Did the Imperial Japanese Navy also have submarines?
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy's doctrine of fleet warfare ("guerre d'escadre") resulted in its submarines seldom posing a threat to allied merchant convoys and shipping lanes to the degree that the Kriegsmarine's U-boats did as they pursued commerce raiding against Allied and neutral merchant ships. During the war, IJN submarines did sink about 1 million tons (GRT) of merchant shipping (184 ships) in the Pacific; by contrast U.S. Navy submarines sank 5.2 million tons (1,314 ships) in the same period, while U-boats of Nazi Germany's "Kriegsmarine", the IJN's Axis partner, sank 14.3 million tons (2,840 ships) in the Atlantic and other oceans. During the last two years of the War in the Pacific, many IJN submarines were also occupied serving to transport supplies to isolated island garrisons, ones that had been deliberately bypassed by the Americans and the Australians and which could not be reached by surface transports because of blockade by Allied warplanes and naval vessels.
Japanese submarine I-41
I-41 was a Japanese B2 type submarine. She was completed at Kure Navy Yard on 18 September 1943, whereupon she entered into service with the Imperial Japanese Navy Yokosuka Naval District, SubRon 11, and sailed to Yokosuka for final trials under the command of Lt. Commander Tamori Yoshimatsu. This was completed by 15 December 1943 and command was transferred to Lt. Commander Itakura Mitsuma. "I-41" was reassigned to the Sixth Fleet in SubRon 1's Sub Division 15.
History of submarines
The Germans were slower to recognize the importance of this new weapon. A submersible was initially ordered by the Imperial Russian Navy from the Kiel shipyard in 1904, but cancelled after the Russo-Japanese War ended. One example was modified and improved, then commissioned into the Imperial German Navy in 1906 as its first U-boat, "U-1". It had a double hull, was powered by a Körting kerosene engine and was armed with a single torpedo tube. The fifty percent larger "SM U-2" had two torpedo tubes. A diesel engine was not installed in a German navy boat until the class of 1912–13. At the start of World War I, Germany had 20 submarines of 13 classes in service with more under construction.
Japanese submarine I-22 (1938)
The boats were armed with eight internal bow torpedo tubes and carried a total of 20 torpedoes. They were also armed with a single /40 deck gun and two single or twin mounts for Type 96 anti-aircraft guns. They were equipped to carry one Type A midget submarine aft of the conning tower.
"I-22" was commissioned at Yokosuka, Japan on March 10, 1941. The submarine participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Battle of the Coral Sea, and the attack on Sydney Harbour in May and June 1942. "I-22" disappeared while on patrol near Malaita in the Solomon Islands on or around October 4, 1942 and was presumed lost with all 100 hands.
History of submarines
By March 1945, British boats had gained control of the Strait of Malacca, preventing any supplies from reaching the Japanese forces in Burma by sea. By this time, there were few large Japanese ships in the region, and the submarines mainly operated against small ships which they attacked with their deck guns. The submarine torpedoed and sank the heavy cruiser in the Bangka Strait, taking down some 1,200 Japanese army troops. Three British submarines (, , and ) were sunk by the Japanese during the war.
Isla San Telmo
The wreck of a submarine can be seen off the beach during low tide. The Japanese had examined this submarine and stated that it did not belong to them. However, a subsequent underwater study by German divers reported that it belonged to the Japanese, having wrecked when the Japanese intended to destroy the strategically important Panama Canal in 1942. It was conjectured that the submarine was abandoned by its crew due to technical problems and the crew had taken refuge on the island.
Japanese submarine Ro-110
The Japanese submarine "Ro-110" was a built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The ("Ro-51"-class) submarines were British L-class submarines built under license by Mitsubishi.
Japanese submarine tender Jingei
, was the lead vessel of the s operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, from the 1920s through World War II. She was the first purpose-built submarine tender in the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) acquired its first submarines during the Russo-Japanese War on 12 December 1904 where they arrived in sections at the Yokohama dockyards. The vessels were purchased from the relatively new American company, Electric Boat, and were fully assembled and ready for combat operations by August 1905. However, hostilities with Russia were nearing its end by that date, and no submarines saw action during the war.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The ("I-61"/"I-162"-class) submarines ("I-61", "I-62"/"I-162", "I-64"/"I-164") were slightly smaller and had four torpedo tubes, but were otherwise similar to the Type KD3.
