The Hayashio-class submarine was the successor to the , and the predecessor of the within the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Ordered in 1959, the boats were small with limited capabilities but were successful. Constructed in Japan from 1960 to 1962, they remained in service until 1979 when they were decommissioned.
Design and description The Hayashio class was based on the United States Navy Barracuda-class submarines. They were small with limited capability and were shorter and wider than the preceding Japanese . The main mission of the class was for operations in coastal waters. They were air conditioned and provided improved habitability for their crews, as such, they were considered a successful submarine design. They measured long overall with a beam of and a draft of . They possessed a surfaced displacement of and submerged. An objective of the design was to improve underwater hydrodynamics; to achieve this, external framing was used to increase internal space and create a better double hull. They had a crew of 43.
The submarines were propelled by two propeller shafts powered by a diesel-electric system composed of two Sulzer-Mitsubishi diesel engines creating and two electric motors creating . The main storage batteries were water-cooled. This gave the vessels a maximum speed of surfaced and submerged. To improve underwater maneuverability, a joystick was installed instead of the traditional wheel at the helm position. The submarines mounted three torpedo tubes in the bow for torpedoes. The class used a water pressure system to launch torpedoes that eliminated the creation of water bubbles.
Boats Hayashio class construction data Pennant no. Name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Fate SS-521 Shin Mitusbishi, Kobe 6 June 1960 31 July 1961 30 June 1962 Decommissioned 25 July 1977 SS-522 Kawasaki, Kobe 7 June 1960 28 August 1961 17 August 1962 Decommissioned 23 March 1979
Construction and career Both submarines were ordered in 1959 from Japanese shipyards. Both Hayashio and Wakashio entered service in 1962. On 20 May 1970, Hayashio collided with a merchant vessel damaging the submarine's periscope. They were both stricken from the naval vessel register in 1979, with Wakashio on 23 July 1979.
See also Equivalent submarines of the same era
Notes
Citations
References