The 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 downSenshi Sōsho Vol.31 (1969), p.806 Launched Completed Fate ex-Hatsushima Kawasaki,Kōbe Shipyard 15 October 1939as Hatsushima 10 April 1940 25 October 1940as Hashima Renamed Hashima on 25 October 1940. Sunk by off Owase on 28 April 1945. Decommissioned on 10 July 1945. 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 in 1945. Transferred to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation on 8 September 1951. Retired in March 1968. 10 December 1940, Notice No. 288, Named one minesweeper, one submarine chaser and two cable layers, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy, 1940. Harima Zōsen 22 April 1940 11 December 1940 31 July 1941 Sunk by air raid off Kusagaki Islands on 27 March 1945. Decommissioned on 10 July 1945. Harima Zōsen 22 April 1940 1 March 1941 31 August 1941 Sunk by air raid in South China Sea on 21 March 1945. Decommissioned on 10 May 1945.
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Footnotes
Bibliography Monthly Ships of the World, Special issue Vol.45, "Escort Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy", , (Japan), February 1996 The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.47, "Japanese naval mine warfare crafts", (Japan), January 1981 Senshi Sōsho Vol.31, Naval armaments and war preparation (1), "Until November 1941", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), November 1969