Japanese submarine I-51
 I-51 in 1924 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name: | I-51 |
| Ordered: | 1918 Fiscal Year |
| Builder: | Kure Naval Arsenal |
| Laid down: | 6 April 1921, as S22 |
| Launched: | 29 November 1921 |
| Completed: | 20 June 1924, as Submarine 44 |
| Commissioned: | 1 November 1924, as I-51 |
| Struck: | 1 April 1940 |
| Homeport: | Kure Naval District |
| Fate: | Scrapped 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Kaidai-class submarine (Type I) |
| Displacement: | |
| Length: | 99.44 m (326 ft 3 in) |
| Beam: | 8.81 m (28 ft 11 in) |
| Draught: | 4.6 m (15 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: |
|
| Range: |
|
| Endurance: | 47.5 m (156 ft) |
| Complement: | 70 officers and men |
| Armament: |
|
Japanese submarine I-51 (伊号第五一潜水艦 I-gō Dai Gojū-ichi sensuikan) was the lead vessel and prototype of the Kaidai-class submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy, which served in World War II.
Background
Following World War I, the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff began to re-consider submarine warfare as an element of fleet strategy. Before the war, the Japanese Navy regarded submarines as useful only for short-range coastal point defense. [1] However, based on the success of the Imperial German Navy in deployment of long-range cruiser-submarines for commerce raiding Japanese strategists came to realize possibilities for using the weapon for long range reconnaissance, and in a war of attrition against an enemy fleet approaching Japan. [1] Procurement for a large, long-range Japanese submarine was authorized in fiscal 1918 under the Eight-six fleet program, under the designation S22.
Design
Project S22 was based on the latest Royal Navy design, the British K class submarine. Japanese ties to Great Britain via the Anglo-Japanese Alliance were still strong. Project S22 was laid down at Kure Naval Arsenal on 6 April 1921, launched on 29 November 1921 and completed on 20 June 1924. [2]
During construction, the vessel was renamed Submarine No.44 (第四四号潜水艦 Dai-Yonjūyon-go sensuikan), however, on commissioning into the Imperial Japanese Navy, her name was formally registered as I-51.
With a displacement of 1390 tons, I-51 was the largest submarine built in Japan to date. In order to attain a design speed of 23 knots on the surface, and 15 knots submerged, the design required four diesel engines, driving four screws. To accommodate these engines, a double hull design was used, with hulls joined side-by-side forming a sideways figure "8".
As completed, I-51 achieved only 18.4 knots surfaced and 8.4 knots submerged during trials, but had an unrefueled range of 20,000 nautical miles, which was considered remarkable for the time. [1]
Operational history
I-51, despite her various technical achievements, as not regarded as a successful design, largely through problems with her Sulzer diesel engines. The vessel was never assigned to fleet service, but was retained at Kure Naval Arsenal for crew training and as a test bed for various submarine technologies.
In 1931, I-51 was fitted with an aircraft hanger housing a Yokosuka Ro-go Ko-gata floatplane, which could be raised and lowered into the water by a crane. In 1933, this was modified with the addition of an aircraft catapult, making I-51 the forerunner of the Japanese submarine aircraft carriers of World War II.
In 1932, two of her engines and associated shafts were removed, as was her main gun. [2]
I-51 was removed from the navy list on 1 April 1940 and was scrapped in 1941.
References
- Boyd, Carl (2002). The Japanese Submarine Force in World War II. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1557500150.
- Peattie, Mark R. (1997). Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-192-7.
- Jentsura, Hansgeorg (1976). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869-1945. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
- Stille, Mark (2007). Imperial Japanese Navy Submarines 1941-45. Osprey. ISBN 1846030900.
External links
- Nishida, Hiroshi. "Materials of IJN". Imperial Japanese Navy.