Submarines of Japan 1941 1945. Submarines. "Perhaps the worst torpedoes"

19 Sep 2012

States located on islands have both advantages and weaknesses. On the one hand, the islanders are protected from massive invasion by wide water barriers, but on the other hand, these same barriers prevent the delivery of many things necessary for normal life to the islands. Therefore, island countries are forced to maintain powerful naval forces. With the advent of submarines, the islanders gained a new and very dangerous enemy.

World War I.

From the very beginning of the war, the submarines of both sides proved to be unexpectedly effective. This was explained by the rather disdainful attitude towards the submarine fleet that existed at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as by undeveloped anti-submarine defense systems, and both sides did not have both the means of destroying boats and tactics to prevent attacks. However, the first combat campaign of German submarines, which began on August 6, 1914, at the very beginning of the war, did not end very successfully. The first flotilla was sent towards the Orkney Islands for the purpose of long-range reconnaissance. And although the campaign ended in vain, and two boats were lost, it clearly showed that submarines are capable of long-distance crossings, which no one had previously imagined. The leadership of the British Navy did not believe that German submarines had sufficient autonomy to cover the distance from their bases to the shores of Great Britain, but the seaworthiness and cruising range of submarines of that time fully allowed transitions of such a scale. The first victim of German submarines was cruiser Pathfinder, sunk on September 5 by U-21. Great Britain did not wait long for revenge: on September 13, the British submarine E-9 (Max Horton) sank an obsolete German cruiser Hela.
22 September German submarine U-9 commanded by Otto Weddigen sank three British armored cruisers in less than two hours (a total of 36,000 tons, 1,459 killed, 837 saved). The attack caused shock in Britain, compounded by the fact that the cruiser crews were largely made up of family reservists and young cadets. Weddigen returned to base as a hero, all newspapers wrote about his victory, supplementing the articles with the opinion that the age of surface ships was coming to an end.

The German submarine U-9, which sank three British battleships in two hours.
The main harbor of the British fleet, Scapa Flow, had absolutely no anti-submarine protection. Therefore, the most powerful fleet in the world was either at sea or in one of the temporary anchorages, constantly fearing attack from submarines, which until recently had not been taken into account at all.
In general, in 1914, the activities of both sides were focused on the destruction of each other's warships. During this period, submarines of both sides sank a total of 8 cruisers and one battleship (HMS Formidable). A start was also given to the destruction of commercial shipping - On October 20, 1914, the U-17 boat sank the steamer Glitra, which became the first commercial steamer destroyed in the First World War. The steamer was sunk off the Norwegian coast, and all formalities of prize law were observed. In total, 300,000 tons of merchant tonnage were destroyed between October and December 1914.
On May 7, 1915, U-20 captain-lieutenant Walter Schwieger mistakenly torpedoed the transatlantic liner Lusitania. The ship was destroyed by a single torpedo and sank in just 20 minutes. 1,198 people died, including 128 US citizens. On May 15, the American government sent a note of protest in which it was reported that the ship was a passenger ship and its sinking was a manifestation of piracy on the open ocean, to which the Germans stated that the Lusitania was in waters declared a war zone, and that in all newspapers of the world a warning was published about the spread of hostilities to these areas. This event strained relations between Germany and the United States; there were endless exchanges of notes on payments to the families of the victims. This event also strained relations in the German Admiral Staff - the Kaiser was against unlimited submarine warfare, unlike Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz. Some historians believe that the sinking of the Lusitania predetermined US participation in the war.

"Lusitania" in the port of New York, after its maiden voyage (September 13, 1907)

During 1915, the war on sea communications led to the following losses:
228 Entente merchant ships were sunk - a total tonnage of 651,572 tons.
89 neutral ships were sunk - a total tonnage of 120,254 tons.
German losses from all causes amounted to 19 submarines. (33% of personnel).

In total, between 1914 and 1918, ships with a total tonnage of over 16 million tons were sunk.

The Second World War.

The lessons of the First World War were not in vain and all maritime powers began to intensively build submarines and anti-submarine defense ships. By the beginning of the Second World War, the fleets of the leading maritime powers included the following number of submarines (as of June 1941):
Germany - 57;
USA - 99;
France - 77;
Italy - 115;
Japan - 63;
Great Britain - 69;
USSR - 211.

Submarine type "C" (eska, stalinka)) developed by order of the Soviet side by the German-Dutch design bureau IvS. A total of 41 submarines entered service.

During the war, all submarines of foreign countries (except the USSR) sunk 4,330 transport ships with a total capacity of about 22.1 million tons. tons, 395 warships were destroyed, including: 75 submarines, 17 aircraft carriers, 3 battleships, 122 destroyers and 146 ships of other types. 1,123 submarines were lost.
Submarines of the USSR Navy sank 328 transports, 70 warships and 14 auxiliary ships of the enemy with a total displacement of 938 thousand tons.

Model of the German submarine U47, type VIIB.

At the same time, technically, the submarines of this period remained for the most part very imperfect and were essentially “diving” - they could dive to a depth of 100-150 meters, and remain under water for a relatively short time, measured in hours and depending on the battery charge and oxygen supply . The submarine spent most of its time on the surface, and attacks were often carried out from the surface; this was especially typical for German submariners before 1941 when attacking convoys at night.
The Allies' use of radar to search for submarines sharply increased the losses of the German submarine fleet. The need arose to ensure the operation of boats both on a voyage and on a combat course in a submerged position. However, the duration of the stroke on the electric motor was limited by the need for frequent ascent to recharge the batteries. And the diesel engine could not operate submerged due to the limited volume of air in the boat’s hull, which was necessary, first of all, for purging ballast tanks and ensuring the life of the crew. In addition, in a submerged position, a speed of 5-6 knots could be maintained for no more than 45 minutes. With convoy speeds that could reach 10 knots, this extremely limited the boat's ability to maneuver for a successful underwater attack.
It seemed possible to solve the problem that had arisen by using the engine engineer Walter created back in 1937, which runs on hydrogen peroxide and does not require oxygen to burn the combustible mixture. It was planned to equip a new boat with a streamlined hull with such an engine. It was expected that it would make a revolution, as it would provide underwater speeds of up to 25 knots.
However, it turned out that it was impossible to create Walter’s boat within the required time frame. It was decided on the basis of this boat to create a boat with double the number of batteries with a displacement of 1600 tons, in which, to ensure the operation of the diesel engine in a submerged position, use a snorkel - a system of hoses for sucking in air and exhausting exhaust gases. As a result, a boat was created with an underwater speed of 18 knots for 1.5 hours; 12-14 knots for 10 hours and 5 knots for 60 hours. At the same time, the boat was able to break away from pursuit in a submerged position.
Aug 17 1940 Hitler declared a complete blockade of the British Isles, and neutral ships heading to England were also subject to destruction.

Gunther Prien (January 16, 1908 - probably March 7, 1941) was one of the most successful submariners of the Kriegsmarine, carried out a successful operation to penetrate the British fleet raid in Scapa Flow harbor and torpedo the battleship HMS Royal Oak.

From June 1, 1940 to July 1, 1941 Great Britain lost 899 ships, its allies and neutral powers - 471, these losses were three times greater than the production at the shipyards of England and the United States. The average weekly import of 1.2 million tons (excluding oil) in June 1940 dropped to 0.8 million tons by December. About half of the merchant marine losses were due to U-boats, although by the end of 1940 the Royal Navy and Air Force had sunk 31 boats, leaving Hitler with only 22 boats. However, in 1941 shipyards increased production to 18 boats per month, and in August the Germans constantly had a fleet of 100 units.

In the first six months of 1942 Allied losses from submarines reached a critical point of 900 ships (4 million tons) and for the year amounted to 1,664 ships (7,790,697 tons), with 1,160 ships becoming victims of submarines. But the British mastery of the Asdik underwater detection system, radars, convoying by naval “support groups”, and the use of long-range aviation in the coast guard made it possible to reduce these losses in the future.

In 1943 Under the command of Admiral Doenitz, the submarine fleet reached a strength of 250 ships and sank allied ships in the Atlantic with a total displacement of 500,000 tons, but in March - May a record number of submarines was sunk - 67. These were unsustainable losses for Germany, and Doenitz recalled submariners for rest and repair. The turning point came in June, when Allied losses dropped to 28,000 tons. The failure of the German blockade and the construction of the Liberty ships in the United States allowed shipbuilding to make up for losses in late 1943. The Battle of the Atlantic was won by the end of 1944, but submarines continued to fight until the very end, sinking 10 ships (52,000 tons) in the last five weeks of the war ) and having lost 23 ships with crews. When Germany surrendered, 156 crews obeyed Doenitz's orders and surrendered, and 221 crews sank their boats. Statistics say nothing about the struggle for the lives of merchant seamen, of whom 30,248 people. died. The Royal Navy lost 51,578 men. killed and missing. U-boats sank a total of 2,828 allied or neutral ships (14,687,230 tons, of which 11,500,000 tons were British).

