Japanese Type 6 Submarine
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The was the first class of
submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...
s of the
Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, Potsdam Declaration, when it was dissolved followin ...
built domestically in Japan. Consisting of two vessels, these submarines were highly modified versions of ''Holland''-class vessels designed in the United States.


Background

During the
Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War (8 February 1904 – 5 September 1905) was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and the Korean Empire. The major land battles of the war were fought on the ...
, the Japanese government had purchased five modified ''Holland''-class submarines from the
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's Fore River Shipyards in
Quincy, Massachusetts Quincy ( ) is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the largest city in the county. Quincy is part of the Greater Boston area as one of Boston's immediate southern suburbs. Its population in ...
.Jentschura p. 160 These vessels, known as the Type 1 class were delivered to Japan in knock-down form, and re-assembled at the
Yokosuka Naval Arsenal was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy, and was located at Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture on Tokyo Bay, south of Yokohama. History In 1866, the Tokugawa shogunate govern ...
. However, simultaneously, the Japanese government had obtained copies of the blueprints for the ''Holland''-class submarines, and had assigned Kawasaki Dockyards in
Kobe Kobe ( ; , ), officially , is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. With a population of around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's List of Japanese cities by population, seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Port of Toky ...
the task of building similar vessels in Japan.


Construction and operational history

Kawasaki built two boats (Hulls No. 6 and 7), with the help of two American engineers, Chase and Herbert, who had been assistants to
John Philip Holland John Philip Holland (; February 24, 1841August 12, 1914) was an Irish marine engineer who developed the first submarine to be formally commissioned by the US Navy, USS Holland (SS-1) and the first Royal Navy submarine, ''Holland 1''. Early lif ...
. The Kawasaki-built submarines displaced 63 or 95 tons when submerged, and measured 73 or 84 feet in overall length, respectively, and were thus longer and displaced less than the original five imported Holland-type submarines which had arrived that same year. However, they had almost double the engine power, which gave extra speed and reduced fuel consumption. On the other hand, both vessels could launch only one 18-inch torpedo, and each was manned by 14 sailors, whereas the imported ''Holland''-type submarines could fire two torpedoes and could be operated by 13 sailors. The ''Kaigun Holland'' #6 was launched at Kobe on 28 September 1905 and was completed six months later at Kure as the first submarine built in Japan. It sank during a training dive in
Hiroshima Bay is a bay in the Inland Sea, Japan.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hiroshima Wan" in . Administratively, the bay is divided between Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures. The bay's shore is a Ria. Its surface area is about , with a mean d ...
on 15 April 1910. Although the water was only 58 feet deep, there were no provisions for the crew to escape while submerged. The commanding officer, Lieutenant
Tsutomu Sakuma was a career naval officer in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and a pioneer submarine commander, known primarily as the commanding officer during the sinking of Submarine ''No.6''. Biography Born in Mikata District, Fukui, Mikata District Fukui prefe ...
, patiently wrote a description of his sailor's efforts to bring the boat back to the surface as their oxygen supply ran out. All of the sailors were later found dead at their duty stations when this submarine was raised the following day. The sailors were regarded as heroes for their calm performance of their duties until death,Baldwin pp.92-110 and the submarine was preserved as a memorial in
Kure is a city in the Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 208,024 in 106,616 households and a population density of 590 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . With a strong industrial and naval heritage, ...
Until it was dismantled by order of the
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in late 1945.


Ships in class

*, laid down 24 November 1904; launched 28 September 1905; commissioned 30 March 1906; reclassified as 2nd class submersible on 4 August 1916, reclassified as 3rd class submarine on 1 April 1919; decommissioned on 1 December 1920. Became a Memorial at
Kure Naval Arsenal was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. History The Kure Naval District was established at Kure, Hiroshima in 1889, as the second of the naval districts responsible for the defense of the ...
.Nishida, '' Materials of the Imperial Japanese Navy'' *, laid down 26 November 1904; launched 28 September 1905; commissioned 30 March 1906; reclassified as 2nd class submersible on 4 August 1916, reclassified as 3rd class submarine on 1 April 1919; decommissioned on 1 December 1920.


Notes


References

* * * * * *


External links

*{{cite web, last = Nishida, first = Hiroshi, url = http://admiral31.world.coocan.jp/e/stc0502.htm , title = Materials of IJN, work = Imperial Japanese Navy, accessdate = Submarine classes Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy Ships built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries