by River Gunboats- An Illustrated Encyclopaedia (retail) (epub)
Narumi (ex-Ermanno Carlotto)
After a difficult and not altogether successful attempt at scuttling her on 9 September 1943, the Carlotto was raised by the Japanese a month later, and repaired in the Kiangnan DY in Shanghai. On 1 November 1943 she was commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy as Narumi. Her 76mm L/40 guns were replaced by Japanese 3in weapons, and her Italian MG were replaced by a twin 25mm Model 96 AA mounting, a twin 13.2mm HMG mounting and four 7.7mm Type 92 MG. Her crew in Japanese hands numbered fifty-seven men.
Narumi suffered several air attacks by American aircraft, by B-25s on 24 February 1944, again on 3 June 1944 by B-25s and B-24 Liberators, and on 18 June by P-38 Lightnings. She needed repairs to her broken-down twin 25mm mounting, and the opportunity was taken to add a second twin 13.2mm mounting, increasing her crew to fifty-nine.
In mid-September on the Yangtze she was twice attacked by B-25s, without damage. But on 7 October a raid by P-40s hit Narumi with one bomb which pierced a port fuel tank without exploding. Two other bombs scored near misses, damaging her steering gear. The next day the damage was rectified by repair ship Hayase.
Between 2 and 7 December she suffered four air attacks by P-51 Mustangs, but came through unscathed. However, on 14 January 1945 Narumi was caught up in an air raid on Hankow by eighteen B-25 Mitchells escorted by twenty P-51s and P-40s. She was severely damaged, and went into drydock at Shanghai for repairs which lasted until 20 February.
On 19 March 1945 she saved the survivors of Suma which had been sunk by a mine, and on 2 April she survived an attack by P-51 fighters at Shanghai.
On 24 May 1945 all gunboats were ordered to land their weapons to be used to bolster the land defences, and Narumi remained laid up at Shanghai until the end of hostilities, being handed over to the Chinese Navy. She was renamed Kiang Kun, and was later seized by the Communists. For specifications, see ITALY.
The much-travelled Carlotta as the Japanese Narumi.
Profile of the Tsubame class as built.
MINELAYERS USED AS PATROL CRAFT IN CHINA
Tsubame Class
These vessels are typical of the patrol ships used on the Yangtze during the Second Sino-Japanese War. They formed part of the 11th Sentai, taking part in many of its actions, especially the Battle of Madang beginning on 26 June 1938.
Both were transferred to ocean escort duty during the Second World War, Tsubame being sunk by US Navy planes off Ishigaki Island and Kamome being torpedoed by USS Halibut off Naha.
Launched:
Tsubame 24 April 1929 by Yokohama Dock Co.; Kamome 27 April 1929 by Osaka Iron Works.
Dimensions:
Displ: 450 tons; L: 68.8m/225ft 9in; B: 7.2m/23ft 7in; D: 2.1m/6ft 11in.
Crew:
43.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; VTE steam engines, 2,500ihp/19 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 3in L/40 AA gun; 1 × twin 13.2mm HMG; 80 × Mk 5 naval mines or 18 depth charges/Armour plating added around bridge.
Fate:
Tsubame sunk 1 March 1945; Kamome sunk 27 April 1944.
Presumed to be Tsubame with extempore armour plating added around her bridge and wheelhouse. (Photo MARU SPECIAL No 47)
Possibly Tsubame on patrol on the Yangtze. Note the sandbagged MG position right up at the bows, and the built-up hammock protection at the AA gun position against small-arms fire from the shore. (Photo MARU SPECIAL No 47)
JAPANESE ARMY ARMOURED MOTOR BOATS
AB-Tei Type C armoured boats
Symptomatic of the inter-service rivalries prevalent in Japan – which resulted in the Japanese Army constructing its own factories to produce specific ‘Army’ aircraft, and even going so far as to build a fleet of ‘Army’ submarines to supply its far-flung island garrisons – the Imperial Japanese Army produced armoured gunboats to support amphibious troop landings. Their main use was on the river systems of China, as the Navy monopolised the transport and landing of large scale expeditions on the high seas. The largest of a variety of weapons mounted on the AB-Tei Type C was the 57mm gun used on Japanese medium tanks. Its short range meant that these craft were intended to accompany the troops right up to the shore or river bank. The Type C’s profile gives away its origins: it is the kind of vessel an army designer would build, packing as much firepower as possible into a small hull, probably to the detriment of stability in any kind of swell. The armament fit varied between boats, some being armed with heavy and light machine guns, others providing heavier firepower with guns up to 57mm calibre. These craft also made ideal river patrol boats.