War in the Pacific.
Japan's island position and dependence on the import of strategic raw materials and food have always been its vulnerable side. This vulnerability especially increased with the capture of the Dutch East Indies and numerous territories in the South Seas, when the front stretched for 15,000-16,000 miles. The thrust of Japanese aggression in a southern direction required the navy and aviation to solve additional problems related to providing transportation in various areas of the Pacific Ocean. These circumstances increased the importance and role of ocean and sea communications. The protection of merchant shipping became very important.

The main communications of Japan, determined by the direction of expansion, took place in the western and southwestern parts of the Pacific Ocean. They connected the ports and bases of Japan itself with China, Korea, Indo-China, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, as well as with the island areas of the front line in the southern and central parts of the Pacific Ocean.

Through these communications, a cargo flow of strategic raw materials and food went to Japan; and troops, weapons and military equipment were transferred from Japan. To ensure these transportations, Japan at the beginning of the war had a merchant fleet with a total displacement of 6,337,000 tons.
In the pre-war years, anti-submarine defense in the Japanese fleet was mainly built on the basis of the requirements of preparations for war against the Soviet Union. It was believed that if anti-submarine defense blocked the exit of Soviet submarines from the Sea of ​​Japan, then the problems of ensuring Japanese communications in the Pacific Ocean would be solved. And as a result, it was planned to block all exits from the Sea of ​​Japan to the Pacific Ocean by installing mines and anti-submarine network barriers. During this period, Japan paid attention to the development of positional anti-submarine weapons and the construction of large surface ships and aircraft carriers.
This one-sided development of the Japanese fleet led to the fact that the anti-submarine defense was not prepared to protect its merchant shipping and remained weak throughout the entire period of hostilities in the Pacific Ocean; the composition of the forces and assets of the Japanese fleet did not meet the requirements for the protection of widespread sea and ocean transport ok. In addition to the 14 specially built anti-submarine ships that were in service at the beginning of hostilities, the Japanese planned to build 233 escort ships during 1942-1945. However, this plan was not implemented.
A huge number of motor and sailing fishing vessels were brought in to combat submarines. But these ships, lacking hydroacoustics and radar, could not be effective anti-submarine defense forces.

The losses suffered by the Japanese merchant fleet already in the first year of the war significantly exceeded all the assumptions of the Japanese command. However, no decisive measures were taken to ensure and protect maritime transport, except for some expansion of the construction of anti-submarine ships. The overall composition of the escort forces continued to remain insufficient. In 1943, the anti-submarine forces of the Japanese fleet had only 50 ships, including several destroyers built in 1920-1925.
The operations of American submarines began in mid-December 1941: three boats were deployed off the coast of Japan, three in the Marshall Islands. Almost simultaneously, a significant number of submarines of the Asian Fleet went to sea to operate in the East China Sea, in the Formosa Strait and in the area of ​​the Philippine Islands. Since the spring of 1942, the combat areas of boats have expanded somewhat. Some of the boats operated in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and in the Kuril Islands area. By the end of 1942, up to 20-25 submarines were operating at sea simultaneously.
The increase in the intensity of maritime traffic in 1942, caused by the Japanese advance and the capture of new areas in the southwestern and southern parts of the Pacific Ocean, greatly facilitated American submarines to search for and establish contact with convoys. From December 1941 to December 1942, submarines carried out 570 torpedo attacks, with 1,508 torpedoes fired - a successful attack rate of 24.4%. In 1942, the average monthly loss of the Japanese merchant fleet was 46,800 tons.

Sinking ship.

With the installation of radar equipment on submarines in the second half of 1942, which was used to detect surface and air targets, night torpedo attacks from the surface began to be used.
In 1943, the average monthly loss of Japanese merchant tonnage continued to increase and amounted to about 114,200 tons. During this year, submarines of the American fleet carried out 1,049 torpedo attacks, while 3,937 torpedoes were fired. In connection with general improvements in the situation for the combat activities of American submarines (improved basing, equipping boats with radar and improved hydroacoustics), the success of their attacks also increased slightly, amounting to 29.4% in 1943.
In 1944, the United States significantly expanded the construction of submarines, by the end of the year their number had increased to 156. By this time, the old S-class submarines were withdrawn from the active fleet. The efforts of the submarines were concentrated mainly against shipping on communications connecting Japan with forward bases in the middle and southern parts of the Pacific Ocean and ports of the Dutch East Indies. The average monthly loss of enemy merchant tonnage in 1944 was 205,000 tons.
The submarines inflicted very significant losses on the Japanese tanker fleet. In the first six months of 1944, they sank a relatively large number of tankers with a total capacity of about 190,000 tons, which significantly hampered the import of oil to Japan. In the second half of 1944, the Japanese, by strengthening anti-submarine protection of tankers and guiding them along coastal communications with shallow depths, making it difficult to maneuver boats under water, managed not only to preserve the remaining tanker fleet, but also to ensure some of its growth. The total tonnage of the merchant fleet, with some improvement in the convoy system, remained capable of providing transportation of raw materials and food.
During the entire war in the Pacific Ocean, submarines of the American fleet sank 1,150 Japanese merchant ships with a total displacement of about 4,860,000 tons, which is approximately 57% of the total losses.

Along with submarines, American surface ships and aircraft also operated on Japanese sea and ocean communications, as a result of which about 5% were sunk by surface ships, and about 31% of Japan's merchant tonnage was sunk by aircraft.

The losses of the Japanese merchant fleet as a result of the actions of American forces were as follows (figures for ships and tonnage sunk by submarines are given in parentheses):

1942: 202 (133) ships, 952,965 (561,472) tons;

1943 437 (308) ships, 1,793,430 (1,366,960) tons;

1944 969 (560) ships, 3835377 (2460914) tons;

1945 (for 8 months) 709 (155) ships, 1503944 (447593) tons.

From the above data it follows that the main American forces in the fight against Japan’s sea and ocean communications were submarines.

American submarine from World War II.

While acting against merchant shipping, American submarines simultaneously delivered sensitive blows to Japanese warships, especially during the period when Japan abandoned its positions in the central and southwestern parts of the Pacific Ocean. Over 250 warships were sunk by boats, including: 1 battleship, 13 aircraft carriers, 13 cruisers, 38 destroyers and 22 submarines.
Significant losses of the Japanese merchant and naval fleet as a result of the actions of American submarines were determined primarily by the weak anti-submarine defense in the Japanese fleet and, secondly, by the fact that the combat activities of submarines took place in conditions of superiority of American naval and air forces in the Pacific ocean over Japanese forces.

Nevertheless, the Americans lost 52 submarines: in 1942 - 8; in 1943-17; in 1944-19 and for eight months of 1945 - 8 boats. Most of them were sunk by Japanese surface ships.

As a result, American submarines caused great damage to the Japanese economy, merchant shipping and the navy.

I shared with you the information that I “dug up” and systematized. At the same time, he is not at all impoverished and is ready to share further, at least twice a week. If you find errors or inaccuracies in the article, please let us know. I will be very grateful.

In the spring of 1946, eight months after the end of World War II in the United States, a decision was made at the highest government level to send one of the most advanced Japanese weapons systems to the ocean floor to avoid it falling into the hands of the USSR.

At the height of the war, American scientists tried to uncover the secrets of atomic energy, the Nazis developed ballistic missiles to bomb cities hundreds of kilometers from the launch site, the Japanese also created secret weapons to bomb the American cities of Washington, New York, Miami, San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco and thus force the US to surrender. Today, decades later, a team of experts examines what America wanted to keep secret.

At a depth of about 800 meters, researchers from the University of Hawaii at O'aho discovered a World War II shipwreck that was often discussed but never found. This global weapons system was so secret that the Americans did not know of its existence until after the war.

