Japanese submarine chaser Cha-221

Cha-221 or No. 221 (Japanese: 第二百二十一號驅潜特務艇) was a No.1-class auxiliary submarine chaser of the Imperial Japanese Navy that served during World War II.

History
Imperial Japanese Navy
NameCha-221
BuilderShikoku Dock Industry Co., Ltd. Takamatsu
Laid down18 January 1944
Launched3 July 1944
Completed28 August 1944
Commissioned28 August 1944
Decommissioned1 December 1945
HomeportOsaka
Fatereleased to the Ministry of Transportation, 1 January 1948
History
Japan Maritime Safety Agency
NameMinesweeper No. 221
Acquired1 May 1948
RenamedYoshikiri (MS-02), 1 December 1951
HomeportOsaka
Fatetransferred to Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, 1 July 1954
History
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Acquired1 July 1954
Decommissioned31 March 1962
RenamedYoshikiri (MSI-690)
Fateunknown
General characteristics
Class and typeNo.1-class Submarine chaser
Displacement130 long tons (132 t) standard[1]
Length29.20 m (95 ft 10 in) overall
Beam5.65 m (18 ft 6 in)
Draught1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Propulsion
  • 1 × intermediate diesel
  • shingle shaft, 400 bhp
Speed11.0 knots (12.7 mph; 20.4 km/h)
Range1,000 nmi (1,900 km) at 10.0 kn (11.5 mph; 18.5 km/h)
Complement32
Armament
  • 1 × 13.2mm machine gun
  • 22 × depth charges
  • 1 × dunking hydrophone
  • 1 × simple sonar

History

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She was laid down on 18 January 1944 at the Takamatsu shipyard of Shikoku Dock Industry Co., Ltd. (株式會社四国船渠工業所) and launched on 3 July 1944.[1][2] She was completed and commissioned on 28 August 1944,[2] fitted with armaments at the Kure Naval Arsenal, and assigned to the Kii Defense Unit, Osaka Guard District under commanding officer Teruo Takeuchi.[2] She mostly conducted patrol and escort duties out of the port of Yura, Wakayama.[2] On 6 May 1945, she was attacked and damaged by two Consolidated B-24 Liberators off Komatsushima.[2] She was repaired at Osaka in June 1945.[2] Cha-221 survived the war.[2]

On 1 December 1945, she was demobilized and enrolled as a minesweeper by the occupation forces.[2] On 1 January 1948, she was released to the Ministry of Transportation.[2] On 1 May 1948, she was assigned to the Japan Maritime Safety Agency, a sub-agency of the Ministry of Transportation, and designated Minesweeper No. 221 (MS-02) on 20 August 1948.[2] On 1 December 1951, she was renamed Yoshikiri (MS-02) (よしきり).[2] On 1 July 1954, she was transferred to the newly created Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and designated as Yoshikiri (MS-02) and later MSI-690.[2] She was delisted on 31 March 1962.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Toda, Gengoro S. (21 September 2019). "驅潜特務艇 (Cha - Stats)". Imperial Japanese Navy - Tokusetsukansen (in Japanese).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Toda, Gengoro S. "第二百二十一號驅潜特務艇の艦歴 (No. 221 submarine chaser - Ship History)". Imperial Japanese Navy -Tokusetsu Kansen (in Japanese).