Japanese submarine Ha-216
| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name | Submarine No. 4926 |
| Builder | Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Sasebo, Japan |
| Laid down | 27 May 1945 |
| Renamed | Ha-216 on 7 June 1945 |
| Launched | 19 June 1945 |
| Completed | 16 August 1945 |
| Commissioned | 16 August 1945 |
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 53.00 m (173 ft 11 in) overall |
| Beam | 4.00 m (13 ft 1 in) |
| Draft | 3.44 m (11 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth | 100 m (328 ft) |
| Complement | 26 |
| Armament |
|
Ha-216 was an Imperial Japanese Navy Ha-201-class submarine. Completed and commissioned in August 1945 on the day after hostilities ended in World War II, she surrendered in September 1945 and was scuttled in April 1946.
Design and description
[edit]At the end of 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided it needed large numbers of high-speed coastal submarines to defend the Japanese Home Islands[1] against an anticipated Allied invasion (named Operation Downfall by the Allies). To meet this requirement, the Ha-201-class submarines were designed as small, fast submarines[1] incorporating many of the same advanced ideas implemented in the German Type XXI and Type XXIII submarines. They were capable of submerged speeds of almost 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[1]
The Ha-201 class displaced 325 metric tons (320 long tons) surfaced and 447 metric tons (440 long tons) submerged.[1] The submarines were 53 meters (173 ft 11 in) long, had a beam of 4.00 meters (13 ft 1 in) and a draft of 3.44 meters (11 ft 3 in).[1] For surface running, the submarines were powered by a single 400-brake-horsepower (298 kW) diesel engine that drove one propeller shaft.[1] When submerged the propeller was driven by a 1,250-shaft-horsepower (932 kW) electric motor.[1] They could reach 11.8 knots (21.9 km/h; 13.6 mph) on the surface and 13.9 knots (25.7 km/h; 16.0 mph) submerged.[1] On the surface, the Ha-201-class submarines had a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph); submerged, they had a range of 105 nmi (194 km; 121 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph).[1] Their armament consisted of two 533-millimeter (21 in) torpedo tubes with four torpedoes and a single mount for a 7.7-millimeter machine gun.[1]
Construction and commissioning
[edit]Ha-216 was laid down on 27 May 1945 by the Sasebo Naval Arsenal at Sasebo, Japan, as Submarine No. 4926.[2] She was renamed Ha-216 and was attached provisionally to the Sasebo Naval District that day.[2] Launched on 19 June 1945,[2] she was completed and commissioned on 16 August 1945,[2] the last Ha-201-class submarine to enter service.
Service history
[edit]Upon commissioning, Ha-216 was attached formally to the Sasebo Naval District and assigned to Submarine Division 52.[2] On 15 August 1945 — the day before Ha-216 was commissioned — hostilities between Japan and the Allies had ended.[2] Only her commanding officer and skeleton crew remained aboard her after her commissioning.[2] Her commanding officer was assigned elsewhere on 23 August 1945,[2] and she surrendered to the Allies at Sasebo on 2 September 1945.[2]
Disposal
[edit]The Japanese struck Ha-216 from the Navy list on 30 November 1945.[2] She was scuttled off Sasebo Bay along with the submarines Ro-31, Ha-207, Ha-210, Ha-215, Ha-217, Ha-219, and Ha-228 on 5 April 1946.[2]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2019). "IJN Submarine HA-216: Tabular Record of Movement". SENSUIKAN! Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's Submarines. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- Hackett, Bob; Sander Kingsepp (2015). "Sen Taka Sho Type". Sensuikan!. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol.17 I-Gō Submarines, Gakken (Japan), January 1998, ISBN 4-05-601767-0
- Rekishi Gunzō, History of Pacific War Extra, "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces", Gakken (Japan), March 2005, ISBN 4-05-603890-2
- The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.43 Japanese Submarines III, Ushio Shobō (Japan), September 1980, Book code 68343-43
- The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.132 Japanese Submarines I "Revised edition", Ushio Shobō (Japan), February 1988, Book code 68344-36
- Ships of the World special issue Vol.37, History of Japanese Submarines, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), August 1993