The top secret history of the I-400 submarines began immediately after the deadly Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. At that time, the Japanese fleet was the most powerful in the Pacific. The developer of the Japanese attack on the American base was Harvard University graduate Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. His goal was to deal such a powerful blow to America that the civilian population would lose heart and ask Japan for an armistice. As a result of the attack, 5 battleships were sunk, 3 destroyers and several dozen small ships were damaged. And fortunately for the Americans, all three aircraft carriers were on the high seas at that time. But this was not the only failure of the Japanese military plan. They also seriously underestimated the US desire for revenge. The day after Pearl Harbor, America declared war on Japan. Far from losing heart, they began to rebuild their damaged navy and devoted their defensive resources to defeating Japan.

But if Japan wanted to force America to the negotiating table, Yamamoto had to figure out a way to force it onto the defensive, where it could demoralize the civilian population and make the war too costly for the United States. And he had to do it quickly. In the months following Pearl Harbor, the admiral was immersed in finding ways to start a war in the heart of the United States, despite the fact that this country is located thousands of kilometers from Japan. He looked closely at the success of the German U-boat submarines, bringing death to ships in the Atlantic Ocean. If German submarines were able to get close to the east coast of the United States, then why not Japanese submarines terrorize the west coast. To test his theory, Yamamoto ordered a series of operations along the American coast. He sent a Japanese submarine to Santa Barbara, California to attack an oil refinery. The damage was minor, but the entire coast was gripped by fear of a possible Japanese invasion. Such a strong reaction led the admiral to believe that a series of attacks on American land could lead to serious upheaval, and perhaps force the Americans to abandon the war. However, to carry out his plan, he needed to have much more firepower than one small submarine could carry. An aircraft carrier with a flotilla of bombers was ideal for this mission, but the United States, being in a state of full combat readiness, would not allow the aircraft carrier to reach the coast. Yamamoto soon had an idea that would change the rules of war. He decided to combine the firepower of an aircraft carrier with the stealth of a submarine. As a result, the underwater aircraft carrier that the Japanese need so much will be created in order to turn the tide of the war.

The idea of ​​placing an aircraft on a submarine is not new, but only for very specific tasks - reconnaissance. But the Japanese admiral wanted to know whether an aircraft launched from under water could become an instrument not only for reconnaissance, but also for attack. To do this, he ordered another experimental mission. This time, a small plane launched from a submarine dropped incendiary bombs over Oregon to start a forest fire. The fire did not start, but the operation convinced Yamamoto that the submarine could slip past the coastal defenses undetected and strike unsuspecting civilians. If just one plane launched from underwater can spark panic, perhaps a whole fleet of such planes will be able to bring a terrified America to its knees. Yamamoto soon ordered his engineers to develop a fleet of submarine aircraft carriers that could sail undetected across the Pacific Ocean, and to launch a squadron of high-tech bombers to attack cities from the west coast before disappearing without a trace, like the German submarines. However, Yamamoto wanted more from the super submarine, he wanted his new weapon to terrify Americans through attacks on Manhattan and perhaps even Washington.

The admiral named this class of submarines the I-400 Sentoku and declared the project top secret. Now the Japanese had to figure out how to build this super weapon in time, and so that it would have an effect on the course of military operations, because at that time the United States was rapidly working on its own top secret weapon - an atomic bomb codenamed “Manhattan”. The Americans suspected that the Germans and Japanese were working on creating their own atomic bombs, so they were in a hurry.

The standard submarine in those days was cigar-shaped, with a cylindrical hull up to 100 meters long. Back then, no one knew whether a typical submarine could sail with a heavy hangar and three aircraft on deck. Japanese shipbuilders had to find a way to mount aircraft on a submarine without disturbing its delicate balance. And a solution was found - two hulls of class I-14 boats, balancing each other, made the design of the submarine very stable. Having now solved their most basic problem, the Japanese were able to begin building their new super weapon and put it into operation. The creation of these giant submarines began in January 1943. Due to severe shortages of steel and labor in Japan, Admiral Yamamoto was able to order the construction of only 18 submarine aircraft carriers, each of which could carry up to 3 bombers with one bomb each. This meant that a maximum of 54 bombs could be dropped in one operation. The admiral understood that such a quantity was unlikely to cause serious damage to American cities, and then he began to consider other possibilities - bacteriological weapons. There was no doubt that such a weapon of mass destruction would cause enormous casualties and would be much more effective in creating panic among American citizens than a typical bomb.

In January 1943, in parallel with the construction of the first Japanese super submarine, I-401, the Navy was also building a secret bomber, transported in a waterproof hangar on board the submarine. The new aircraft was named Aichi M6A1 Seiran, meaning “storm on a clear day.” Not a bad name for the plane of Admiral Yamamoto’s surprise attack.

The newest bomber has become a major addition to the Japanese battle fleet. The main miracle of the aircraft was its efficiency. Two-seat bomber equipped with a 1400 hp engine. could carry a bomb up to 800 kg. With a maximum speed of 600 km/h, it was suitable for missions with a radius of up to 1000 km. However, Japanese aircraft designers encountered a problem - the aircraft had a wingspan of 12 meters. Although the Japanese submarine was wider than any of its predecessors, the aircraft hangar installed on its deck was only 3.5 m in diameter, and did not allow a bomber to be placed in it without dismantling the wings. For Japanese designers this was not a particular problem. The solution was found in laying some of the fuselage structures in a space equal to the circumference of the propeller, and being slightly more than 3 m in diameter. For folding, the Seyran bomber had movable central spars; horizontal stabilizers that deviated towards the bottom; folding edges of the vertical stabilizer, and the ends of the fin.

But there was one more problem that Japanese aircraft designers had to solve. Once the super submarine arrived at its destination, it could take up to 20 minutes for each bomber's engine to warm up before takeoff. Running the engines in the hangar while the submarine was underwater exposed the crew to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, but the Japanese found a wise solution. Marine engineers suggested using a separate container for heating engine oil, since an unheated substance has a high viscosity and does not allow the aircraft engine to start effectively. Warm oil was always ready to be pumped into the cylinders and valves.

The bomber was launched from a submarine in several stages. The aircraft, filled with heated engine oil, was rolled out of the hangar onto the starting track, then the engine was started, at which time the wings, fin and horizontal tail were brought into flight position and fixed. Then the floats were attached to the plane. The device is ready for takeoff. The bombers were launched using a 36-meter catapult located on the bow of the Sentoku submarine. A team of 4 people could prepare and launch three aircraft within 40 minutes.

There is one more thing left to clarify. The Sentoku submarine was very short and planes could not land on it, so the returning bombers splashed down on the water, from where they were “hoisted” back onto the deck using a special hydraulic crane. After solving all design problems, the Sentoku program was given the green light. Everything went according to plan, but unexpectedly in April 1943, the Japanese fleet suffered a huge loss - the plane carrying Admiral Yamamoto was shot down over the Solomon Islands. Having lost the program's patron, the pace of development was slowed down. The order for super submarines was immediately reduced from 18 to 9. Only 1.5 years after the death of the admiral, his newest weapon saw the light of day.

In December 1944, the creation of the first super submarine, I-401, was finally completed. A couple of months later the second one was ready for use. With a displacement of 6,500 tons, the Sentoku was three times larger than any other submarine. class I-401 with a length of 122 meters remained the largest in the world until the 60s, when the baton was taken over by modern Soviet-made nuclear submarines. These monsters were real fortresses, capable of operating both underwater and on the surface. The underwater aircraft carrier carried three naval dive bombers in a 31-meter-long hangar. The pneumatic catapult launched aircraft even in rough seas. In addition, she had artillery armament consisting of a 140 mm cannon in the stern, 4 anti-aircraft installations that protected against air attacks, and 8 bow torpedo tubes. Submarine aircraft carriers were equipped with four 3000 hp engines, and could make one and a half revolutions around the globe without refueling. With such capabilities, Japan could attack anywhere and anytime. The crew for the submarines was selected from the officer elite, who were treated well. Although the morale of the crews was high, the Japanese command was aware of the real state of affairs in the naval forces.

By 1944, Japan was backed into a corner. The American fleet dominated the Pacific, and the empire in the southern latitudes was falling apart. The military leadership hoped to win back by cutting off the supply of supplies to the Allied troops. The Panama Canal was taken into account, the destruction of the locks of which would force the Americans and their allies to send theirs from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean through Cape Horn, where Japanese submarines would be waiting for them.

This goal was very difficult, since the locks of Lake Gatun were carefully guarded by anti-aircraft guns. The option of dropping bombs from a great height was considered, but there was almost no chance of a hit, because from a height of 4 thousand meters the airlocks were no thicker than a hair. And with only 6 planes with one bomb on board, each had no room for error. Like all attacks in the last days of the war, in this case it all came down to a tokko - a kamikaze mission, that is, a mission without return.

