Japanese Minesweepers


Builders and Years Completed:	Mitsui and Hitachi 1935-1936
Displacement:	578-tons standard.
Dimensions:	237' x 25.9' x 8.3'
Propulsion:	2 sets GT, 2 Kampon boilers, 2-shafts, 3200 i.h.p, speed 19 knots
Armament:	2 x 4.7-inch (120-mm)/45 cal HA, 2-13.2-mm MG, 2 depth charges

W-17 Class Minesweepers

(W-19 Class Minesweeper by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")
The W-17 class of two units suffered from a top-heavy design. After torpedo boat TOMOZURU capsized in a storm in 1934, the IJN took a number of similar vessels in hand, including the W-17s, to add more ballast to improve their sea-worthiness. In 1943-1944, their minesweeping gear was removed and they were rearmed with five Type 96 25-mm AA guns and 36 DCs.

Builders and
Years Completed: Mitsui and Hitachi
1935-1936

Displacement: 578-tons standard.

Dimensions: 237' x 25.9' x 8.3'
Propulsion: 2 sets GT, 2 Kampon boilers, 2-shafts, 3200 i.h.p, speed 19 knots
Armament: 2 x 4.7-inch (120-mm)/45 cal HA, 2-13.2-mm MG, 2 depth charges