Italian minelayer Lepanto
Encyclopedia
Lepanto was an Ostia-class minelayer
of the Italian Navy
. She served with the Italians during the Second World War until being scuttled in Japan in 1943. She was then recovered by the Imperial Japanese Navy
and taken into service as Okitsu, spending the remainder of the war escorting convoys. She was surrendered to the Republic of China
after the end of the war and served for a further ten years with them as the Hsienning.
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
of the Italian Navy
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
. She served with the Italians during the Second World War until being scuttled in Japan in 1943. She was then recovered by the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
and taken into service as Okitsu, spending the remainder of the war escorting convoys. She was surrendered to the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
after the end of the war and served for a further ten years with them as the Hsienning.
Italian Navy service (1927 – 1943)
- 9 September 1943: She was scuttled at ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, after Italy's surrender to the AlliesAllies of World War IIThe Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
.
Imperial Japanese Navy service (1943 – 1945)
- 8 November 1943: She was refloated by .
- 1 March 1944: Repairs were completed. She was registered in the Imperial Japanese NavyImperial Japanese NavyThe Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, and renamed Okitsu. She was sent to Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesMitsubishi Heavy Industries, or MHI, is a Japanese company. It is one of the core companies of Mitsubishi Group.-History:In 1870 Yataro Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi took a lease of Government-owned Nagasaki Shipyard. He named it Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and started the shipbuilding business on a full scale...
to have her armament fitted. - 14 May 1944: Fitting out was completed.
- 5 to 14 June 1944: Escort operations for Ta-605 Convoy (Shanghai - KeelungKeelungKeelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
). - 24 to 30 June 1944: Escort operations for Ta-406 Convoy (Shanghai - KaohsiungKaohsiungKaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
). - 3 to 25 July 1944: Escort operations for No.3311 Convoy (Tsoying - MojiMoji-ku, Kitakyushuis a ward of Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is the former city of Moji which was one of five cities merged to create Kitakyūshū in 1963. It faces the city of Shimonoseki across the Kanmon Straits between Honshū and Kyūshū....
). - (after): She spent all her time on convoy escort operations in the Shanghai Area.
- 17 to 27 April 1945: Escort operations for Mo-705 Convoy (Shanghai - SaseboSasebo, Nagasakiis a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
). She was fitted with radar at the Sasebo Naval ArsenalSasebo Naval Arsenalwas one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. -History:The Sasebo Naval District was established at Sasebo, Nagasaki in 1886, as the third of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands. After the establishment of the...
. - 17 June 1945: Escort operations for ShiSe-603 Convoy (Shanghai - QingdaoQingdao' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
). - 17 July 1945: Shot down three P-51P-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
s and one B-25B-25 MitchellThe North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
at Shanghai. - 15 September 1945: Surrendered to the Republic of ChinaRepublic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. - 30 September 1945: Decommissioned.
Republic of China Navy service (1945 – 1956)
- In 1946: Renamed Hsienning (咸宁).
- July 1950: She captured a British merchant ship.
- In 1956: Decommissioned.