Type D submarine

The I-361 class submarine (伊三百六十一型潜水艦, I-san-byaku-roku-jū-ichi-gata Sensuikan), also called Type-D submarine (丁型/潜丁型潜水艦, Tei-gata/Sen-Tei-gata sensuikan) or Sen'yu/Sen'yu-Dai type submarine (潜輸型/潜輸大型潜水艦, Sen'yu-gata/Sen'yu-Ōgata sensuikan) was a type of the 1st class submarine in the Imperial Japanese Navy serving during the Second World War. The type name, was shortened to Yusō Sensuikan Ō-gata (輸送潜水艦大型, Transport Submarine-Large Type).^[5]

The I-373 class submarine (伊三百七十三型潜水艦, I-san-byaku-nana-jū-san-gata Sensuikan), also called Type-D Modified submarine (丁型改潜水艦, Tei-gata Kai sensuikan) was different from the I-361 class, however since the I-373 was a development form of the I-361 class, this article describes both of them.

Construction

After the Battle of Midway the IJN immediately planned a transport submarine. The type was based on the U 155 Deutschland. Her duties were transportation of troops (110 men, 10 tons freight and two landing craft) in the areas where the enemy had air superiority. Later the demands for her were changed in sequence. The final demands were 65 tons in the hull and 25 tons on the upper deck (freight only). In the beginning the IJN did not intend to arm these boats with torpedoes. Later, after strong demands from the front commanders, it was decided to arm them with torpedoes for self-defense. The I-372 class was designed as a tanker submarine based on the I-361 class. They were not allowed to be loaded with torpedoes.

Service

In 1944, the submarines were tasked with transport missions between from mainland Japan to remote islands. They had little success and suffered great losses. Of the 13 submarines, only four survived the war.

Kaiten missions

In 1945, several submarines were converted to be Kaiten mother ships and assigned to the suicide attack operations for the Shinchō Tokubetsu Kōgekitai (神潮特別攻撃隊, Sinchō Special Attack Force). Their deck guns were removed and fittings for five Kaitens were installed on their decks.

• Japanese submarine I-361
  • Assigned to the Todoroki group (轟隊) on 24 May 1945, no success.
• Japanese submarine I-363
  • Assigned to the Todoroki group on 28 May 1945, sank (or damaged) one motor ship on 15 June 1945.
  • Assigned to the Tamon group (多聞隊) on 8 August 1945, no success.
• Japanese submarine I-366
  • Assigned to the Tamon group on 1 August 1945, no success.
• Japanese submarine I-367
  • Assigned to the Shinbu group (振武隊) on 5 May 1945, damaged USS Gilligan on 27 May 1945.
  • Assigned to the Tamon group on 19 July 1945, no success.
• Japanese submarine I-368
  • Assigned to the Chihaya group (千早隊) on 20 February 1945, no success.
• Japanese submarine I-370
  • Assigned to the Chihaya group on 20 February 1945, no success.

Class variants

The Type-D submarines were divided into four classes:

• Type-D/Sen'yu (丁型/潜輸（伊三百六十一型）, Tei-gata/Sen'yu, I-361-class)
• Type-D/Sen'yu Mod. (丁型/潜輸改（伊三百七十二型）, Tei-gata/Sen'yu-Kai, I-372-class)
• Type D Mod. (丁型改（伊三百七十三型）, Tei-gata Kai, I-373-class)
• Type D Mod.2/Type D 2 (S60 Type) (丁型改2/潜丁2型（第2968号艦型）, Tei-gata Kai-2/Sen-Tei-2-gata, 2968th vessel-class (Dai-2968-Gō kan-gata)). The 2968th vessel class boats were not built and remained only a design.

I-361 class

I-372 class

Project number S51B. She was going to become a lead ship of the Modified Type D submarines (I-373 class), at first. However, the IJN wanted a submarine as soon as possible. She was built as a tanker submarine according to revised I-361 drawings.

I-373 class

Project number S51C. Improved model of the I-361 class. Furthermore, the IJN was planned reinforced model of the I-373 class,^[7] also. However all of them were cancelled.

Footnotes

1. ^ Senshi Sōsho Vol.88 (1975), p.50–51
2. ^ Senshi Sōsho Vol.88 (1975), p.94–95
3. ^ Senshi Sōsho Vol.88 (1975), p.272–273
4. ^ Campbell, John Naval Weapons of World War Two ISBN 0-87021-459-4 p. 191
5. ^ The read as "Sen'yu-Dai", but the read as "Sen'yu-Ō-gata" in Japanese.
6. ^ 伊号第361潜水艦 (I-Gō Dai-361 Sensuikan). The same shall apply hereinafter.
7. ^ Project Number S60, Type D II submarine (潜丁2型, Sen Tei Ni-Gata)

Bibliography

• Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
• Carpenter, Dorr B. & Polmar, Norman (1986). Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-396-6.
• Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. 1980. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• "Rekishi Gunzō", History of Pacific War Vol.17 I-Gō Submarines, Gakken (Japan), January 1998, ISBN 4-05-601767-0
• "Rekishi Gunzō", History of Pacific War Vol.36 Kairyū and Kaiten, Gakken (Japan), May 2002, ISBN 4-05-602693-9
• "Rekishi Gunzō", History of Pacific War Vol.62 Ships of The Imperial Japanese Forces, Gakken (Japan), January 2008, ISBN 4-05-605008-2
• "Rekishi Gunzō", History of Pacific War Vol.63 Documents of IJN submarines and USN submarines, Gakken (Japan), January 2008, ISBN 978-4-05-605004-2
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.43 Japanese Submarines III, Ushio Shobō (Japan), September 1980, Book code 68343–43
• Senshi Sōsho Vol.88, Naval armaments and war preparation (2), "And after the outbreak of war", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), October 1975

See also

• Type 4 Ka-Tsu
• Ha-101-class submarine