Ashizuri-class combat support ship

The Ashizuri-class combat support ship (足摺型給油艦) was a class of two support ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during World War II.

Construction
In 1940, the IJN planned two support ship classes to help their aircraft carriers. One was the 4,500-ton Sunosaki-class combat support ship, the other one the 8,000 ton Ashizuri class. The Ashizuri was planned to support for two large-sized carriers (JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Akagi, JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER Kaga and Shōkaku-class aircraft carrier) in the battlefield. The thought is the same as USS Sacramento.

Service
Not joining the IJN till mid-1943 when the Japanese navy was well and truly on the back foot, the ships participated in convoy duties delivering fuel oil around Southeast Asia. Their top speed of 16 knots meant that they would not have been capable of keeping up with the fast carrier battle groups.

Ashizuri was sunk by the USS Puffer (SS-268) on 5 June 1944, and Shioya was lost to USS Rasher (SS-269) three days later.