Repair Ship Akashi

Akashi

Country	Japan
Ship Class	Akashi-class Repair Ship
Builder	Sasebo Naval Arsenal
Laid Down	18 Jan 1937
Launched	29 Jun 1938
Commissioned	10 Mar 1940
Sunk	30 Mar 1944
Displacement	9,144 tons standard; 10,668 tons full
Length	520 feet
Beam	67 feet
Draft	21 feet
Machinery	Two Mitsubishi/MAN Model 60 diesel engines (10,000bhp), 2 shafts
Speed	19 knots
Range	8,000nm at 14 knots
Crew	769
Armament	4x127mm L/40 Type 89 AA guns, 12x25mm Type 96 AA guns

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseAkashi was Japanese Navy's only purpose-designed repair ship in WW2; the 433 ship repair engineers accounted for more than half of the ship's occupants, and they enjoyed some of the latest machine tools imported from Germany. During the Pacific War, she spent much of her time at Truk in the Caroline Islands, taking part in nearly all repair work that took place at this forward naval base, which included carrier Shokaku, battleship Yamato, cruiser Kumano, and a great many of others. Akashi was sunk in shallow water by American aircraft north of Urukthapel in the Palau Islands in Mar 1944. In 1954, the local government of Palau allowed the Fujita Salvage Company to salvage, among others, the wreck of Akashi.

ww2dbaseSources:
The Imperial Japanese Navy Page
Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Mar 2012

Repair Ship Akashi Interactive Map

Photographs

Repair ship Akashi off Sasebo, Japan during her trial period, Jul 1939

Repair ship Akashi running trials off Sasebo, Japan, Jul 1939

Destroyer Harusame, a minesweeper, destroyer Akizuki, a destroyer, repair ship Akashi, seaplane tender Sanyo Maru, another destroyer, and a patrol boat at Truk, Caroline Islands, Feb 1943

Repair ship Akashi burning as the result of US carrier aircraft attack, Palau Islands, 30 Mar 1944

