Aoshima 00365 I.J.N. Gunboat Hashidate

Hashidate was a Japanese WWII gunboat keel laid in February 1939, launched in December of the same year, and commissioned in 1940. The total length of the vessel at the time of launching was 78.5 meters and a width of 9.7 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 1000 tons, and maximum speed - up to 19.5 knots. The deck armament at the time of launch was composed of three single 120mm Type 3 cannons and two 25mm Type 96 cannons. Hashidate was commissioned as part of the Japanese Navy's expansion program in 1937. It was built at Osaka Iron Works in Osaka, Japan. From the very beginning, it was constructed with the intention of supporting the activities of the army. Shortly after entering service, Hashidate was directed to coastal Chinese waters and took an active part in the Second Japanese-Chinese War (1937-1945). When the war in the Pacific broke out, she took part in the so-called Operation C, i.e. the seizure of Hong Kong by Japanese troops in December 1941. Interestingly, Hashidate operated from this naval base until 1944. The unit was sunk on May 22, 1944 as a result of a torpedo attack by the USS Picuda submarine.