While the Japanese fleet was preparing for its secret mission in the Panama Canal, the American project was also preparing its operation. The committee discussed a list of targets for possible nuclear bombs. Hiroshima was one of the 5 recommended cities. While each country tried to deploy its secret weapon, Allied forces landed on the island of Okinawa, just 1,500 km from Tokyo. In fierce battles, Japan lost thousands of people and hundreds of pieces of military equipment. The American invasion of Japan seemed inevitable and then the Japanese naval leadership changed the assignment of the Sentoku submarines. Their new target was Ulithi Atoll, which served as a staging post for the huge American fleet preparing to invade Japan. Aircraft carriers were chosen as targets. Two super submarines I-401, I-402 and two additional submarines for backup were sent on the mission. To increase the chances of success, the command ordered American identification marks to be applied to Japanese bombers, which violated the rules of war. But the operation was plagued by failures. On the way to the atoll, one of the smaller submarines was sunk by an American warship. All 140 submariners died. Trying to avoid a collision with enemy ships, the Japanese command decided to change the meeting place of the submarines, but the message was not received and the group did not reach the rendezvous point.

At this time, the world learns shocking news - America used its secret weapon against Japan, dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6 and on Nagasaki on August 9. Six days later, on August 15, Emperor Hirahito announced Japan's surrender. On the evening of August 22, the crews of the submarine aircraft carriers received orders to dump all weapons and ammunition into the sea. There was no idea of ​​how to give up. The loss of honor by the imperial fleet was washed away with the blood of the senior commander. The rest of the team had to return and revive the country.

Soon all the crews of the Japanese super submarines were captured. The first of the unique boats was captured by the Americans on I-401. To do this, 44 military specialists landed on board the unprecedented submarine. All equipment was very different from American systems. They quickly realized that the ship they were on was unlike any they had ever seen before. The submarine had two hulls, each with its own engine room.

After the Japanese submarine crews were returned home, in December 1945 the sailors decided to bring one unusual ship to the United States for further study at Pearl Harbor. The captured submarine I-401 arrived in America just after the New Year, but the US Navy wasted no time. They studied and described every detail of the super-submarine's design. However, by the spring of 1946, new times had come, and the secret Japanese submarines were again shrouded in secrecy. This time the US hid them from the Soviet Union, who did not want the unique technology to fall into the hands of the Soviets. To get ahead of the Russians, who might send a delegation to inspect the super submarines, the US Navy decided to tow 24 captured submarines to Sasebo Bay on the west coast of Japan to study their new secret weapon in great detail. But while the study of unique submarines was underway, an unexpected order was received - to destroy and sink all captured submarines. Thus, the operation called “Deadlock” was launched. Hundreds of tons of explosives were delivered to Sasebo Bay. The charges were placed in the engines and torpedo tubes of all Japanese submarines. On the morning of April 1, 1946, the Japanese submarine fleet was delivered to its final stop in an area called “Point Abyss 6.” It took American sailors only 3 hours to send the submarines to the bottom. On the morning of May 31, 1946, the super submarine I-401 was also destroyed near Pearl Harbor, with which a unique masterpiece of naval technology was lost. Now no one will ever know their true potential.

Despite the fact that the chances of success were very low, it is difficult to disagree that the Sentoku I-400 class boats were amazing weapons. They were a triumph of technology that arrived too late. But in this aspect, the precedent itself in the field of underwater warfare, created on the eve of the atomic era, is more important. In the 50s, a new type of American submarine appeared that was strikingly reminiscent of the Japanese submarine. The Regulus class, with its hangar on deck and designed to launch missiles instead of aircraft, paved the way for the ballistic missile submarines that are now the mainstay of the nuclear arsenal.

The third largest island of Hawaii, an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine has been discovered. The unique ship from the Second World War I-400 of the Sentoku class is the largest among all submarines before the era of nuclear submarines and has long been on the list of the most wanted trophies by the Americans.

“The boat is located in an area where it was least expected to be found, so when the instrument screens showed the presence of an anomaly at the bottom, we did not fully believe in success,” says Terry Kerby from the Hawaii Underwater Research Laboratory. “It looks huge.” a geometrically complex structure, suddenly revealed in the dark, produces an indescribable impression.”

Sentoku-class submarines were a challenge not only to the enemies of the Japanese Empire, but also to nature itself. The I-400 was 122 meters long, had space to accommodate three aircraft, and could travel up to 37.5 thousand nautical miles or 70 thousand kilometers - a record among diesel boats that has not been broken to this day.

“The I-400 was and remains the only ship of its kind,” says Terry Kirby. “The submarine had a range that allowed it to circle the globe one and a half times, so nothing prevented it from reaching the west coast of the United States and striking cities, military installations or infrastructure."

However, the Sentoku never took part in combat operations. In 1943, 18 boats of this type were laid down, but only three were built. By mid-1945, the Japanese fleet had lost the strategic initiative in the Pacific confrontation with the United States, and in August 1945, Soviet troops defeated a million-strong Japanese group in the Far East in less than a month.

After the surrender, the US Navy exports the captured I-400 to Hawaii, but the USSR makes demands, based on an agreement with the allies, to provide access to the submarines of Soviet military specialists. In order to prevent the Soviets from gaining access to secret Japanese technologies, the Americans decide to sink the submarines.

“The creation of the I-400 marked a new stage in the development of naval doctrine,” says underwater archaeologist and historian James Delgado. “Before their introduction, submarines were used exclusively for covert attacks on other ships.”

The aviation available to the Sentoku-class ships was represented by Aichi M6A Seiran seaplanes. These light bombers were launched into the sky using a special catapult and were capable of carrying a bomb or torpedo weighing up to 800 kilograms.

“The I-400 submarines will foreshadow the future of submarines,” says James Delgado. “The evolution of submarine designs after World War II will go precisely in the direction of creating a large, hermetically sealed space on board, like the hangar on the Sentoku, only instead of airplanes, the ships will carry ballistic missiles ".

We would like to add that I-400 was discovered using the Pysis research vehicles back in August 2013, but the discovery was announced only now, after officials from the United States and Japan visited the site.

A series of ocean patrol submarines of the Junsen-1 type consisted of 4 units (“I-1” - “I-4”), built at the Kawasaki shipyard and commissioned in 1926-1929. All boats were lost in 1942-1944. Boat performance characteristics: standard surface displacement – ​​2 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​2.1 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​2.8 thousand tons; length – 94 m, width – 9.2 m; draft – 5 m; immersion depth – 80 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power 6/2.6 thousand hp speed – 18 knots; cruising range - 24 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 175 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 92 people. Armament: 2x1 – 140 mm gun; 2x1 – 7.7 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 20 torpedoes.

The underwater patrol ocean boat “I-5” of the “Junsen-1m” type was built at the Kawasaki shipyard and commissioned in 1932. The boat was lost in 1944. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 2.1 thousand tons. full – 2.2 thousand tons, underwater – 2.9 thousand tons; length – 94 m, width – 9.1 m; draft – 5 m; immersion depth – 80 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power 6/2.6 thousand hp speed – 18 knots; cruising range - 24 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 160 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 93 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 2x1 – 7.7 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 20 torpedoes.

The underwater ocean patrol boat “I-6” of the “Junsen-2” type was built at the Kawasaki shipyard and commissioned in 1935. The boat was lost in 1944. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 1.9 thousand tons. full – 2.2 thousand tons, underwater – 3.1 thousand tons; length – 92 m, width – 9.1 m; draft – 5.3 m; immersion depth – 80 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power 8/2.6 thousand hp speed – 20 knots; cruising range - 20 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 190 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 97 people. Armament: 1x1 – 127 mm gun; 1x1 – 13.2 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 17 torpedoes.

Ocean patrol submarines “I-7” and “I-8” of the “Junsen-3” type were built at the Kure KK and Kawasaki shipyards and commissioned in 1937-1938. The boats were lost in 1943 and 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 2.2 thousand tons, full - 2.5 thousand tons, underwater - 3.5 thousand tons; length – 103 m, width – 9.1 m; draft – 5.3 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power 11.2/2.8 thousand hp speed - 23 knots; cruising range - 14 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 230 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 100 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 1x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 1x1 and 2x1– 13.2 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 21 torpedoes.

The ocean-going submarine "I-51" of the "Kaidai" type was built as a test submarine at the Kure K K shipyard and commissioned in 1924. In 1930-1939. was used as a training one. The boat died in 1941. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 1.5 thousand tons, underwater - 2.4 thousand tons; length – 87 m, width – 8.8 m; draft – 4.6 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power 5.2/2 thousand hp speed – 20 knots; cruising range - 20 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 160 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 60 people. Armament: 1x1 – 120 mm gun; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 24 torpedoes.

