Natsushio-class submarine

JS Fuyushio
Class overview
Name	Natsushio class
Builders	New Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation
Operators	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by	Hayashio class
Succeeded by	Ōshio class
Built	1961–1963
In commission	1963–1978
Planned	2
Completed	2
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	Coastal attack submarine
Displacement	690 long tons (701 t) surfaced
Length	61 m (200 ft 2 in)
Beam	6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Draft	4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)
Propulsion	Sulzer-Mitsubishi Diesel-electric, 2 shafts 1,350  bhp (1,010  kW) (surfaced) 2,300  shp (1,700 kW) (submerged)
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) submerged
Complement	43
Armament	3 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes

The Natsushio-class submarines were a pair of submarines constructed and operated by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force during the Cold War. They were a development of the Hayashio-class submarines and are sometimes considered the same class. They were small and limited in capability but were thought to be a successful class. They entered service in 1963–1964 and were deleted in 1978.

Design and description

The Natsushios were a development of the preceding Hayashio class and are sometimes considered the same class. ^{[1] [2] [3]} They shared many of the same characteristics with small design improvements. They were small submarines with limited capability ^[1] but considered handy and a successful class. ^[4] They were air-conditioned and had good habitability for the crews. The submarines measured 61 meters (200 ft 2 in) long overall with a beam of 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) and a draft of 4.1 m (13 ft 5 in). The submarines had a standard displacement of 780 long tons (790 t), with a surfaced displacement of 690 long tons (700 t) and 850 long tons (860 t) submerged. ^{[1] [3]}

The vessels were powered by a diesel-electric system. Two shafts were powered by two Sulzer-Mitsubishi diesel engines creating 1,350 brake horsepower (1,010  kW ) and two electric motors creating 1,700 shaft horsepower (1,300 kW). This gave the submarines a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced and 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) submerged. ^{[1] [a]} The Natsushios were armed with three 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes in the bow. They had a crew of 43. ^[1]

Boats in class

Natsushio class construction data [1]
Pennant no.	Name	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate
SS-523	Natsushio (なつしお)	5 December 1961	18 September 1962	29 June 1963	Deleted 20 March 1978
SS-524	Fuyushio (ふゆしお)	6 December 1961	14 December 1962	17 September 1963	Deleted 20 June 1978

See also

• Quebec-class submarine - Soviet Navy
• Draken-class submarine - Royal Swedish Navy
• Toti-class submarine - Italian Navy
• Ro-100-class submarine - Imperial Japanese Navy
• Ha-201-class submarine - Imperial Japanese Navy

Notes

1. Blackman ^[2] and Moore ^[4] have the submarines' surfaced speed as 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph).

Citations

1. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 235.
2. Blackman 1969, p. 181.
3. Couhat 1976, p. 243.
4. Moore 1976, p. 281.

References

• Blackman, Raymond V. B., ed. (1969). Jane's Fighting Ships 1969–70. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company. OCLC   30910135.
• Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1976). Combat Fleets of the World 1976/77: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Armament. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   0-87021-183-8.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-55750-132-7.
• Moore, John, ed. (1976). Jane's Fighting Ships 1976–77 (79th ed.). New York: Franklin Watts Incorporated. ISBN   0-531-03261-2.