SS-class landing ship

The SS class landing ship (SS艇 or 機動艇,) was a class of amphibious assault ships of the Imperial Japanese Army, serving during World War II. The SS meaning are Sensha-Small.

Background

 * October 1938, the IJA succeeded the amphibious operations for Bias Bay with Shinshū Maru. However, long time needed for the operations, because they used low speed landing craft. Therefore, the damage was big, too.
 * The IJA thought about amphibious warfare for "small damage" and "quick action".
 * In 1939-1940, the IJA repeated an experiment with Gorō Maru (300 tons gross) and Yorihime Maru (526 tons gross). And they analyzed experiment data and placed an order for prototype Kōryū (later SS No.1).
 * The IJN was interested in second prototype Banryū (later SS No.2). As for the IJN, 16 ships placed an order, However, they adopted No.101-class, the ordering was canceled.

SS No.1

 * Kōryū / SS No. 1 (蛟龍, 機動第一号艇)

SS No.2

 * Banryū / SS No. 2 (蟠龍, 機動第二号艇)

SS No.3 class

 * Kairyū / SS No.3 (海龍, 機動第三号艇)
 * SS No.4, Sunk in action on 12 October 1944
 * SS No.5, Sunk in action on 30 November 1944
 * SS No.6, Sunk in action on 7 December 1944
 * SS No.7
 * SS No.8, Sunk in action on 19 November 1944
 * SS No.9, Sunk in action on 6 December 1944
 * SS No.10, went missing on the night of December 1-2, and lost with all hands after departing Palompon, Leyte. USS Conway (DD-507), USS Cony (DD-508), USS Eaton (DD-510), and USS Sigourney (DD-643), all did report sinking an enemy vessel in the area the convoy would have been in.


 * SS No.11
 * SS No.12, Sunk in action on 21 January 1945
 * SS No.13
 * SS No.14, went missing on the night of December 1-2, and lost with all hands after departing Palompon, Leyte. USS Conway (DD-507), USS Cony (DD-508), USS Eaton (DD-510), and USS Sigourney (DD-643), all did report sinking an enemy vessel in the area the convoy would have been in.
 * SS No.15
 * SS No.16
 * SS No.17
 * SS No.18
 * SS No.19
 * SS No.20


 * SS No.21
 * SS No.22, Sunk in action on 10 August 1945