Fujinagata Shipyards

Fujinagata Shipyards (藤永田造船所) was a shipyard and railroad car manufacturer in Osaka, Japan.

History
Fujinagata claimed to have been founded in 1689, making it one of the oldest shipbuilders in Japan. Originally called Hyōgo-ya, and located in central Osaka, it was contracted in 1854 by officials representing the Tokugawa shogunate to produce sail warships for the new Tokugawa feudal navy. In 1869, with the assistance of German engineers, the western-style warships were designed and produced.

After the Meiji Restoration, the shipyards concentrated on civilian applications, and in 1870 launched its first western-style commercial steam vessel. This was a first for a privately held shipbuilder in Japan.

In 1874, the shipyards were relocated to Nishi-ku, Osaka and the company name officially changed to Fujinagata Shipyards. In 1884, the main shipyards was relocated to Taisho-ku, Osaka.

In 1900, Fujinagata completed its first all-metal construction merchant vessel; the No.2 Nagata Maru. In 1917, new shipyards in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka were opened. Fujinagata became was designated an official naval repair facility in 1919.

On May 31, 1921, the Momi class destroyer Fuji was launched, marking the first of 56 destroyers that Fujinagata would eventually build for the Imperial Japanese Navy.

With new naval contracts, Fujinagata moved its head office into new facilities and expanded its capability rapidly. However, it expanded too quickly and soon fell into financial difficulties causing its shipbuilding business to come under the accounting supervision of the Ministry of the Navy of Japan in December 1928. However, Fujinagata was able to weather the turmoil of the Great Depression without significant difficulty.

In 1940, along with most businesses of strategic importance to the Japanese war effort, Fujinagata was nationalized under the Navy Ministry. In December 1944, Fujinagata had 16,508 employees. It is estimated that perhaps half of the employees at that time were ethnic Koreans, and at least 150 were Australian prisoners of war, who were supplying forced labor in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

In June 1945, Fujinagata's main shipyards were destroyed during large-scale air raids towards the end of World War II.

After World War II, Fujinagata was restored to private ownership and recovered by building fishing vessels, merchant vessels and tankers. In 1962, it completed its first LNG carrier. In October 1967, the company was purchased by Mitsui Shipbuilding and Engineering, thus ending its long history as the oldest independent shipbuilder in Japan.

List of ships
...


 * 1 of 9 Kamikaze-class destroyer
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Asanagi (completed 29 December 1925)


 * 3 of 12 Mutsuki-class destroyer
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Satsuki (completed 15 November 1925)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Fumizuki (3 July 1926)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Yūzuki (25 July 1927)


 * 4 of 24 Fubuki-class destroyer
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Murakumo (completed 10 May 1929)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Shirakumo (28 July 1928)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Ayanami (30 April 1930)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Inazuma (15 November 1930)


 * 0 of 6 Hatsuharu-class destroyer


 * 2 of 10 Shiratsuyu-class destroyer
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Murasame (7 January 1937)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Kawakaze (30 April 1937)


 * 2 of 10 Asashio-class destroyer
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Michishio (completed 31 October 1937)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Yamagumo (15 January 1938)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Minegumo (30 April 1938)


 * 5 of 19 Kagero-class destroyer
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Kuroshio (completed 27 January 1940)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Natsushio (31 August 1940)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Urakaze (15 December 1940)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Tanikaze (25 April 1941)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Maikaze (15 July 1941)


 * 7 of 19 Yugumo-class destroyer
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Makigumo (completed 8 August 1942)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Naganami (30 June 1942)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Ōnami (29 December 1942)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Tamanami (30 April 1943)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Fujinami (31 July 1943)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Asashimo (27 November 1943)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Akishimo (11 March 1944)


 * 6 of 18 Matsu-class destroyer
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Ume (completed 28 June 1944)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Kuwa (15 July 1944)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Sugi (25 August 1944)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Kashi (30 September 1944)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Nara (26 November 1944)
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Yanagi (8 January 1944)


 * 1 of 14 Tachibana-class destroyer
 * JAPANESE DESTROYER Kaba (29 May 1945)