Type J1 submarine
The , also called were large cruiser submarines (Junsen type submarines) of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Early models of IJN submarines were relatively less maneuverable under water, could not dive very deeply, and lacked radar. (Later in the war units that were fitted with radar were in some instances sunk due to the ability of American radar sets to detect their emissions. For example, sank three such IJN submarines near Japan in just four days). After the end of the conflict, several of Japan's most innovative and advanced submarines were sent to Hawaii for inspection in "Operation Road's End" (, "I-401", , and "I-203") before being scuttled by the U.S. Navy in 1946 when the Soviet Union demanded to have access to the IJN submarines, also.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The ("I-1"-class) submarines (, "I-2", "I-3", "I-4") were based on the Kaidai II (Type KD2) and German submarine .
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The ("Ro-60"-class) submarines ("Ro-60", "Ro-61", "Ro-62", "Ro-63", "Ro-64", "Ro-65", "Ro-66", "Ro-67", "Ro-68") were copies of the British submarine .
Japanese Type 6 submarine
The "Kaigun Holland" #6 was launched at Kobe on 28 September 1905 and was completed six months later at Kure as the first submarine built in Japan. It sank during a training dive in Hiroshima Bay on 15 April 1910. Although the water was only 58 feet deep, there were no provisions for the crew to escape while submerged. The commanding officer, Lieutenant Tsutomu Sakuma, patiently wrote a description of his sailor's efforts to bring the boat back to the surface as their oxygen supply ran out. All of the sailors were later found dead at their duty stations when this submarine was raised the following day. The sailors were regarded as heroes for their calm performance of their duties until death, and the submarine was preserved as a memorial in Kure until the end of World War II.
History of submarines
On 14 June 1904, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) placed an order for five Holland "Type VII submersibles", which were built in Quincy, Massachusetts at the "Fore River Yard", and shipped to Yokohama, Japan in sections. The five machines arrived on 12 December 1904. Under the supervision of naval architect Arthur L. Busch, the imported "Hollands" were re-assembled, and the first submersibles were ready for combat operations by August 1905, but hostilities were nearing the end by that date, and no submarines saw action during the war.
Japanese submarine I-23
I-23 was a Type B1 submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. After a raid on the West Coast of California she participated in an attempt at a second attack upon Pearl Harbor. After surviving an American air attack on Kwajalein "I-23" was lost in early 1942 with all hands somewhere off the Oahu coast of Hawaii.
Units of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy (1868 – 1945) at various times incorporated units comprising aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers and submarines.
Japanese submarine I-52 (1942)
This class of submarines was designed and built by Mitsubishi Corporation, between 1943 and 1944, as cargo carriers. They were quite long and carried a crew of up to 94. They also had a long cruising range at a speed of . The Japanese constructed only three of these submarines during World War II ("I-52", and ), although twenty were planned. They were the largest submarines ever built at that time, before the enormous "Sentoku" subs were built, and were known as the most advanced Japanese submarines of their time.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The ("I-7"-class) submarines ("I-7", ) combined the benefits of the Type J2 and the Kaidai V (KD5). This type later led to the Type A, Type B, and Type C submarines.
History of submarines
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many of the U.S. Navy's front-line Pacific Fleet surface ships were destroyed or severely damaged. The submarines survived the attack and carried the war to the enemy. Lacking support vessels, the submarines were asked to independently hunt and destroy Japanese ships and submarines. They did so very effectively.
Aichi M6A
From the late 1920s, the Imperial Japanese Navy had developed a doctrine of operating floatplanes from submarines to search for targets.
In December 1941, Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, proposed constructing a large fleet of submarine aircraft carriers (also designated STo or "sen-toku" — special submarine) whose purpose was to mount aerial attacks against American coastal cities. The submarines would surface to launch their aircraft by catapult, submerge to avoid detection, then surface again to retrieve the aircrews who would ditch their planes nearby. By June 1942, the plan was to build a fleet of eighteen such subs. This was later cut to nine, then five and finally just three as Japan's wartime fortunes declined.
Japanese submarine I-55 (1925)
Following World War I, the Imperial Japanese Navy re-evaluated the use submarine warfare as an element of fleet strategy due to the successful deployment of long-range cruiser-submarines for commerce raiding by the major combatant navies. Japanese strategists came to realize possibilities for using the weapon for long range reconnaissance, and in a war of attrition against an enemy fleet approaching Japan. Two large, long-range Japanese submarines had already been built under the Eight-six fleet program as prototype ( and ), however, the arrival on 20 June 1919 of seven German U-boats received by Japan as war reparations at the end of World War I led to a complete re-design. The Japanese quickly hired hundreds of German submarine engineers, technicians and former U-boat officers unemployed by the defeat of Germany in World War I, and brought them to Japan under 5-year contracts. The American ONI (Office of Naval Intelligence) estimated that some 800 German advisors had gone to Japan by the end of 1920. The Japanese also sent delegations to Germany, and were active in purchasing many patents.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Overall, despite their advanced technical innovation, Japanese submarines were built in relatively small numbers, and had less effect on the war than those of the other major navies. The IJN pursued the doctrine of "guerre d'escadre" (fleet vs fleet warfare), and consequently submarines were often used in offensive roles against warships. Warships were more difficult to attack and sink than merchant ships, however, because naval vessels were faster, more maneuverable, and better defended.
