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| Aspect | Information | |--------|-------------| | | Miharu (武蔵型小型護衛艇, “Miharu‑type Small Escort Boat”), sometimes catalogued as “WMV‑1” by the Imperial Japanese Navy. | | Role | Coastal patrol, river‑inevitable transport, and escort of convoys in the South‑West Pacific. | | Displacement | ~130 t (standard), ~165 t (full load). | | Length | 30 m (≈98 ft). | | Beam | 4.5 m. | | Draft | 1.2 m. | | Propulsion | 2 × Kampon 2‑type diesel engines, ~2,800 hp total; max speed 19 kn. | | Armament (typical) | • 1 × Type 96 25 mm AA gun (forward) • 2 × Type 93 13.2 mm AA machine‑guns (sides) • 1 × Depth charge projector (aft). | | Service History | - Commissioned 1943, served in the New Guinea and Philippines areas. - Frequently used for “boat‑to‑boat” night raids and supply runs. - One unit was sunk by US PT‑boats near Leyte in 1944; another survived to the war’s end and was captured for evaluation by the US Navy. | | Historical Significance | Small escort vessels like Miharu were the workhorses of the IJN’s “defensive periphery,” providing a cheap, fast platform for anti‑submarine work and convoy protection. Their low‑cost construction made them a key component of Japan’s late‑war “area‑defense” strategy. | Gachinco 441 Miharu Wmv