At the end of 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided it needed large numbers of high-speed coastal submarines to defend theJapanese Home Islands[1] against an anticipatedAllied invasion (namedOperation Downfall by the Allies). To meet this requirement, theHa-201-class submarines were designed as small, fast submarines[1] incorporating many of the same advanced ideas implemented in the GermanType XXI andType XXIII submarines. They were capable of submerged speeds of almost 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[1]
TheHa-201 classdisplaced 325 metric tons (320 long tons) surfaced and 447 metric tons (440 long tons) submerged.[1] The submarines were 53 meters (173 ft 11 in) long, had abeam of 4.00 meters (13 ft 1 in) and adraft of 3.44 meters (11 ft 3 in).[1] For surface running, the submarines were powered by a single 400-brake-horsepower (298 kW)diesel engine that drove onepropeller shaft.[1] When submerged the propeller was driven by a 1,250-shaft-horsepower (932 kW)electric motor.[1] They could reach 11.8knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph) on the surface and 13.9 knots (25.7 km/h; 16.0 mph) submerged.[1] On the surface, theHa-201-class submarines had a range of 3,000nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph); submerged, they had a range of 105 nmi (194 km; 121 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph).[1] Their armament consisted of two 533-millimeter (21 in)torpedo tubes with fourtorpedoes and a single mount for a 7.7-millimetermachine gun.[1]
Upon commissioning,Ha-216 was attached formally to the Sasebo Naval District and assigned to Submarine Division 52.[2] On 15 August 1945 — the day beforeHa-216 was commissioned — hostilities between Japan and theAllies had ended.[2] Only hercommanding officer and skeleton crew remained aboard her after her commissioning.[2] Her commanding officer was assigned elsewhere on 23 August 1945,[2] and she surrendered to the Allies at Sasebo on 2 September 1945.[2]
Rekishi Gunzō, History of Pacific War Extra, "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces", Gakken (Japan), March 2005,ISBN4-05-603890-2
The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.43 Japanese Submarines III, Ushio Shobō (Japan), September 1980, Book code 68343–43
The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.132 Japanese Submarines I "Revised edition", Ushio Shobō (Japan), February 1988, Book code 68344–36
Ships of the World special issue Vol.37, History of Japanese Submarines,"Kaijinsha"., (Japan), August 1993
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