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| IJN No. 103 Class Landing Ship 2nd class Yusokan 870 Tons 264' 1" x 29' 10" x 9' 8" 1 x 76.2mm AA gun 16 x Type 96 AA guns 4 x 13mm AA guns |
Ship History Built by Sasebo Navy Yard. Laid down July 26, 1944 as No. 103 Class Landing Ship. Launched July 26, 1944 as No. 140. Also known as Transport No. 140 (T.140). Completed in early September 1944 and assigned to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). On September 5, 1944 reclassified as 2nd class Yusokan. Wartime History In early December 1944, No. 140 and No. 159 embark ten Type 2 Ka-Mi light amphibious tanks plus roughly 400 Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) troops at Manila that will be as part of as part of Operation TA No. 9 to land reinforcements at Ormoc Bay on Leyte. On December 1, 1944 at 6:00pm departs Manila with T.9 and No. 159, as part of Operation TA No. 7 to land reinforcements at Ormoc Bay on Leyte. On December 2, 1944 during the day, rain squalls allow the convoy to evade American planes and after dark enters Ormoc Bay. On December 3, 1944 around midnight is unloaded and departs. On December 4, 1944 at 7:30am returns to Manila. On December 9, 1944 No. 140 and No. 159 embark ten Type 2 Ka-Mi light amphibious tanks plus roughly 400 Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) troops at Manila in the afternoon depart as part of Operation TA No. 9 to land reinforcements at Ormoc Bay on Leyte. The convoy including transports Mino Maru, Sorachi Maru and Tasmania Maru with 4,000 soldiers of the 5th Infantry Regiment "Takahashi Detachment" plus food and ammunition. Escorted by DesDiv 30’s Yūzuki, Uzuki and Kiri plus SubChasDiv 21’s CH-17 and CH-37 bound for Ormoc Bay. On December 11, 1944 roughly 30 miles off Leyte, the convoy is targeted by forty Corsair fighter-bombers from VMF-211, VMF-218 and VMF-313. In the second low level attack, both Tasmania Maru and Mino Maru are hit and later sink at 11-20N, 124-10E. Afterwards, Sorachi Maru with CH-17 and CH-37 are diverted to Palompon while the rest of the convoy proceeds to Ormoc Bay. In the late evening, No. 140 and No. 159 covered by Yūzuki and Kiri enter Ormoc Bay and land the Takahashi Detachment and the SNLF troops and their ten tanks in only eight reach the beach. Ashore, they are engaged by the U.S. Army artillery and gunfire from USS Coghlan (DD-606) and destroyed or captured on the beach. Meanwhile, No. 159 is hit and abandoned. No. 140 sustained heavy damage but manages to escape and is escorted by Kiri back to Manila Bay. In the late evening, No. 140 and No. 159 covered by Yūzuki and Kiri enter Ormoc Bay and land the SNLF troops and their ten tanks in only eight reach the beach. No. 159 landed northwest of Ormoc and was unloading within 1,000 yards of defending U.S. Army, 307th Infantry Regiment supported by M10 tank destroyers emplaced along the beach and opened fire joined by artillery fire from 902d Field Artillery Battalion and gunfire from USS Coghlan (DD-606). When No. 159 attempted to pull out but moved only 50 yards before it burst into flames and was abandoned by the morning of December 12, 1944 and was photographed. Meanwhile, No. 140 farther west near Linao and was targeted by artillery, mortars, and tank destroyer and sustained heavy damage but manages to unload and escape and is escorted by Kiri back to Manila Bay. Sinking History On January 12, 1945 off Saigon, bombed by U.S. Navy (USN) Task Force 38 (TF 38) carrier planes and sunk at roughly Lat 10-20N Long 107-50E. On March 10, 1945 officially removed from the Navy list. References NHHC "Japanese Naval and Merchant Shipping Losses During World War II by All Causes" pages 21 (January 12, 1944), 121 (index Transport No. 140) Combined Fleet - IJN LST T.140 Tabular Record of Movement U.S. Army in World War II Leyte: The Return to the Phulippines Chapter XIX The Entrances to Ormoc Valley pages 318 "The early dawn of 12 December revealed another ship of the same type farther west near Linao. The artillery, mortars, and tank destroyer guns opened up against this vessel as it fled along the shores of Ormoc Bay, and their fire followed until it was out of range. Before the fire ceased, heavy clouds of smoke billowed from the vessel as it moved at a snail's pace." Contribute
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