Naval Historical Center #NH 91333
|
Tonnage |
46 tons standard displacement |
|
Dimensions |
78'5" by 6'1" by 6'1" 23.90m by 1.85m by 1.85m |
|
Maximum speed |
24 knots |
|
Complement |
2 |
|
Armament |
2 18" torpedo
tubes |
|
Range |
80 nautical miles (130 km) at 6 knots |
The Type A midget submarine were originally
designed in 1933 and operated off Chitose
and Chiyoda. They were
produced in total secrecy for special operations, such as the raid on Pearl Harbor. They were also
used against Sydney and Diego
Suarez. However, according to some Japanese staff officers
interviewed after the war, the midget submarines were not originally
intended for use against heavily defended ports,
and the admiral
responsible for their development was deeply opposed to their use in
the Pearl Harbor operation.
Later in the war they became a coastal defense weapon.
About 62 of these craft were built by the end of 1942. Four were lost at Pearl Harbor, three at Diego Suarez on 30 May 1942, 4 at Sydney on 31 May 1942, eight off Guadalcanal in 1942, and three in the Aleutians in 1942-43.
References
Jentschura, Jung, and Mickel (1977)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia (c) 2007 by Kent G. Budge. Index
