Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy

Imperial Japanese Navy submarines originated with the purchase of five Holland type submarines from the United States in 1904. Japanese submarine forces progressively built up strength and expertise, becoming by the beginning of World War II one of the world's most varied and powerful submarine fleets.

Origins


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.

The submarines that Electric Boat sold to Japan were based on the Holland designs, known as Holland Type VIIs similar to the American Plunger-class submarines. The five imported Hollands were originally built at Fore River Ship and Engine Company in Quincy, Massachusetts under Busch's direction for the Electric Boat Company back in August–October 1904. They were shipped by freighter from Seattle, Washington in Knock-down kit form to Japan, and then reassembled by Arthur Leopold Busch at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, which was then Japan's largest naval shipyard, to become Hulls No. 1 through 5 and were designated Type 1 submarines by the Japanese Navy.

Frank Cable, an electrician who was working for Isaac Rice's Electro-Dynamic and Storage Companies along with Rice's Electric Boat, arrived some six months after Busch, training the IJN in the operation of the newly introduced vessels.

In 1904 Kawasaki Dockyard Company purchased plans for a modified version directly from Holland, and built two boats (Hulls No. 6 and 7), with the help of two American engineers, Chase and Herbert, who had been assistants to Holland. The Kawasaki-type submarines displaced 63 and 95 tons when submerged, and measured 73 and 84 ft in overall length, respectively. both vessels measured 7 ft at the beam. This contrasted with the original five imported Hollands-type submarines which had arrived that same year, at over 100 tons submerged, 67 ft in overall length and 11 ft beam. The Kawasaki Type #6 and #7 submarines had gained extra speed and reduced fuel consumption by $1⁄4$. However both boats could launch only one 18 in torpedo, and each was manned by 14 sailors, whereas the imported Holland-type submarines could fire two torpedoes and could be operated by 13 sailors. This new type was designated the Type 6 submarine by the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was used primarily for test purposes.

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 ft deep, there were no provisions at all 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 this submarine was preserved as a memorial in Kure until the end of World War II.

Although the capabilities of these first submarines were never tested in combat during the Russo-Japanese War, the first submarine squadron was soon formed at Kure Naval District in the Inland Sea. Following the war, the Japanese government followed submarine developments by the Royal Navy with interest, and purchased two British C-class submarines directly from Vickers, with an additional three built from kits by the Kure Naval Arsenal. These became respectively the Japanese Ha-1-class submarine and Ha-3-class submarine submarines. An additional two vessels, forming the Ha-7-class submarine were later built by the Kure Naval Arsenal.

In 1909, the first submarine tender, JAPANESE SUBMARINE TENDER Karasaki, was commissioned.

World War I
Japan, along with the rest of the Allies, drew heavily upon Germany's Guerre de Course (commerce raiding) operations during the First World War, and their submarine successes reinforced Japan's willingness to develop this weapon, resulting in eighteen ocean-going submarines being included in its 1917 expansion program. Japan received nine German submarines as World War I reparations, which allowed her and the other Allies to accelerate their technological developments during the interwar period.

World War II
Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) submarines formed by far the most varied fleet of submarines of World War II, including manned torpedoes (Kaiten), midget submarines (Kō-hyōteki, Kairyū-class submarine), medium-range submarines, purpose-built supply submarines (many used by the Imperial Japanese Army, see Type 3), fleet submarines (many of which carried an aircraft), submarines with the highest submerged speeds of the conflict (Sentaka I-201-class submarine), and submarines able to carry multiple bombers (World War II's largest submarine, the Sentoku I-400-class submarine). They were also equipped with the most advanced torpedo of the conflict, the oxygen-fuelled Type 95 (which are sometimes confused with the famed Type 93 Long Lance torpedo).

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.

The IJN submarine arm did have a number of notable successes against American warships, however. During the Battle of Midway, JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-168 administered the final coup de grace that sank the fleet carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5), as well as sinking the destroyer USS Hammann (DD-412). A few months later, on September 15, 1942, with a single salvo of torpedoes, Japanese submarine JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-19 sank the fleet carrier USS Wasp (CV-7) and damaged both the battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55) and the destroyer USS O'Brien (DD-415). On November 13, 1942, the submarine JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-26 torpedoed and sank the anti-aircraft cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52), and a year later on November 23, 1943, the submarine JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-175 torpedoed and sank the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56), both with heavy loss of life. The JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-176 had the distinction of both severely damaging the heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27), knocking her out of the war for a year, on October 20, 1942, and of also sinking USS Corvina (SS-226) (the only American submarine to be sunk by a Japanese submarine in the entire war) on November 16, 1943.

Twice in the first year of the war, Japanese submarines torpedoed the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3), and, while not sinking her, put her in the repair yard at a time when the US Navy could ill afford to do without her. Saratoga was torpedoed by submarine JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-6 on January 11, 1942, putting her out of action and unavailable to participate in the desperate carrier battles and raids of the next five months, and then hit again three months after her return on September 1, 1942, by JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-26, which put her out of action for another eleven weeks in the middle of the intensely engaged land-air-sea battles of the Guadalcanal Campaign.

A plane launched from one of the innovative aircraft-carrying submarines, JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-25, conducted what remains the only ever aerial bombing attack on the continental United States, when Warrant Flying Officer Nobuo Fujita piloting a Yokosuka E14Y scouting plane dropped four 168-pound bombs in an attempt to start forest fires outside the town of Brookings, Oregon, on September 9, 1942. Earlier in the year, in February 1942, the submarine JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-17 fired a number of shells from her deck gun at the Elwood Oil Fields near Santa Barbara, California. None of the shells caused any serious damage.

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.

Accordingly, the Japanese submarine arm had few notable successes against Allied warships during the final two years of the war. One victory was the JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-41 knocking the anti-aircraft cruiser USS Reno (CL-96) out for the rest of the war with a torpedo hit on November 3, 1944 (this was the first time in almost two years that a Japanese submarine had successfully attacked an Allied ship operating with a fast carrier task force ). A more famous incident was the JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-58 torpedoing and sinking heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35), with heavy loss of life. The sinking occurred on July 30, 1945, just two weeks before the Japanese surrender, at a time when few in the United States Navy expected continued Japanese submarine attacks.