The ocean-going submarine I-52 of the Kaidai-2 type was built as a test submarine at the Kure K K shipyard and commissioned in 1925. In 1940-1942. was used as a training one. In 1945, the boat surrendered to Great Britain, decommissioned in 1948. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 1.4 thousand tons, full - 1.5 thousand tons, underwater - 2.5 thousand tons; length – 94.6 m, width – 7.6 m; draft – 5.1 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power 6.8/2 thousand hp speed – 22 knots; cruising range - 10 thousand miles; fuel reserve – 110 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 60 people. Armament: 1x1 – 120 mm gun; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 24 torpedoes.

The series of ocean-going submarines of the Kaidai-3a type consisted of 4 units (I-53, I-54, I-55, I-58), built at the Kure K K and Sasebo shipyards K K", "Yokohama K K" and commissioned in 1927-1928. All boats capitulated to Great Britain in 1945 and were decommissioned in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 1.6 thousand tons, full - 1.8 thousand tons, underwater - 2.3 thousand tons; length – 94.6 m, width – 8 m; draft – 4.8 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power 6.8/1.8 thousand hp speed – 22 knots; cruising range - 10 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 190 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 64 people. Armament: 1x1 – 120 mm gun; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 16 torpedoes.

The Oken series of submarines of the "Kaidai-3b" type consisted of 4 units ("I-56", "I-57", "I-59", "I-60"), built at the shipyards "Kure K K", "Sasebo" K K", "Yokohama K K" and commissioned in 1929-1930. The boat “I-60” died in 1942, the rest were decommissioned in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 1.6 thousand tons, full - 1.8 thousand tons, underwater - 2.3 thousand . T.; length – 94.6 m, width – 7.9 m; draft - 4.9 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 6.8/1.8 thousand hp. speed – 20 knots; cruising range - 10 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 190 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 79 people. Armament: 1x1 – 120 mm gun; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 16 torpedoes.

The Oken series of submarines of the "Kaidai-4" type consisted of 3 units ("I-61", "I-62", "I-64"), built at the shipyards "Kure K K", "Mitsubishi" and commissioned in 1929-1930 Boats “I-61” and “I-64”) were lost in 1941-1942, “I-62” were decommissioned in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 1.6 thousand tons, full - 1.7 thousand tons, underwater – 2.3 thousand tons; length – 91 m, width – 7.8 m; draft – 4.8 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 6/1.8 thousand hp. speed – 20 knots; cruising range - 10.8 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 190 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 58 people. Armament: 1x1 – 120 mm gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 14 torpedoes.

The Oken series of submarines of the "Kaidai-5" type consisted of 3 units ("I-65", "I-66", "I-67"), built at the shipyards "Kure K K", "Sasebo K K", "Mitsubishi" and commissioned in 1932. All boats were lost in 1940-1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement – ​​1.6 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​1.7 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​2.3 thousand tons; length – 90.5 m, width – 8.2 m; draft – 4.7 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 6/1.8 thousand hp. speed - 20.5 knots; cruising range - 10.8 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 190 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 75 people. Armament: 1x1 – 100 mm gun; 1x1 – 13.2 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 14 torpedoes.

The series of ocean-going submarines of the "Kaidai-6a" type consisted of 6 units ("I-68" - "I-73"), built at the shipyards "Kure K K", "Sasebo K K", "Mitsubishi", "Kawasaki" and commissioned in 1934-1937. All boats were lost in 1941-1944. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement – ​​1.4 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​1.8 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​2.4 thousand tons; length – 98.4 m, width – 8.2 m; draft – 4.6 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 9/1.8 thousand hp. speed - 23 knots; cruising range - 14 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 230 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 84 people. Armament: 1x1 – 100 mm or 120 mm gun; 1x1 – 13.2 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 14 torpedoes.

Ocean-going submarines “I-74” and “I-75” of the “Kaidai-6b” type were built at the shipyards “Sasebo K”, “Mitsubishi” and commissioned in 1938. Both boats died in 1944. Performance characteristics of the boat: displacement surface standard – 1.4 thousand tons, full – 1.8 thousand tons, underwater – 2.7 thousand tons; length – 98.4 m, width – 8.2 m; draft – 4.6 m; immersion depth – 80 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 9/1.8 thousand hp. speed - 23 knots; cruising range - 14 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 230 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 84 people. Armament: 1x1 – 120 mm gun; 1x2 – 13.2 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 14 torpedoes.

The Oken series of submarines of the "Kaidai-7" type consisted of 10 units ("I-76" - "I-85"), built at the shipyards "Kure K K", "Sasebo K K", "Mitsubishi", "Kawasaki", "Yokosuka K K" and commissioned in 1942-1943. All boats were lost in 1943-1944. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement – ​​1.6 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​1.8 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​2.6 thousand tons; length – 98.6 m, width – 8.3 m; draft – 4.6 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 8/1.8 thousand hp. speed - 23 knots; cruising range - 8 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 135 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 88 people. Armament: 1x1 – 120 mm gun; 1-2x1 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 12 torpedoes.

The series of ocean-going submarines of the Hei-gata C-1 type consisted of 5 units (I-16, I-18, I-20, I-22, I-24), built at the shipyards "Sasebo K K", "Mitsubishi", "Kawasaki" and commissioned in 1940-1941. All boats were lost in 1942-1944. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement – ​​2.2 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​2.5 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​3.6 thousand tons; length – 103.8 m, width – 9.1 m; draft - 5.4 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 12.4/2 thousand hp. speed - 23.6 knots; cruising range - 14 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 245 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 95 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 1x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 20 torpedoes.

Ocean-going submarines I-46, I-47 and I-48 of the Hei-gata C-2 type were built at the Sasebo K K shipyard and commissioned in 1944. I-46 boats " and "I-48" were lost in 1944 and 1945, and "I-47" was decommissioned in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 2.2 thousand tons, full displacement - 2.6 thousand tons ., underwater – 3.6 thousand tons; length – 103.8 m, width – 9.1 m; draft - 5.4 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 14/2 thousand hp. speed – 23.5 knots; cruising range - 14 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 230 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 95 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 1x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 8 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 20 torpedoes.

Ocean-going submarines "I-52", "I-53" and "I-55" of the "Hei-gata C-3" type were built at the Kure K K shipyard and commissioned in 1943-1944. Boats "I -52" and "I-55" were lost in 1944, and "I-53" was decommissioned in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 2.1 thousand tons, full displacement - 2.6 thousand tons ., underwater – 3.6 thousand tons; length – 102.4 m, width – 9.3 m; draft – 5.1 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 4.7/1.2 thousand hp. speed - 17.7 knots; cruising range - 21 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 320 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 94 people. Armament: 2x1 – 140 mm guns; 1x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 19 torpedoes.

The series of ocean-going submarines of the Otsu-Gata B-2 type consisted of 6 units (“I-40” - “I-45”), built at the shipyards “Kure K K”, “Yokosuka K K”, “Sasebo K K” and accepted commissioned in 1943-1944. All submarines were lost during the war. Boat performance characteristics: standard surface displacement – ​​2.2 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​2.6 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​3.7 thousand tons; length – 102.4 m, width – 9.3 m; draft – 5.2 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 11/2 thousand hp speed – 23.5 knots; cruising range - 14 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 220 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 100 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 1x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 17 torpedoes.

The series of ocean-going submarines of the Otsu-Gata B-1 type consisted of 20 units (I-15, I-17, I-19, I-21, I-23, I -25" - "I-39"), built at the shipyards "Kure K K", "Yokosuka K K", "Sasebo K K", "Mitsubishi", "Kawasaki" and commissioned in 1940-1943. The I-36 boat capitulated in 1945, and was scrapped in 1946; the rest of the submarines were lost during the war. Boat performance characteristics: standard surface displacement – ​​2.2 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​2.6 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​3.7 thousand tons; length – 102.4 m, width – 9.3 m; draft – 5.1 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 12.4/2 thousand hp. speed - 23.6 knots; cruising range - 14 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 220 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 100 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 1x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 17 torpedoes; seaplane.

