 I-10 inPenang, 1942 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators |  Imperial Japanese Navy |
| Preceded by | Type J3 submarine |
| Succeeded by | Type A2 submarine |
| Built | 1939–1942 |
| In service | 1941–1944 |
| Planned | 5 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Cancelled | 2 |
| Lost | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Cruiser submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 113.7 m (373 ft) (o/a) |
| Beam | 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in) |
| Draft | 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Crew | 100 |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 ×Yokosuka E14Y seaplane |
| Aviation facilities | 1 ×catapult |
TheType A1 submarine (巡潜甲型潜水艦,Junsen kō-gata sensuikan, "Cruiser submarine type A"), also calledI-9-class submarine (伊九型潜水艦,I-kyū-gata sensuikan) were a trio of aircraft-carryingcruiser submarines built for theImperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1930s. All three participated in the Pacific War and were lost.
The submarines of the A1 type were versions of the precedingJ3 class with superior range, improved aircraft installation. Unlike the earlier boats, they were equipped with extensive communication facilities to allow them to serve as squadronflagships.[1] Theydisplaced 2,966metric tons (2,919long tons) surfaced and 4,195 t (4,129 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 113.7 meters (373 ft) long, had abeam of 9.5 meters (31 ft 2 in) and adraft of 5.3 meters (17 ft 5 in). They had a diving depth of 100 meters (330 ft).[1]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 6,200-brake-horsepower (4,623 kW)diesel engines, each driving onepropeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 1,200-horsepower (895 kW)electric motor. They could reach 19knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) on the surface[2] and 8.25 knots (15.28 km/h; 9.49 mph) underwater. On the surface, the A1s had a range of 16,000nautical miles (30,000 km; 18,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph); submerged, they had a range of 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph).[3]
The boats were armed with six internal bow 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes and carried a total of 18torpedoes. They were also armed with a single 40-caliber140 mm (5.5 in)deck gun and two twin25 mm (1 in) Type 96anti-aircraft guns.[3]
Unlike the J3 class, the aircrafthangar was integrated into theconning tower and faces forward; the positions of the deck gun and thecatapult were exchanged so the aircraft could use the forward motion of the ship to supplement the speed imparted by the catapult. The hangar could be accessed from inside thepressure hull and thefloatplane was stowed with its wings folded.[3]
Two more boats were ordered under the1942 Naval Program, but were later cancelled.[1]