Ashizuri-class combat support ship

The 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 , the other one the 8,000 ton "Ashizuri" class. The "Ashizuri" was planned to support for two large-sized carriers (, and ) 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 on 5 June 1944, and "Shioya" was lost to three days later.