Almost tempted to translate "Kaibōkan" as "Corvette" since those girls are very similar to the Flower-class ships of the Commonwealth in both size, armament and eventual usage (coastal ships that were pressed into ocean work due to wartime issues).
Food for thought: If light cruisers lead destroyer flotillas, then destroyer’s should lead DE flotillas, and DE’s should lead Kaibōkan flotillas...
All in favor of putting Sammy B. in charge of the kaibōkan training?
Sammy B: So who'd like to learn how to fight a battleship? (All kaibōkan put up their hands) Sammy B: No, Kiyoshimo! This is a class for the little ones. (Kiyoshimo pouts)