Allied submarines in the Pacific War
From 1943, Allied submarines waged an increasingly effective campaign against Japanese merchant shipping and the IJN. By the end of the war in August 1945, the Japanese merchant marine had less than a quarter of the tonnage it had in December 1941. Overall, U.S. Navy submarines sank around 1,300 Japanese merchant ships, as well as roughly 200 warships. Despite the need to maintain sea lanes for its empire, the Japanese never successfully developed a cost-effective destroyer escort better suited for convoy duties, while it also did not have the industrial might to replace the losses of its heavily armed destroyers, nor of its ill-protected merchantmen.
Submarine
The Imperial Japanese Navy operated the most varied fleet of submarines of any navy, including "Kaiten" crewed torpedoes, midget submarines ( and es), medium-range submarines, purpose-built supply submarines and long-range fleet submarines. They also had submarines with the highest submerged speeds during World War II (s) and submarines that could carry multiple aircraft (s). They were also equipped with one of the most advanced torpedoes of the conflict, the oxygen-propelled Type 95. Nevertheless, despite their technical prowess, Japan chose to use its submarines for fleet warfare, and consequently were relatively unsuccessful, as warships were fast, maneuverable and well-defended compared to merchant ships.
Kaichū type submarine
The submarines were double-hulled medium-sized submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. They were derived from the .
Japanese submarine I-31
The Japanese submarine "I-31" was one of 20 Type B cruiser submarines of the B1 sub-class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1940s.
Japanese submarine I-55 (1925)
The four Kaidai Type 3a vessels were the first mass-produced Japanese fleet submarines. Based largely on the indigenous Kaidai Type II ("I-52") a strengthened double hull, their design was also influenced by the largest of the German submarines in Japanese hands, the SM U-125. The hull had almost the same outer dimensions as the "I-52", but the increased thickness of the inner hull permitted a diving depth of 60 meters. Internal volume was slightly increased by making the hull slightly trapezoidal in cross-section, at the expense of 300 tons of additional displacement. External differences included an anti-submarine net cutter on the bow, as well as an O-ring for towing purposes.
Type AM submarine
The , also called was a pair of large, aircraft-carrying cruiser submarines built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II.
Japanese submarine I-25
Two submarines were sighted on 11 October 1942 about off the coast of Washington as "I-25" was returning to Japan. "I-25" fired its last torpedo at the lead submarine, which sank in 20 seconds with the loss of all hands. "I-25" reported sinking a U.S. submarine, but the submarine was actually Soviet "L-16" which was sailing with "L-15" en route from Vladivostok to the Panama Canal via Unalaska, Alaska and San Francisco. United States Navy Chief Photographer's Mate Sergi Andreevich Mihailoff of Arcadia, California, was aboard "L-16" as a liaison officer and interpreter, and was killed with the remainder of the submarine crew. The United States Navy Western Sea Frontier denied loss of any submarine and withheld information about the Soviet loss because, at the time, the Soviet Union was officially neutral in the war between Japan and the United States.
Japanese Type 6 submarine
The was the first class of submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy built domestically in Japan. Consisting of two vessels, these submarines were highly modified versions of "Holland"-class vessels designed in the United States.
Junsen type submarine
The was a ship class of submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). There were four submarine designs of the Junsen type: J1, a modified J1, J2 and the J3.
Japanese submarine tender Chōgei
Under the Eight-eight fleet plan, the Imperial Japanese Navy planned to acquire 100 submarines for long-distance scouting operations, which would also be used to conduct attrition warfare against any enemy fleet approaching Japan. "Chōgei" was intended to serve as a flagship for the Submarine Division Commander and as a depot ship for the nine submarines in a submarine division.
Submarine chaser
The Imperial Japanese Navy had around 250 submarine chasers in World War II, principally about 200 of the No.1-class auxiliary submarine chasers. Some of these survived to serve in the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) after the war.
