Board Thread:Event Community Discussion/@comment-25730832-20170511175819/@comment-1637496-20170513030223

Vcharng wrote: I think we may need to distinguish Shimushu (Pre-war Kaiboukan) and Etorofu (mid-war Kaiboukan). Shimushu was never designed to be escorts, but she was used as such later; Etorofu, on the other hand, was designed with escort duty in mind. From Lengerer's "Japanese 'Kaibokan' Escorts":

"Initially the coast defence ships were designed as multi-purpose vessels, with escort duties being regarded as only third priority. In the case of Etorofu class, however, the design was altered to make convoy protection the most important role. Nevertheless in real terms the convoy escort did not become the overriding requirement until the Mikura class, and if strict standards are applied, not until the Ukuru class."