Akashi Operational Timeline

18 Jan 1937	The keel of repair ship Akashi was laid down at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Japan.
29 Jun 1938	Repair ship Akashi was launched.
31 Jul 1939	Repair ship Akashi was completed and placed on the reserve list.
1 Nov 1939	Captain Shutoku Miyazato was named the chief equipping officer of repair ship Akashi. Miyazato would supervise the installation of five cranes and various tools and equipment aboard the ship.
15 Nov 1939	Repair ship Akashi was assigned to the Combined Fleet.
10 Mar 1940	Repair ship Akashi was commissioned into service with Captain Shutoku Miyazato in command.
15 Jul 1940	Captain Shutoku Miyazato was relieved as the commanding officer of repair ship Akashi.
11 Oct 1940	Repair ship Akashi participated in the annual naval review in Tokyo Bay, Japan.
23 Jul 1941	Repair ship Akashi operated off Indochina.
25 Sep 1941	Captain Tsunekichi Fukuzawa was named the commanding officer of repair ship Akashi.
1 Dec 1941	Repair ship Akashi departed Kure, Japan.
6 Dec 1941	Repair ship Akashi arrived at Palau Islands.
2 Jan 1942	Repair ship Akashi departed from Palau Islands.
4 Jan 1942	Repair ship Akashi arrived at Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
20 Jan 1942	Repair ship Akashi provided repair work for destroyer Inazuma at Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
29 Jan 1942	Repair ship Akashi provided repair work for destroyer Hatsuharu at Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
15 Feb 1942	Repair ship Akashi departed Davao, Mindanao, Philippine Islands.
18 Feb 1942	Repair ship Akashi arrived at Staring Bay, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
27 Mar 1942	Repair ship Akashi departed Staring Bay, Celebes, Dutch East Indies.
28 Mar 1942	Repair ship Akashi arrived at Ambon, Dutch East Indies.
23 Apr 1942	Repair ship Akashi departed Ambon, Dutch East Indies.
30 Apr 1942	Repair ship Akashi arrived at Kure, Japan.
20 May 1942	Repair ship Akashi was drydocked at Kure, Japan.
24 May 1942	Repair ship Akashi exited the drydock at Kure, Japan.
28 May 1942	Repair ship Akashi departed Kure, Japan in support of the Midway invasion as a member of the Supply Group.
4 Jun 1942	Repair ship Akashi arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
14 Jun 1942	Repair ship Akashi provided repair work for cruiser Mogami at Truk, Caroline Islands.
29 Jun 1942	Repair ship Akashi provided repair work for destroyer Asashio at Truk, Caroline Islands.
15 Jul 1942	Repair ship Akashi provided repair work for destroyer Arashio at Truk, Caroline Islands.
5 Aug 1942	Repair ship Akashi departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
11 Aug 1942	Repair ship Akashi arrived at Kure, Japan.
17 Aug 1942	Repair ship Akashi departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
23 Aug 1942	Repair ship Akashi arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands.
24 Aug 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Hagikaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
28 Aug 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing seaplane tender Chitose and light cruiser Jintsu at Truk, Caroline Islands.
1 Sep 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Yugiri at Truk, Caroline Islands.
4 Sep 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for seaplane tender Chitose at Truk, Caroline Islands.
8 Sep 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Hagikaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
9 Sep 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Shirakumo at Truk, Caroline Islands.
12 Sep 1942	Captain Matsuro Eguchi was named the commanding officer of repair ship Akashi.
22 Sep 1942	Repair ship Akashi performed repair work for destroyer Kagero at Truk, Caroline Islands.
26 Sep 1942	Repair ship Akashi performed repair work for destroyer Urakaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
29 Sep 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing escort carrier Taiyo at Truk, Caroline Islands.
30 Sep 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Shirakumo at Truk, Caroline Islands.
2 Oct 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for light cruiser Jintsu and destroyer Yugiri at Truk, Caroline Islands.
4 Oct 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for escort carrier Taiyo at Truk, Caroline Islands.
10 Oct 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Minegumo at Truk, Caroline Islands.
16 Oct 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Minegumo at Truk, Caroline Islands.
28 Oct 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing carrier Shokaku at Truk, Caroline Islands.
29 Oct 1942	Repair ship Akashi performed repair work for destroyer Teruzuki at Truk, Caroline Islands. She also began the repair work for cruiser Chikuma.
30 Oct 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Kuroshio at Truk, Caroline Islands.
31 Oct 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Samidare at Truk, Caroline Islands.
1 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for cruiser Chikuma at Truk, Caroline Islands.
2 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for carrier Shokaku at Truk, Caroline Islands.
9 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Ariake at Truk, Caroline Islands.
16 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Kuroshio at Truk, Caroline Islands.
17 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Ikazuchi at Truk, Caroline Islands.
18 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyers Murasame, Amatsukaze, and Asagumo at Truk, Caroline Islands.
20 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing light cruiser Isuzu at Truk, Caroline Islands.
22 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Ikazuchi at Truk, Caroline Islands.
26 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Asagumo at Truk, Caroline Islands.
28 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Ariake at Truk, Caroline Islands.
29 Nov 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Murasame at Truk, Caroline Islands.
8 Dec 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for light cruiser Isuzu at Truk, Caroline Islands.
15 Dec 1942	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Amatsukaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
18 Dec 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Nowaki at Truk, Caroline Islands.
22 Dec 1942	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Shiratsuyu at Truk, Caroline Islands.
28 Dec 1942	Repair ship Akashi began refitting light cruiser Sendai at Truk, Caroline Islands.
3 Jan 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed refitting light cruiser Sendai at Truk, Caroline Islands.
14 Jan 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Naganami at Truk, Caroline Islands.
17 Jan 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing seaplane tender Sanyo Maru and destroyers Kagero and Oyashio at Truk, Caroline Islands.
