At the end of 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided it needed large numbers of high-speed coastal submarines to defend the Japanese Home Islands[1] against an anticipated Allied invasion (named Operation Downfall by the Allies). To meet this requirement, the Ha-201-class submarines were designed as small, fast submarines[1] incorporating many of the same advanced ideas implemented in the German Type XXI and Type XXIII submarines. They were capable of submerged speeds of almost 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[1]
The Ha-201 class displaced 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 a beam of 4.00 meters (13 ft 1 in) and a draft 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 one propeller shaft.[1] When submerged the propeller was driven by a 1,250-shaft-horsepower (932 kW) electric motor.[1] They could reach 11.8 knots (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, the Ha-201-class submarines had a range of 3,000 nautical 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 four torpedoes and a single mount for a 7.7-millimeter machine gun.[1]
Upon commissioning, Ha-203 was attached formally to the Sasebo Naval District and assigned to Submarine Division 33 in the Kure Submarine Flotilla for workups.[2] She had not yet conducted an operational patrol when hostilities between Japan and the Allies ended[1] on 15 August 1945. She surrendered to the Allies at Sasebo on 2 September 1945.[2] On 2 November 1945, she was reassigned to Japanese Submarine Division Three under United States Navy command along with her sister shipsHa-201, Ha-202, Ha-205, and Ha-210.[2]
^ abcdefghijkHackett, Bob; Sander Kingsepp (2015). "Sen Taka Sho Type". Sensuikan!. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
^ abcdefghiHackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2019). "IJN Submarine HA-203: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
References
Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2019). "IJN Submarine HA-203: Tabular Record of Movement". SENSUIKAN! Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's Submarines. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
Hackett, Bob; Sander Kingsepp (2015). "Sen Taka Sho Type". Sensuikan!. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
"Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol.17 I-Gō Submarines, Gakken (Japan), January 1998, ISBN4-05-601767-0
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
July 19, 2023
japanese, submarine, confused, with, japanese, submarine, imperial, japanese, navy, class, submarine, completed, commissioned, 1945, served, during, final, months, world, surrendered, september, 1945, scuttled, april, 1946, center, with, submarines, left, righ. Not to be confused with Japanese submarine I 203 Ha 203 was an Imperial Japanese Navy Ha 201 class submarine Completed and commissioned in May 1945 she served during the final months of World War II She surrendered at the end of the war in September 1945 and was scuttled in April 1946 Ha 203 center with the submarines Ha 204 left and Ha 109 right at Kure Japan on 16 October 1945 HistoryJapanNameSubmarine No 4913BuilderSasebo Naval Arsenal Sasebo JapanLaid down5 April 1945RenamedHa 203 on 1 May 1945Launched25 May 1945Completed20 June 1945Commissioned20 June 1945FateSurrendered 2 September 1945 Stricken 30 November 1945 Scuttled 1 April 1946General characteristicsTypeSubmarineDisplacement320 long tons 325 t surfaced 440 long tons 447 t submergedLength53 00 m 173 ft 11 in overallBeam4 00 m 13 ft 1 in Draft3 44 m 11 ft 3 in Propulsion1 intermediate diesel 400 bhp surfaced 1 250 shp submerged single shaftSpeed11 8 knots 21 9 km h surfaced 13 9 knots 25 7 km h submergedRange3 000 nmi 5 600 km at 10 knots 19 km h surfaced 105 nmi 194 km at 2 knots 3 7 km h submergedTest depth100 m 330 ft Complement26Armament2 533 mm 21 in torpedo tubes 4 Type 95 torpedoes 1 7 7 mm machine gun Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and commissioning 3 Service history 4 Disposal 5 Notes 6 ReferencesDesign and description EditAt the end of 1944 the Imperial Japanese Navy decided it needed large numbers of high speed coastal submarines to defend the Japanese Home Islands 1 against an anticipated Allied invasion named Operation Downfall by the Allies To meet this requirement the Ha 201 class submarines were designed as small fast submarines 1 incorporating many of the same advanced ideas implemented in the German Type XXI and Type XXIII submarines They were capable of submerged speeds of almost 14 knots 26 km h 16 mph 1 The Ha 201 class displaced 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 a beam of 4 00 meters 13 ft 1 in and a draft 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 one propeller shaft 1 When submerged the propeller was driven by a 1 250 shaft horsepower 932 kW electric motor 1 They could reach 11 8 knots 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 the Ha 201 class submarines had a range of 3 000 nautical 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 four torpedoes and a single mount for a 7 7 millimeter machine gun 1 Construction and commissioning EditHa 203 was laid down on 5 April 1945 by the Sasebo Naval Arsenal at Sasebo Japan as Submarine No 4913 2 She was renamed Ha 203 on 1 May 1945 and was attached provisionally to the Sasebo Naval District that day 2 Launched on 25 May 1945 2 she was completed and commissioned on 20 June 1945 2 Service history EditUpon commissioning Ha 203 was attached formally to the Sasebo Naval District and assigned to Submarine Division 33 in the Kure Submarine Flotilla for workups 2 She had not yet conducted an operational patrol when hostilities between Japan and the Allies ended 1 on 15 August 1945 She surrendered to the Allies at Sasebo on 2 September 1945 2 On 2 November 1945 she was reassigned to Japanese Submarine Division Three under United States Navy command along with her sister ships Ha 201 Ha 202 Ha 205 and Ha 210 2 Disposal EditThe Japanese struck Ha 203 from the Navy list on 30 November 1945 2 She was among a number of Japanese submarines the U S Navy scuttled off the Goto Islands in Operation Road s End on 1 April 1946 sinking just beyond the 100 fathom 600 ft 183 m line at 32 37 N 129 17 E 32 617 N 129 283 E 32 617 129 283 Ha 203 2 Notes Edit a b c d e f g h i j k Hackett Bob Sander Kingsepp 2015 Sen Taka Sho Type Sensuikan Combinedfleet com Retrieved 9 October 2020 a b c d e f g h i Hackett Bob Kingsepp Sander 2019 IJN Submarine HA 203 Tabular Record of Movement combinedfleet com Retrieved 9 October 2020 References EditHackett Bob Kingsepp Sander 2019 IJN Submarine HA 203 Tabular Record of Movement SENSUIKAN Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN s Submarines Combinedfleet com Retrieved 9 October 2020 Hackett Bob Sander Kingsepp 2015 Sen Taka Sho Type Sensuikan Combinedfleet com Retrieved 9 October 2020 Rekishi Gunzō History of Pacific War Vol 17 I Gō Submarines Gakken Japan January 1998 ISBN 4 05 601767 0 Rekishi Gunzō History of Pacific War Extra Perfect guide The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces Gakken Japan March 2005 ISBN 4 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Japanese submarine Ha 203 amp oldid 1093105096, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
