Early Japanese subchasers built before the war were hampered by poor seakeeping qualities. The Type 13 subchaser was an attempt to remedy this problem. Based on the experimental Type 1 and Type 4 designs, the Type 13 had a shorter length, a wider beam, and a clipper style bow. The result was an improved sea boat, and the new design was approved for production. The Type 13 was considered successful, but even with the improvements, (perhaps because of their small size), these vessels were still very wet ships in any sort of a sea.

Fifty vessels were built and saw extensive service, both in home waters and in outlying combat areas of Japan's new island empire. Their success rate agaiust American submarines was greatly exaggerated, and their sensor equipment was not very effective. Many fell victim to General Kinneys low flying B-25 bombers, as the numerous strike photos bear witness. As the war progressed, surviving units were upgrades with additional single 25mm AA guns and radar sets. Upgrading was progressive as the equipment became avallable. Radar sets were in short supply and the subchasers had a low priority. Some units probably never received them.

The recent Tamiya kit, WL-519, Auxiliary Vessels, contains a Type 13 subchaser. The old Skywave GATO kit had one also, but the Tamiya version is much better. It is to scale, which the Skywave was not. (Skywave's is too small.) The kit depicts the class as first built, before the addition of single 25mm guns and radar sets. As the radar sets and guns arrived piecemeal, there are at least three distinct appearance variations within the class, which makes for interesting conversion possibilities. Making the intermediate version means adding a catwalk and gun tub with supporting structure between the mast and funnel. Another gun rub and supports is added to the front of the bridge. From looking at photographs, it appears that not all of the ships had the midships catwalks. In one photo, it appears that the area between the bridge and 25mm position is enclosed. Thus you could consider this a fourth or fifth variant.

The last version is arrived at by adding the radar. The searchlight is moved forward and the radar and support are installed in its place. The gun tubs can be scratch built from plastic card. The guns and radar parts are from Skywave's E-7 UN Equipment set. This is a excellent little kit and a easy evening's work even as a conversion. The other two kits included in the box are also very nicely done. They are the Type 19 minesweeper, and the HIRASHIMA class minelayer.

1/700 Scale Drawings

Type 4	Type 13 Early production	Type 13 with added 25mm but no radar	Type 13 with full upgrade

This article originally appeared in Plastic Ship Modeler 1996/2 and is reprinted here with the permission of the author and editor.