Japanese submarine I-156

The Japanese submarine I-156 was a Kaidai-class cruiser submarine of the KD3B sub-class built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) during the 1920s. She supported Japanese forces during the invasion of Malaya in December 1941 and the Dutch East Indies campaign in early 1942.

I-56 in harbor, 1930
History
Empire of Japan
Name: I-156
Builder: Kure Naval Arsenal
Laid down: 3 November 1926, as I-56
Launched: 23 March 1928
Completed: 31 March 1929
Renamed: 20 May 1942, as I-156
Stricken: 30 November 1945
Fate: Scuttled, 1 April 1946
General characteristics
Class and type: Kaidai-class submarine (KD3B Type)
Displacement:
  • 1,829 t (1,800 long tons) surfaced
  • 2,337 t (2,300 long tons) submerged
Length: 101 m (331 ft 4 in)
Beam: 8 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draft: 4.9 m (16 ft 1 in)
Installed power:
  • 6,800 bhp (5,100 kW) (diesels)
  • 1,800 hp (1,300 kW) (electric motors)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged
Test depth: 60 m (200 ft)
Complement: 60
Armament:

Design and description

The submarines of the KD3B sub-class were essentially repeats of the preceding KD3A sub-class with minor modifications to improve seakeeping. They displaced 1,829 metric tons (1,800 long tons) surfaced and 2,337 metric tons (2,300 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 101 meters (331 ft 4 in) long, had a beam of 8 meters (26 ft 3 in) and a draft of 4.9 meters (16 ft 1 in). The boats had a diving depth of 60 m (200 ft) and a complement of 60 officers and crewmen.[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 3,400-brake-horsepower (2,535 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 900-horsepower (671 kW) electric motor. They could reach 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) on the surface and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) underwater. On the surface, the KD3Bs had a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph); submerged, they had a range of 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph).[2]

The boats were armed with eight internal 53.3 cm (21.0 in) torpedo tubes, six in the bow and two in the stern. They carried one reload for each tube; a total of 16 torpedoes. They were also armed with one 120 mm (4.7 in) deck gun for combat on the surface.[3]

Construction and career

Built by the Kure Naval Arsenal, I-56 was laid down on 3 November 1926,[4] launched on 23 March 1928 and completed on 31 March 1929.[1] In November 1941, the boat was assigned to the 19th Submarine Division of the 4th Submarine Squadron. The division departed its base at Samah on Hainan Island, China on 1 December for their patrol area off Trengganu, Malaysia.[4] In May 1942 I-56 was renumbered I-156.[5]

Sinking

This submarine survived the war. She was removed from the Navy List on 30 November 1945. On 1 April 1946 she took part in the Operation Road's End. The submarine was towed from Sasebo to an area off Goto Retto where she was scuttled by gunfire from the submarine tender USS Nereus. Her sinking coordinates are approximately 32 37 N, 129 17 E.

Notes
  1. Carpenter & Polmar, p. 93
  2. Chesneau, p. 198
  3. Bagnasco, p. 183
  4. Hackett & Kingsepp
  5. http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-156.htm
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References
  • Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
  • 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.
  • Hackett, Bob & Kingsepp, Sander (2013). "IJN Submarine I-156: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  • Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter & Mickel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 0-87021-893-X.
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