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.

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, USS Batfish (SS-310) 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-400-class submarine, I-401, I-201-class submarine, and I-203) before being scuttled by the U.S. Navy in 1946 when the Soviet Union demanded access to the IJN submarines.

Submarine aircraft carriers
The Japanese applied the concept of the "submarine aircraft carrier" extensively, starting with the J3 type of 1937–38. Altogether 41 submarines were built with the capability to carry seaplanes. Most IJN submarine aircraft carriers could carry only one aircraft, but I-14 had hangar space for two, and the giant I-400-class submarine, three.

Yanagi missions
Yanagi missions were enabled under the Axis Powers' Tripartite Pact to provide for an exchange of strategic materials and manufactured goods between Germany, Italy and Japan. Initially, cargo ships made the exchanges, but when this was no longer possible, submarines were used.

Only six submarines attempted this trans-oceanic voyage during World War II: JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-30 (mid-June to August 1942), JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-8 (June 1943), JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-34 (October 1943), JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-29 (November 1943), and German submarines GERMAN SUBMARINE U-511 (August 1943) and GERMAN SUBMARINE U-864 (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 HMS Taurus (P399), and I-29 by the United States submarine, USS Sawfish (SS-276) (assisted by Ultra intelligence). JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-52 made the final attempt.

First-class submarines
This class includes the largest of Japanese submarines, characterized by great size and range.

Type KD1 (I-51)


The Kaidai I type (海大I型) (I-51-class) submarine was the prototype for the types (KD2-KD7) that followed and was based on the German cruiser submarine SMU U-139 and the British L-class submarine.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-51 – scrapped 1941.

Type KD2 (I-152)


The Kaidai II type (海大II型) (I-152-class) submarine was based on U-139 and the British K-class submarine.
 * I-52/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-152 – scrapped 1946–1948.

Type KD3a (4 units)


The Kaidai IIIa type (海大IIIa型) (I-153-class) submarines were similar to the Type KD1 and KD2 but with strengthened hulls. In 1945, I-155 and I-158 were modified as Kaiten suicide torpedo carriers, each armed with two kaitens.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-53/I-153 – sank Ben 2 on 20 February in the Indian Ocean, SS Moesi in the Bali Strait on 27 February 1942 and SS City of Manchester off Java on 28 February 1942. I-153 herself was sunk as a target in the Seto Island Sea on 8 May 1946 as part of Operation Bottom.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-54/I-154 – scuttled in the Seto Island Sea in May 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-55/I-155 – sank SS Van Cloon off Java on 7 February 1942 and RMS Derrymore in the Java Sea on February 13, 1942. I-155 herself surrendered 2 September 1945 and was scuttled in the Seto Island Sea in May 1946.
 * I-58/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-158 – sank SS Langkoeas in the Java Sea on 3 January 1942, SS Camphuys off Bawean Island on 9 January 1942, SS Pijnacker Hordijk between Tjilatjap and Padang on 22 February 1942 and SS Boeroe south of the Sunda Strait on 25 February 1942. I-158 herself surrendered on 2 September 1945 and was scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946.

Type KD3b (3 units)


The Kaidai IIIb type (海大IIIb型) (I-156-class) submarines were similar to the Type KD3a but were 16 inches longer and had a different bow shape.
 * I-56/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-156 – sank five merchant ships. I-156 surrendered on 2 September 1945 and was scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 by USS Nereus (AS-17) as part of Operation Road's End.
 * I-57/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-157 – sank  SS Djirak on 7 January 1942. I-157 surrendered on 2 September 1945 and scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 by USS Nereus (AS-17) as part of Operation Road's End.
 * I-59/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-159 – sank SS Rooseboom off Sumatra on March 1, 1942. I-159 surrendered on September 2, 1945, and sunk as a target off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-60 – Accidentally rammed I-63 off Mizunoko Light on 2 February 1939. I-60 herself was sunk off Krakatoa Island on 17 January 1942 by HMS Jupiter (F85).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-63 – Accidentally rammed by I-60 off Mizunoko Light on 2 February 1939. Refloated January 1940 and then scrapped.

Type KD4 (3 units)


The Kaidai IV type (海大IV型) (I-61/I-162-class) submarines were slightly smaller and had four torpedo tubes, but were otherwise similar to the Type KD3.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-61 – Sunk in collision with gunboat JAPANESE GUNBOAT Kiso Maru in Koshiki Channel on 2 October 1941. Refloated in early 1942 and sold for scrap.
 * I-62/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-162 – Sank Mikoyan on 3 October 1942, Manon on 7 October 1942 and Fort McCloud on 22 February 1944. The I-162 herself surrendered on 2 September 1945 and scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 by USS Nereus (AS-17) as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-64/I-164 – Sunk off Cape Ashizuri on 17 May 1942 by USS Triton (SS-201).

Type KD5 (3 units)


The Kaidai V type (海大V型) (I-165-class) submarines were similar to the Type KD4 but had an improved operating depth.
 * I-65/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-165 – Depth-charged off Saipan on 27 June 1945 by a US Navy patrol bomber of VPB-142.
 * I-66/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-166 – Sunk off One Fathom Bank on 17 July 1944 by HMS Telemachus (P321).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-67 – Sank in diving accident off Minamitorishima on 29 August 1940.

Type KD6a (6 units)


The Kaidai VIa type (海大VIa型) (I-168-class) submarines were similar to the KD5 but with a higher speed.
 * I-68/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-168 – Sunk in the Steffen Strait on 27 July 1943 by USS Scamp (SS-277).
 * I-69/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-169 – Sank in diving accident in Truk Lagoon on 4 April 1944.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-70 – Sunk by a Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft from VS-6 (USS Enterprise (CV-6)) on 10 December 1941. This was the first enemy combatant ship sunk by U.S. forces.
 * I-71/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-171 – Depth-charged off Buka Island on 1 February 1944 by USS Guest (DD-472) and USS Hudson (DD-475).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-72/I-172 – Missing after 28 October 1942. Possibly depth-charged off San Cristóbal by USS McCalla (DD-488) on 3 November 1942.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-73 – Sunk by USS Gudgeon (SS-211) on 27 January 1942. I-73 was the first warship sunk by a US Navy submarine.