The Oken series of submarines of the Otsu-Gata B-3 type consisted of 3 units (I-54, I-56, I-58), built at the Yokosuka K K shipyards and commissioned in 1944 Boats “I-54” and “I-56” were lost in 1944 and 1945, and “I-58” was decommissioned in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 2.1 thousand tons, full – 2.6 thousand tons, underwater – 3.7 thousand tons; length – 102.4 m, width – 9.3 m; draft – 5.2 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 4.7/1.2 thousand hp. speed - 17.7 knots; cruising range - 21 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 242 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 100 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 1x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 19 torpedoes.

A series of underwater minelayers of the “Kirai-Sen” type consisted of 4 units (“I-21”, “I-22”, “I-23”, “I-24”), built at the Kawasaki shipyard and put into operation in 1927-1928 Since 1940, the boats have been equipped with tanks for aviation gasoline. Since 1943, the boats "I-21" and "I-22" served as training ships. The boats “I-23” and “I-24” were lost in 1942, “I-22” - in 1945, and “I-21” was decommissioned in 1946 after surrender. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 1, 1 thousand tons, full – 1.4 thousand tons, underwater – 1.8 thousand tons; length – 82 m, width – 7.5 m; draft - 4.4 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 2.4/1.1 thousand hp. speed - 14.5 knots; cruising range - 10.5 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 154 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 70 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 12 torpedoes or 42 mines.

The series of medium-sized submarines of the Sen-Taka type consisted of 3 units (I-201, I-202, I-203), built at the Kure K K shipyard and commissioned in 1945. All after the surrender, the boats were decommissioned in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 1.1 thousand tons, full - 1.3 thousand tons, underwater - 1.5 thousand tons; length – 76 m, width – 5.8 m; draft – 5.5 m; immersion depth – 110 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 2.7/5 thousand hp. speed - 15.8 knots; cruising range - 5.8 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 95 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 31 people. Armament: 2x1 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 10 torpedoes.

The series of ocean-going submarines of the Ko-gata A-1 type consisted of 3 units (I-9, I-10, I-11), built at the Kure K K, Kawasaki shipyards and accepted commissioned in 1941-1942. All boats were lost in 1944. The known boat “I-12” of the “Ko-Gata A2” type (put into operation in 1944) with reduced engine power (4.7 thousand hp) and increased cruising range (22 thousand miles). The boat died in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 2.4 thousand tons, full - 2.9 thousand tons, underwater - 4.1 thousand tons; length – 108.4 m, width – 9.6 m; draft - 5.4 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 12.4/2.4 thousand hp. speed – 23.5 knots; cruising range - 16 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 242 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 114 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 2x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft guns; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 18 torpedoes.

From the series of medium-sized submarines of the Vickers L-2 type, by the beginning of the war, 3 units remained in service (RO-54, RO-55, RO-56), built at the Mitsubishi shipyard and commissioned in 1921-1922 All boats were lost in 1939-1940. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement – ​​0.9 thousand tons, underwater – 1.2 thousand tons; length – 67.1 m, width – 7.1 m; draft - 3.9 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 2.4/1.6 thousand hp. speed - 17 knots; cruising range - 5.5 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 80 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 48 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 1x1 – 7.7 mm machine gun; 4 – 450 mm torpedo tubes; 8 torpedoes.

The series of medium-sized submarines of the Vickers L-3 type consisted of 3 units (RO-57, RO-58, RO-59), built at the Mitsubishi shipyard and commissioned in 1922-1923 . All boats were lost in 1945. Boat performance characteristics: standard surface displacement – ​​0.9 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​1 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​1.2 thousand tons; length – 74 m, width – 7.2 m; draft – 4 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 2.4/1.6 thousand hp. speed - 17 knots; cruising range - 7 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 98 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 48 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 1x1 – 7.7 mm machine gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 10 torpedoes.

The series of medium-sized submarines of the Vickers L-4 type consisted of 9 units (“RO-60” - “RO-68”), built at the Mitsubishi shipyard and commissioned in 1923-1927. After the surrender, 3 boats were sunk in 1946, the rest were lost during the war. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 1 thousand tons, underwater displacement - 1.3 thousand tons; length – 74.1 m, width – 7.4 m; draft - 3.8 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 2.4/1.6 thousand hp. speed – 16.5 knots; cruising range - 7 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 75 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 60 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 1x1 – 7.7 mm machine gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 10 torpedoes.

From the series of medium submarines of the Kai-Toku-Chu type, by the beginning of the war, 3 units remained in service (RO-30, RO-31, RO-32), built at the Kawasaki shipyard and commissioned in 1923-1927 All submarines were lost during the war. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement – ​​0.6 thousand tons, underwater – 1 thousand tons; length – 74.2 m, width –6.1 m; draft – 3.7 m; immersion depth – 60 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 1.2/1.2 thousand hp speed – 13 knots; cruising range - 8 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 116 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 43 people. Armament: 1x1 – 120 mm gun; 1x1 – 7.7 mm machine gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 8 torpedoes.

The series of medium-sized submarines of the Kaichu-4 type consisted of 3 units (RO-26, RO-27, RO-28), built at the Sasebo K K shipyard and commissioned in 1923-1924 . All boats were lost in 1940. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 0.8 thousand tons, underwater - 1.1 thousand tons; length – 74.2 m, width – 6.1 m; draft – 3.7 m; immersion depth – 45 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 2.6/1.2 thousand hp. speed – 16.5 knots; cruising range - 6 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 75 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 45 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 1x1 – 7.7 mm machine gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 8 torpedoes.

Medium submarines "RO-33" and "RO-34" of the "Kaichu-5" type were built at the Kure K K and Mitsubishi shipyards and commissioned in 1935-1937. The boats were lost in 1942 and 1943. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 0.7 thousand tons, full - 0.9 thousand tons, underwater - 1.2 thousand tons; length – 71.5 m, width – 6.7 m; draft – 4 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 2.9/1.2 thousand hp. speed - 19 knots; cruising range - 8 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 95 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 60 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 1x1 – 13.2 mm machine gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 10 torpedoes.

The series of large submarines of the Kaichu-6 type consisted of 18 units (RO-35 - RO-50, RO-55, RO-56), built at the Sasebo K K shipyard, Mitsubishi ", "Tamano Zosen" and commissioned in 1943-1944. The boat “RO-50” was sunk in 1946 after surrender, the rest were lost during the war. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 0.9 thousand tons, full - 1.1 thousand tons, underwater - 1.4 thousand tons; length – 76.5 m, width – 7.1 m; draft – 4 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 4.2/1.2 thousand hp speed - 19.7 knots; cruising range - 5 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 115 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 61 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 1x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 1x2 – 13.2 mm machine gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 10 torpedoes.

The series of medium-sized submarines of the Kai-Sho type consisted of 18 units (RO-100 - RO-117), built at the Kure K K, Kawasaki shipyard and commissioned in 1942-1944. All boats were lost during the war. Boat performance characteristics: standard surface displacement – ​​525 tons, full displacement – ​​621 tons, underwater displacement – ​​782 tons; length – 57.4 m, width – 6 m; draft –3.5 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 1.1/0.8 thousand hp speed - 14.2 knots; cruising range - 3.5 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 35 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 38 people. Armament: 1x1 – 76 mm gun; 1x2 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 8 torpedoes.

Submarine aircraft carriers “I-13” and “I-14” of the “Kai-Ko-Taka AM” type were built at the Kawasaki shipyard and commissioned in 1944 and 1945. The boats had a deckhouse-hangar to accommodate 2 seaplanes, a catapult and two cranes for lifting aircraft. The boat “I-13” died in 1945, and “I-15” was written off in 1946 after surrender. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 2.6 thousand tons, total displacement - 3.6 thousand tons, underwater – 4.8 thousand tons; length – 108.4 m, width – 11.7 m; draft - 5.9 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 4.4/0.6 thousand hp speed - 16.7 knots; cruising range - 21 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 180 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 114 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 2x3 and 1x1 – 25-mm anti-aircraft gun; 6 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 12 torpedoes; catapult, 2 seaplanes.

Submarine aircraft carriers "I-400", "I-401" and "I-402" of the "Sen-Toku" type were built at the shipyards "Kure K K", "Sasebo K K" and commissioned in 1944-1945. The boats had a cabin-hangar 34 m long to accommodate 3 seaplanes, a catapult and a crane for lifting aircraft. The boats, after the US surrender in 1945, were scuttled in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement - 3.5 thousand tons, full - 5.2 thousand tons, underwater - 6.6 thousand tons; length – 116 m, width – 12 m; draft – 7 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 4 diesel engines and 4 electric motors; power – 7.7/2.4 thousand hp speed - 18.7 knots; cruising range - 30 thousand miles; fuel reserve – 780 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 144 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 3x3 and 1x1 – 25 mm anti-aircraft gun; 7 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 20 torpedoes; catapult; 3 seaplanes.