Launched:
Design begun 1924, first examples built 1927.
Dimensions:
Displ: 30 tons; L: 14.9m/49ft; B: 3.5m/11ft 6in; D: 1.2m/4ft.
Crew:
13-15.
Power/Speed:
Single screw; petrol engine then diesel 350bhp/13 knots.
Guns/Armour:
3 × 57mm Type 90 or 97 tank guns; alternatively 7.7mm or 13.2mm MG or 20mm AT cannons/Bulletproof plating.
Karo-Tei Aero-boat
The Russians and the Hungarians built aero-boats powered by aircraft engines, inspired perhaps by the Great War armoured cars with a similar power source. Many of the German F-Lighters also used surplus aircraft engines as a readily available powerplant. All these designs had one basic drawback: the large amount of noise generated by the engine and propeller.
Patriotic Japanese troops, probably in China, pose for a propaganda shot for the folks back home.
A page from the official USN recognition manual, showing the Type C. Note the curious cutaway in the stern, and the underestimated displacement given as only 18 tons as against the actual 30 tons. (US Navy)
The Karo-Tei was initially developed to act as a submarine chaser, but its small size and shallow draught made it completely unsuitable for open sea work outside river estuaries. It did however make a passable river patrol gunboat. Its Type 98 20mm armament would suggest that it was an Army design.
Launched:
1944, small numbers only, perhaps just prototypes.
Dimensions:
Displ: 18 tons; L: 18m/59ft; B: 4.3m/14ft 1in.
Crew:
13.
Power/Speed:
2 × 800bhp radial aero engines driving aircraft propellers/38 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 or 2 × 20mm Type 98 cannon; 10 depth charges.
A captured Japanese blueprint, in poor condition, but showing the basic layout of the Karo-Tei aero-boat. Note the complete lack in the drawing of any protection in front of the propellers. Perhaps the Japanese were simply fatalistic, but in practical terms the midships cannon would need to be restricted by safety bars to prevent it firing into the blades.
MALAWI
To strengthen ties with their friendly neighbour Malawi, in August 1968 the Portuguese Navy on Lake Nyasa transferred the gunboat Castor to the Malawi navy. She was renamed John Chilembwe. In March of the following year gunboat Régulus followed her, being renamed Chibisa in Malawian service. For details, see PORTUGAL.
Simba
A gunboat designed for the Malawian Navy on Lake Nyasa, copied from a Brooke Marine design but shortened from the plan’s 30m (98ft 5in), Simba was of fully-welded steel construction and fitted with air-conditioning. Due to the civil war in newly-independent Mozambique it was impossible to deliver Simba to landlocked Malawi, so she was taken over by the South African Navy as P1558. Her short length and shallow draft – which would have posed no problems on the lake – made her dangerously unstable on the open sea, and her role as a training vessel was curtailed. Laid up in 1986, she was sunk by naval gunfire west of Walvis Bay.
Launched:
1974 by Dorman Long, van der Bijl Corporation, Bay Head, Durban.
Dimensions:
Displ: 80 tons; L: 27m/88ft 7in; B: 5.33m/17ft 6in; D: 1.7m/5ft 7in.
Crew:
15.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 �
� B&W diesel engines/20 knots.
Guns/Armour:
As designed: 1 × 40mm Bofors; 1 × 20mm Oerlikon. As P1558: 1 × 40mm Bofors; 1 × twin 20mm Oerlikon; 2 × 0.50 cal Browning HMG.
Fate:
Sunk as target 15 September 1988.
Spear Class
One example was purchased from Fairey Marine in the UK in 1976 as a replacement for Simba.
Chikalala
A repeat of the Simba design was ordered from SFCN of Villeneuve-la-Garenne, France, in 1983. She was delivered to Lake Nyasa in sections and reassembled under the name Chikalala.
Namacurra Class
In October 1988 the South African Navy transferred to Malawi the Namacurra class patrol boat Y1520. For details, see SOUTH AFRICA.
