I-351-class submarine
![]() I-352 on 23 January 1948
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Class overview | |
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Name | I-351-class submarine |
Builders | Kure Naval Arsenal |
Operators | ![]() |
Built | 1943–1945 |
In commission | 1945 |
Planned | 6 |
Completed | 1 |
Cancelled | 4 |
Lost | 2 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Tanker/transport submarine |
Displacement |
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Length | 111.00 m (364 ft 2 in) (overall) |
Beam | 10.2 m (33 ft 6 in) |
Draft | 6.1 m (20 ft 0 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion | |
Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 90 m (300 ft) |
Complement | 77 + 13 aircrew |
Armament |
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The I-351-class submarine (
Design and description
[edit]The I-351-class submarines were ordered under the 5th Fleet Replenishment Program of 1942[1] to support IJN flying boats in areas where there were no shore facilities and seaplane tenders could not operate.[2] They were designed to support up to three flying boats with fuel, ammunition, water and even replacement aircrew.[1]
These submarines had a length of 111 meters (364 ft 2 in) overall, a beam of 10.2 meters (33 ft 6 in) and a draft of 6.1 meters (20 ft 0 in). They displaced 3,512 long tons (3,568 t) on the surface and 4,290 long tons (4,360 t) submerged. They had a diving depth of 90 meters (300 ft) and a crew of 77 officers and enlisted men plus accommodations for 13 aircrew.[2]
The boats had two propellers, each of which was driven by a 1,850-brake-horsepower (1,380 kW) diesel engine as well as a 600-shaft-horsepower (447 kW) electric motor. This arrangement gave the I-351-class submarines a maximum speed of 15.75 knots (29.17 km/h; 18.12 mph) while surfaced and 6.3 knots (11.7 km/h; 7.2 mph) submerged. They had a range of 13,000 nautical miles (24,000 km; 15,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) while on the surface and 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) while submerged. This gave them an endurance of 60 days.[2]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Bridge_of_IJN_submarine_I-351_in_1945.jpg/220px-Bridge_of_IJN_submarine_I-351_in_1945.jpg)
The boats were equipped with four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow and they carried four torpedoes. For surface combat they were designed to carry one 14-centimeter (5.5 in) deck gun, but this was unavailable when the submarines were under construction and three 81-millimeter (3.2 in) Type 3 mortars were substituted. The submarines were fitted with seven 25 mm Type 96 anti-aircraft guns, in two twin and three single mounts.[2]
The I-351-class submarines were initially equipped to carry 365 long tons (371 t) of aviation gasoline, 11 long tons (11 t) of fresh water, and either sixty 550-pound (250 kg) bombs or 30 bombs and 15 aircraft torpedoes. Four of the torpedoes could be replaced by an equal number of reload torpedoes for the submarine.[3]
Boats
[edit]Boat # | Name | Builder[2] | Launched[2] | Completed[2] | Fate[2] |
655 | I-351[4] | Kure Naval Arsenal | 24 February 1944 | 28 January 1945 | Sunk by USS Bluefish, 14 July 1945 |
656 | I-352 | 23 April 1944 | Sunk in air raid, 22 June 1945 | ||
657 | I-353 | Cancelled, 1943 | |||
730, 731, 732 | Cancelled, 1942 |
Construction and service
[edit]Only I-351 and I-352 were actually laid down, the other four submarines were cancelled before their keels were laid.[2]
I-351 was modified before completion into an oil tanker. The boat made one round trip from Singapore, carrying 132,000 US gallons (500,000 L; 110,000 imp gal) of aviation fuel, and was sunk on the return leg of her second trip in the South China Sea[5] at coordinates 04°30′N 110°00′E / 4.500°N 110.000°E by the American submarine Bluefish on 14 July 1945.[1] I-352 was 90 percent complete when she was destroyed during an air raid by Boeing B-29 heavy bombers on 22 July.[2]
Notes
[edit]Books
[edit]- Carpenter, Dorr; Polmar, Norman (1986). Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-396-6.
- Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter; Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
- Stille, Mark (2007). Imperial Japanese Navy Submarines 1941-45. New Vanguard. Vol. 135. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-090-1.
Further reading
[edit]- Rekishi, Gunzō (January 1998). "I-Gō Submarines". History of [the] Pacific War (in Japanese). Vol. 17. Tokyo: Gakken. ISBN 4-05-601767-0.
- Rekishi, Gunzō (March 2005). "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces". History of Pacific War Extra (in Japanese). Tokyo: Gakken. ISBN 4-05-603890-2.
- "'Japanese Naval Vessels No.43, "Japanese Submarines III"". The Maru Special (in Japanese). Japan: Ushio Shobō. September 1980.