Kaibokan

IJN Etorofu in May 1943.

An escort ship, or kaibōkan (海防艦 Japanese: "sea defence ship"), is the term used by the United States Navy for a type of naval ship used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II for escort duty.

In the course of the war, the design was simplified and scaled down to permit larger numbers of vessels to be built more quickly.

Classes

• Shimusu or Type A - multi purpose patrol, escorts or minesweeper.
• Etorofu modified Type A
• Mikura or Type "B",
• Ukuru modified Type B
• Type C
• Type D

In addition two former Chinese light cruisers were used, renamed the Isojima and Yasojima.

See also

• Convoy HI-81

References

• Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's Escorts 9 July 2011 By Bob Hackett, Sander Kingsepp and Peter Cundall