List of specifications of submarines of World War II

Submarines of World War II represented a wide range of capabilities with many types of varying specifications produced by dozens of countries. The principle countries engaged in submarine warfare during the war were Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. The Italian and Soviet fleets were the largest. While the German and US fleets fought anti-shipping campaigns (in the Atlantic and Pacific respectively), the British and Japanese submarines were mostly engaged against enemy warships.[1]

Specifications


Specifications of the principle submarines of World War II
CountryClassTypeVariantsFirst commissionedProductionClass lostEnemy ships sunkDisplacement (tons)
surfaced
submerged
Length (feet)Beam (feet)Draft (feet)PropulsionSpeed (knots)
surfaced
submerged
Range (nautical miles)
surfaced
submerged
Diving depth (feet)ComplementArmament
(non-torpedo)
Torpedo tubesTorpedoesNotableComments
France600 series[2]Coastal patrolSirène, Ariane, Circé, Orion, Diane, Argonaute classes19272818TBD599–641
745–809
205–21616–1814–20Diesel (1,200–1,420 hp) Electric (1,000 hp), 2 shafts14
7.5–9
3,500–4,000
75–82
80411×75–100 mm6–7×22"
(2–3 forward, 2 midships, 2 aft
FranceRedoutable[3]Oceangoing patrolTypes I, IIJul 1931312831,572
2,082
3032716Diesel (4,300 hp) Electric (1,200 hp), 2 shafts17
10
14,000
90
120851×100mm9×22"
2×16"
11BévéziersServed with Allies and Axis
GermanyType VII[4]Oceangoing attackTypes A, B, C, C/41Jun 1938695437277753
857
2182014Diesel (3,200 hp) Electric (750 hp), 2 shafts18
8
8,700
90
720441×88mm5×21"
(4 bow, 1 stern)
14U-47, U-99, U-100Very successful Atlantic commerce raider
GermanyType IX[5]Long-range oceangoing attackTypes A, B, C, D, D/42Dec 193819213?TBD1,032
1,053
2512215Diesel (2,800 hp) Electric (1,000 hp), 2 shafts18
7
12,000
65
755541×105mm6×21"
(4 bow, 2 stern)
24TBDVery successful Atlantic commerce raider
GermanyType XXI[6]Long-range oceangoing attack electro-boatType AJun 194498TBD01,621
1,819
2522220Diesel (4,000 hp) Electric (4,800 hp), Silent electric (226 hp), 2 shafts16
17
15,500
385
850572×twin 20mm6×21"
(all bow)
23TBDSignificant post-war impact
JapanI-15[7]Long-range oceangoing attackTypes B1, B2, B3Sep 194020TBDTBD2,590
3,655
3563017Diesel (1,2400 hp) Electric (2,000 hp), 2 shafts24
8
14,000
100
3301001×140mm, 2×25, airplane,6×21"
(all bow)
18TBDCarried an airplane
JapanKaiten[8]Midget suicideTypes 1, 2, 3,41944-19452000+TBD0?18
18
48-543-4.53-4Torpedo engine (550 hp) or Hydro-hydrazine (1,800 hp)30-40
30-40
23–38 kmTBD1-21,500 kg warhead00TBDCommonly intended as a suicide craft
JapanKohyoteki[9]Midget attackTypes A, B, C1941?101TBD0?TBD
47
79610Electric (600 hp)23
19
100
TBD
982140 kg scuttling charge22TBDAttacked Pearl Harbor and elsewhere
NetherlandsO21 ClassOceangoing attackNone193773?TBD990
1205
77.7m6.8m3.95.Diesel (2×2,500 hp) Electric (2×500 hp), 2 shafts19.5
9
10,000
28
115m391×88mm8×21"
(4 bow, 2 stern, 2 traversed)
22TBDVery successful Pacific commerce raider
United KingdomT-class[10][11]Oceangoing patrol1st, 2nd and 3rd groupDec 193853about 25%TBD1,095
1,585
2762514Diesel (2,500 hp) Electric (1,450 hp), 2 shafts16
9
7,000
80
300-350up to 631×4" gun10-11×21"
(mostly bow)
16Turbulent, Thrasher, TorbayServed into the 1960s
United KingdomU-class[12]Coastal patrolGroup I, II, III ("V")193870TBDTBD562
740
2051616Diesel-electric[note 1] (825 shp), 2 shafts 12.75
9
5,000 mi
120 mi
300371×3" gun4×21"
(bow)
8Venturer, Upholderchiefly Mediterranean operations, used outside RN
United StatesGato[13]Long-range oceangoing attackGato, Balao, TenchNov 1941228[14]31TBD1,526
2,424
3122715Diesel (5,400 hp) Electric (2,750 hp), 2 shafts20
9
12,000
95
300-400802×50 cal, 2 × 30 cal MG, 1×3"10×21"
(6 bow, 4 stern)
24Flasher, Tang, Wahoo, Archerfish, BowfinVery successful type, main U.S. submarine

Notes

Notes
  1. The diesel engines were used for charging the batteries only
Citations
  1. Miller, D., The Illustrated Directory of Submarines of the World pp. 124-127, MBI Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-7603-1345-8
  2. Bagnasco, Erminio (1978), Submarines of World War Two, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, p. 41, ISBN 0-87021-962-6
  3. Bagnasco, Erminio (1978), Submarines of World War Two, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, p. 44, ISBN 0-87021-962-6
  4. Miller, D., Submarines of the World pp. 144-150, MBI Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-7603-1345-8
  5. Miller, D., Submarines of the World pp. 150-153, MBI Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-7603-1345-8
  6. Miller, D., Submarines of the World pp. 156-158, MBI Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-7603-1345-8
  7. Bishop, C., The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II p. 435, Metro Books, 1998, ISBN 1-58663-762-2
  8. Croix, P., The Encyclopedia of the World’s Warships p. 184, Chartwell Books, 1985, ISBN 0-89009-780-1
  9. Rekishi Gunzō, History of the Pacific War Vol. 35, Kō-hyōteki and Kōryū, Gakken (Tokyo, Japan), 2002, ISBN 4-05-602741-2 pp. 39-46
  10. Miller, D., Submarines of the World pp. 168-171, MBI Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-7603-1345-8
  11. McCartney, I., British Submarines 1939–1945 (2006) Osprey Publishing, ISBN 978-1-84603-007-9, p8-13
  12. McCartney, I., British Submarines 1939–1945 (2006) Osprey Publishing, ISBN 978-1-84603-007-9
  13. Friedman, N., U.S. Submarines Through 1945, p. 295-296, Naval Institute Press, 1995, ISBN 1-55750-263-3
  14. Lenton, H. T. American Submarines (Doubleday, 1973), p.5

References

  • Bishop, C., The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Metro Books, 1998, ISBN 1-58663-762-2
  • Croix, P., The Encyclopedia of the World’s Warships p. 184, Chartwell Books, 1985, ISBN 0-89009-780-1
  • Bagnasco, E. Submarines of World War Two, Naval Institute Press, 1978, ISBN 0-87021-962-6
  • Friedman, N., U.S. Submarines Through 1945, Naval Institute Press, 1995, ISBN 1-55750-263-3
  • Miller, D., Submarines of the World MBI Publishing, 2002, ISBN 0-7603-1345-8
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