Natsushio-class submarine

JS Natsushio (SS-523)
Class overview
Name: Natsushio
Builders:
Operators:  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by: Hayashio class
Built: 1961–1963
In commission: 1963–1980
Planned: 2
Completed: 2
Retired: 2
General characteristics
Type: Coastal (Hunter-killer) Submarine
Displacement: 790 long tons (803 t) surfaced
Length: 61 m (200 ft 2 in)
Beam: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Draft: 4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)
Depth: 6.4 m (21 ft 0 in)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) surfaced
  • 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) submerged
Complement: 40
Armament: 3 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes

The Natsushio-class submarines were significantly smaller than the next generation Japanese submarines, Ōshio, and the Natsushio-class submarines were the development of the Hayashio-class submarines. Also, the Natsushio class is one of the (coast-defence) hunter-killer submarine (SSK) of JMSDF. Construction of the two subs in the class was approved under the First Defense Buildup Program 1958-1960. However, the MSDF brass did not welcome the small submarines. Ongoing maneuvering regarding defense spending by the Ministry of Finance did not help matters. At the time, the Maritime Staff Office was trying to move the MSDF away from being a predominantly green-water navy (due to politics and budgetary issues this would not begin to happen until the 1980s). Small coastal SSKs like the Natsushio did not fit into such plans for the future. Therefore, neither further examples nor a successor class were built.

Boats

Project no.Building no.Pennant no.NameLaid downLaunchedCommissionedNote
S1168703SS-523Natsushio (なつしお)5 December 196118 September 196229 June 1963Decommissioned 20 March 1978, scrapped
8704SS-524Fuyushio (ふゆしお)6 December 196114 December 196217 September 1963Decommissioned 10 June 1980, scrapped

Submarines of comparable era and role

See also



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