The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
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National
Archives #80-G-338384
|
Tonnage |
19.24 tons submerged |
|
Dimensions |
56'11" by 4'3" by 4'3" 17.35m by 1.30m by 1.30m |
|
Maximum speed |
7.5 knots surfaced 10 knots submerged |
| Dive |
to 330 feet to 100 meters |
|
Complement |
2 |
|
Armament |
2 18" (46cm) torpedo
tubes or 1 600kg (1300 lb) explosive charge |
| Machinery |
1-shaft gasoline (85 hp) or
electric (80 hp) |
|
Range |
450 nautical miles (830 km) at 5 knots
surfaced 36 nautical miles (70 km) at 3 knots submerged |
The Kairyus
were originally designed as midget submarines with torpedo tubes.
Because of the lack of torpedoes, and because their mission was
near-suicidal at best, most were
equipped as suicide craft with a 600
kilogram charge instead of torpedoes. 760 were ordered but only 213 had
been
delivered by the time of the surrender, and none of these carried out a combat mission.
References
Jentschura, Jung, and Mickel (1977)
Navy
History and Heritage Command (accessed 2009-12-8)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007, 2009, 2012 by Kent G. Budge. Index
