Japanese submarine Ha-207
Ha-207 was an Imperial Japanese Navy Ha-201-class submarine. Completed and commissioned in August 1945 on the day before hostilities ended in World War II, she surrendered in September 1945 and was scuttled in April 1946.
History | |
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Japan | |
Name: | Submarine No. 4917 |
Builder: | Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Sasebo, Japan |
Laid down: | 23 April 1945 |
Renamed: | Ha-207 on 1 May 1945 |
Launched: | 26 May 1945 |
Completed: | 14 August 1945 |
Commissioned: | 14 August 1945 |
Fate: |
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General characteristics | |
Type: | Submarine |
Displacement: |
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Length: | 53.00 m (173 ft 11 in) overall |
Beam: | 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) |
Draft: | 3.44 m (11 ft 3 in) |
Propulsion: |
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Speed: |
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Range: | |
Test depth: | 100 m (328 ft) |
Complement: | 26 |
Armament: |
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Design and description
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]
Construction and commissioning
Ha-207 was laid down on 23 April 1945 by the Sasebo Naval Arsenal at Sasebo, Japan, as Submarine No. 4917.[2] She was renamed Ha-207 on 1 May 1945 and was attached provisionally to the Sasebo Naval District that day.[2] She was launched simultaneously with her sister ship Ha-208 on 26 May 1945[2] and was completed and commissioned on 14 August 1945.[2]
Service history
Upon commissioning, Ha-207 was attached formally to the Sasebo Naval District and assigned to Submarine Division 52.[2] On 15 August 1945 — the day after Ha-207 was commissioned — hostilities between Japan and the Allies ended.[2] She surrendered to the Allies at Sasebo on 2 September 1945.[2]
Disposal
The Japanese struck Ha-205 from the Navy list on 30 November 1945.[2] She was scuttled along with the submarines Ro-31, Ha-210, Ha-215, Ha-216, Ha-217, Ha-219, and Ha-228 off Sasebo Bay on 5 April 1946.[2]
Notes
- Hackett, Bob; Sander Kingsepp (2015). "Sen Taka Sho Type". Sensuikan!. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2019). "IJN Submarine HA-207: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
References
- Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2019). "IJN Submarine HA-207: 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