History of submarines
Japan had the most varied fleet of submarines of World War II, including manned torpedoes (Kaiten), midget submarines (Ko-hyoteki, Kairyu), medium-range submarines, purpose-built supply submarines (many for use by the Army), long-range fleet submarines (many of which carried an aircraft), submarines with the highest submerged speeds of the conflict (Sentaka "I-200"), and submarines that could carry multiple aircraft (WWII's largest submarine, the Sentoku "I-400"). These submarines were also equipped with the most advanced torpedo of the conflict, the oxygen-propelled Type 95 (what U.S. historian Samuel E. Morison postwar called "Long Lance").
Japanese submarine I-52
Japanese submarine "I-52" may refer to one of the following submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy:
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.
Japanese submarine I-201
The "I-201"-class submarines were derived from the experimental high-speed Submarine "No.71". They displaced surfaced and submerged. The submarines were long, had a beam of and a draft of . The boats were the deepest-diving Japanese submarines of the war and had a diving depth of .
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
This class includes the largest of Japanese submarines, characterized by great size and range.
Japanese submarine I-15
I-15 was a Japanese B1 type submarine. She was completed at Kure Navy Yard on September 30, 1940, whereupon she entered into service with the Imperial Japanese Navy. Her first and only commanding officer was Commander Nobuo Ishikawa. "I-15" operated off the north coast of Oahu during the raid on Pearl Harbor. Her second wartime patrol, in May and June 1942, took her to the Aleutians, where she conducted reconnaissance of several islands. "I-15"s third and final patrol took place from August to November 1942, when she operated in the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, supporting the Japanese efforts to hold Guadalcanal. One source (Morison) suggests that "I-15" hit the battleship with a torpedo on September 15, 1942. More recent authorities (Hackett & Kingsepp) maintain that the torpedo came from another submarine operating in the area, , which was also responsible for the sinking of , which "I-15" duly observed and reported. On November 10, 1942, a U.S. ex-destroyer (modified to a fast minesweeper), , sank "I-15" at Cape Recherche, San Cristóbal, with all hands lost.
Commander Ishikawa was promoted to the rank of Captain posthumously. On December 14, 1942, more than one month after "I-15" was sunk, sank an unknown submarine which it misidentified as the "I-15".
Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II
Early models were not very maneuverable under water, could not dive very deep, and lacked radar. Later in the war, units fitted with radar were in some instances sunk due to the ability of US radar sets to detect their emissions. For example, sank three such in the span of four days. After the end of the conflict, several of Japan's most innovative and advanced submarines were sent to Hawaii for inspection in "Operation Road's End" ("I-400", "I-401", "I-201" and "I-203") before being scuttled by the U.S. Navy in 1946 when the Soviets demanded access to the submarines as well.
Submarine aircraft carriers of Japan
Submarine aircraft carriers were developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy to a greater extent than any other navy, before and during World War II. In total, 42 were built, as listed below (other sources say 47). Although other navies had experimented with submarine aircraft carriers, by World War II the IJN was the only navy (aside from one fielded by the French Navy) using them. They had little effect on the war, although two were used to carry out attacks on the continental United States.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The were transport submarines. Several of this type were converted to tankers or to mother ships for the midget submarines.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The ("I-5"-class) submarine was similar to the Type J1, but with facilities for one aircraft.
Anti-submarine weapon
Early Japanese submarines were not very maneuverable under water, could not dive very deep, and lacked radar. Later in the war, Japanese submarines were fitted with radar scanning equipment for improved hunting while surfaced. However, these radar-equipped submarines were in some instances sunk due to the ability of U.S. radar receivers to detect their tell-tale scanning emissions. For example, sank three Japanese radar-equipped submarines in the span of four days. In 1944, U.S. anti-submarine forces began to employ the FIDO (Mk 24 mine) air-dropped homing torpedo against submerged Japanese subs with considerable success.
Japanese submarine I-202
I-202 was one of only three s of the Imperial Japanese Navy to be completed during World War II. The "I-201" class were of advanced design, and had been built for high underwater speed. They were the fastest operational submarines built during World War II, surpassing even the German Type XXI submarines.
List of warships sunk during the Russo-Japanese War
Although submarines, torpedoes, torpedo boats, and steel battleships had existed for many years, the Russo-Japanese war was the first conflict to see mature forms of these weapon systems deployed in large numbers. Over a hundred of the newly invented torpedo boats and nearly the same number of torpedo boat destroyers were involved. The Imperial Russian Navy would become the first navy in history to possess an "independent operational submarine fleet" on 1 January 1905. With this submarine fleet making its first combat patrol on 14 February 1905, and its first clash with enemy surface warships on 29 April 1905, all this nearly a decade before World War I even began.
