SS-class landing ship

SS No.19
Class overview
NameSS-class landing ship
Builders
Operators Imperial Japanese Army
Succeeded bySB-class
Subclasses
  • SS No.1 (Prototype)
  • SS No.2 (Supplementary Prototype)
  • SS No.3 (General production type)
Built1939–1945
In service1939–1947
In commission1944–?
Plannedover 30
Completed18[1] or 21[2] or 22[3]
Lost?
Retired?
General characteristics SS No.3 class
Displacement730 long tons (742 t) gross
Length65.00 m (213 ft 3 in) overall
Beam9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Draught2.89 m (9 ft 6 in)Error: has synonymous parameter (help)
Draft5.65 m (18 ft 6 in)Error: has synonymous parameter (help)
Propulsion
  • 2 × intermediate diesels, 2 shafts,
  • 1,100 bhp[1] or 1,200 bhp[2]
Speed
  • 14.0 knots (16.1 mph; 25.9 km/h) [1]
  • or 14.5 knots (16.7 mph; 26.9 km/h) [3]
  • or 13.7 knots (15.8 mph; 25.4 km/h) [2]
Range3,000 nmi (5,600 km) at 13.4 kn (15.4 mph; 24.8 km/h)
Capacity5 tanks and 170 troops
Complement40
Armament

The SS-class landing ship (SS艇 or 機動艇, SS-tei or Kidōtei) was a class of amphibious assault ships of the Imperial Japanese Army which served during World War II. The SS meaning are Sensha-Small.[1]

Background

Gorō Maru in 1939

October 1938, the IJA employed the Shinshū Maru during their successful amphibious operations at Bias Bay. However, a considerable amount of time was needed to complete the operation owing to the low speed of the landing craft, which resulted in considerable damage to the vessels involved.

The IJA employed the principles of speed and minimum damage to their amphibious warfare operations.

In 1939-1940, the IJA repeated an experiment with Gorō Maru (300 tons gross) and Yorihime Maru (526 tons gross) and after analysing the experiment data placed an order for the prototype Kōryū (later SS No.1).

  • The IJN was interested in the second prototype Banryū (later SS No.2). The IJN placed an order for 16 ships. However, thereafter they adopted the No.101-class and the order was cancelled.

Ships in classes

SS No.1

Builder Harima Zōsen Corporation
Laid down 18 July 1941
Launched 26 January 1942
Completed 7 April 1942
Displacement 641 long tons (651 t) gross
Length 53.9 m (176 ft 10 in) overall
Beam 9.00 m (29 ft 6 in)
Draught 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
Propulsion 2 × intermediate diesels, 2 shafts, 1,246 bhp
Speed 14.56 knots (16.76 mph; 26.97 km/h)

SS No.2

Builder Harima Zōsen Corporation
Laid down 8 August 1942
Launched 17 May 1943
Completed 30 July 1943
Displacement 730 long tons (742 t) gross
Length 63.02 m (206 ft 9 in) overall
Beam 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in)
Propulsion 2 × intermediate diesels, 2 shafts, 1,284 bhp
Speed 13.96 knots (16.06 mph; 25.85 km/h)
Fate Sunk in action on 24 September 1944

SS No.3 class

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c d Monthly Armor Modelling special issue
  2. ^ a b c Ships of the World
  3. ^ a b Rekishi Gunzo
  4. ^ "Long Lancers". Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 4 December 2013.

Bibliography

  • Monthly Armor Modelling special issue, Navy Yard Vol.9 Tora! Tora! Tora! part-2, Dainippon Kaiga (Japan), November 2008
  • Rekishi Gunzō, History of Pacific War Vol.37, Support Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Forces, Gakken (Japan), June 2002, ISBN 4-05-602780-3
  • Ships of the World No.506, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), February 1996
  • 50 year History of Harima Zōsen, Harima Zōsen Corporation, November 1960