Hashima-class cable layer
# Hashima-class cable layer

The Hashima-class cable layers (初島型電纜敷設艇,, Hashima-gata Denran-Fusetsutei) were the only class of purpose-built cable layers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. Four vessels were built in 1939–41 under the Maru 4 Programme.

Apart from laying communications cables, these ships were also designed as mine planters, for the installation of controlled mines in coastal fortifications.

## Ships in class

Project number J21.

| Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Completed | Fate |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Hashima (初島) ex-Hatsushima | Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard | 15 October 1939 as Hatsushima | 10 April 1940 | 25 October 1940 as Hashima | Renamed Hashima on 25 October 1940. Sunk by USS Sennet off Owase 33°58′N 136°17′E﻿ / ﻿33.967°N 136.283°E﻿ / 33.967; 136.283 on 28 April 1945. Decommissioned on 10 July 1945. |
| Tsurushima (釣島) | Kawasaki, Kōbe Shipyard | 15 January 1940 | 24 May 1940 | 28 March 1941 | Decommissioned on 30 November 1945. Transferred to Ministry of Communications and Transportation and renamed Tsurushima Maru (釣島丸) in 1945. Transferred to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation on 8 September 1951. Retired in March 1968. |
| Ōtate (大立) | Harima Zōsen | 22 April 1940 | 11 December 1940 | 31 July 1941 | Sunk by air raid off Kusagaki Islands 30°40′N 127°50′E﻿ / ﻿30.667°N 127.833°E﻿ / 30.667; 127.833 on 27 March 1945. Decommissioned on 10 July 1945. |
| Tateishi (立石) | Harima Zōsen | 22 April 1940 | 1 March 1941 | 31 August 1941 | Sunk by air raid in South China Sea 11°50′N 109°18′E﻿ / ﻿11.833°N 109.300°E﻿ / 11.833; 109.300 on 21 March 1945. Decommissioned on 10 May 1945. |

## Photos

* Tsurushima on 20 March 1941
* Ōtate in 1941
* Tateishi on 21 March 1945
* Tsurushima Maru in postwar

## Footnotes

* ↑ Senshi Sōsho Vol.31 (1969), p.804
* 1 2 Senshi Sōsho Vol.31 (1969), p.806
* ↑ 10 December 1940, Notice No. 288, Named one minesweeper, one submarine chaser and two cable layers, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy, 1940.
