The Ōhama-class target ship (大濱型標的艦, Ōhama-gata hyōtekikan) was a bombing target ship class of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II. 5 vessels were planned under the Kai-Maru 5 Programme (Ship #5411–5415), however, only the lead ship Ōhama was completed.
Design and construction
Project number J36. In 1941, the IJN had decided to build the bombing target ship Hakachi, with a speed under 20 knots (37 km/h). However, what the IJN required was target ship which could emulate the higher speed of the Essex-classaircraft carriers and Iowa-classbattleships. The class specification given was therefore 33 knots, use of a destroyer hull, equipped with the Akizuki-class machinery, enabled this to be achieved and able to withstand a 10 kilogram bomb dropped from 4,000 m (13,000 ft) meters. Her armament consisted initially of only four anti-aircraft machine guns,.[3] However, the significant loss of destroyers between 1942 and 1944 together with delays in mass production of the Kaibōkan-escort ships caused Ōhama to be converted. Thus rearmed for this escort role with many anti-aircraft arms and anti-submarine weapons, the lead ship Ōhama was completed on 10 January 1945.
Service
Wreck of Ōsashi (left) and Yamashio Maru in the port of Yokohama, 1946
Ōhama was assigned to the Combined Fleet on 10 January 1945. However, she did not take up any target ship duties, due to the significant losses resulting from the Battle of the Philippine Sea and Battle of Leyte Gulf. Rather she was deployed to convoy escort duties in the Yokosuka area. In August 1945, she was dispatched to Onagawa Local Defense Squadron and on 9 August 1945 sunk by carrier aircraft. The second ship laid down, Ōsashi was discontinued in 1945. Whilst three other class vessels were cancelled in 1944.
Ships in class
Ship #
Ship
Builder
Laid down
Launched
Completed
Fate
5411
Ōhama (大濱)
Mitsubishi, Yokohama shipyard
2 October 1943
29 March 1944
10 January 1945
Sunk by air raid at Onagawa on 9 August 1945; struck off 15 September 1945; salvaged and scrapped postwar.
5412
Ōsashi (大指)
Mitsubishi, Yokohama shipyard
7 January 1944
16 February 1945
95% complete; construction stopped on 23 June 1945. Collided with army oiler Yamashio Maru and sank in shallow water on 6 March 1946;[4][5] later salvaged and scrapped.