18 Jan 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed refitting light cruiser Agano at Truk, Caroline Islands.
19 Jan 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Arashi at Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 Jan 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyers Uzuki and Suzukaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
25 Jan 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing light cruiser Nagara at Truk, Caroline Islands.
26 Jan 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed refitting light cruiser Agano at Truk, Caroline Islands.
31 Jan 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for seaplane tender Sanyo, destroyers Arashi and Suzukaze, and light cruiser Nagara at Truk, Caroline Islands.
1 Feb 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Oyashio and began repair transport Nankai Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
2 Feb 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for transport Sanyo Maru and began repairing destroyers Akizuki and Hatsukaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
12 Feb 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Maikaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
15 Feb 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing transport Nankai Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
16 Feb 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyers Nowaki and Shiratsuyu at Truk, Caroline Islands.
19 Feb 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Hamakaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
23 Feb 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Harusame at Truk, Caroline Islands.
2 Mar 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Isokaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
3 Mar 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for transport Nankai Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
6 Mar 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyers Maikaze and Hamakaze and began repairing destroyer Kawakaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
11 Mar 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Akizuki and began repairing auxiliary aircraft transport Keiyo Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
16 Mar 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing transport Noshiro Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 Mar 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyers Isokaze and Kawakaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
29 Mar 1943	Repair ship Akashi performed repair work for seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
8 Apr 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Hatsukaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
12 Apr 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Amagiri at Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 Apr 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Amagiri at Truk, Caroline Islands.
25 Apr 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing cruiser Aoba at Truk, Caroline Islands.
26 Apr 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for transport Noshiro Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
20 May 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Harusame at Truk, Caroline Islands.
20 Jun 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Uzuki at Truk, Caroline Islands.
30 Jun 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Kawakaze at Truk, Caroline Islands.
11 Jul 1943	Repair ship Akashi performed repair work for armed merchant cruiser Aikoku at Truk, Caroline Islands.
25 Jul 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for cruiser Aoba at Truk, Caroline Islands.
31 Jul 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing cruiser Kumano at Truk, Caroline Islands.
28 Aug 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for cruiser Kumano at Truk, Caroline Islands.
2 Sep 1943	Repair ship Akashi performed repair work for cable layer Osei Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
16 Sep 1943	Repair ship Akashi performed repair work for cable layer Osei Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
20 Sep 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing tanker Notoro at Truk, Caroline Islands.
21 Oct 1943	Captain Minegoro Kameyama was named the commanding officer of repair ship Akashi.
26 Oct 1943	Repair ship Akashi performed repair work for submarine I-180 at Truk, Caroline Islands.
14 Nov 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing cruiser Maya and destroyers Samidare and Fumizuki at Truk, Caroline Islands.
15 Nov 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing light cruiser Agano at Truk, Caroline Islands.
20 Nov 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Fumizuki at Truk, Caroline Islands.
28 Nov 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for cruiser Maya at Truk, Caroline Islands.
12 Dec 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing light cruiser Nagara at Truk, Caroline Islands.
13 Dec 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Samidare at Truk, Caroline Islands.
15 Dec 1943	Repair ship Akashi began repairing destroyer Amagiri at Truk, Caroline Islands.
20 Dec 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for destroyer Amagiri at Truk, Caroline Islands.
25 Dec 1943	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for light cruiser Agano and began repairing battleship Yamato at Truk, Caroline Islands.
8 Jan 1944	Repair ship Akashi performed repair work for armed merchant cruiser Kiyosumi Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
10 Jan 1944	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for battleship Yamato and began repairing light cruiser Agano and tanker Hoyo Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
15 Jan 1944	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for light cruiser Nagara at Truk, Caroline Islands.
15 Feb 1944	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for tanker Hoyo Maru at Truk, Caroline Islands.
20 Feb 1944	Repair ship Akashi departed Truk, Caroline Islands.
24 Feb 1944	Repair ship Akashi arrived at Palau Islands and performed repairs on herself.
10 Mar 1944	Repair ship Akashi began repairing transport Bichu Maru at Palau Islands.
11 Mar 1944	Repair ship Akashi received provisions from auxiliary storeship Kitakami Maru at Palau Islands.
14 Mar 1944	Repair ship Akashi dispatched divers to inspect damage below the water line for patrol vessel PB-102 at Palau Islands.
28 Mar 1944	Repair ship Akashi completed the repair work for transport Bichu Maru at Palau Islands.
30 Mar 1944	Repair ship Akashi sustained numerous bomb and rocket hits from US carrier aircraft and sank in shallow water north of Urukthapel Island, Palau Islands.
10 May 1944	Repair ship Akashi was removed from the Japanese Navy List.

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