Type KD6b (2 units)


The Kaidai VIb type (海大VIb型) (I-174-class) submarines were similar to the KD6a but were one foot longer and 25 tons heavier.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-174 – sunk off Truk on 12 April 1944 by aircraft from VB-108.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-175 – sunk off Wotje Atoll on 17 February 1944 by USS Nicholas (DD-449).

Type KD7 (10 units)


The Kaidai VII type (海大VII型) or Shin Kaidai type (新海大型) (I-176-class) submarines were similar to the KD6 but with the torpedo tubes moved forward and a slightly improved operating depth.
 * I-76/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-176 – sank USS Corvina (SS-226) patrolling off Truk on 16 November 1943, the only known Japanese submarine success against a US submarine – USS Snook (SS-279) was a probable second victim by Japanese submarines. I-176 was lost a year later off Buka Island on 16 May 1944, depth-charged by USS Franks (DD-554), USS Haggard (DD-555), and USS Johnston (DD-557).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-177 – Sank AHS Centaur off Australia on 14 May 1943. The I-177 herself is sunk by USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183) on 3 October 1944.
 * I-78/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-178 – Missing after 17 June 1943. Possibly sunk 25 August 1943 near the Solomon Islands by USS Patterson (DD-392).
 * I-79/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-179 – Sank during sea trials in the Seto Island Sea on 14 July 1943. Salvaged 1956-1957 and then scrapped.
 * I-80/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-180 – Sunk off Chirikof Island on 27 April 1944 by USS Gilmore (DE-18).
 * I-81/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-181 – Ran aground and sunk in Kelanoa Harbour on 16 January 1944.
 * I-82/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-182 – Sunk off the New Hebrides on 1 September 1943 by USS Wadsworth (DD-516).
 * I-83/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-183 – Sunk near the Bondo Strait on 29 April 1944 by USS Pogy (SS-266).
 * I-84/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-184 – Sunk near Saipan on 19 June 1944 by a torpedo bomber from USS Suwanee (CVE-27).
 * I-85/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-185 – Sunk near Saipan on 22 June 1944 by USS Newcomb (DD-586) and USS Chandler (DMS-9).

Type J1 (I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4)


The Junsen I type (巡潜I型) (I-1-class) submarines were based on the Kaidai II (Type KD2) and German submarine SMU U-142.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-1 – sank SS Siantar off Western Australia on March 3, 1942. I-1 herself was attacked by HMNZS Kiwi (T102) and ran aground on Fish Reef January 29, 1943; valuable codes and code books from the wreck are salvaged by Allied forces.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-2 – sank HMS Nam Yong off Christmas Island on February 28, 1942, and SS Parigi in the Indian Ocean on March 1, 1942. I-2 herself was sunk in the Bismarck Sea on April 7, 1944, by USS Saufley (DD-465).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-3 – sunk December 9, 1942 near Kamimbo Bay by PT-59.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-4 – sank Høegh Merchant off Oahu December 14, 1941,  Ban Ho Guan off Bali February 28, 1942 and USS Washingtonian off Eight Degree Channel April 6, 1942. I-4 herself was sunk in St. George's Channel on December 21, 1942, by USS Seadragon (SS-194).

Type J1 Mod. (I-5)


The Junsen I Modified type (巡潜I型改) (I-5-class) submarine was similar to the Type J1, but with facilities for one aircraft.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-5 – possibly sunk 19 July 1944 off Guam by USS Wyman (DE-38).

Type J2 (I-6)


The Junsen II type (巡潜II型) (I-6-class) submarine was similar to the I-5 class, but with a catapult for aircraft.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-6 – sank Clan Ross in the Arabian Sea on April 2, 1942, and Bahadur in the Arabian Sea on April 7, 1942. I-6 herself was accidentally rammed and sunk 16 June 1944 off Hachijō-jima by Toyokawa Maru.

Type J3 (I-7, I-8)


The Junsen III type (巡潜III型) (I-7-class) submarines 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.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-7 – sank Merkus off Cocos Island on March 4, 1942, Glenshiel in the Indian Ocean on April 3, 1942, and USS Arcata off Unalaska on July 14, 1942. I-7 herself was damaged by gunfire off Kiska June 22, 1943 from USS Monaghan (DD-354) and ran aground on the Twin Rocks. I-7 was scuttled on June 23.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-8 – sank Tjisalak on March 26, 1944, in the Indian Ocean and Jean Nicolet in May 1944. I-8 herself is sunk off Okinawa on March 31, 1945, by USS Morrison (DD-560).

Type A1 (I-9, I-10, I-11)


The Type A or Junsen A type (甲型 or 巡潜甲型) (I-9-class) submarines were large seaplane-carrying submarines, with communication facilities to allow them to operate as command ships for groups of submarines. The type was also equipped with a hangar for one aircraft.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-9 – sunk June 14, 1943 off Kiska by USS Frazier (DD-607).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-10 – sunk July 4, 1944 off Saipan by USS David W. Taylor (DD-551) and USS Riddle (DE-185).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-11 – missing south of Funafuti after January 11, 1944. The I-11 probably struck a mine laid by USS Terror (CM-5).

Type AM1/A2 (I-12)
The Type A Modified 1 or Junsen A Modified 1 type (甲型改1 or 巡潜甲型改1) (I-12-class) submarine was similar to the Type A1, but with less powerful engines, giving the type slower surface speed but a longer range.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-12 – sunk November 13, 1944 by USS Ardent (AM-340) and USS Rockford (PF-48).

Type AM2/AM (I-13, I-14)
The Type A Modified 2 or Junsen A Modified 2 type (甲型改2 or 巡潜甲型改2) (Type AM (A Modified), I-13-class) submarines was a large seaplane-carrying submarine, with hangar space for two aircraft. These giant submarines were originally of the A2 type, but following the cancellation of a number of I-400-class submarines, their design was revised after construction started to carry a second aircraft. The seaplanes were to be the Aichi M6A1 bomber carrying 800 kg bombs. The range and speed of these submarines was remarkable, 21,000 nmi at 16 kn, but their underwater performance was compromised, making them easy targets.


