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IJN I-351

1945 WORLD WAR 2

IJN I-351 History

In 1943-1945 - the second half of World War I (1939-1945) - the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) attempted to build six planned I351 class special "tanker/supply" submarines. The class was born from an initiative in 1942, led by I-351 itself, and became the group's only completed ship before the end of the war in August 1945.

The second ship was destroyed during construction, and the group's four were immediately canceled. The need for such special ships no longer existed - at this point the Japanese Navy had lost more important forward operating bases to the Allied forces. advance.

As planned, the I351 class will carry nearly 400 tons of dry and wet supplies to airships and seaplanes at forward positions throughout the Pacific Ocean. As a transport system, the I-351 is equipped to carry fuel supplies, fresh water and ammunition - from conventionally dropped bombs to torpedoes.

In addition to its transport role, the I-351 was equipped with its own 4 x 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes in case of potential trouble, although it only underwent four reloads, resulting in limited offensive strikes. The ship also retained a usable surface armament, including 3 x 81mm Type 3 mortars and 7 x 25mm Type 96 anti-aircraft guns.

When constructed, I-351 displaced 3,570 tons when it surfaced and 4,560 tons when submerged. She has a barrel length of 364.1 feet, a beam of 33.5 feet, and a draft of 20 feet. Power comes from 2 diesel engines rated at 3,700 hp, while 2 electric motors control the boat at 1,200 hp when submerged.

Both systems drive 2 axles at the stern. Top speed reaches 16 knots on the surface and 6 knots underwater. Range was an impressive 15,000 miles, while the hull was tested at a depth of 300 feet, on par with submarines of that era.

Her crew consisted of 77 officers, with an additional 13 men drafted into the army as part of the crew.

The I-351 became the only completed ship in its class, launched in 1944 by the Wu Naval Arsenal Shipyard. She was finally (officially) finished on January 28, 1945, although her ocean-going career only lasted until July 14, 1945, when she was successfully engaged and sunk by the submarine USS Bluefish (SS-222). Her younger sister, I-352, was still being held at the Wu Naval Arsenal after she disappeared in a U.S.-led airstrike a month earlier, on June 22, 1945.

By the time she sank, I-352 was nearly 90 percent complete. The hull of I-353 was never laid, and the remaining three proposed ships had only hull numbers #730, #731 and #732.