Japanese Type 6 submarine


The No.6-class submarine was the first class of submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 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 Japanese government had purchased five modified Holland-class submarines from the Electric Boat Company’s Fore River Shipyards in Quincy, Massachusetts. These vessels, known as the Type 1-class were delivered to Japan in knock-down form, and re-assembled at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal.
However, simultaneously, the Japanese government had obtained copies of the blueprints for the Holland-class submarines, and had assigned Kawasaki Dockyards in Kobe the task of building similar vessels in Japan.

Construction and operational history

Kawasaki built two boats, with the help of two American engineers, Chase and Herbert, who had been assistants to John Philip Holland. 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" 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 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, 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, and the submarine was preserved as a memorial in Kure until the end of World War II.

Ships in class