 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-13 — Sunk 16 July 1945 by USS Lawrence C. Taylor (DE-415) and aircraft from USS Anzio (CVE-57) about 550 mi east of Yokosuka.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-14 – Surrendered 27 August 1945. Sunk as target 28 May 1946 off Oahu, Hawaii, in 2600 ft of water by USS Bugara (SS-331). Wreck found in 2009.

Type B1 (20 units)


The Type B or Junsen B type (乙型 or 巡潜乙型) (I-15-class) submarines were the most numerous type of submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. In total 20 were made, starting with I-15, the class ship. These were fast, very long ranged, and carried a single Yokosuka E14Y seaplane, located in a hangar in front of the conning tower, launched by a catapult.

The series was rather successful, especially at the beginning of the war. JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-26, in 1942, crippled the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3). JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-19, on 15 September 1942, fired six torpedoes at aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV-7), two of which hit the carrier and sank her, the remainder damaging the battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55) and the destroyer USS O'Brien (DD-415) (which sank later); JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-25 conducted the only aerial bombing to occur on the continental United States during World War II. On 9 September 1942, I-25 launched its reconnaissance plane, a Yokosuka E14Y code named Glen which proceeded to drop four 168 pound bombs in a forest near present-day Brookings, Oregon. Several of these ships also undertook "Yanagi" missions to Europe (JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-30, JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-34, JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-29).


 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-15 – Sunk 10 November 1942 by USS Southard (DD-207).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-17 – Sunk 19 August 1943 by HMNZS Tui and US Navy Kingfisher aircraft.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-19 – Sank USS Wasp and USS O'Brien on 15 September 1942 and SS William K. Vanderbilt on 16 May 1943. The I-16 herself was depth-charged on 25 November 1943 by USS Radford (DD-446).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-21 – Sank SS Montebello on 23 December 1941, possibly sank USS Porter on 26 October 1942, SS Kalingo on 17 January 1943, SS Iron Knight (1937) on 8 February 1943, Mobilube on 18 January 1943, Starr King on 11 February 1943 and Cape San Juan on 12 November 1943. The I-21 herself was missing after 27 November 1943. Possibly sunk off Tarawa by TBF Avengers on 29 November 1943.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-23 – Missing off Oahu after 24 February 1942, likely due to a diving accident.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-25 – Sunk 3 September 1943 off the New Hebrides by one or more US destroyers.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-26 – Sunk 26 October 1944 off Leyte by USS Coolbaugh (DE-217) or USS Richard M. Rowell (DE-403).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-27 – Sunk 12 February 1944 by HMS Paladin and HMS Petard.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-28 – Sunk 6 February 1942 by USS Tautog (SS-199).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-29 – Sunk 26 July 1944 by USS Sawfish (SS-276)
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-30 – Sunk by a mine near Singapore on 8 October 1942. Salvaged between August 1959 and February 1960 and then scrapped.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-31 – Sunk 13 May 1943 by USS Frazier (DD-607).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-32 – Missing after 23 March 1944. Possibly sunk on 24 March 1944 by USS Manlove (DE-36).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-33 – Sank at Truk 26 September 1942. Refloated 29 December 1942. Sank again 13 June 1944 in the Seto Inland Sea during trials. Salvaged between 23 July and 18 August 1953 and then scrapped.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-34 – Sunk in the Malacca Straits by HMS Taurus. Salvaged in 1962.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-35 – Rammed and sunk 23 November 1943 by USS Frazier (DD-607).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-36 – Blown up and scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 along with Ha-106 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-37 – Sunk 19 November 1944 off Palau by USS Conklin (DE-439) and USS McCoy Reynolds (DE-440).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-38 – Missing after 7 November 1944. Possibly depth-charged on 13 November 1944 by USS Nicholas (DD-449).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-39 – Missing after 25 November 1943. Possibly sunk on 26 November 1943 by USS Boyd (DD-544).

Type B2 (6 units)


The Type B Modified 1 or Junsen B Modified 1 type (乙型改1 or 巡潜乙型改1) (I-40-class) submarines were externally similar to the Type B1, but with a high-tensile strength steel hull and diesel engines of a simpler design. In 1944, I-44 was modified as a Kaiten suicide torpedo carrier, armed with six kaitens.


 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-40 – Missing off the Gilbert Islands after 22 November 1943.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-41 – Sunk 18 November 1944 by USS Lawrence C. Taylor (DE-415).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-42 – Sunk 23 March 1944 by USS Tunny (SS-282).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-43 – Sunk 15 February 1944 by USS Aspro (SS-309).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-44 – Missing off Okinawa after 4 April 1945. Possibly sunk off Okinawa by a TBM Avenger of VC-92 on 29 April 1945.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-45 – Sunk 29 October 1944 by USS Whitehurst (DE-634).

Type B3 (I-54, I-56, I-58)


Eighteen of the twenty-one Type B Modified 2 or Junsen B Modified 2 type (乙型改2 or 巡潜乙型改2) (I-54-class) submarines were cancelled in 1943 in favor of the Type E submarine, leaving the I-54, I-56, and I-58. In 1944, I-56 and I-58 were modified as Kaiten suicide torpedo carriers, each armed with four kaitens.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-54 – Missing off Leyte after 23 October 1944. Possibly sunk 28 October 1944 by USS Gridley (DD-380) and USS Helm (DD-388).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-56 – Possibly sank USS Snook (SS-279) sometime after 8 April 1945. I-56 was herself later sunk 18 April 1945 by USS Collett (DD-730).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-58 – Sank USS Indianapolis (CA-35) on 30 July 1945. I-58 surrendered on 2 September 1945, and scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End. The wreckage of I-58 was found in 2017.

