Japanese target ship Hakachi

The Hakachi (波勝) was a bomb target ship of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) serving during the Second World War, the only ship of her class.

Background
Project number J32. Before the pacific war, the IJN wanted to raise the training efficiency of bombers for the outbreak of war. The Yakaze was converted to a target ship for bombing training, however, her armour was thin because she was converted from a destroyer. Yakaze was able to bear only 1 kilogram bomb. The IJN wanted the target ship which Combined Fleet could use in the southern front. Hakachi was built by such a background, she was able to bear 10 kilogram bomb dropped from 4000 m meters sky. The IJN built Ōhama-class as a next generation target ships, because Hakachi was only one.

Service
The Hakachi was commissioned on 18 November 1943, on 1 December, she was assigned to the Combined Fleet. On 24 December, she sailed to Truk and she worked bombing training. Two months later, she was heavily damaged by U.S. carrier aircraft during Operation Hailstone. She sheltered to Palau on 24 February 1944, and repaired by Akashi. On 18 March, she sailed to Lingga Islands. On 24 May, she sailed to Davao Gulf. She worked in each place. On 1 October, she undertook convoy escort operation. She Survived war at the Seto Inland Sea.