by Lars Juel Mosbaek
1/700 IJN Escort Type C (Hei) early and late versions (Pit-Road)
The toll taken on merchant shipping by American submarines was becoming so heavy that it was decided to make escorts fourth in the priority list of warship building. The Type C, a simplified version of the Type B, was hurriedly designed in the spring of 1943. This design facilitated the use of mass production techniques. Much use was made of electric welding, and fittings and equipment were reduced to the bare essentials. The hull was of a very simple design having nether sheer nor camber. Although only 745 tons as opposed to the 940 tons of the Type B vessels, inferior engines reduced the speed of this class to 16,5 knots. The main armament was also reduced to from 3 to 2 -4.7 inch guns, but the depth charge capacity remained at 120. As soon as the design had been completed, 132 units were ordered with a projected building time of from 3 to 8 months. Building commenced in September 1943 and carried on until the termination of the war only 42 vessels were build. 168 units projected under the 1944-45 Program were never ordered.
Technical specification:
Laid down from 1943
displacement: 745 tons
length: 67,50 m
beam: 8,40m
draught: 2,50m
ship horsepower: 1,900 shp. (2 diesel engines on 2 shafts)
speed : 16,5 knots
main guns 2 - 4,7´ (2x1) 12 cm
AA light guns= 12- 25mm (2x2)+(2x3)+(2x1)
120 Type-94 Depth-Charges.
crew: 136
Reference:
From the net:
Ikari studio: http://www.tcn.ne.jp/~eguchi/kousaku/kaiboukan-02.htm
Mr. Jeff Lin model: http://blog.roodo.com/duroyal420/archives/2181464.html
Books:
Japanese Naval Warship Photo Album Destroyers and Escorts from Diamond Sha books.
The building time was approx 2.5 weeks.
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