Type C1 (5 units)


The Type C or Junsen C type (丙型 or 巡潜丙型) (I-16-class) submarines were based on the Junsen type submarine and developed from the Type KD6. This type, like the other Type C submarines, was utilized as mother ships for the Kō-hyōteki midget submarines and the Kaiten suicide torpedoes.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-16 – Sank Susak on 6 June 1942, Aghious Georgios on 8 June 1942, Supetar on 12 June 1942, and Eknaren on 1 July 1942. Sunk 19 May 1944 by USS England (DE-635).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-18 – Sank Wilford on 8 June 1942, Mundra on 2 July 1942, and De Weert on 3 July 1942. Sunk 11 February 1943 by USS Fletcher (DD-445).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-20 – Sank Johnstown on 5 June 1942, Christos Markettos on 8 June 1942, Mahronda on 11 June 1942, Hellenic Trader and Clifton Hall on 12 June 1942, Goviken on 29 June 1942, and Steaua Romana on 30 June 1942. Missing after 31 August 1943, probably sunk either on 1 September 1943 by USS Wadsworth (DD-516) or on 3 September 1943 by USS Ellet (DD-398).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-22 – Sunk 6 October 1942 by a U.S. Navy PBY Catalina.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-24 – Sank SS Iron Chieftain (1937) on 3 June 1942. Rammed and sunk 11 June 1943 by USS PC-487.

Type C2 (I-46, I-47, I-48)


The Type C or Junsen C type latter batch (丙型 or 巡潜丙型 (後期型)) (I-46-subclass) submarines were nearly identical to the Type C1 with the exception that the Type C2 lacked the capability to carry the midget submarines. I-47 and I-48 were converted to carry kaiten manned suicide attack torpedoes.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-46 – Missing after 26 October 1944. Possibly sunk by USS Gridley (DD-380) and USS Helm on 28 October 1944. Also reported sunk by a multi-destroyer gun action involving USS Saufley, USS Renshaw (DD-499), USS Waller, and USS Pringle around 28 November 1944.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-47 – Sank USS Mississinewa (AO-59) on 20 November 1944. I-47 surrendered on 2 September 1945 and was scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End. The wreck of I-47 was found in 2017.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-48 – Sunk January 23, 1945 by USS Conklin.

Type C3 (I-52, I-53, I-55)
The Type C Modified or Junsen C Modified type (丙型改 or 巡潜丙型改) submarines (I-52-class) were submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 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 officers and enlisted. They also had a long cruising range at a speed of 12 kn. The Japanese constructed only three of these during World War II (JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-52, JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-53 and JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-55), although twenty were planned. They were among the largest submarines ever built to date, and were known as the most advanced submarines of the period. I-53 was converted to carry kaiten manned suicide attack torpedoes.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-52 – Sunk during Yanagi (exchange) mission to Germany on 24 June 1944 by aircraft from USS Bogue 800 nmi southwest of the Azores. She was carrying Japanese engineers and a cargo of rubber, gold, and quinine to Germany.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-53 – Sank USS Underhill on 24 July 1945. I-53 surrendered on 2 September 1945 and sunk as a target off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 by USS Nereus (AS-17) as part of Operation Road's End. The wreck of the I-53 was found in 2017.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-55 – Missing after 13 July 1944. Possibly sunk by USS William C. Miller on 14 July 1944. Sinking also credited to USS Reynolds and USS Wyman on 28 July 1944.

Type D1 (11 units)


The Type D ((潜)丁型) or Sen'yu(-Dai) type (潜輸(大)型) (I-361-class) and Sen'yu Modified type (潜輸改) (I-372-class) submarines were based on the U-155. This type was designed as transport submarines with torpedoes for self-defense. Five of the submarines — I-361, I-363, I-366, I-367, and I-370 — were later modified to serve as kaiten suicide attack torpedo carriers, each armed with five kaitens.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-361 – Sunk southeast of Okinawa on 31 May 1945, by aircraft from USS Anzio (CVE-57).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-362 – Sunk in eastern Caroline Islands on 14 January 1945, by USS Fleming (DE-32).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-363 – Sunk by mine off Miyazaki on 29 October 1945. Salvaged and scrapped on 26 January 1966.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-364 – Sunk east of Honshu on 16 September 1944, by USS Sea Devil (SS-400).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-365 – Sunk southeast of Yokosuka on 29 November 1944, by USS Scabbardfish.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-366 – Blown up and scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-367 – Blown up and scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-368 – Sunk west of Iwo Jima on 26 February 1945, by aircraft from USS Anzio (CVE-57).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-369 – Surrendered on 30 August 1945 and scrapped at Yokosuka in 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-370 – Sunk near Iwo Jima on 26 February 1945, by USS Finnegan.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-371 – Sunk in Bungo Strait on 24 February 1945, by USS Lagarto.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-372 – Sunk at Yokosuka on 18 July 1945, by aircraft from Task Force 38.

Type D2 (I-373)
The Type D Modified ((潜)丁型改) (I-373-class) submarine was designed as a tanker submarine based on the Type D1 but with no torpedoes.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-373 – sunk in the East China Sea on August 14, 1945, by USS Spikefish. I-373 was the last Japanese submarine sunk in World War II.

Kiraisen Type (4 units)


The Kiraisen type (機雷潜型) (I-121-class), the only Japanese minelayer submarines, were near-copies of the World War I German minelayer submarine UB-125. Originally numbered I-21, I-22, I-23, and I-24, they were renumbered I-121, I-122, I-123, and I-124, respectively, in 1938. This type saw front-line service during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the first half of World War II, modified to add seaplane refueling to their capabilities, but surviving units were relegated to training duties in September 1943 due to their growing obsolescence.
 * I-21/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-121 – Surrendered in September 1945 and scuttled in Wakasa Bay along with Ro-68 and Ro-500 on 30 April 1946. Wreck found in 2018.
 * I-22/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-122 – Sunk in the Sea of Japan 9 June 1945 by USS Skate (SS-305).
 * I-23/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-123 – Sunk off Savo Island 29 August 1942 by USS Gamble (DM-15).
 * I-24/JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-124 – Sank Hareldawns off Luzon on 10 December 1941. Sunk off Darwin 20 January 1942 by HMAS Deloraine. I-124 was the first IJN warship sunk by the Royal Australian Navy.

Sen-Ho Type (I-351)


The Senho type (潜補型) (I-351-class) was a tanker/transport submarine.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-351 – sunk July 14, 1945 in the South China Sea by USS Bluefish (SS-222).

Sentoku Type (I-400, I-401, I-402)
The Sentoku type (潜特型) (I-400-class) displaced 5,223 tons surfaced and measured 400 ft overall. They had a figure-eight hull shape for additional strength to handle the on-deck hangar for housing the three Seiran aircraft. In addition, they had four anti-aircraft guns, a large deck gun as well as eight torpedo tubes from which they could fire the 21 in Type 95 torpedo.