Japanese submarine I-8
The Japanese submarine "I-8" was a World War II Junsen Type J-3 Imperial Japanese Navy submarine. The vessel, along with "I-7", were the largest Japanese submarines to be completed before the outbreak of the Pacific War. It was based on the KD ("Kaidai") type. Both submarines participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor, they also conducted patrol missions with Yokosuka E14Y seaplanes.
In 1943 "I-8" completed a technology exchange mission by sailing to German occupied France and back to Japan. Under a new commander later in her career, the submarine's crew committed several war crimes in the latter period of the second world war.
HA. 19 (Japanese Midget Submarine)
The HA. 19 (also known as Japanese Midget Submarine "C" by the US Navy) is a historic Imperial Japanese Navy midget submarine that was part of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. This submarine was ordered to enter Pearl Harbor then attack the American warships with its torpedoes and then be scuttled with explosives next to a warship. However, she did not enter the harbor, and was grounded and captured. The submarine was eventually put on display near the submarine squadron at Naval Station Key West, Florida, then moved to the nearby Key West Lighthouse and Military Museum. "HA. 19" is now displayed at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Imperial Japanese Navy
By 1921, Japan's naval expenditure reached nearly 32% of the national government budget. In 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy possessed 10 battleships, 10 aircraft carriers, 38 cruisers (heavy and light), 112 destroyers, 65 submarines, and various auxiliary ships.
Japanese submarine tender Jingei
Under the Eight-eight fleet plan, the Imperial Japanese Navy planned to acquire 100 submarines for long-distance scouting operations, which would also be used to conduct attrition warfare against any enemy fleet approaching Japan. "Jingei" was intended to serve as a flagship for the Submarine Division Commander and as a depot ship for the nine submarines in a submarine division.
I-201-class submarine
The were submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. These submarines were of advanced design, built for high underwater speed, and were known as or . The type name, was shortened to .
Japanese submarine I-180
Japanese submarine "I-180 (originally I-80") was a "Kaidai" type ("KD7" sub-class) cruiser submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Ordered in 1939 under the 4th Naval Armaments Supplement Programme, she was laid down at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on 17 April 1941 as "I-80". Launched on 7 February 1942, she was renumbered "I-180" on 20 May 1942, and completed on 15 January 1943.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
In 1909, the first submarine tender, , was commissioned.
Japanese submarine I-1
The Japanese submarine "I-1" was a "J1 type" submarine built by Kawasaki, Kobe, for the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was a large cruiser submarine displacing 2,135 tons and was the lead of four boats built in the class.
She was commissioned on 10 March 1926 and served in the Second World War. On 29 January 1943, during Operation Ke, the New Zealand naval trawlers "Kiwi" and "Moa" intercepted and wrecked her after a surface battle at Kamimbo Bay, Guadalcanal.On 29 January 1943 she encountered the New Zealand minesweepers, "Kiwi" and "Moa". Unable to penetrate "I-1"s hull with their deck guns, the minesweepers rammed and chased her to shallow water, eventually driving her aground on the reef at Kamimbo Bay, Guadalcanal. The wreck partially protrudes from the water.
Japanese submarine I-55
Japanese submarine "I-55" may refer to one of the following submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy:
6th Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)
Japan had prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor a diverse submarine fleet, some of which had unique distinctions: the only submarines in existence of over 5,000 tons submerged displacement, submarines over 400 feet in length (until the advent of nuclear power), the 41 submarines in its retinue (and of the world) that could carry specially designed aircraft, and submarines with the longest ranges and highest speeds of any nation. With the development of the Type 95 submarine-launched variant of the Long Lance oxygen-propelled torpedo, Japan not only had the world's most advanced torpedo, but one with the largest warhead.
Japanese submarine I-73
"I-73" participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor as part of the 3rd Submarine Squadron in the 6th Fleet of the IJN. It was one of the vessels created as part of Japan's 1st Naval Armaments Supplement Programme in 1931. On 27 January 1942, "I-73" became the first warship to be sunk by a United States Navy submarine; USS "Gudgeon" fired three torpedoes at "I-73" and destroyed it. "Gudgeon" claimed that the torpedoes only damaged "I-73", but Station HYPO confirmed the loss.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
These submarines had a two-man crew and were fitted with an internal warhead for suicide missions.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The ("I-40"-class) submarines ("I-40", , "I-42", "I-43", "I-44", "I-45") were externally similar to the Type B1, but with a high-tensile strength steel hull and diesel engines of a simpler design.
Type D submarine
The , also called or was a type of the 1st class submarine in the Imperial Japanese Navy serving during the Second World War. The type name, was shortened to .
