I-351-class submarine
# I-351-class submarine

The I-351-class submarine (伊三百五十一型潜水艦, I-san-byaku-go-jū-ichi-gata sensuikan) was a class of tanker/transport submarines built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during World War II. The IJN called this type of submarine Senho type submarine (潜補型潜水艦, Sen-Ho-gata sensuikan). The type name, was shortened to Hokyū Sensuikan (補給潜水艦, Submarine Tanker). The IJN designed these submarines to support flying boats in forward areas. By the time the first submarine was finished, this capability was no longer needed and she was converted into a tanker. That boat, I-351, was sunk on the return leg of her second voyage in 1945; the second boat, I-352, was destroyed by an American air raid before she was completed. Four additional submarines were planned, but were cancelled before they were laid down.

## Design and description

The I-351-class submarines were ordered under the 5th Fleet Replenishment Program of 1942 to support IJN flying boats in areas where there were no shore facilities and seaplane tenders could not operate. They were designed to support up to three flying boats with fuel, ammunition, water and even replacement aircrew.

These submarines had a length of 111 meters (364 ft 2 in) overall, a beam of 10.2 meters (33 ft 6 in) and a draft of 6.1 meters (20 ft 0 in). They displaced 3,512 long tons (3,568 t) on the surface and 4,290 long tons (4,360 t) submerged. They had a diving depth of 90 meters (300 ft) and a crew of 77 officers and enlisted men plus accommodations for 13 aircrew.

The boats had two propellers, each of which was driven by a 1,850-brake-horsepower (1,380 kW) diesel engine as well as a 600-shaft-horsepower (447 kW) electric motor. This arrangement gave the I-351-class submarines a maximum speed of 15.75 knots (29.17 km/h; 18.12 mph) while surfaced and 6.3 knots (11.7 km/h; 7.2 mph) submerged. They had a range of 13,000 nautical miles (24,000 km; 15,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) while on the surface and 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) while submerged. This gave them an endurance of 60 days.

The boats were equipped with four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow and they carried four torpedoes. For surface combat they were designed to carry one 14-centimeter (5.5 in) deck gun, but this was unavailable when the submarines were under construction and three 81-millimeter (3.2 in) Type 3 mortars were substituted. The submarines were fitted with seven 25 mm Type 96 anti-aircraft guns, in two twin and three single mounts.

The I-351-class submarines were initially equipped to carry 365 long tons (371 t) of aviation gasoline, 11 long tons (11 t) of fresh water, and either sixty 550-pound (250 kg) bombs or 30 bombs and 15 aircraft torpedoes. Four of the torpedoes could be replaced by an equal number of reload torpedoes for the submarine.

## Boats

| Boat # | Name | Builder | Launched | Completed | Fate |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 655 | I-351 | Kure Naval Arsenal | 24 February 1944 | 28 January 1945 | Sunk by USS Bluefish, 14 July 1945 |
| 656 | I-352 | Kure Naval Arsenal | 23 April 1944 | | Sunk in air raid, 22 June 1945 |
| 657 | I-353 | Kure Naval Arsenal | | | Cancelled, 1943 |
| 730, 731, 732 | | | | | Cancelled, 1942 |

## Construction and service

Only I-351 and I-352 were actually laid down, the other four submarines were cancelled before their keels were laid.

I-351 was modified before completion into an oil tanker. The boat made one round trip from Singapore, carrying 132,000 US gallons (500,000 L; 110,000 imp gal) of aviation fuel, and was sunk on the return leg of her second trip in the South China Sea at coordinates 04°30′N 110°00′E﻿ / ﻿4.500°N 110.000°E﻿ / 4.500; 110.000 by the American submarine Bluefish on 14 July 1945. I-352 was 90 percent complete when she was destroyed during an air raid by Boeing B-29 heavy bombers on 22 July.

