Japanese submarine tender Komahashi

Komahashi in 1933
History
Japan
Name	Komahashi
Namesake	Komahashi-shuku
Ordered	1911 Fiscal Year
Builder	Sasebo Naval Arsenal
Laid down	7 October 1912
Launched	21 May 1913
Completed	20 January 1914
Decommissioned	30 November 1945
Reclassified	• 7 October 1912 as Cargo ship • 23 May 1914 as Submersible tender • 16 August 1914 as 2nd class Coast defence ship • 1 April 1920 as Torpedo recovery ship • 1 December 1924 as Submarine tender
Fate	Sunk on 28 July 1945.
General characteristics before April 1932
Type	Cargo ship-Submarine tender
Displacement	1,125 long tons (1,143 t) standard 1,230 long tons (1,250 t) standing
Length	64.01 m (210 ft 0 in) waterline
Beam	10.67 m (35 ft 0 in)
Draught	3.55 m (11 ft 8 in)
Propulsion	2 × three expansion stages reciprocating engines 4 × scotch boilers 2 shafts, 1,824 shp
Speed	13.9 knots (16.0 mph; 25.7 km/h)
Complement	86
Armament	in 1914 • 3 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 naval guns around 1926 • 2 × 76.2 mm L/40 naval guns • 1 × 76.2 mm L/40 AA gun
General characteristics and after November 1932
Type	(Survey ship)
Displacement	1,661 long tons (1,688 t) standing
Propulsion	2 × Ikegai model diesels 2 × Kampon coal/oil-fired boilers 2 shafts, 1,800 bhp
Speed	14.0 knots (16.1 mph; 25.9 km/h)
Complement	102
Armament	around 1941 • 1 × 76.2 mm L/40 AA gun • 6 × Type 96 25 mm AA guns • ? × depth charge • 1 (?) × depth charge thrower in 1945 • 1 × 76.2 mm L/40 AA gun • 10 × Type 96 25 mm AA guns • 2 × Type 93 13 mm AA guns • 2 × Type 92 7.7 mm machine guns • ? × depth charge • 2 (?) × depth charge throwers
Komahashi in 1942

The Komahashi (駒橋) was a one of a submarine tender of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during 1910s and the World War II. Her classification changed numerous times during her service with the IJN.

Background

• At first, she was built as a cargo ship for the Makō Minor Naval Station. The IJN changed her into a submarine tender to support their submarines, because at the time the IJN only had one submarine tender, the Karasaki.
• After 1924, her duties were changed to surveying, because the Jingei class were completed.
• She remained a submarine tender till the end of her service. Her bow Imperial Seal was never torn off.

Service

• 7 October 1912: Laid down as the Cargo ship Komahashi Maru (運送船 駒橋丸, Unsōsen Komahashi Maru).
• 21 May 1913: Launched.
• 20 January 1914: Completed, was assigned to the Sasebo Naval District.
• 23 May 1914: Classified to Submersible tender (潜水艇母艇, Sensuiteibotei).
• 16 August 1914: Classified to 2nd class Coast defence ship (二等海防艦, Ni-Tō Kaibōkan), and renamed Komahashi. She was reassigned to the 4th Torpedo Division.
• 1 April 1920: Classified to Torpedo recovery ship (水雷母艦, Suiraibokan).
• 1 December 1924: Classified to Submarine tender (潜水母艦, Sensuibokan).
• (after): She surveyed at China coast.
• 1 October 1931: She was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.
• 15 April 1932: Reconstruction was started. She was equipped with survey ship facilities. Changed all machinery also.
• November 1932: Reconstruction completed.
• (after): She surveyed at Luzon Strait, South Pacific Mandate, Kuril Islands and Kamchatka Peninsula.
• 19 August 1937: She was assigned to the 3rd Fleet.
• 10 October 1937: She was assigned to the China Area Fleet.
• 5 December 1941: She was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.
• (after): She spent her time on convoy escort operations in the Yokosuka Area.
• 20 July 1942: She was assigned to the 5th Fleet.
• August–September 1942: She surveyed at Aleutian Islands.
• 29 September 1942: Heavily damaged by U.S. aircraft at Kiska.
• 13 October 1942: Repairs were started at Yokosuka Naval Arsenal.
• 1 November 1942: She was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District.
• (after): She spent her time on convoy escort operations in the Yokosuka Area, making 38 runs.
• 16 January 1944: She was assigned to the flagship of the 3rd Escort Group, Escort Fleet.
• 15 April 1945: She was assigned to the flagship of the 4th Suicide Attack Division, Yokosuka Naval District.

Fate

• 27 July 1945: Sunk in shallow water by aircraft at Owase.
• 30 November 1945: Decommissioned.
• In 1949. Salvaged and scrapped.

Bibliography

• Ships of the World special issue Vol.47, Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), March 1997
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.29, Japanese submarine tenders w/ auxiliary submarine tenders, "Ushio Shobō". (Japan), July 1979
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.135, Japanese submarines IV, Ushio Shobō (Japan), May 1988
• Shinshichirō Komamiya, The Wartime Convoy Histories, "Shuppan Kyōdōsha"., (Japan), October 1987, ISBN 4-87970-047-9