The Ha-101-class submarines were designed as small, cheap transport submarines to resupply isolated island garrisons. They
displaced 436 metric tons (429 long tons) surfaced and 501 metric tons (493 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 44.5 meters (146 ft 0 in) long, had a
beam of 6.1 meters (20 ft 0 in) and a
draft of 4.04 meters (13 ft 3 in). They were designed to carry 60 metric tons (59 long tons) of cargo.[1]
For surface running, the boats were powered by a single 400-
brake-horsepower (298 kW)
diesel engine that drove one
propeller shaft. When submerged the propeller was driven by a 140-horsepower (104 kW)
electric motor. They could reach 10
knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) on the surface and 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) underwater.[2] On the surface, the Ha-101s 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 46 nmi (85 km; 53 mi) at 2.3 knots (4.3 km/h; 2.6 mph). The boats were armed a single mount for a
25 mm (1 in) Type 96anti-aircraft gun.[3]
Construction and commissioning
Ha-111 was
laid down on 6 November 1944 by
Mitsubishi at
Kobe,
Japan, as Small Supply Submarine No. 4611.[4] Renamed Ha-111, she was
launched in 1945.[4] During construction, she underwent conversion to a
submarine tender for
midget submarines, the conversion involving modifying her cargo
hold to accommodate ten 450-millimeter (17.7 in)
torpedoes for midget submarines.[4] She was completed and
commissioned on 13 July 1945.[4]
Service history
Upon commissioning, Ha-111 was assigned to the 10th Special Attack Unit.[4] Hostilities between Japan and the
Allies ended on 15 August 1945.[4] and she surrendered to the Allies at
Saeki on 2 September 1945.[4]
Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.
ISBN0-87021-962-6.
Carpenter, Dorr B. & Polmar, Norman (1986). Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945. London: Conway Maritime Press.
ISBN0-85177-396-6.
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press.
ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2015).
"IJN Submarine HA-111: Tabular Record of Movement". SENSUIKAN! Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's Submarines. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
"Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Extra, "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces", Gakken (Japan), March 2005,
ISBN4-05-603890-2
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"Kaijinsha"., (Japan), August 1993
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