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Book Review
IJN Antisub Escorts
Imperial Japanese Navy Antisubmarine Escorts 1941-45
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by: Frederick Boucher [ JPTRR ]

Introduction
Imperial Japanese Navy Antisubmarine Escorts 1941-45 is a New Vanguard series book from Osprey Publishing LTD. It is authored by naval authority Mark Stille and illustrated by artist Paul Wright. This 48-page paperback book is catalogued with Osprey's short code NVG 248 and ISBN 9781472818164. The title is also available in ePUB and PDF formats.

About this title Osprey states:
    In 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) went to war with a marginal anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capability. This was a lamentable state of affairs for a nation dependent upon imports to sustain its war economy. There were only a few purpose-built ASW escorts available at the start of the war and these were augmented by a handful of second-class destroyers and a dozen torpedo boats. Once the magnitude of the threat to Japan's shipping became fully apparent in 1943, the IJN made plans for mass production of ASW escorts. These arrived in 1944, but could not stop the massacre of Japanese shipping by increasingly bold and effective American submarines.

    This volume will detail the history, weapons and tactics of the IJN's ASW escorts. These include the Momi class of second-rate destroyers, the Tomodzuru and Ootori classes of torpedo boars, and the several types of ASW escorts built from 1937 up to the end of the war.

The New Vanguard series features specially commissioned full colour artworks, including exploded and cutaway diagrams, and also with black and white photographs and diagrams. They are intended to be a valuable resource for modellers, wargamers, and military history enthusiasts.

Content
Three chapters in 48 pages presents Imperial Japanese Navy Antisubmarine Escorts 1941-45:
    Introduction
    * Japanese Naval Strategy and the Low Priority of ASW
    * Japanese ASW Tactics
    * Japanese ASW Escort Design Principles
    * Japanese ASW Escort Weapons and Sensors

    The ASW Escort Classes
      * Momi Class
      * Wakatake Class
      * Tomozuru Class
      * Otori Class
      * Shimushu Class
      * Etorofu Class
      * Mikura Class
      * Ukuru Class
      * Number 1 Escort Class (Type C)
      * Number 2 Escort Class (Type D)
    Analysis and Conclusion
    Bibliography
    Index

Each class is described with:
    Design and Construction
    Armament and Modifications
    War Service
The text is accompanied with tables and artwork.

The text describes the many roles these ships were employed in. It looks at the changes and effectiveness of the classes, and occasionally recounts battles a ship was engaged in.

Photographs, Artwork, Graphics
I did not count the num fer of photos in the book although I noticed there are only a few pages without at least one. Most of the photos are small. Osprey picked a uprising number that are clear and display good detail. Each images is accompanied with detailed captions.

Artwork by artist Paul Wright features full color illustrations accompanied with call-out boxes with descriptions.

Artwork
A. The Second-Class Destroyers and Torpedo Boats, Wakatake class, three profiles:
    1. Asagano, 1944 configuration.
    2. Chidori, early war configuration.
    3. Otori, late-war configuration.

B. Action scene Torpedo Boat Hiyodori Verses Amberjack.
C. Type A Escorts, Shimushu class, two profiles and a planform:
    1. Shimushu, 1941 configuration.
    2. Etorofu, late 1944, profile.
    3. Etorofu, late 1944, planform

D. Type B Escorts, two profiles and a planform:
    1. Mikura, 1943 configuration.
    2. Okinawa, late-war, profile.
    3. Okinawa, late-war, planform

E. Three-quarter view: Number 1 Class (Type C), keyed to 16 items.
F. Action scene Kaibokan Verses US Aircraft: fighting off torpedo planes in 1945.
G. Type C and D Kaibokan: two profiles and a planform:
    1. Type C, 1944.
    2. Type D, 1945.
    3. Type D, 1945.


Tables
1. Table IJN Depth Charges: Date adopted; Explosive charge; Sinking velocity; Depth setting
    Type 95
    Type 95 Mod 1
    Type 95 Mod 2
    Type 2
    Type 2 Mod 1
    Type 2 Mod 2

2. Table Momi Class Construction: Units serving as Destroyers, and Units serving as Patrol Boats:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
3. Table Momi Class Specifications (as completed as destroyers): Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew
4. Table Wakatake Class Construction: Units serving as Destroyers, and Units serving as Patrol Boats:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
5. Table Wakatake Class Specifications (as completed): Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew
6. Table Tomozuru Class Construction:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
7. Table Tomozuru Class Specifications (as built): Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew
8. Table Otori Class Construction:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
9. Table Otori Class Specifications: Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew
10. Table Shimushu Class Construction:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
11. Table Shimushu Class Specifications: Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew
12. Table Etorofu Class Construction:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
13. Table Etorofu Class Specifications: Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew
14. Table Mikura Class Construction:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
15. Table Mikura Class Specifications: Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew
16. Table Ukura Class Construction:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
17. Table Ukura Class Specifications: Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew
18. Table Number 1 Type C Class Construction:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
19. Table Number 1 Class (Type C) Specifications: Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew
20. Table Number 2 Type D Class Construction:
    Ship (name or number)
    Builder
    Laid down
    Launched
    Commissioned
    Fate
21. Table Number 2 Class (Type D) Specifications: Displacement; Dimensions; Speed; Range; Crew

Modelers and historians should find the data as valuable as the text.

Conclusion
ASW escorts usually don't get the love they rate and are overshadowed by the larger warships they support. I appreciate this naval title and hope there will be more such works on overlooked ship types. Osprey offers modelers, historians, and enthusiasts of IJN subchasers a worthwhile resource with Imperial Japanese Navy Antisubmarine Escorts 1941-45. It features detailed text supported by a good gallery of photos, artwork, and informational tables.

I have nothing of consequence to ding this book about.

Please remember to tell Osprey and retailers that you saw this book here - on Model Shipwrights.
SUMMARY
Highs: Detailed text. Good gallery of photos and artwork and informational tables.
Lows: De minimis.
Verdict: Modelers, historians, and enthusiasts of IJN subchasers should find this book a worthwhile resource.
  Scale: N/A
  Mfg. ID: 9781472818164
  PUBLISHED: Jul 12, 2019
  NATIONALITY: Japan / 日本
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.04%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 90.16%

Our Thanks to Osprey Publishing!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Frederick Boucher (JPTRR)
FROM: TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES

I'm a professional pilot with a degree in art. My first model was an AMT semi dump truck. Then Monogram's Lunar Lander right after the lunar landing. Next, Revell's 1/32 Bf-109G...cried havoc and released the dogs of modeling! My interests--if built before 1900, or after 1955, then I proba...

Copyright ©2021 text by Frederick Boucher [ JPTRR ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Model Shipwrights. All rights reserved.



Comments

Thanks for this review, Frederick. This book would have been useful in the 1980s when I built the Skywave 1/700 subchaser; back then then information on IJN antisub escorts was hard to come by!
JUN 15, 2020 - 09:09 AM
   
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