Cruiser submarine

A cruiser submarine is a very large submarine designed to remain at sea for extended periods in areas distant from base facilities. Cruiser submarines were successful for a brief period of World War I; but were less successful than smaller submarines during World War II. Large submarines remained vulnerable to damage from Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships, were slow to dive if found by aircraft, offered a large sonar echo surface, and were less able to defensively maneuver during depth charge attacks.^[1]

Surcouf had the largest guns of any cruiser submarine.

History

The cruiser submarine concept originated during the unrestricted submarine warfare campaign of 1917. Three German Type U 139 submarines and seven former merchant submarines, each armed with two 15-centimetre (5.9 in) guns, patrolled areas distant from their North Sea bases to sink Allied merchant shipping as part of an effort to end World War I by starving the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. These distant patrols enjoyed unique immunity to the defensive convoy measures which limited successful submarine attacks in the vicinity of the British Isles.^[2]

The first world war combat experience of these submarines encouraged all major navies to build submarine cruiser prototypes between the world wars, but their cost discouraged most from further production. Japan developed the widest variety, including the A, B and J types. Germany decided against building projected 3,140-ton type XI U-boats with an aircraft hangar and four 5-inch (13 cm) guns.^[3] Long-range submarines with less impressive deck guns, including Type IXD2 U-boats and United States Navy fleet submarines, were sometimes identified as cruiser submarines.^[1]

Examples

Name	Nation	Surface Displacement	Submerged Displacement	Speed	Guns	Torpedo Tubes	Crew	Year	Reference
Surcouf	France	3,250 tons	4,304 tons	18 kt	2 × 203mm/50 Modèle 1924 guns	12	118	1934	[4]
Narwhal-class	USA	2,730 tons	4,050 tons	17 kt	2 × 6"/53 caliber guns	6	90	1928	[5]
Type U-139	Germany	1,930 tons	2,483 tons	15 kt	2 × 15-centimetre (5.9 in) guns	6	62	1916	[6]
Type U-151	Germany	1,512 tons	1,875 tons	12 kt	2 × 15-centimetre (5.9 in) guns	6	56	1917	[6]
Type J1	Japan	2,135 tons	2,791 tons	18 kt	2 × 14 cm/40 11th Year Type naval gun	6	80	1926	[7]
Type B1	Japan	2,584 tons	3,654 tons	23 kt	1 × 14 cm/40 11th Year Type naval gun	6	100	1940	[8]
Type AM	Japan	3,603 tons	4,762 tons	16 kt	1 × 14 cm/40 11th Year Type naval gun	6	100	1944	[9]
HMS X1	Royal Navy	2,780 tons	3,600 tons	19 kt	4 × 5.2-inch (13 cm) guns	6	110	1923	[10]
Kaidai class	Japan	1,833 tons	2,602 tons	23 kt	1 × 12-centimetre (4.7 in) gun	6	80	1930		[11]
K-class	Soviet Union	1,490 tons	2,104 tons	22,5 kt	2 × 10-centimetre (3.9 in) guns	10	67	1939	[12]
Type IXD2	Germany	1,616 tons	1,804 tons	19 kt	1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun	6	57	1938	[13]
Cagni class	Italy	1,461 tons	2,136 tons	18 kt	2 × 10-centimetre (3.9 in) guns	14	85	1940	[14]

Notes

Sources

• Blair, Clay (1996). Hitler's U-Boat War. The Hunters 1939-1942. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-394-58839-8. 
• Gray, Edwyn A. (1972). The Killing Time. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 
• Kafka, Roger; Pepperburg, Roy L. (1946). Warships of the World. New York: Cornell Maritime Press. 
• le Masson, Henri (1969). Navies of the Second World War. The French Navy 1. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company. 
• Lenton, H.T. (1976). German Warships of the Second World War. New York: Arco Publishing Company. ISBN 0-668-04037-8. 
• Lenton, H.T.; Colledge, J.J. (1964). British and Dominion Warships of World War II. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company. 
• Potter, E.B.; Nimitz, Chester W. (1960). Sea Power. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. 
• Silverstone, Paul H. (1968). U.S. Warships of World War II. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company. 
• Tarrant, V.E. (1989). The U-Boat Offensive 1914-1945. London: Cassell & Company. ISBN 1-85409-520-X. 
• Taylor, J.C. (1966). German Warships of World War II. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company. 
• Watts, Anthony J. (1966). Japanese Warships of World War II. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company.