The refueling boat was built at the Kure K K shipyard and commissioned in 1945. It was intended for refueling large seaplanes on the open sea. The tanker boat carried up to 365 tons of aviation gasoline, 15 tons of aviation ammunition (torpedoes and bombs) and 11 tons of fresh water. The boat could refuel 3 seaplanes at the same time. The boat died six months after being put into service. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement – ​​2.7 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​3.5 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​4.3 thousand tons; length – 107 m, width – 10.2 m; draft – 6.1 m; immersion depth – 90 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power – 3.7/1.2 thousand hp speed - 15.8 knots; cruising range - 13 thousand miles; fuel reserve – 780 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 77 people. Armament: 4x1 – 80 mm mortar; 3x2 and 1x1 – 25-mm anti-aircraft gun; 4 – 533 mm torpedo tubes; 4 torpedoes.

The series of transport submarines of the Tei-Gata type consisted of 12 units (I-361 - I-372), built at the Kure K K, Mitsubishi, Yokosuka K K shipyards and commissioned in 1944 The boat could carry 63 tons of cargo inside or 110 troops, as well as 20 tons on deck or 5 guided torpedoes. 4 submarines surrendered to the United States in 1945, and were sunk in 1946; the remaining submarines were lost during the war. There was a variant of the boat of the “Tei-Gata-2” type under the designation “I-373”, which could carry 100 tons of cargo, or 150 tons of aviation gasoline, as well as 10 tons of cargo fixed on the deck. The boat was put into operation in 1945 and died 4 months later. Performance characteristics of the boat: standard surface displacement – ​​1.4 thousand tons, full displacement – ​​1.8 thousand tons, underwater displacement – ​​2.2 thousand tons; length – 70.5 m, width – 8.9 m; draft – 4.8 m; immersion depth – 75 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and 2 electric motors; power - 1.9/1.2 thousand hp. speed – 13 knots; cruising range - 15 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 220 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 75 people. Armament: 1x1 – 140 mm gun; 2x1 – 25 mm anti-aircraft guns; 2-533 mm torpedo tubes; 2 torpedoes.

A series of ocean-going military transport submarines Type S-3 was built in 1942-1943. by Mitsubishi Corporation from three units designated "I-52", "I-53" and "I-55". The submarine “I-55” died three months later (July 14, 1944), after launching. "I-53" was converted to carry six man-made kamikaze "Kaiten" torpedoes, fought successfully, survived the war, and capitulated. She was disarmed and shot as a target by the US Navy in 1946. “I-52” died on April 23, 1944 after an attack by American torpedo bombers near the Cape Verde Islands during an ultra-long voyage (22 thousand km) from Japan to France. Performance characteristics of the boat: surface displacement - 2.5 thousand tons, underwater displacement - 3.6 thousand tons; length - 109 m, width - 9 m, draft - 5.1 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants - 2 diesel engines with a capacity of 4.7 thousand hp, one electric motor with a capacity of 1.2 thousand hp; surface speed - 18 knots, submerged - 6.5 knots; Cruising range - 50 thousand km at an average speed of 12 knots; crew - 94 people. Armament: 6 torpedo tubes with a diameter of 533 mm, 19 torpedoes; two 140 mm guns; twin 25-mm anti-aircraft gun.

The series of small submarine transport boats of the Sen-Yuso-Sho type consisted of 10 units (HA-101 - HA-109, HA-111), built at the Kawasaki, Mitsubishi shipyards and accepted into service. construction in 1944-1945 The boat could carry 60 tons of cargo. All boats surrendered to the United States in 1945 and were sunk in 1946. Boat performance characteristics: standard surface displacement – ​​370 tons, full displacement – ​​429 tons, underwater displacement – ​​493 tons; length – 42.2 m, width – 6 m; draft – 4 m; immersion depth – 95 m; power plants – diesel engine and electric motor; power – 400/150 hp speed – 10 knots; cruising range - 3 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 45 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 21 people. Armament: 1x1 – 25 mm anti-aircraft machine gun.

Small transport submarines of the Japanese Army "YU-1", "YU-10" and "YU-12" were built at the Hitach shipyard and commissioned in 1943-1944. The boat could carry 40 tons of cargo. After the surrender in 1945, the boats were scuttled in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 273 tons, underwater - 370 tons; length – 39.5 m, width – 3.9 m; draft – 3 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – 2 diesel engines and an electric motor; power – 400/75 hp speed – 10 knots; cruising range - 1.5 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 30 tons of diesel fuel; crew - 13 people. Armament: 1x1 – 37 mm anti-aircraft machine gun.

Small transport submarines of the Japanese Army "YU-1001", "YU-1007", "YU-1011", "YU-1013" and "YU-1014" were built at the Korean shipyard "Chosen" and commissioned in 1944- 1945 The boat could carry 40 tons of cargo. After the surrender in 1945, the boats were scuttled in 1946. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 392 tons, underwater - 479 tons; length – 49 m, width – 5 m; draft – 2.7 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – diesel engine and electric motor; power – 700/75 hp speed – 12 knots; cruising range - 1.5 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 35 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 25 people. Armament: 1x1 – 37 mm anti-aircraft gun; 1x1 – 7.7 mm machine gun.

The series of midget submarines of the Ko-hyoteki type (type A) consisted of 59 units. The first boats (NA-1 and NA-2, built at the Mitsubishi and Kure K K shipyards) were prototypes and put into operation in 1936. Serial boats (NA-3 - NA-52 ", "NA-54" - "NA-61") were built at the Ourazaki shipyard and commissioned in 1938-1942. Boats were delivered to the scene of action by underwater or surface transport. During the war, 19 boats were lost, the rest were sunk in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: total surface displacement - 45.3 tons, underwater - 47 tons; length – 24 m, width – 1.9 m; height – 3 m; draft – 1.9 m; immersion depth – 30 m; power plants – electric motor; power – 600 hp surface speed - 23 knots, underwater speed - 19 knots; cruising range - 80 miles; crew – 2 people. Armament: 2 – 450 mm torpedo tubes; 2 torpedoes.

The series of ultra-small submarines of the Hei-Hyoteki type (type C) was an improved version of the Ko-hyoteki type and consisted of 15 units (NA-21 - NA-76), built at the Ourazaki and "NA-76" shipyards. Kure K K and commissioned in 1943 -1944. During the war, 8 boats were lost, the rest were sunk in 1945. Performance characteristics of the boat: underwater displacement - 49 tons; length – 25 m, width – 1.9 m; height – 3 m; draft – 1.9 m; immersion depth – 30 m; power plants – diesel engine and electric motor; power – 40/600 hp surface speed - 7 knots, underwater speed - 19 knots; cruising range - 350 miles; fuel reserve - 0.5 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 3 people. Armament: 2 – 450 mm torpedo tubes; 2 torpedoes.

By the end of the war, the construction of 115 midget submarines of the Tei-Hyoteki class (type D) had been completed. The boats were a further development of the Ko-hyoteki type and were commissioned in 1945. The submarines were assembled at the shipyards Ourazaki, Harima, Hitachi, Kawasaki, Kure K K, Maizuru K K, " Mitsubishi", "Mitsui", "Niigata", "Yokosuka K K" from 5 ready-made sections. There are known cases when, in the absence of torpedoes, boats were equipped with explosives weighing up to 600 kg. and kamikazes were used. Performance characteristics of the boat: underwater displacement – ​​59.3 tons; length – 26.3 m, width – 2 m; height – 2 m; draft – 1.9 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – diesel engine and electric motor; power – 150/500 hp surface speed - 8 knots, underwater speed - 16 knots; cruising range - 1 thousand miles; fuel reserve - 4.5 tons of diesel fuel; crew – 5 people. Armament: 2 – 450 mm torpedo tubes; 2 torpedoes.

By the end of the war, the construction of 213 Kairyu-class midget submarines had been completed. The boats were put into operation in 1945. The submarines were assembled at the shipyards Kawaminami, Hitachi, Osaka, Mitsubishi, Uraga, Shimonoseki, Hayashikane, Hakodate Dock, Fujinagata, "Yokosuka K K" from 3 ready-made sections. There are known cases when, in the absence of torpedoes, boats were equipped with explosives weighing up to 600 kg. and kamikazes were used. Performance characteristics of the boat: underwater displacement – ​​19 tons; length – 17.3 m, height – 1.3 m; draft – 1.3 m; immersion depth – 100 m; power plants – gasoline engine and electric motor; power – 85/80 hp surface speed - 8 knots, underwater speed - 10 knots; cruising range - 450 miles; crew – 2 people. Armament: 2 – 450 mm torpedo tubes; 2 torpedoes.

