Kairyu class submarine

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A Kairyu "Sea Dragon" in the Aburatsubo inlet.
Class overview
Operators: Japan
Planned: 760
Completed: 200-213 (sources vary)
Active: 0
General characteristics
Type: Kairyu (海龍 "Sea Dragon") class midget submarine
Displacement: 19.24 tonnes
Length: 56'11" (7.35m)
Beam: 4'3" (1.30m)
Height: 4'3" (1.30m)
Propulsion: Surface: 85 HP gasoline engine
Submerged: 80 HP electric engine
Speed: Surface speed: 7 knots
Submerged speed: 10 knots
Range: 450 nautical miles (830 km) at 5 knots surfaced
36 nautical miles (70 km) at 3 knots submerged
Complement: 2
Armament: 2 x 475mm torpedoes and a 600kg explosive charge

The Kairyu (海龍 "Sea Dragon") was a class of midget submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 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.

[edit] History

Over 760 of these submarines were planned and by August 1945 about 213 had been manufactured. Most of them were constructed at the Yokosuka shipyard. These submarines had a two-man crew and were fitted with 2 torpedoes along with a 600kg explosive charge intended to be used on a suicide mission.

Most of the Kairyu submarines were based at Yokosuka to defend the entrance of Tokyo Bay in the event of a United States invasion of mainland Japan. Some of these subs were also stationed in the Moroiso and Aburatsubo inlets on the southern tip of the Miura peninsula where a training school had also been set-up.

Due to Japan's surrender on August 1945, after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, none of these submarines ever saw action.

A Kairyu in the Yamato Museum.
A Kairyu in the Yamato Museum.
Characters for Kairyu, lit. "Sea dragon".
Characters for Kairyu, lit. "Sea dragon".

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