Japanese fleet oiler Kazahaya


Kazahaya was a Japanese fleet oiler, serving during the Second World War.

Construction

In 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy 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. 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.