The Asashio-class submarine is a submarine class of Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force comprising four boats. This class is the successor of . The class were the first fleet submarines constructed for post-war Japan. The first submarine was authorized as part of the 1963 shipbuilding programme. Their design improved on previous Japanese classes by being larger to obtain better seaworthiness with greater torpedo stowage. The class entered service in the late 1960s and remained as such until the mid-1980s when they were taken out of service.
Design and description
Based on the preceding , the Asashio class were of similar design but with a different shaped bow and improved sonar. They are considered the first fleet submarines constructed for Japan in the post-World War II era. The submarines, constructed with a double hull, measured long with a beam of and a draft of . The vessels had a standard displacement of surfaced and a submerged displacement of . The Asashio class had a complement of 80. The Asashio class were propelled by two propellers powered by a diesel-electric system comprising two Kawasaki diesel engines creating and two electric motors creating . This gave the submarines a maximum speed of submerged and while surfaced.
The vessels were equipped with eight torpedo tubes, six in the bow and two in the stern. The sources disagree on the torpedo armament, with two sources stating that all eight were for torpedoes, while another states that only the forward six were for the 533 mm torpedoes and the stern tubes were for torpedoes. Moore and Gardiner, Chumbley and Budzbon state that the stern tubes were for "swim-out" torpedoes with Gardiner, Chumbley and Budzbon adding they were for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and that the forward tubes were intended for US Mark 54 torpedoes. This is erroneous because, aside from being of the wrong size and role, the Mark 54 entered service in 2004; the text must actually be referring to the Japanese-designed Type 54 torpedoes, and conflating them with the US Mark 37, of which one variant was locally manufactured in Japan, and other variants imported. They carried a total of 20 torpedoes. The Asahio class mounted ZPS-3 radar, SQS-4 active sonar and JQS-3A and JQQ-2A passive sonars. They were also equipped with BLR-1 intercept equipment.
Boats Asashio class construction data Pennant no. Name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Fate SS-562 Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation 15 October 1964 27 November 1965 13 October 1966 Decommissioned 30 March 1983 SS-563 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 12 October 1965 25 February 1967 1 December 1967 Decommissioned 30 March 1984 SS-564 Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation 26 July 1966 5 December 1967 29 August 1968 Decommissioned 27 March 1985 SS-565 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 5 July 1967 24 October 1968 25 July 1969 Decommissioned 27 March 1986
Construction and career The first submarine Asashio was ordered as part of the 1963 shipbuilding programme. Construction was split between the Kawasaki and Mitsubishi yards at Kobe. The submarines were used for ASW training for surface ships in naval exercises. The class was deleted in the mid-1980s.
See also Equivalent submarines of the same era Potvis class
Type 035 Kalvari class
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