Three of the Sentoku were built (JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-400, JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-401, and JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-402). Each had four 1825 hp engines and range 37,500 nmi at 14 kn.

The submarines were also able to carry three Aichi M6A Sei ran aircraft, each carrying an 800 kg bomb 550 nmi at 360 mph. 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.
 * I-400 – Surrendered August 27, 1945. Sunk as a target off Pearl Harbor on June 4, 1946, by USS Trumpetfish. The wreck was found in 2013.
 * I-401 – Surrendered August 29, 1945. Sunk as a target off Pearl Harbor on May 31, 1946, by USS Cabezon. The wreck was found in 2005.
 * I-402 – Surrendered in September 1945. Scuttled with JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-201 16 nmi off Kinai Island on 1 April 1946. Wreck located in 2015.

Sentaka Type (3 units)
The Sentaka(-Dai) type (潜高(大)型) (I-201-class) submarines were modern design, and known as Sentaka (From Sen, abbreviation of Sensuikan, "Submarine", and Taka, abbreviation of Kōsoku, "High speed"). Three were built, I-201, I-202, and I-203 (I-204 to I-208 were not completed).

They displaced 1,070 tonnes, had a test depth of 360 ft, and were armed with four torpedo tubes and Type 96 25 mm guns in retractable mounts to maintain streamlining. These submarines were designed for mass production. They were high-performance boats, with streamlined all-welded hulls and a high battery capacity supplying two 2500 hp motors, which had nearly double the horsepower of the German-designed MAN diesels. The submerged speed was 19 kn, more than double that achieved by contemporary American designs. They were equipped with a snorkel, allowing for underwater diesel operation while recharging batteries.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-201 – Surrendered September 2, 1945. Sunk as a target off Pearl Harbor on May 23, 1946 by USS Queenfish (SS-393). The wreck of I-201 was found in 2009 along with that of JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-14.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-202 – Handed over to the Allies on 30 November 1945. Scuttled by the US Navy off the Gotō Islands on 5 April 1946 to avoid trouble between Britain and the Soviet Union (as both nations wanted to acquire the submarine).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-203 – Surrendered September 2, 1945. Sunk as a target off Pearl Harbor on 21 May 1946 by USS Caiman (SS-323).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-204 – Was 90% complete. Sunk by air raid on June 22, 1945. Salvaged and scrapped at Kure in February to May 1948.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-205 – Was 80% complete. Sunk by air raid on July 28, 1945. Salvaged and scrapped at Kure in May to August 1948.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-206 – Was 85% complete. Construction stopped March 26, 1945. Scrapped at Kure October 1946 to January 1947.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-207 – Was 20% complete. Construction stopped April 17, 1945. Scrapped at Kure April to May 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-208 – Was 5% complete. Construction stopped April 17, 1945. Scrapped at Kure April to May 1946 with I-207.

Second-class submarines
These submarines included medium-sized, medium-ranged units of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Type F1 (Ro-1, Ro-2)


Constructed between 1917 and 1920, Type F1 (F1型) (Ro-1-class) submarines were the first truly oceangoing Japanese submarines and the earliest to be rated as "second-class" or "medium" submarines. The Fiat-Laurenti-designed submarines had weak hulls, and they did not serve as the basis for future Japanese submarine classes.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-1 – Stricken 1932.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-2 – Stricken 1932.

Type F2 (3 units)


Constructed between 1919 and 1922, Type F2 (F2型) (Ro-3-class) submarines had a modified bridge. Their Fiat diesel engines were unreliable, and like the F1 subclass they did not serve as the basis for future Japanese submarine classes.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-3 – Stricken 1932.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-4 – Stricken 1932.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-5 – Stricken 1932.

Kaichū I Type (2 units)
Constructed between 1917 and 1919, the Kaichū Type (海中型) I submarines were the first submarines built to Japanese requirements and designed specifically for service in the waters of East Asia and the Pacific Ocean, with greater hull strength than was common in contemporary European submarines. They had four bow torpedo tubes and two external tubes in trainable cradles on deck. and a 76.2 mm deck gun.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-11 – Stricken and hulked in 1932.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-12 – Stricken and hulked in 1932.

Kaichū II Type (3 units)
Constructed between 1918 and 1920, the Kaichū Type (海中型) II submarines had a longer range than the Kaichu I submarines, and the two trainable external torpedo tubes were replaced by two fixed external tubes.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-13 – Stricken and hulked in 1932.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-14 – Stricken 1932, hulked 1934, and scrapped 1948.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-15 – Stricken 1933, hulked 1934, and scrapped 1948.

Kaichū III Type (10 units)
Constructed between 1919 and 1921, the Kaichū Type (海中型) III submarines had slightly improved performance and a greater diving depth than the Kaichu I and II Type submarines.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-16 – Stricken in 1933 and hulked in 1934.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-17 – Stricken in 1936.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-18 – Stricken in 1936 and hulked; scrapped in 1948.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-19 – Stricken in 1936 and hulked; scrapped in 1948.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-20 – Stricken in 1934; sold and scuttled as an artificial reef in 1935.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-21 – Stricken in 1934; sold and scuttled as an artificial reef in 1935.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-22 – Stricken in 1934.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-23 – Stricken and hulked in 1935.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-24 – Stricken and hulked in 1935.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-25 – Sank in 1923. Salvaged and returned to service in 1926. Stricken and scrapped in 1936.

Kaichū IV Type (3 units)
The Kaichū Type (海中型) IV submarines were constructed between 1921 and 1922. The two external torpedo tubes of the previous Kaichū Types were deleted, but the Kaichū IV Type had larger torpedo tubes and carried heavier torpedoes.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-26 – Stricken and hulked in 1940; scrapped in 1948.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-27 – Stricken in 1940 and hulked; scrapped in 1947.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-28 – Sank in 1935, but salvaged and returned to service. Stricken and hulked in 1940; scrapped in 1948.

