Japanese gunboat Hashidate

Hashidate (橋立, Standing Bridge) was the lead vessel in the Hashidate-class gunboats in the Imperial Japanese Navy, that operated in China during the 1940s.

Hashidate in Osaka Bay, June 1940
History
Japanese Navy EnsignJapan
NameHashidate
NamesakeJapanese cruiser Hashidate
Ordered1937
BuilderOsaka Iron Works
Laid downFebruary 20, 1939
LaunchedDecember 23, 1939
CompletedJune 30, 1940
StrickenJuly 10, 1944
FateSunk by USS Picuda, May 22, 1944
General characteristics
TypeGunboat
Displacement993 long tons (1,009 t)
Length78.5 m (258 ft)
Beam9.7 m (31 ft 10 in)
Draught2.45 m (8 ft 0 in)
Propulsion>4,600 hp (3,400 kW) geared turbine
Speed19.5 knots (22.4 mph; 36.1 km/h)
Range2,500 nmi / 14 kn
Complement158
Armament

History

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Hashidate was authorized under the Maru-3 Naval Expansion Budget of 1937. She was laid down at Osaka Iron Works on February 20, 1939 and launched on December 23, 1939, and was commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy as on June 30, 1940.[1]

She was intended initially for support of combat operations by the Imperial Japanese Army in the Second Sino-Japanese War off the coast of China. At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hashidate was assigned to the China Area Fleet as part of the 2nd China Expeditionary Fleet's 15th Escort Group. With the start of the Pacific War, she was assigned to ”Operation C” – the invasion of Hong Kong.[1] She remained based at Hong Kong for most of the war. At some point in 1943, five additional Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Guns were added, along with depth charges in 1944.

On May 22, 1944, she was torpedoed by USS Picuda (SS-382) in the South China Sea off Pratas Island while towing the crippled merchant passenger/cargo ship Tsukuba Maru at position 21°08′N 117°20′E / 21.133°N 117.333°E / 21.133; 117.333.[1][2]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Nevitt, Allyn D. (1997). "IJN Hashidate: Tabular Record of Movement". Combinedfleet.com. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020.
  2. ^ Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.

References

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  • Brown, David (1990). Warship Losses of World War Two. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-914-X.
  • Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 978-0-87021-893-4.
  • Sturton, Ian (1980). "Japan". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
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