HOKAN!

Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's River Gunboats


(Gunboat IJN HOZU by Takeshi Yuki scanned from "Color Paintings of Japanese Warships")


In the 1920’s, the Japanese Navy ordered a number of light tonnage vessels that operated as river gunboats. These vessels saw extensive service on the Yangtze River in China during the Sino-Japanese and Pacific Wars. Several river gunboats survived the war and were ceded to the Republic of China as war reparations; in 1949, after the Chinese civil war, some ended up in Communist hands.

Vessel Dimensions Displacement Machinery Speed Armament Crew
ATAKA 222' (pp) x 29'6" x
7'5"
725-tons Reciprocating VTE steam engine, 2 boilers, 2 shafts, 1700 ihp. 16 knots 2 x 4.7-in. (2x1), 6 x mgs 118
HASHIDATE 257'.6" x 31.9' x
8'
999-tons Geared turbine engines, 2 shafts, 4600 s.h.p. 19.5 knots 3 x 4.7-in. (2x1)(1 v 1) 4 x 25mm AA 170
UJI 257'.6" x 31.9' x
8'
999-tons Geared turbine engines, 2 shafts, 4600 s.h.p. 19.5 knots 3 x 4.7-in. (2x1)(1 v 1) 4 x 25mm AA 170
FUSHIMI 164' x 32' x 4' 374-tons Geared turbine engines, 2 shafts, 2,200 s.h.p. 17 knots 1 x 3.1-in., 2 x 25mm AA 64
SUMIDA 164' x 32' x 4' 374-tons Geared turbine engines, 2 shafts, 2,200 s.h.p. 17 knots 1 x 3.1-in., 2 x 25mm AA 64
SETA 184 x 27' x 3.5' 374-tons Reciprocating VTE steam engine, 2 boilers, 2 shafts, 2242 ihp. 17.5 knots 1 x 3.1-in., 6 x mgs 62
KATATA 184 x 27' x 3.5' 374-tons Reciprocating VTE steam engine, 2 boilers, 2 shafts, 2242 ihp. 17.5 knots 1 x 3.1-in., 6 x mgs 62
HIRA 184 x 27' x 3.5' 374-tons Reciprocating VTE steam engine, 2 boilers, 2 shafts, 2242 ihp. 17.5 knots 1 x 3.1-in., 6 x mgs 62
HOZU 184 x 27' x 3.5' 374-tons Reciprocating VTE steam engine, 2 boilers, 2 shafts, 2242 ihp. 17.5 knots 1 x 3.1-in., 6 x mgs 62
TOBA 180' x 27' x 2'5" 291-tons Reciprocating VTE steam engine, 2 boilers, 3 shafts, 1400 ihp. 15 knots 2 x 3.1-in., 6 x mgs 59
SAGA 208'8"' x 29'6" x 7'3" 785-tons VTE steam engine, 2 boilers, 2 shafts, 1600 ihp. 15 knots 1 x 4.7-in., 3x 3.1-in., 3 x mgs 98
ATAMI 152' x 22'3" x 3'8" 206-tons steam engine, 2 boilers, 2 shafts, 1300 ihp. 16.5 knots 1 x 3.1-in., 1 x 13.2 mm mg, 5 x 7.7.mm mgs 77
FUTAMI 152' x 22'3" x 3'8" 206-tons steam engine, 2 boilers, 2 shafts, 1300 ihp. 16.5 knots 1 x 3.1-in., 1 x 13.2 mm mg, 5 x 7.7.mm mgs 77
KOTAKA 100' x 16'10"' x 2'1" 62.7-tons 2 Diesel engine, 2 shafts, 540 bhp. 15.5 knots 5 mgs Unknown