Japanese submarine tender Chōgei
, was the second and final vessel of the s operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, from the 1920s through World War II. Along with her sister ship , she was the first purpose-built submarine tender in the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Yokosuka E6Y
The Imperial Japanese Navy was a pioneer in naval aviation, starting as early as 1912 with the purchase of two floatplanes from Britain and one from the United States. By December 1922, Japan had completed "Hōshō", which vies with as the first ship purpose-designed for aircraft operations. Alongside that development, the Navy also looked at aircraft as a way to extend the operational reach of their large submarine force. Aware of the challenge of operations in the large expanse of the Pacific Ocean, the Navy was particularly looking at ways to improve their reconnaissance capability and saw submarine-based aircraft as a complement to land--based patrol. They acquired a Caspar U.1 from the United States and a Parnall Peto from Britain, both early submarine-based reconnaissance aircraft. The two aircraft formed the basis for two prototype Japanese aircraft built for submarine-based reconnaissance, the 1-Go based on the former, while the latter heavily influenced the 2-Go.
Japanese submarine I-60
The Japanese submarine "I-60" was a cruiser submarine of the KD3B sub-class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1920s. The boat supported Japanese forces during the Dutch East Indies campaign in early 1942 until she was sunk by a British destroyer on 17 January.
Japanese submarine I-73
The Japanese submarine "I-73" was a "Kaidai" type cruiser submarine of the KD6A sub-class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1930s. One month after participating in the IJN's attack on Pearl Harbor, she was sunk by United States Navy submarine USS "Gudgeon".
Japanese submarines in the Pacific War
Japanese midget submarines were involved many actions during the Pacific war including the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Sydney Harbour.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The ("I-165"-class) submarines ("I-65"/"I-165", "I-66"/"I-166", "I-67") were similar to the Type KD4 but had an improved operating depth.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The submarines were also able to carry three Aichi M6A "Sei ran" aircraft, each carrying an bomb at . To fit the aircraft in the hangar the wings of the aircraft were folded back, the horizontal stabilizers folded down, and the top of the vertical stabilizer folded over so the overall profile of the aircraft was within the diameter of its propeller. A crew of four could prepare and get all three airborne in 45 minutes launching them with a 120-foot (37 m) catapult on the fore deck of the giant submarine.
Kaidai-type submarine
The was a type of first class submarine operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) before and during World War II. The type name was shortened to Navy Large Type Submarine.
Japanese submarine I-70
The Japanese submarine "I-70" was a "Kaidai" type of cruiser submarine active in World War II. A KD6 boat, "I-70" was built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in the early 1930s. At that time it was commanded by Commander Sano Takao.
Attack on Sydney Harbour
The Imperial Japanese Navy originally intended to use six submarines in the attack on Sydney Harbour: B1-type submarines , , , and , and C1-type submarines and . The six submarines made up the Eastern Attack Group of the 8th Submarine Squadron, under the command of Captain Hankyu Sasaki.
Japanese submarine I-30
I-30 was a Type B1 submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. After operating in the Indian Ocean she participated in a "Yanagi" mission, aimed at connecting Japan and Nazi Germany by submarine. She was the first Japanese submarine to reach Europe, arriving at Lorient, France in August 1942. "I-30" returned to Singapore loaded with military technology and information, but hit a mine outside the harbour and sank. Only part of her cargo was salvaged.
Yokosuka Naval Arsenal
The Yokosuka Naval District was established at Yokosuka, Kanagawa in 1884, as the first of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the Japanese home islands, and the Yokosuka Shipyards was renamed the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal in 1903. Japan had purchased five submarines from the American Electric Boat Company during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905. These Holland Type VII submarines were built by Arthur Leopold Busch as he traveled to Japan during this time. Mr. Busch was a naval architect and shipbuilder who represented the newly organized company (Electric Boat Company) now located at the Quincy Massachusett's shipyard known as the Fore River Ship and Engine Company. These first five submarines became Japan's (IJN) initial entry into the theater of underwater warfare that began nearly the same time as the outbreak of the war. Another representative of Electric Boat, Frank Cable, an electrician working for Isaac L. Rice's company trained two Japanese crews in the operation of such craft.
Scuttling
To prevent a Soviet inspection team from examining surrendered Imperial Japanese Navy submarines after World War II, the United States Navy conducted Operation Road's End, in which it scuttled 24 of the submarines in the East China Sea off Fukue Island on 1 April 1946. Nine more Japanese submarines followed on 5 April, and another six went down by early May. In addition, U.S. Navy submarines sank four surrendered Japanese submarines as targets in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii in May and June 1946, and the Royal Australian Navy sank six or seven (sources differ) surrendered Japanese submarines in the Seto Inland Sea on 8 May 1946 in Operation Bottom.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The or ("I-176"-class) submarines (, , , "I-179", , "I-181", "I-182", "I-183", "I-184", "I-185") were similar to the KD6 but with the torpedo tubes moved forward and a slightly improved operating depth.
