Imperial Japanese Navy ship classifications

These are legal classifications of the naval vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Therefore, those names are different from a universal classifications and class names.
 * In laws and ordinances of the Imperial Japanese Navy, there is not a light aircraft carrier, escort carrier, heavy cruiser and light cruiser.
 * Even if it is assumed that these translation was different Japanese language, there can be the same phrase and thing in English language, and vice versa.
 * Example 1: Kōsakukan (工作艦) and Kōsakusen (工作船) = Repair ship.
 * Example 2: Fusetukan (敷設艦), Fusetsusen (敷設船) and Fusetsutei (敷設艇) = Minelayer.
 * If there is not it in the one and only, this clause uses the following expression to express different Japanese language.
 * Kan (艦) = Vessel, example: Kōsakukan is Repair vessel.
 * Sen (船) = Ship, example: Kōsakusen is Repair ship.
 * Tei (艇) = Boat, example: Fusetsutei is Mine boat.

28 October 1871 (Initial)

 * 28 October 1871, Rules of the Navy, and officer's salary schedules, Article 3 and 4, Ministry of the Military (明治4年10月28日 兵部省 海軍規則並諸官俸給表 第3條および第4條, 1871 Kaigun kisoku narabini shokan hōkyūhyō)

5 October 1872

 * 5 October 1872, Revision of the Naval ship classes (明治5年10月4日 海軍省軍務局 艦船等級更正ノ件, 1872 Kansen tōkyū kōsei-no ken)

13 August 1890

 * 13 August 1890, Notice No. 291, "Naval ships ordinance, Article 2", Minister's Secretariat (明治23年8月13日 海軍大臣官房 達第291号 海軍艦船籍條例 第2條, 1890 Kaigun kansenseki jōrei)

1 April 1896

 * 1896 Imperial edict No. 71, "Naval ships ordinance, Article 3" (明治29年 勅令第71号 海軍艦船條例 第3條, 1896 Chokurei Dai-71-gō, Kaigun kansen jōrei)

21 March 1898

 * Standard classifications of the naval warships and torpedo boats (海軍軍艦及水雷艇類別標準, Kaigun gunkan oyobi suiraitei ruibetsu-hyōjun)

22 June 1900

 * Standard classifications of the naval vessels (海軍艦艇類別標準, Kaigun kantei ruibetsu-hyōjun)

28 August 1912

 * Standard classifications of the naval vessels

17 May 1916

 * Standard classifications of the naval vessels

1 April 1920

 * Standard classifications of the naval vessels


 * Standard classifications of the naval auxiliary vessels (海軍特務艦艇類別標準, Kaigun tokumu-kantei ruibetsu-hyōjun)

1 December 1924

 * Standard classifications of the naval vessels


 * Standard classifications of the naval auxiliary vessels

2 March 1927

 * Standard classifications of the naval vessels


 * Standard classifications of the naval auxiliary vessels

30 May 1931

 * Standard classifications of the naval vessels


 * Standard classifications of the naval auxiliary vessels

26 June 1941

 * Standard classifications of the naval vessels


 * Standard classifications of the naval auxiliary vessels

30 June 1945 (Final)

 * Standard classifications of the naval vessels


 * Standard classifications of the naval auxiliary vessels

Minelaying ship/Minelayer/Rapid extension netlayer

 * Note; pertinence of rapid extension netlayer was only Shirataka.

Training battleship

 * Note; pertinence of training battleship was only Hiei. She does not return to battleship in the Imperial Japanese Navy's official documents.

Training cruiser

 * Note; pertinence of training cruiser was only Katori-class.

Submersible/Submarine

 * Note; Kō-hyōteki, Kairyū and Kaiten were not included in this table, because they were weapons in the Imperial Japanese Navy's official documents.

Mine boat/Capture-net layer

 * Note; pertinence of capture net layer was only Tsubame-class.

Cable layer

 * Note; pertinence of cable layer was only Hashima-class.

Landing ship

 * Note 1; pertinence of 1st class lamding ship was only No. 1-class.
 * Note 2; pertinence of 2nd class lamding ship was only No. 101-class.

Coast defence boat

 * Note; there is not a ship classed on this table. All No. 1-class and No. 101-class vessels were incomplete.

Transport vessel/Transport ship

 * Note; Included replenishment oiler (給油船/給油艦, Kyūyusen/Kyūyukan), collier (給炭船/給炭艦, Kyūtansen/Kyūtankan), collier-oiler (給炭油艦, Kyūtan'yukan), munition ship (給兵艦, Kyūheikan), food supply ship (給糧艦, Kyūryōkan) and freighter (雑用艦, Zatsuyōkan).

Hospital ship

 * Note; there is not a ship classed on this table.

Icebreaker

 * Note; pertinence of icebreaker was only Ōtomari.

Target ship

 * This section treats a self-propelled target ship. Towed target ship is miscellaneous ship.

17 September 1903 (Initial)

 * 17 September 1903, Notice No. 90, Quorum and kinds of miscellaneous ship in naval units, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy (明治36年9月17日 海軍大臣官房 達第90号 海軍各廳附属雑役船ノ種類及定数, 1903 Tatsu Dai-90-Gō, Kaigun kakuchō fuzoku zatsuekisen-no shurui oyobi teisū)

23 December 1916 (Initial)

 * 23 December 1916, Ministerial ordinance No. 281, Special service ships and units ordinance, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy (大正5年12月23日 海軍大臣官房 内令第281号 特設艦船部隊令, 1916 Nairei Dai-281-Gō, Tokusetsukansen butairei)

February 1945 (Final)

 * February 1945, Ministerial ordinance No. 83, Special service ships and units ordinance, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of the Navy (昭和20年2月 海軍大臣官房 内令第83号, 1945 Nairei Dai-83-Gō)