ROCS Hai Cheng

hypilot · December 29, 2024, 8:47pm

[Would you like to see this in-game?]

Yes
No

0 voters

As fishing boat Himegami maru

History

Hai Cheng 海澄 started its career as the Japanese fishing boat Himegami maru (姫神丸) launched on October 30, 1934 and completed in February 5, 1934. Later in 1939 it was acquired by the Japanese navy as a food supply ship and stationed near Sasebo as part of the southwest fleet. She then went to Qingdao, China in 1942 and became part of the China area fleet. She was assigned to the Shanghai area troop guard force as Gunboat 101 part of the Zhoushan island base force. On December 31, 1945 she was dismissed from the Japanese navy.
Afterwards she was received by the Chinese navy and was renamed as Hai Cheng being assigned to the 1st gunboat squadron based in 連雲港 (Lianyungang). Sometime later she retreated to Taiwan after the Chinese civil war and became part of the 2nd patrol squadron in Penghu island.

In 1950 she was renamed as Jiang Cheng (YP-551) in accordance with the new naming standard of the ROCN.

During her service with the ROCN she mainly served as an escort for missions and patrolled the waters near Penghu, Kinmen and surrounding islands.

In November 1949 she supported the defense of Dengbu island with 3 other warships halting the communist assault. She came under fire from communist batteries in neighboring Taohua island and a shell hit her cabin, fortunately it did not explode.

On the night of September 19, 1958 Haicheng and Jiangxiu gunboats were attempting to resupply Dong ding island defenders. They were intercepted by multiple Chinese communist gunboats and a battle ensued. Jiang Xiu came under attack first and retreated after sustaining damage. Hai Cheng then came under attack and seriously damaged the communist gunboat 507 with her 40mm bofors, killing 2 crew and injuring 5. Haicheng also sustained fire but with relatively light damage. The communist gunboats broke off pursuit and as she retreated from the battle and headed back towards Kinmen Liaoluo bay. As the two gunboats returned to the bay they came under attack from PLA shore battery fire and were being intercepted by more communist gunboats. However they were close enough to Kinmen that friendly artillery could fire at the perusing gunboats. The communist gunboats broke off and the battle ended.

She originally had a 76mm high angle gun which was replaced by a 40 mm bofors. Japanese type 25 and 13 mm guns were also equipped. Later on September 1954 at Cetian Island, Penghu her two masts were removed and replaced with a single triangular mast behind the cabin. Double barreled 25mm guns were also installed on the deck of the telecommunications room. I’m not sure if it’s just a regular double barrel on top of the room or a modification similar to Jiang Gong and Hai Li has where it’s on the stern of the ship. I’m leaning more toward the stern gun modification.

Her nickname was Big Pigs Mouth by her crew. Probably referencing its long bow feature looking like the snout or jaw of a pig.

Jian Cheng was retired from service on October 1, 1958.

A bigger picture of the same type, her sister Kaiei maru

Specifications

Specifications (ROCN)
Length: 117 ft
Width: 29 ft
Waterline/ draft: 10ft

Japanese source for its fishing boat standard:
Length: 32 m
Width: 6.7m
Depth: 3.3m
Waterline/ draft: 1.96m

Officers: 5
Enlisted: 29

Engine: 1 x Ikegai Iron Works 330 HP, 4 stroke diesel engine
Speed: 9-11 knots

Armament

1948 (before repairs and restoration)

1 x 50mm gun (unknown type)

1 x 25mm type 96

4 x 13mm type 93

2 x 7.7mm unknown

Rest of the years

1 x 76mm high angle gun (later removed)

1 x 40mm bofors (installed after the 76mm removal)

2 x 25mm guns on either side of the boat

2 x 13mm guns on either side of the cabin

1 x double barrel 25mm gun turret on the stern (late modification)

Diagram during fishing boat days

She probably would’ve looked similar to the Auxillary patrol boats. With the main gun on a platform near the bow. Especially since veterans describe that they sometimes mixed her up with the former Japanese auxiliary minesweepers in ROCN service .

Photo of her crew after the September 19th battle

Spoiler