Uzushio-class submarine

The Uzushio-class submarine was a series of seven submarines in service with Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force during the Cold War between 1972 and the mid-1990s. They were the first generation of the teardrop type submarine that valued the underwater performance against that of the preceding conventional-hull type Asashio class. Many were converted to training submarines (ATSS) towards the end of their lives.

Uzushio (SS-566)
Class overview
NameUzushio
Builders
Operators Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded byAsashio class
Succeeded byYūshio class
Built1968–1978
In commission1971–1996
Planned8
Completed7
Cancelled1
Retired7
General characteristics
TypeSubmarine
Displacement
  • 1,850 t (1,820 long tons) standard
  • 3,600 t (3,500 long tons) submerged
Length72.0 m (236 ft 3 in) pp
Beam9.9 m (32 ft 6 in)
Draught7.5 m (24 ft 7 in) max
Propulsion
  • 1-shaft diesel-electric
  • 2 × Kawasaki-MAN V8V24/30AMTL diesel engines
  • 3,400 bhp (2,500 kW) (surfaced)
  • 7,200 shp (5,400 kW) (submerged)
Speed
  • 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) submerged
Test depth200 m (660 ft)
Complement80
Sensors and
processing systems
  • ZPS-4 surface search radar
  • ZQQ-1, ZQQ-2, ZQQ-3 passive sonar
  • SQS-4, SQS-36J active sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys
ZLA-5 ESM
Armament

General characteristics

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The Uzushio class was the first Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine design to incorporate the teardrop hull. The Uzushios had a double hull construction which used NS-63 high-tensile steel to allow for a deeper diving depth of 200 metres (660 ft). The submarines measured 72.0 metres (236 ft 3 in) long between perpendiculars and 9.9 m (32 ft 6 in) at the beam. They had a maximum draught of 7.5 m (24 ft 7 in) and had a standard displacement of 1,850 tonnes (1,820 long tons) and a 3,600 t (3,500 long tons) displacement when submerged.[1][2][a]

The submarines were powered by a diesel-electric system composed of two Kawasaki-MAN V8V24/30AMTL diesel engines and two electric motors turning one shaft creating 3,400 brake horsepower (2,500 kW) surfaced and 7,200 shaft horsepower (5,400 kW) submerged.[1][b] This gave the boats a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced and 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) dived.[1][2] The submarines incorporated a separate emergency blowing system to all the vessels to surface rapidly and had a 3D automatic steering system which combined automatic depth and automatic direction maintenance systems.[1]

The Uzushios were armed with Japanese Type 89 torpedoes fired from six 533-millimetre (21 in) torpedo tubes located amidships.[3] The submarines had their sonar array located in the bow which was composed of a ZPS-4 surface search sonar, a ZQQ-2, ZQQ-3, or ZQQ-4 passive/active search sonar suite and a SQS-36J[2][3] or SQS-4 active sonar.[3]

Boats

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Project no. Building no. Pennant no. Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Note
S118 8081 SS-566 Uzushio (うずしお) 25 September 1968 11 March 1970 21 January 1971 Decommissioned 24 March 1987, scrapped
8082 SS-567 Makishio (まきしお) 21 June 1969 27 January 1971 2 February 1972 Decommissioned 11 March 1988, scrapped
S119 8083 SS-568/
ATSS-8001
Isoshio (いそしお) 9 July 1970 18 March 1972 25 November 1972 Converted to auxiliary training submarine (ATSS-8001) on 24 March 1989, decommissioned 25 March 1992, sunk as target off Izu Ōshima August 1994
8084 SS-569/
ATSS-8002
Narushio (なるしお) 8 May 1971 22 November 1972 28 September 1973 Converted to auxiliary training submarine (ATSS-8002) on 8 June 1990, decommissioned 15 March 1993, scrapped
8085 SS-570/
ATSS-8003
Kuroshio (くろしお) 5 July 1972 22 February 1974 27 November 1974 Converted to auxiliary training submarine (ATSS-8003) on 20 March 1991, decommissioned 1 March 1994, scrapped
S119A 8086 SS-571/
ATSS-8004
Takashio (たかしお) 6 July 1973 30 June 1975 30 January 1976 Converted to auxiliary training submarine (ATSS-8004) on 6 June 1992, decommissioned 26 July 1995, scrapped
8087 SS-572/
ATSS-8005
Yaeshio (やえしお) 14 April 1975 19 May 1977 7 March 1978 Converted to auxiliary training submarine (ATSS-8005) on 14 August 1994, decommissioned 1 August 1996, scrapped
~ One hull canceled because of the 1973 oil crisis, naval budget was used for the Chikugo-class destroyer escort and others.

Notes

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  1. ^ Sharpe has the tonnages as 1,850 t (1,820 long tons) standard, 1,900 t (1,900 long tons) surfaced and 2,430 t (2,390 long tons) submerged.[3]
  2. ^ Sharpe has the submarines with only a single electric motor.[3]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 236.
  2. ^ a b c Prézelin 1990, p. 302.
  3. ^ a b c d e Sharpe 1991, p. 322.

References

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  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Prézelin, Bernard, ed. (1990). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1990/1991: Their Ships, Aircraft and Armament. Translated by Baker III, A. D. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-250-8.
  • Sharpe, Richard, ed. (1991). Jane's Fighting Ships 1991–92 (94 ed.). Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-0960-4.