History | |
---|---|
Empire of Japan | |
Name | W-101 |
Builder | Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company, Hong Kong |
Yard number | 101 |
Laid down | 12 July 1941 |
Launched | 20 February 1943 |
Completed | 10 April 1944 |
Acquired | seized by Imperial Japanese Navy, 25 December 1941 |
Commissioned | 10 April 1944 |
Stricken | 10 March 1945 |
Homeport | Sasebo |
Fate | Sunk by aircraft, 12 January 1945 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Minesweeper |
Tonnage | 600 GRT [1] |
Length | 54.86 m (180 ft 0 in) o/a [1] |
Beam | 8.69 m (28 ft 6 in) [1] |
Draught | 2.54 m (8 ft 4 in) [1] |
Installed power | 2,200 hp (1,600 kW) |
Speed | 15.8 knots (29.3 km/h; 18.2 mph) |
Armament |
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W-101 or No. 101 (Japanese: 第百一號掃海艇) was a Bangor-class minesweeper that was seized by the Imperial Japanese Navy before completion during World War II and converted into a convoy escort.
She was laid down on 12 July 1941, at the Hong Kong shipyard of Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company as HMS Portland. [3] [2] [4] In September 1941, while still under construction, she was renamed HMS Taitam. [3] On 26 December 1941, still unfinished, she was seized by the Japanese after the Fall of Hong Kong. [3] The Japanese continued construction and she was launched on 20 February 1943 and renamed W-101. [3] On 10 April 1944, she was completed, commissioned, and attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under Lieutenant Commandeer Ginji Yamashita. [3] [5]
She spent most of 1944 on escort duty and conducting minesweeping activities between Japanese controlled ports in the Philippines ( Manila, Zamboanga, Basilan Island), Borneo ( Tarakan, Laut Island, Balikpapan), Flores Island ( Maumere), Java ( Surabaya), and Sulawesi ( Macassar). [3] [2]
On 15 November 1944, she departed Moji, Kitakyūshū destined for Miri, Borneo with Type C escort ship CD-61, [6] Type D escort ship CD-134, and No.1-class auxiliary submarine chasers Cha-156 and Cha-157 escorting convoy MI-27 consisting of four tankers (Awagawa Maru, Kyokuun Maru, Osakasan Maru, and Enkei Maru) and six transport/cargo ships ( Edogawa Maru, Shoho Maru, Matsuura Maru, Seisho Maru, Koshu Maru, and Chinkai Maru). [3] Enkei Maru and Kyokuun Maru developed mechanical problems and were forced to return to Moji. [3] The convoy was running parallel to Convoy Hi-81 which had left Imari on 14 November 1944 destined for Formosa to benefit from air cover provided by HI-81's escort carrier Shin'yō which was carrying fourteen Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers of the 931st Air Squadron, Saeki Naval Air Station. [7] The two convoys converged together at times. [7]
On 17 November 1944, in the Yellow Sea off Cheju Island, MI-27 was spotted by US submarines Sunfish and Peto which were operating in a wolfpack with Spadefish. [3] Sunfish torpedoed and damaged both Edogawa Maru and Seisho Maru while Peto torpedoed and sank Osakasan Maru (killing 142). [3] Nearby, Spadefish spotted Shin'yō of HI-81 and fired six torpedoes four of which hit causing the carrier to burst into flames and sink (killing 1,130). [7] W-101 and CD-61 were disattached from MI-27 to pick up survivors. [7] On 18 November 1944, Sunfish torpedoed and sank the damaged Seisho Maru (killing 448) and the damaged Edogawa Maru (killing 2,083); while Peto torpedoed and sank Chinkai Maru (killing 39). [3] After losing four of the eight ships being escorted, the remainder of convoy MI-27 arrived at Sijiao Island on 19 November 1944. [3]
On 30 November 1944, W-101 departed Takao for Manila escorting landing craft depot ships Shinshū Maru and Kibitsu Maru along with escorts Tsushima, the Ukuru-class escort ship Daito, and four Type D escort ships (CD-14, CD-16, CD-46, and CD-134). The convoy diverted and disembarked its troops at San Fernando, Luzon due to enemy air attacks at Manila. [3]
On 29 December 1944, she joined convoy HI-85 in the South China Sea consisting of the light cruiser Kashii, two Ukuru-class escort ships (Ukuru and Daito), and three Type C escort ships ( CD-23, CD-27, CD-51) in escorting nine tankers (Enkei Maru, Yamazawa Maru, Engen Maru, Encho Maru, Daigyo Maru, Otususan Maru, Fuei Maru, Oei Maru, Seria Maru) and one cargo ship (Shinyu Maru). [3] After several unsuccessful attacks by B-24 Liberator bombers, the convoy arrived at Cap Saint-Jacques on 4 January 1945. [3]
On 11 January 1945, W-101 along with CD-35, CD-43, patrol boat No. 103, and subchaser CH-31 left Cap Saint Jacques escorting convoy SATA-05 consisting of two transports (Kensei Maru, Toyo Maru), a No.101-class landing ship (T-149), and three tankers (Ayayuki Maru, Koshin Maru, Eihi Maru) [3] (T-149 was unable to handle the heavy seas and returned to Cap St Jacques). [3] On 12 January 1945, off Cap Padaran (south of Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm) in the South China Sea ( 11°10′N 108°55′E / 11.167°N 108.917°E), W-101 was attacked and sunk by aircraft from Vice Admiral John S. McCain, Sr.'s Task Force 38 that had entered the South China Sea to raid Japanese shipping. [8] All the other ships of SATA-05 (excluding T-149) were attacked and sunk nearby. [3] W-101 was struck from the Navy List on 10 March 1945. [3]