Ajiro Class Minelayer

(Tsubame by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")

Completed in 1943, AJIRO was a coastal patrol light minelayer. In 1944, she was pressed into convoy escort duty as a result of the IJN's critical shortage of escort vessels and fitted with depth charge racks. AJIRO was sunk off the Bonin Islands by an American submarine in October 1944.

12 other units were planned, but they were all cancelled in 1943 before laid down.

Builder and Year Completed: Hitachi, Innoshima, 1943.
Displacement: 720-tons standard.
Dimensions: 239' by 25'8" by 8'6"
Propulsion and Speed: Geared diesels, 2 shafts, 3,500 bhp; 20 knots.
Armament: 1 x 80-mm (3-inch) 40 cal HA gun, 2 x 13.2mm MG, 120 mines.