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Kurosaki in 1934
Class overview
Name	Natsushima Sokuten class
Builders	Kure Naval Arsenal Maizuru Naval Arsenal Uchida Zōsen Yokohama Iron Works Yokohama Dock Company
Operators	Imperial Japanese Navy Japan Maritime Safety Agency Republic of China Navy Soviet Navy People's Liberation Army Navy
Succeeded by	Tsubame class
Built	? – 1921
In commission	1911–1970
Planned	13
Completed	13
Lost	4
Retired	9
General characteristics Natsushima
Type	Minelayer
Displacement	405 long tons (411 t) standard
Propulsion	2 × three expansion stages reciprocating engines 1 × water tube boiler 2 shafts, 600 shp (450 kW)
Complement	40
Armament	2 × Armstrong 3 in (76 mm) L/40 guns
General characteristics Sokuten class
Type	Minelayer
Displacement	405 long tons (411 t) standard
Length	45.7 m (149 ft 11 in) Lpp
Beam	7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
Draught	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	2 × three expansion stages reciprocating engines 2 shafts, 600 shp Enoshima and Kurosaki 1 × Ikeda model water tube boiler all others 1 × Kampon water tube boiler
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Endurance	Fuel: Sokuten and Toshima 30 tons coal Kuroshima, Ashizaki, Katoku and Entō 60.5 tons coal and after the Kurokami 70 tons coal
Complement	40
Armament	Sokuten 2 × Armstrong 3 in L/40 guns all others 1 × Type 41 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 naval gun 82 × Mk.5 naval mines 18 × depth charges Kurosaki, 1945 1 × Type 41 76.2 mm L/40 gun 2 × Type 93 13.2 mm (0.52 in) AA guns ? × naval mines ? × depth charges 2 × depth charge projectors

The Sokuten-class minelayer (測天型敷設特務艇,, Sokuten-gata Fusetsu-Tokumutei) was a class of auxiliary minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during the 1910s and World War II. They were called the Sokuten class from their nameship. They were also called the Toshima class after Sokuten was retired. In some sources Natsushima was included in this class. Their official class name was not mentioned in IJN official documents.

Background

• The IJN intended to update their mineboats for local guards.

Construction

• In 1911, the IJN built the first experimental boat Natsushima (Natsushima Maru). Natsushima attached importance to gun-fights. Therefore, she was equipped with two 3-inch (76 mm) Armstrong guns.
• In 1913, the IJN built the second experimental boat Sokuten (Sokuten Maru No. 1). She was an improved model of Natsushima, and her equipment was almost the same as Natsushima.
• The IJN adopted Sokuten's hull design, and started production.
• Kuroshima, Kurokami and Kurosaki were equipped with netlayer facilities. However, those armaments were not announced.

Service history

Natsushima was retired in 1927, and Sokuten was retired in 1936. The other sisters participated to World War II, and nine boats survived the war.

Ships in class

Photos

• Natsushima (as Natsushima Maru) on 10 October 1912
• Enoshima in 1930

Footnotes

1. Editorial Committee of the Navy (1981), p. 146

Bibliography

• "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol. 51, "The truth histories of the Imperial Japanese Vessels Part-2", Gakken (Japan), June 2002, ISBN 4-05-602780-3
• Ships of the World special issue Vol. 45, Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), February 1996
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No. 47, "Japanese naval mine warfare crafts", "Ushio Shobō". (Japan), January 1981
• Editorial Committee of the Navy, Navy Vol. 11, "Part of small vessels, auxiliary vessels, miscellaneous service ship and converted merchant ships, Seibunsha K.K. (Japan), August 1981

• World War II minelayers of Japan
• Minelayers of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Auxiliary ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy
• Patrol vessels of the Japan Coast Guard
• Ships of the Republic of China Navy
• Ships of the People's Liberation Army Navy