Kairyū-class submarine

The Kairyu (海龍, Kairyū, "Sea Dragon") was a class of midget submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy, designed in 1943–1944, and produced from the beginning of 1945. These submarines were meant to meet the invading American naval forces upon their anticipated approach of Tokyo.

A Kairyu "Sea Dragon" in the Aburatsubo inlet.
Class overview
Operators Imperial Japanese Navy
Planned760
Completed200–213 (sources vary)
Active0
Preserved2
General characteristics
TypeKairyu (海龍 "Sea Dragon") class midget submarine
Displacement19.3 t (21.3 short tons)
Length17.2 m (56 ft 5 in)
Beam1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
Height1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
Propulsion
  • Surface: 64 kW (86 hp) diesel engine
  • Submerged: 60 kW (80 hp) electric engine
Speed
  • Surface speed: 13 km/h (7.0 kn)
  • Submerged speed: 19 km/h (10 kn)
Range
  • 830 km (450 nmi) at 10 km/h (5.4 kn) surfaced
  • 70 km (38 nmi) at 5.5 km/h (3.0 kn) submerged
Complement2
Armament2 × 450mm torpedoes and a 600 kg (1,300 lb) explosive charge
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