Kaichū V Type (4 units)
Constructed between 1921 and 1927, the Kaichū Type (海中型) IV submarines were designed for anti-commerce warfare and had heavier deck guns than previous Kaichū Type submarines.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-29 – Stricken in 1936 and hulked in 1940.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-30 – Stricken and hulked in 1942; scrapped in 1945.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-31 – Sank in 1923 during trials. Salvaged, disassembled, reconstructed, and completed in 1927. Stricken and hulked in 1945. Scuttled on 5 April 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-32 – Stricken and hulked in 1942; scrapped in 1945.

Kaichū VI Type (2 units)
The Kaichū Type (海中型) VI submarines were double-hulled, medium-sized submarines. They were derived from the preceding Kaichū V Type and had improved performance. Constructed between 1933 and 1937, they served as prototypes for the major production Kaichu VII type constructed during World War II. They had a 76.2 mm/40) deck gun and Type 95 (known to the Allies as the "Long Lance") torpedoes.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-33 – Sank MV Mamutu in the Gulf of Papua on 7 August 1942. Sunk off Port Moresby on 29 August 1942 by HMAS Arunta (I30).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-34 – Sunk off San Cristobal on 7 April 1943 by USS Strong (DD-467).

Kaichū VII Type (18 units)
The (Sen-)Chū or Kaichū VII Type ((潜)中型 or 海中VII型) submarines were the Imperial Japanese Navy′s last medium submarines, and were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding Kaichū VI Type.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-35 – Sunk east of the Santa Cruz Islands on 25 August 1943 by USS Patterson (DD-392).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-36 – Sunk east of Saipan on 13 June 1944 by USS Melvin (DD-680).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-37 – Sunk southeast of San Cristobal on 22 January 1944 by USS Buchanan (DD-484).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-38 – Missing off the Gilbert Islands after 19 November 1943. Possibly sunk by USS Cotten (DD-669) west of Tarawa on 24 November 1943.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-39 – Sunk east of Wotje on 1 February 1944 by USS Walker (DD-517).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-40 – Sunk northeast of Kwajalein on 16 February 1944 by USS Phelps (DD-360).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-41 – Sank USS Shelton (DE-407) east of Morotai on 3 October 1944. Sunk east of Okinawa on 23 March 1945 by USS Haggard (DD-555).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-42 – Sank USS YO-159 east of Espiritu Santo on 14 January 1944. Sunk east of Roi-Namur on 11 June 1944 by USS Bangust (DE-739).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-43 – Sunk off the Volcano Islands on 26 February 1945 by aircraft from USS Anzio (CVE-57).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-44 – Sunk east of Eniwetok on 16 June 1944 by USS Burden R. Hastings (DE-19).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-45 – Sunk south of Truk on 30 April 1944 by USS MacDonough (DD-351) and USS Stephen Potter (DD-538).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-46 – Missing off Okinawa after 17 April 1945. Possibly sunk by aircraft from VC-92 on 29 April 1945.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-47 – Sunk northeast of the Palau Islands on 26 September 1944 by USS McCoy Reynolds (DE-440).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-48 – Sunk east of Saipan on 19 July 1944 by USS Wyman (DE-38).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-49 – Missing southeast of Okinawa after 25 March 1945. Possibly sunk by USS Hudson (DD-475) southeast of Okinawa on 5 April 1945.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-50 – Sank USS LST-577 east-southeast of Leyte on 10–11 February 1945. Surrendered at Sasebo in September 1945. Scuttled off the Goto Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-55 – Sunk west of Luzon on 7 February 1945 by USS Thomason (DE-203).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-56 – Sunk west of Okinawa on 9 April 1945 by USS Monssen (DD-798) and USS Mertz (DD-691).

Type L1 (Ro-51, Ro-52)


The Type L1 (L1型) (Ro-51-class) submarines were British L-class submarines built under license by Mitsubishi.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-51 – Stricken and hulked on 1 April 1940.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-52 – Sunk on 29 October 1923, raised, repaired and returned to service. Sank again on 29 October 1925, raised and repaired. Stricken 1 April 1932.

Type L2 (Ro-53, Ro-54, Ro-55, Ro-56)
The Type L2 (L2二 two) (Ro-53-class) submarines were similar to the Type L1 but with no broadside torpedo tubes and a change in the battery arrangement.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-53 – Stricken and hulked in 1940.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-54 – Stricken and hulked in 1940.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-55 – Stricken 1940.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-56 – Stricken and hulked in 1940.

Type L3 (Ro-57, Ro-58, Ro-59)
The Type L3 (L3型) (Ro-57-class) submarines were copies of the British submarine HMS L9. Three units were built — JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-57, JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-58, JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-59 — and all served as training submarines during World War II.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-57 – Scrapped in 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-58 – Scrapped in 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-59 – Scrapped in 1946.

Type L4 (9 units)
The Type L4 (L4型) (Ro-60-class) submarines were copies of the British submarine HMS L52.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-60 – Wrecked on a reef off Kwajalein Atoll on 29 December 1941. Later blew up following an aircraft attack.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-61 – Sunk in the Bering Sea off Adak by USS Reid (DD-369) on 31 August 1942.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-62 – Scuttled in the Seto Inland Sea in May 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-63 – Scuttled in the Seto Inland Sea in May 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-64 – Sunk by a mine in Hiroshima Bay on 12 April 1945.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-65 – Sank in a diving accident off Kiska on 3 November 1942.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-66 – Accidentally rammed and sunk by Ro-62 off Wake Island on 17 December 1941.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-67 – Scrapped in 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-68 – Scuttled in Wakasa Bay along with Ro-500 and I-121 on 30 April 1946. Wreck found in 2018.