Monsun Gruppe
The German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 had ended the use of overland routes which were for the delivery of strategic materials from southeast Asia, and few Axis ships were able to avoid Allied patrols of the North Atlantic. Japan was interested in exchanging military technology with Germany, the Japanese submarine "I-30" initiated the submerged transport of strategic materials in mid-1942 by delivering 1500 kg of mica and 660 kg of shellac. Japanese submarines designed for the vast distances of the Pacific were more capable transports than the compact German U-boats which were designed for operations around coastal Europe; but large Italian submarines had proved ineffective for convoy attacks. The Italian Royal Navy ("Regia Marina") converted seven Italian submarines operating from BETASOM into "transport submarines" in order to exchange rare or irreplaceable trade goods with Japan. They were: The "Bagnolin", the "Barbarigo", the "Cappellini" (renamed "Aquilla III" in May 1943), the "Finzi", the "Giuliani", the "Tazzoli" and the "Torelli".
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: "" "Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire", or "Nippon Kaigun", "Japanese Navy") was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 until 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's defeat and surrender in World War II. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) was formed after the dissolution of the IJN.
Japanese submarine I-11
The Japanese submarine "I-11" was a Type A1 submarine built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1940s.
Japanese submarine I-124
The submarine was the fourth Japanese submarine lost in action in World War II. It has been surrounded in controversy since it was lost. In World War II there were claims that two submarines had been lost in the attack on Darwin; that its crew remained alive for some time; and that divers heard crew movement inside the hull. Later it was reported by both Japanese and American sources that "the "I 124" with her Division Commander Keiyu Endo, embarked, sank with all those on board in water only forty feet deep. US Navy divers were sent down and entered the submarine, and removed naval code books, a godsend for the Navy codebreakers at Pearl Harbor". However, this was later disproved by historian Dr Tom Lewis, in his book "Sensuikan I-124"; later re-published as "Darwin's Submarine I-124".
Japanese submarine I-54 (1926)
The four Kaidai Type 3a vessels were the first mass-produced Japanese fleet submarines. Based largely on the indigenous Kaidai Type II ("I-52") a strengthened double hull, their design was also influenced by the largest of the German submarines in Japanese hands, the SM U-125. The hull had almost the same outer dimensions as the "I-52", but the increased thickness of the inner hull permitted a diving depth of 60 meters. Internal volume was slightly increased by making the hull slightly trapezoidal in cross-section, at the expense of 300 tons of additional displacement. External differences included an anti-submarine net cutter on the bow, as well as an O-ring for towing purposes.
Japanese Type 1 submarine
The was the first class submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Consisting of five vessels, these submarines were modified "Holland"-class vessels built in the United States.
Type A submarine
The was a class of submarine in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), which served during the Second World War. The "Type-A" submarines were built to take a role of the command ships for submarine squadrons. For this reason they had equipment for a headquarters, better radio facilities and a floatplane.
History of submarines
Meanwhile, the Imperial Russian Navy (IRN) purchased German constructed submersibles built by the Germaniawerft shipyards out of Kiel. In 1903 Germany successfully completed its first fully functional engine-powered submarine, "Forelle" (Trout), It was sold to Russia in 1904 and shipped via the Trans-Siberian Railway to the combat zone during the Russo-Japanese War.
Allied submarines in the Pacific War
During the war, submarines of the United States Navy were responsible for 55% of Japan's merchant marine losses; other Allied navies added to the toll. The war against shipping was the single most decisive factor in the collapse of the Japanese economy. Allied submarines also sank a large number of IJA troop transports, killing many thousands of Japanese soldiers and hampering the deployment of IJA reinforcements during the battles on the Pacific islands. They also conducted reconnaissance patrols, landed special forces and guerrilla troops and performed search and rescue tasks. The majority of the submarines involved were from the U.S. Navy, with the British Royal Navy committing the second largest number of boats and the Royal Netherlands Navy contributing smaller numbers of boats.
Imperial Japanese Navy
During the Russo-Japanese war, Japan also made frantic efforts to develop and construct a fleet of submarines. Submarines had only recently become operational military engines, and were considered to be special weapons of considerable potential. Naval losses for the Japanese Navy during the war amounted to two battleships, four cruisers, one armored cruiser, seven destroyers, and at least 10 torpedo boats; the majority of them were lost due to hitting Russian mines.