There is a lot of speculation and controversy regarding the combat power of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, as well as the degree of their influence on the geopolitical situation in the Asia-Pacific region. Indeed, the Japanese Navy at the current stage is in a state of dawn.

Their surface component continues to be maintained on 6 guided missile destroyers of the Atago (2 ships) and Kongo (4 ships) projects; they are equipped with the American Aegis BMD 3.6.1 combat control system and a modern modification of the Standard Missile-3 Block IA air defense system with long-range missile interceptor RIM-161A/B. These ships are capable of carrying out anti-missile and air defense in a maritime theater of operations over a length of more than 3,000 km; they also have good anti-submarine and anti-ship capabilities and can deliver massive attacks on ground targets with the BGM-109 “Tomahawk” missile system of any modifications.

Also, 2 Hyuga-class helicopter destroyers, equipped with powerful OYQ-10 CIUS, which control the ship's RIM-162 ESSM air defense system, Phalanx air defense system, as well as OQQ-21 and ASW systems, act as operational support ships for combat operations. EW NOLQ-3C. The hangar and deck can accommodate up to 11 SH-60K helicopters. These ships act as a very multifunctional combat platform in the naval theater of operations.

But no matter how powerful and advanced they are, in the event of a regional conflict with the PRC or the Russian Federation, the entire surface fleet of the Japanese Navy will be destroyed by anti-ship missiles and other high-tech weapons. 6 Kongo/Atago destroyers will be able to hold out for some time, repelling attacks with their Aegis, but this will not last forever. Japan, in any case, still has a developed submarine fleet, represented by the latest low-speed diesel-stirling-electric (anaerobic) and diesel-electric modifications of the Soryu and Oyashio class submarines.

Launching ceremony of the 7th Soryu-class submarine - "Jinryu" (SS-507 "Merciful Dragon") 10/8/2014

Today, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has 11 Oyashio-class submarines (6 with VNEU and 5 conventional diesel-electric submarines) and 6 Soryu-class diesel-electric submarines (a total of 17 submarines). 12 out of 17 submarines are equipped with anaerobic Stirling VNEU, and therefore the Japanese submarine fleet can be considered a modern independent combat unit, capable of withstanding even such a superpower as China.

On March 9, the 6th Soryu class submarine, SS-506 Kokuryu Black Dragon, was accepted into the country's Maritime Self-Defense Forces. The Kawasaki Heavy Industries shipyard in Kobe took part in the construction. The Japanese Navy plans to introduce 10 submarines of this class.

Due to the air-independent propulsion system, such submarines are capable of secretly carrying out underwater duty in a conflict escalation zone for 20-30 days without surfacing, while remaining practically invisible to enemy surface ships. This ability is very important in conditions where the enemy is superior in numbers and not inferior in technology, as is the case between Japan and China. Even simple diesel-electric submarines of the Varshavyanka class are often called “black holes” for their low speed and stealth, and here they also have the ability to stay under water for a month.

Let's start with an overview of the characteristics Oyashio class multi-purpose submarine. The submarine has a length of 81.7 m, a hull width of 8.9 m, an average draft of 7.4 m and an underwater displacement of more than 3000 tons. The surface speed of the submarine is 12 knots and the underwater speed of 20 knots is provided by a single-shaft diesel-electric propulsion unit, consisting of 2 Kawasaki diesel engines with a power of 5520 hp, 2 Kawasaki generators with a power of 3700 kW and 2 Toshiba electric motors with 7750 hp. (up to submarine No. 595 “Narusio”, air-independent Stirling engines are installed from this submarine). The ultra-quiet submarine has a crew of 70 people.

The design of this class of boats initially included a more complex, mixed (multi-hull) hull design, this significantly reduced the accident rate of the submarine and increased the safety of the crew: in the central part of the submarine the structure is single-hull, and in the bow and stern there is a double-hull structure (the main ballast tanks are located there).

The single-hull center of the Oyashio class submarines is a cylinder with a diameter of 8900 mm, which made it possible to achieve greater strength and sufficient immersion depth, so the boat has a beautiful cigar-shaped shape.

Oyashio class multi-purpose submarine

To minimize visibility on the indicators of aircraft and ship magnetic anomaly detectors, the housing is made of stainless non-magnetic steel. It is known about NS-110 steel. The upper surface of the cabin is made completely flat to facilitate the movement of the crew during mooring and easy contact with friendly ships, for example, when replenishing provisions.

Another important feature is the maximum reduction in noise and radar/hydroacoustic signature of the submarine: all power plant mechanisms are mounted on special shock absorbers that prevent the transmission of sound from the equipment to the hull; the surfaces of the hull and deckhouse are inclined and covered with a special sound-absorbing layer. While cruising, these submarines will be barely noticeable even from a 10-15 km distance, and therefore calculating the coordinates of 17 such submarines is a very difficult matter, requiring a lot of time and a lot of equipment.

In turn, the Oyashio submarines, which have a cruising range of over 5,000 miles, carry on board the most diverse arsenal of electronic reconnaissance, optical and hydroacoustic equipment. The small submarine uses a full-fledged AN/ZYQ-3 CIUS, which processes and combines into an overall picture all tactical information received from the AN/ZQO-5B SAC, AN/ZLR-7 RER station, AN/ZPS-6 radar, and periscope optical channels , means of detecting a torpedo attack, and, naturally, from external sources: ships, naval aviation, other submarines, etc.

The SAC is represented by an active-passive spherical antenna operating at medium and low frequencies, as well as a passive conformal antenna towed by AN/ZQR-1 and a hydroacoustic reconnaissance complex. The AN/ZPS-6 radar operates at the X-band frequency of cm-waves and is designed to accurately determine the coordinates of low-flying air targets (with modernization, it can be used as a target designation radar for promising air defense systems-submarines).

The AN/ZLR-7 RER complex operates at frequencies of 50 MHz – 18 GHz and can detect and classify the operating modes of enemy electronic equipment related to anti-ship and anti-submarine systems.

In general, the boat is almost as “eared” as the American “Sea Wolf”, with the difference that it is non-nuclear and with a significantly smaller displacement. The set of weapons is not very impressive, but is capable of causing serious damage to the enemy's KUG: Oyashio boats have 6 x 533-mm torpedo tubes in the bow and special compartments for 20 torpedoes or the same number of Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles, which can be taken into any ratio, depending on the task assigned to the crew.

If an anti-ship mission is assigned, then only 5 boats of the Oyashio class are capable of taking on board 100 UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, which can be launched at the enemy from a distance of about 20-35 km, so there may simply be no chance to repel an attack. Therefore, for both the Russian Navy and the Chinese Navy, the primary task is to protect the ship’s order from such risks; each KUG must have frigates or air defense corvettes of the Project 22350 “Admiral Gorshkov” type in the amount of 2-3 ships.

Model of a Soryu class submarine

Newer Soryu-class diesel-electric submarines, which were called “2900-ton type” and “improved Oyashio type” submarines for their displacement, have an underwater displacement of 4200 tons, a length of 84 m, a width of 9.1 m, a draft of 8.5 m. The power plant is represented by 2 diesel-electric units 12V25/25SB “Kawasaki” with 3900 hp, as well as a more powerful installation of 4 anaerobic Stirling engines Kockums V4-275R “Kawasaki”, their power is 8000 hp, the system is also single-shaft.

Since the size of the hull of the new submarine has increased, the number of weapons has also been increased to 30 Type 89 torpedoes or UGM-84 anti-ship missiles. There is no information yet about the composition of the radio-electronic equipment; the “filling” is kept in the strictest confidence. Presumably, its composition is similar to the Oyashio MPL, maybe with minor modifications.

The cruising range of this submarine is 6,100 miles, the crew has been reduced to 65 people, and the diving depth is 275-300 meters. The Japanese claim that the Soryu class boats are even more autonomous than the Oyashio class. The Stirling engine was developed with US support.

The most noticeable design features of the Soryu class submarines are the smoothly sloping teardrop-shaped bow of the hull, as well as the X-shaped tail block of the rudders and stabilizers, which also contributes to the convergence and dispersion of hydroacoustic waves. These submarines are now at the peak of naval technology and continue to ensure the Japanese fleet maintains an equal position with neighboring fleets.

/Evgeny Damantsev/