Simba as the South African gunboat P1558. (Photo from Website: http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol145il.html)
MANCHUKUO
As part of their plan for the conquest of China, the Japanese Army established the puppet state of Manchukuo in 1932, and installed as head of state Pu-Yi, the last Emperor of China, who had been deposed as a young child. The Japanese supplied uniforms and rifles to form a Manchukuo army, obsolescent aircraft to form an air force, and a significant number of gunboats, escort vessels and patrol boats, to form the navy. In all three services, morale was very low, and the conscripts were invariably inexperienced. To bring the navy up to speed, the IJN transferred retired and active naval officers to train the Manchurians.
However, as the Second World War began to turn against Japan, and US Navy submarines began to take an increasing toll of Japanese warships and merchant shipping, the types of vessel the Japanese had provided to Manchukuo were not those which the Imperial Navy now desperately needed. While the Manchukuo vessels were concentrated into a River Defence Fleet, to nominally face down the opposing Chinese armies and especially the forces of Soviet Union on the northern frontier, virtually all the experienced Japanese naval officers and sailors returned to Japan in 1942. In their absence, the Manchukuo fleet became virtually paralysed, and took no part in combat. When the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and overran the Japanese conquests in China, many of the Manchurian vessels fell into their hands undamaged, and were subsequently incorporated in the Soviet river flotillas.
Manchurian sailors receiving training from a Japanese sailor at Harbin. The two Shuntian class gunboats are seen in the background. (Imperial Japanese Navy photo)
The troubled history of Manchukuo has meant that detailed information is difficult to find or verify. The Author hopes that this chapter will inspire historians and naval enthusiasts to pursue the story of the Manchukuo Navy, and fill in the gaps in our knowledge.
Shuntian and Yang Min
These large gunboats were heavily armed, with no less than three 4.7in DP guns. Their secondary armament, however, was the short-range 13mm Hotchkiss machine gun, which was less effective than the Japanese 25mm, and by the mid-war years was completely outclassed by contemporary Allied close-in naval AA armament of 20mm Oerlikons, 40mm Bofors and 2-pounder Pom-Poms.
The two vessels were constructed by Harima, in Japan, then dismantled and transported to Harbin, where they were reassembled by a Kawasaki shipyard. They were also known by Japanese names, Junten and Yomin respectively. As with many Japanese river gunboats stationed in China, in 1944 their AA armament was removed and mounted on land, in their case to defend the steelworks in Anshan.
Japanese naval officers and Manchurian crewmen on the midships deck of Shuntian. When the Japanese professional naval officers returned to the IJN, the Manchukuo vessels became virtually inactive. Note her third 4.7in DP gun in an open mounting on the rear of her superstructure. The fighting top/air-defence position on the elaborate lattice mast carries three twin 13mm Type 93 Hotchkiss AA MG mounts. (Imperial Japanese Navy photo)
The heavily-armed gunboat Shuntian of the River Defence Fleet in 1936. (Imperial Japanese Navy photo)
On 22 August 1945 both were seized by Soviet troops at Harbin, and two days later they were commissioned into the Soviet Navy as KL-55 and KL-57 respectively.
Launched:
1 August 1934 by Kawasaki, Harbin.
Dimensions:
Displ: 270 tons full load; L: 55.8m/183ft; B: 8.84m/29ft; D: 0.91m/3ft.
Crew:
70.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; diesel engines, total 680bhp/12.5 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × twin + 1 × single 4.7in/L 45 DP; 2 × 70mm mortars; 3 × twin 13mm Type 93 AA HMG; up to 80 mines.
Fate:
Both seized by Soviet forces August 1945.
Chin Yen and Ting Pien
These two gunboats were slightly improved repeats of the previous pair. Once again they were built by Harima then transported in pieces to Harbin for reassembly. Slightly heavier and marginally more powerful, they carried the same armament as the preceding vessels, except that their aft 4.7in was given a shield. This modification may also have been applied retrospectively to Shuntian and Yang Min. Once again, they were also known by Japanese names, this time Shinjin and Teiken. As with their near sisters, their AA guns were landed to help defend the Anshan steelworks, and both were seized by Soviet troops, being incorporated in the Soviet river forces as KL-56 and KL-58 respectively.