Ko Type (18 units)
The Ko or Sen-Shō type (小型 or 潜小型) (Ro-100-class) were medium-sized submarines for use as point-defense submarines.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-100 – Sunk by mine in the Bougainville Strait on 25 November 1943.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-101 – Sunk in Indispensable Strait by USS Saufley (DD-465) and a U.S. Navy patrol aircraft on 15 September 1943.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-102 – Missing off New Guinea after 9 May 1943.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-103 – Sank USS Aludra (AK-72) and USS Deimos (AK-78) off San Cristobal on 23 June 1943. Missing in the Solomon Islands after 28 July 1943.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-104 – Sunk north of the Admiralty Islands on 23 May 1944 by USS England (DE-635).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-105 – Sunk north of the Admiralty Islands on 31 May 1944 by USS England (DE-635).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-106 – Sank USS LST-342 in the Blanche Channel on 18 July 1943. Sunk north of the Admiralty Islands on 22 May 1944 by USS England (DE-635).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-107 – Missing after 6 July 1943 in the Solomon Islands.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-108 – Sank USS Henley (DD-391) in the Huon Gulf on 3 October 1943. Sunk north of the Admiralty Islands on 26 May 1944 by USS England (DE-635).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-109 – Sunk south-southwest of Okidaitōjima on 25 April 1945 by USS Horace A. Bass (APD-124).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-110 – Possibly sank Daisy Moller in the Bay of Bengal on 3 December 1943. Sunk in the Bay of Bengal northeast of Madras on 11 February 1944 by, HMAS Ipswich (J186), and HMAS Launceston (J179).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-111 – Sank Peshawur in the Bay of Bengal southeast of Madras on 23 December 1943 and SS El Madina in the Bay of Bengal near Calcutta on 16 March 1944. Sunk north of the Admiralty Islands on 10 June 1944 by USS Taylor (DD-468).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-112 – Sunk north of Luzon on 11 February 1945 by USS Batfish (SS-310).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-113 – Sank Marion Moller in the Bay of Bengal on 6 November 1944. Sunk north of Luzon on 13 February 1945 by USS Batfish (SS-310).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-114 – Sunk west of Tinian on 17 June 1944 by USS Melvin (DD-680) and USS Wadleigh (DD-689).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-115 – Sunk off Mindoro on 1 February 1945 by USS Ulvert M. Moore (DE-442).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-116 – Sunk north of the Admiralty Islands on 24 May 1944 by USS England (DE-635).
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ro-117 – Sunk southeast of Saipan on 17 June 1944 by U.S. Navy patrol aircraft.

Sen'yu-Ko Type (10 units)
The Sen'yu-Ko or Sen'yu-Shō type (潜輸小型) were transport submarines built in 1944–1945. Several of this type were converted to tankers or to mother ships for the midget submarines. Ten of the 12 submarines laid down were completed.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-101 – Scrapped at Uraga or scuttled off Shimizu (sources disagree) in October 1945.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-102 – Scrapped at Uraga or scuttled off Shimizu (sources disagree) in October 1945.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-103 – Scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-104 – Scuttled off Shimizu in October 1945.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-105 – Scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-106 – Blown up and scuttled along with I-36 off the Goto Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-107 – Scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-108 – Scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-109 – Scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-110 – Was 95% complete. Sank in 1945 during construction and later refloated. Scuttled along with Ha-112 off Kii Suido on 15 April 1946. Other sources state that she was scrapped.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-111 – Scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-112 – Was 95% complete. Scuttled along with Ha-110 off Kii Sundo on 15 April 1946. Other sources state she was scrapped at Kobe.

Sentaka-Ko Type (10 units)
The Sentaka-Ko or Sentaka-Shō type (潜高小型) (Submarine High speed-Small type) were small, high-speed submarines constructed in 1944–1945 to defend the Japanese Home Islands from an Allied invasion. Of the 79 boats planned, only ten were completed.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-201 – Sunk as a target off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 along with I-402 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-202 – Scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-203 – Scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-204 – Ran aground in Aburatsu Bay on 29 October 1945, salvaged and then scrapped August to October 1948.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-205 – Scuttled by gunfire from HMAS Quiberon (G81) and in the Seto Inland Sea on 9 May 1946 as part of Operation Bottom.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-206 – Abandoned at Sasebo at 90% complete. Sank in a typhoon on 25 August 1945 and raised in April 1946. Scuttled off Kii Suido Channel on 6 May 1946. Refloated and scrapped at Kobe in 1952.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-207 – Scuttled by the US Navy along with Ro-31, Ha-210, Ha-215, Ha-216, Ha-219 and Ha-228 off Sasebo Bay on 5 April 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-208 – Scuttled off the Gotō Islands on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-209 – Deliberately run aground on Ganryū-jima on 18 August 1945. Blown up on 11 November 1945 by the US Navy. Salvaged from August to November 1946 and then scrapped.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-210 – Scuttled by the US Navy along with Ro-31, Ha-207, Ha-215, Ha-216, Ha-219 and Ha-228 off Sasebo Bay on 5 April 1946.
 * JAPANESE SUBMARINE Ha-216 – Scuttled by the US Navy along with Ro-31, Ha-207, Ha-210, Ha-215, Ha-219 and Ha-228off Sasebo Bay on 5 April 1946.

Midget submarines
This class includes the smallest of the Japanese submarines, from midget submarines to manned torpedoes often used for suicide attacks.

Ko-Hyoteki Type (50 units)
The Kō-hyōteki (甲標的) class of Japanese midget submarines had hull numbers but no names. For simplicity, they are most often referred to by the hull number of the mother submarine. Thus, the midget carried by JAPANESE SUBMARINE I-16 was known as the I-16 midget. The midget submarine hull numbers beginning with the character "HA", which can only be seen on a builder's plate inside the hull.

Fifty Ko-hyoteki were built. The "A Target" name was assigned as a ruse – if their design was prematurely discovered by Japan's foes, the Japanese Navy could insist that the vessels were battle practice targets. They were also called "tubes" and other slang names.

Kairyū Type (250 units)
The Kairyū (海龍) 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.

Over 760 of these submarines were planned, and by August 1945, 250 had been manufactured, most of them at the Yokosuka shipyard.

These submarines had a two-man crew and were fitted with an internal warhead for suicide missions.

Kaiten Type (400 units)


The Kaiten (回天) was a torpedo modified as a suicide weapon, and used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the final stages of the Second World War. Kaiten means "return to the sky"; however, it is commonly translated as "turn toward heaven".

Early designs allowed for the pilot to escape after the final acceleration towards the target, although whether this could have been done successfully is doubtful. There is no record of any pilot attempting to escape or intending to do so, and this provision was dropped from later production kaitens.

Six models were designed, the types 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 were based on the Long Lance type 93 torpedo (24 inch oxygen/kerosene), and the Type 10, based on the Type 92 torpedo (21 inch electric). Types 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10 were only manufactured as prototypes and never used in combat.