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IJN I-201

1945 WORLD WAR 2

IJN I-201 History

With increasing losses of Allied warships, submarines, and attack aircraft in the Pacific, the Japanese Navy was forced to adopt a contingency submarine construction program in 1943-1944. This move resulted in an impressive I-201 class of fast ocean-going diesel-electric attack submarines. The class would prove to be one of the better IJN submarine designs, with revolutionary features rivaled only by Germany's pioneering Type XXI design during this period (detailed elsewhere on this site).

Before the end of the war in August 1945, only 3 of the 22 ships planned to be built were completed and none were sent to wartime patrols. Only eight in this group are named/designated (I-201 to I-208).

The I201 class hull received an electric welding treatment and a relatively light diesel marine engine, which helped reduce displacement while allowing higher diving speeds. The rubber coating also helps keep noise down, and the powerful electric motor propels the boat underwater at speeds approaching 20 knots at which point most other submarines can handle diving speeds of around 8 to 10 knots at best.

In the case of the I-201 itselfthe lead ship in its classthe ship was 259 feet long, 19 feet wide beam, and 18 feet draft. The MAN diesel from Germany provided 2,750 hp, while the electric motor made an impressive 5,000 hp. Both propulsion systems drive the same twin-screw unit. Surface speeds reached 16 knots and underwater speeds approached 20 knots.

The range is 15,000 nautical miles.

With a total crew of 50 people, the ship was at sea for 30 days before proper replenishment. The shape of the boat is very streamlined and rounded, with the sails set amidships. The hull is characterized by an arched lower side wall that runs almost the entire length of the boat.

The rear plane was designed lower, while the dive plane was located forward of the nose section.

Armaments centered on 4 x 533 mm (21") torpedo tubes are arranged in pairs at the bow, and two launchers are located on one side of the hull. There are ten reloads in total, limiting the "spread of the ship's ejection" "Quantity On the I-201 surface, 2 x 25mm anti-aircraft guns (AA) were awarded for service, one mounted on a pedestal in front of the sail and the other on a similar bracket behind the sail.

Two 25mm-mounted carts Racks are installed retracting the hull sailing to help simplify the ship.

I-201 was laid on March 1, 1944, launched on July 22 of the same year, and finally completed on February 2, 1945. I-202 was subsequently keeled on May 1, 1944, and launched on February 2, 1944. It was completed on February 12, 1945. I-203 was laid on June 1, 1944 and launched on September 20, 1944.

It was completed on May 29, 1945.

I-204, I-205, and I-206 were launched in December 1944, February 1945, and March 1945, respectively, but were never completed. Construction of I-207 and I-208 began in 1944 and 1945, respectively, but did not begin until the end of the war.

With excellent speed, diving skills and a healthy stamina window, the I-201 class will prove to be a formidable opponent in the hands of the right captain and capable crew - especially with plenty available. However, the Pacific War ended before the ship could be commissioned, eventually conquering the Americans, who sent her back to Hawaii to extensively test her capabilities and systems.

I-201 was eventually sunk as a target near Oahu, Hawaii, in 1946. I-202 sank in the Goto Islands in April 1946. I-203 was targeted for sinking off the coast of Hawaii in May 1946. The hull of I-201 was not discovered until 2009.