Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The submarines that Electric Boat sold to Japan were based on the Holland designs, known as Holland Type VIIs similar to the American s. The five imported Hollands were originally built at Fore River Ship and Engine Company in Quincy, Massachusetts under Busch's direction for the Electric Boat Company back in August–October 1904. They were shipped by freighter from Seattle, Washington in Knock-down kit form to Japan, and then reassembled by Arthur Leopold Busch at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, which was then Japan's largest naval shipyard, to become Hulls No. 1 through 5 and were designated Type 1 submarines by the Japanese Navy.
Japanese submarine tender Karasaki
At the end of 1904, "Karasaki Maru" was sent to the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal for conversion into a submarine tender. She was officially commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy on 4 July 1905. On 8 March 1906, she was renamed "Karasaki", and was officially re-designated as a torpedo boat tender. In August 1912, the Imperial Japanese Navy abolished the torpedo boat tender classification, and "Karasaki" was re-designated as a second-class "kaibokan". However, the designation of torpedo boat tender was revived in April 1920. From 1924, "Karasaki" was then assigned to the submarine training school at Kure Naval District, and from 1 December 1924, was again officially designated as a submarine tender.