Muroto-class collier
# Muroto-class collier

The Muroto-class colliers (室戸型給炭艦,, Muroto-gata Kyūtankan) were a class of collier of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving from roughly the end of World War I into World War II. Two vessels were built in 1918-19 under the Eight-four fleet plan.

## Background

* In 1917, World War I was stagnant. The lengthy war led to an increase in shipping and a shortage of merchant ships.
* The IJN utilized steamship companies to perform coal transportation duties. However, this expedient was very costly. The IJN decided to build new colliers under the Eight-four fleet plan.
* Their design was ordinary, because the IJN did not impose any special requirements on them.

## Service

* In the 1920s, they engaged in coal transportation duties.
* In February 1932, the Muroto was remodeled, becoming an auxiliary hospital ship. She was refitted as a supply ship in 1941.
* In World War II, the value of coal as fuel fell. The ships engaged in transporting goods and troops.

## Ships in class

| Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Muroto (室戸) | Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard | 4 July 1918 | 23 October 1918 | 7 December 1918 | Sunk by USS Sea Dog north of Amami Ōshima 29°10′N 129°44′E﻿ / ﻿29.167°N 129.733°E﻿ / 29.167; 129.733 on 22 October 1944. |
| Noshima (野島) | Mitsubishi, Kōbe Shipyard | 16 July 1918 | 3 February 1919 | 31 March 1919 | Sunk during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea on 3 March 1943. |

## Footnotes

* ↑ 15 December 1917, Administrative order No. 147, Named one transport vessel., Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy of Japan.