Launched:
2 July 1935 by Kawasaki, Harbin.
Dimensions:
Displ: 290 tons full load; L: 59.4m/194ft 10in; B: 8.8m/28ft 10in; D: 0.91m/3ft.
Crew:
70.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; diesel engines, total 800bhp/13 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × twin + 1 × single 4.7in/L 45 DP; 2 × 70mm mortars; 3 × twin 13mm Type 93 AA HMG; up to 80 mines.
Fate:
Both seized by Soviet forces August 1945.
Chin Yen and Ting Pien, seen here flying the Manchukuo naval ensign. Note the three twin 13mm Type 93 AA MG in the fighting top of the left-hand gunboat, and also the fishtail reinforcements supporting the fighting tops, no doubt added to reduce vibration. (Imperial Japanese Navy photo)
Hai Feng and Hai Lung
Similar to Japanese submarine chasers, they were of reduced dimensions, power and speed. Their Japanese names were Kaiho and Koirun. During the Soviet invasion, both vessels were at Port Arthur where they were seized on 22 August 1945. The following month they were recommissioned into the Soviet Navy as Border Guard Ships Veter and Shtil respectively.
Launched:
Hai Feng 12 June 1933, Hai Lung 12 July 1933, by Kawasaki, Kobe.
Dimensions:
Displ: 220 tons full load; L: 43.6m /143ft; B: 6.1m/20ft; D: 1.53m/5ft.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × diesel engines, total 800bhp/14 knots.
Guns/Armour:
2 × 76mm QF; 2 × 13mm HMG; 2 × depth-charge throwers.
Fate:
Incorporated into Soviet Navy 13 September 1945.
Hai Feng on coastal patrol.
Ta Tung and Li Min moored en echelon, with awnings rigged. A 6-pounder QF is in a shield on the foredeck; one machine gun is mounted in front of the pilot house, and the remaining two in a gun tub on the roof of the rear superstructure. (Imperial Japanese Navy photo)
Ta Tung and Li Min
Small armoured river gunboats, Ta Tung and Li Min were built in Japan by Mitsubishi, then dismantled for transport to Harbin where they were reassembled by Kawasaki. Their equivalent Japanese names were Daido and Rinni. Seized by Soviet troops at Harbin on 22 August 1945, they became the Soviet SK-265 and SK-266 respectively.
Launched:
1933 by Kawasaki, Harbin.
Dimensions:
Displ: 56 tons full load; L: 30.5m/100ft; B: 4.88m/16ft; D: 0.76m/2ft 6in.
Crew:
20.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × diesel engines, total 240bhp/10.5 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 6-pounder Hotchkiss QF; 3 × 7.7mm MG/Bulle
tproof plating.
Fate:
Both seized by Soviet forces August 1945.
Hsin Chun Class
Hsin Chun, Hsing Ya, Hsin Yen and Yang Chun were modified versions of the preceding Ta Tung and Li Min, once again constructed by Mitsubishi and reassembled by Kawasaki at Harbin. Their Japanese names were Ryoga 3, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. Yang Chun was lost on 10 August 1945 during the Soviet invasion, and the remaining three were seized at Harbin and incorporated in the Soviet Navy as BK-127, BK-125 and BK-126 respectively.
Launched:
1940 by Kawasaki, Harbin.
Dimensions:
Displ: 65 tons full load; L: 29.7m/97ft 5in; B: 4m/13ft 1½in: D: 0.80m/2ft 7½in.
Crew:
20.
Power/Speed:
Twin screws; 2 × diesel engines, total 240bhp/14 knots.
Guns/Armour:
1 × 6-pounder Hotchkiss QF; 1 × twin 13mm Type 93 AA HMG; 1 × 7.7mm MG/Bulletproof plating.
Fate:
Yang Chun lost 10 August 1945; others seized by Soviet forces 22 August 1945.
Hai Kuang Class
Four 45-ton armoured river patrol boats, Hai Kuang, Hai Jui, Hai Jung and Hai Hua, were built by Kawasaki in Kobe in 1933, for the Manchukuo navy. Transferred to Harbin in sections, they were reassembled by Kawasaki’s shipyard there. Their corresponding Japanese names were Kaiko, Kaizu, Kaiei and Kaikwa respectively. No records have come to light so far concerning their fate. It is possible they were incorporated into the Soviet Navy.
