Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy submarines originated with the purchase of five Holland type submarines from the United States in 1904. Japanese submarine forces progressively built up strength and expertise, becoming by the beginning of World War II one of the world's most varied and powerful submarine fleets.
Japanese submarine tender Komahashi
, was an auxiliary vessel operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, serving from the 1910s through World War II. Her classification changed numerous times during her operational life. Although officially designated as a submarine tender for most of her career, "Komahashi" very rarely functioned in this role, but was used instead as an oceanographic survey vessel throughout the Pacific, and as a "kaibokan" escort vessel for convoys of merchant ships during the Pacific War.