was a Japanese fleet oiler, serving during the Second World War.
Construction In 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) wanted fleet oilers for their aircraft carrier task force, because they had only the eight old, low-speed tankers. The IJN prepared sixteen Kawasaki-type tankers to solve this. However, they did not have facilities for gasoline. The IJN intended to build four Kazahayas (Ship # 304-307). However, all naval arsenals were crowded at the outbreak of war. The IJN bought one of the same type of merchant tanker made by Harima with the Kazahaya naval budget.
Service She succeeded in one transportation duty, and was sunk by submarines.
Ships in class Ship # Ship Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate 304 Harima Dock Company 30 September 1941 20 January 1943 31 March 1943 Sunk by USS Steelhead and USS Tinosa northwest of Truk 6 October 1943. 305 Cancelled on 25 July 1943. 306 Harima Dock Company 1 February 1943 Converted to the Hayasui class. 307 Cancelled on 25 July 1943. 5381 Cancelled on 5 May 1944. 5382 5383 5384 5385 5386 5387
Bibliography , History of Pacific War Vol.62 "Ships of The Imperial Japanese Forces, Gakken (Japan), January 2008, Ships of the World special issue Vol.47, Auxiliary Vessels of the Imperial Japanese Navy, , (Japan), March 1997