The SS-class landing ship (SS艇 or 機動艇, SS-tei or Kidōtei) was a class of amphibious assault ships of the Imperial Japanese Army which served during World War II. The SS meaning are Sensha-Small.^[1]

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SS No.19
Class overview
Name	SS-class landing ship
Builders	Harima Zōsen Corporation Fujinagata Shipyards Ōsaka Iron Works Naniwa Dock Company Kawanami Kōgyō Corporation
Operators	Imperial Japanese Army
Succeeded by	SB-class
Subclasses	SS No.1 (Prototype) SS No.2 (Supplementary Prototype) SS No.3 (General production type)
Built	1939–1945
In service	1939–1947
In commission	1944–?
Planned	over 30
Completed	18[1] or 21[2] or 22[3]
Lost	?
Retired	?
General characteristics SS No.3 class
Displacement	730 long tons (742 t) gross
Length	65.00 m (213 ft 3 in) overall
Beam	9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Draught	2.89 m (9 ft 6 in)Error: has synonymous parameter (help)
Draft	5.65 m (18 ft 6 in)Error: has synonymous parameter (help)
Propulsion	2 × intermediate diesels, 2 shafts, 1,100 bhp[1] or 1,200 bhp[2]
Speed	14.0 knots (16.1 mph; 25.9 km/h) [1] or 14.5 knots (16.7 mph; 26.9 km/h) [3] or 13.7 knots (15.8 mph; 25.4 km/h) [2]
Range	3,000 nmi (5,600 km) at 13.4 kn (15.4 mph; 24.8 km/h)
Capacity	5 tanks and 170 troops
Complement	40
Armament	1 × Type 4 75 mm shipboard gun 1 × Type 96 150 mm Infantry Mortar 3 × Type 98 20 mm AA guns

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October 1938, the IJA employed the Shinshū Maru during their successful amphibious operations at Bias Bay. However, a considerable amount of time was needed to complete the operation owing to the low speed of the landing craft, which resulted in considerable damage to the vessels involved.

The IJA employed the principles of speed and minimum damage to their amphibious warfare operations.

In 1939-1940, the IJA repeated an experiment with Gorō Maru (300 tons gross) and Yorihime Maru (526 tons gross) and after analysing the experiment data placed an order for the prototype Kōryū (later SS No.1).

• The IJN was interested in the second prototype Banryū (later SS No.2). The IJN placed an order for 16 ships. However, thereafter they adopted the No.101-class and the order was cancelled.

• No.101-class landing ship
• Landing craft tank