Coordinates: 52°32′31″N 172°10′37″E / 52.542°N 172.177°E / 52.542; 172.177

Japanese submarine I-31

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History
Empire of Japan
NameI-31
BuilderYokosuka Naval Yard
Laid down6 December 1939
Launched13 March 1941
Completed30 May 1942
FateSunk, 13 May 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeType B1 submarine
Displacement
  • 2,631 tonnes (2,589 long tons) surfaced
  • 3,713 tonnes (3,654 long tons) submerged
Length108.7 m (356 ft 8 in) overall
Beam9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
Draft5.1 m (16 ft 9 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed
  • 23.5 knots (43.5 km/h; 27.0 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 14,000 nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) surfaced
  • 96 nmi (178 km; 110 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged
Test depth100 m (330 ft)
Crew94
Armament
Aircraft carried1 × floatplane
Aviation facilities1 × catapult

The Japanese submarine I-31 was one of 20 Type B cruiser submarines of the B1 sub-class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1940s.

Design and description

The Type B submarines were derived from the earlier KD6 sub-class of the Kaidai class and were equipped with an aircraft to enhance their scouting ability. They displaced 2,631 tonnes (2,589 long tons) surfaced and 3,713 tonnes (3,654 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 108.7 meters (356 ft 8 in) long, had a beam of 9.3 meters (30 ft 6 in) and a draft of 5.1 meters (16 ft 9 in). They had a diving depth of 100 meters (330 ft).[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 6,200-brake-horsepower (4,623 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 1,000-horsepower (746 kW) electric motor. They could reach 23.6 knots (43.7 km/h; 27.2 mph) on the surface and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) underwater.[2] On the surface, the B1s had a range of 14,000 nautical miles (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph); submerged, they had a range of 96 nmi (178 km; 110 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph).[3]

The boats were armed with six internal bow 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes and carried a total of 17 torpedoes. They were also armed with a single 140 mm (5.5 in)/40 deck gun and two single mounts for 25 mm (1 in) Type 96 anti-aircraft guns.[3] In the Type Bs, the aircraft hangar was faired into the base of the conning tower. A single catapult was positioned on the forward deck.[3]

Career

In November 1942, I-31 was spotted doing reconnaissance with its seaplane off Suva, Fiji.[4]

On 12 May 1943 I-31 attacked the USS Pennsylvania and the USS Santa Fe (CL-60) with torpedoes nine miles northeast of Holtz Bay, all missed.[5] On 12 May 1943, near Holtz Bay, Attu, her periscope was sighted by American destroyers, Edwards and Frazier, who immediately opened fire. I-31 dove quickly but not before Edwards scored hits. The destroyers quickly made sonar contact and began a series of depth charge attacks until, after surviving for 10 hours, she was sunk by Frazier on 13 May.[6][7][8]

Notes

  1. ^ Bagnasco, p. 189
  2. ^ Chesneau, p. 200
  3. ^ a b c Carpenter & Dorr, p. 102
  4. ^ "The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II--1942".
  5. ^ "Asisbiz the Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II 1943".
  6. ^ "Frazier (DD-607)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Edwards (DD 619) II". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Pennsylvania (BB-38) II". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 18 June 2015.

References

  • Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
  • Boyd, Carl & Yoshida, Akikiko (2002). The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-015-0.
  • Carpenter, Dorr B. & Polmar, Norman (1986). Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-396-6.
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Hashimoto, Mochitsura (1954). Sunk: The Story of the Japanese Submarine Fleet 1942 – 1945. Colegrave, E.H.M. (translator). London: Cassell and Company. ASIN B000QSM3L0.
  • Milanovich, Kathrin (2021). "The IJN Submarines of the I 15 Class". In Jordan, John (ed.). Warship 2021. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 29–43. ISBN 978-1-4728-4779-9.
  • Stille, Mark (2007). Imperial Japanese Navy Submarines 1941-45. New Vanguard. Vol. 135. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-090-1.

"USS Amberjack: Lost around 16 February 1943". The USS Flier Project. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.

52°32′31″N 172°10′37″E / 52.542°N 172.177°E / 52.542; 172.177

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