kōjinsha (Japan), 1993, ISBN 4-7698-0658-2.
• Senshi Sōsho Vol. 31, Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), 1969.
• Senshi Sōsho Vol. 88, Naval armaments and war preparation (2), "And after the outbreak of war", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), 1975.

• World War II naval ships of Japan
• Auxiliary ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Auxiliary transport ship classes
• Ships built by Hitachi Zosen Corporation
• Ships built by Osaka Iron Works