C1 Class, Japanese Submarines

Photograph of C1-class submarine

Imperial War Museum. Via CombinedFleet.com

Specifications:

The C1s (Hei-gata) were based on the K6As and were similar to the A and B series except for the absence of a float plane. All were deployed off Pearl Harbor to launch midget submarines on the morning of the fateful attack. The C1s later served as mother ships for midget submarines off Diego Suarez (Madagascar), Sydney, and Guadalcanal.

The C1s were part of a balanced fleet of submarines to be completed by October 1941. The A1s were intended to direct scouting operations by B1 and C1 class submarines, the former specialized to locate targets and the latter to carry out attacks. However, the only time the boats operated in a manner that much resembled this prewar plan was in the attack on Pearl Harbor. Five C1s were ordered and completed on schedule.

In addition to the midget submarine docking collar, the boats were unusual in having two forward torpedo rooms, one above the other.

Units in the Pacific:

References

Carpenter and Polmar (1986)

CombinedFleet.com (accessed 2009年11月6日)

Jentschura, Jung, and Mickel (1977)

Worth (2001)

The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007, 2009, 2012 by Kent G. Budge. Index

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