Japanese submarine I-165
The Japanese submarine "I-165 (I-65", until 20 May 1942) was a "Kaidai" type of cruiser submarine active in World War II. A KD5 sub-class boat, "I-165" was built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the early 1930s.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
However, as fuel oil diminished and air superiority was lost, Imperial submarines were no longer able to continue with such successes. Once the United States was able to increase its production of destroyers and destroyer escorts, as well as bringing over highly effective anti-submarine techniques learned during the Battle of the Atlantic, they continually took more and more of a toll on Imperial Japanese submarines, which also tended to be not as deeply diving as their "Kriegsmarine" counterparts.
Japanese submarine tender Karasaki
, was the first submarine tender operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was named after a cape on northern Tsushima Island.
Imperial Russian Navy
Due to the ongoing blockade of Port Arthur in 1904, the Imperial Russian Navy dispatched their remaining submarines to Vladivostok, and by the end of 1904 the last of seven subs had reached their new base there. Using the seven boats as a foundation, the Imperial Russian Navy created the world's first operational submarine fleet at Vladivostok on 1 January 1905. On 14 February 1905 the new "submarine fleet" sent out its first combat patrol consisting of the vessels "Som" and "Delfin". With patrols varying from 24 hours to a few days, the sub fleets first enemy contact occurred on 29 April 1905 when Imperial Japanese Navy torpedo boats fired upon "Som", withdrawing after failing to score a hit. On 1 July the Russian submarine "Keta" made contact with two Japanese torpedo boats in the Tartar Strait. "Keta" could not submerge quick enough to obtain a firing position and both adversaries broke contact.
I-121-class submarine
The was a class of submarine in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving from the 1920s to the Second World War. The IJN classed it as a . The type name, was shortened to .
Japanese submarine I-29
Only five other submarines had attempted this trans-oceanic voyage during World War II: (April 1942), (June 1943), (October 1943) and the German submarines (August 1943) and (May 1945). Of these, "I-30" was sunk by a mine and "I-34" by the British submarine . Later, the famous Japanese submarine would also share their fate. In 1945 the German "U-234" had completed part of the voyage to Japan when news of Germany's surrender to the Allies was announced, and the submarine subsequently was intercepted and boarded off Newfoundland; this marked the end of the German-Japanese submarine exchanges.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The submarines were double-hulled medium sized submarines. They were derived from the (KT or K5 type, "Ro-29"-class). Several variants existed. From 1934 to 1944, the (K6 type, "Ro-33"-class) and the (K7 type, "Ro-35"-class) were built. The K6 type was equipped with a 3.25 inch (80 mm) gun and Type 95 Long Lance torpedoes. Twenty units were built: , , "Ro-35", "Ro-36, Ro-37", "Ro-38", "Ro-39", "Ro-40", "Ro-41", "Ro-42", "Ro-43", "Ro-44", , "Ro-46", "Ro-47", "Ro-48", "Ro-49", "Ro-50", "Ro-55", "Ro-56".
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The was a class of midget submarines designed in 1943–1944, and produced from the beginning of 1945. These submarines were meant to meet the invading American Naval forces upon their anticipated approach of Tokyo.
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy acquired its first submarines in 1905 from Electric Boat Company, barely four years after the U.S. Navy had commissioned its own first submarine, . The ships were Holland designs and were developed under the supervision of Electric Boat's representative, Arthur L. Busch. These five submarines (known as Holland Type VII's) were shipped in kit form to Japan (October 1904) and then assembled at the Yokosuka, Kanagawa Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, to become hulls "No.1" through "5", and became operational at the end of 1905.
Japanese Type L submarine
The submarines were medium-sized submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), serving during the 1920s and World War II. The "Type L" submarines were built with Vickers naval technical guidance. All boats were built in the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries-Kobe Shipyard by the contract with Vickers.
Japanese submarine I-13
The Japanese submarine "I-13" was a Type AM submarine built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II.
Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Only six submarines attempted this trans-oceanic voyage during World War II: (mid-June to August 1942), (June 1943), (October 1943), (November 1943), and German submarines (August 1943) and (December 1944). Of these, "I-30" was partially successful but was later sunk by a mine, "I-8" completed her mission, "I-34" was sunk by British submarine , and "I-29" by the United States submarine, (assisted by Ultra intelligence). made the final attempt.
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.
Japanese submarine tender Komahashi
The Imperial Japanese Navy received its first submarines during the Russo-Japanese War, but these vessels were not operational until after the war ended. During the post-war period, submarine warfare was given a low priority for development, as the early submarines were regarded as unsafe, and useful only for short-range coastal point defense.