:I-351-class submarine

The I-351-class submarines were ordered under the 5th Fleet Replenishment Program of 1942Jentschura, Jung and Mickel, p. 180 to support IJN flying boats in areas where there were no shore facilities and seaplane tenders could not operate. They were designed to support up to three flying boats with fuel, ammunition, water and even replacement aircrew.

These submarines had a length of {{convert|111|m|ftin|sp=us}} overall, a beam of {{convert|10.2|m|ftin|sp=us}} and a draft of {{convert|6.1|m|ftin|sp=us}}. They displaced {{convert|3512|LT|t}} on the surface and {{convert|4290|LT|t}} submerged. They had a diving depth of {{convert|90|m|ft|sp=us}} and a crew of 77 officers and enlisted men plus accommodations for 13 aircrew.Carpenter & Polmar, p. 111

The boats had two propellers, each of which was driven by a {{convert|1850|bhp|lk=in|adj=on}} diesel engine as well as a {{convert|600|shp|0|adj=on|lk=in}} electric motor. This arrangement gave the I-351-class submarines a maximum speed of {{convert|15.75|kn|lk=in}} while surfaced and {{convert|6.3|kn}} submerged. They had a range of {{convert|13000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|14|kn}} while on the surface and {{convert|100|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|3|kn}} while submerged. This gave them an endurance of 60 days.

File:Bridge of IJN submarine I-351 in 1945.jpg, 1945]]

The boats were equipped with four {{convert|21|in|adj=on|0}} torpedo tubes in the bow and they carried four torpedoes. For surface combat they were designed to carry one {{convert|14|cm|adj=on|sp=us}} deck gun, but this was unavailable when the submarines were under construction and three {{convert|81|mm|in|1|sp=us|adj=on}} Type 3 mortars were substituted. The submarines were fitted with seven 25 mm Type 96 anti-aircraft guns, in two twin and three single mounts.

The I-351-class submarines were initially equipped to carry {{convert|365|LT|t}} of aviation gasoline, {{convert|11|LT|t}} of fresh water, and either sixty {{convert|550|lb|kg|adj=on}} bombs or 30 bombs and 15 aircraft torpedoes. Four of the torpedoes could be replaced by an equal number of reload torpedoes for the submarine.Stille, p. 36

Only I-351 and I-352 were actually laid down, the other four submarines were cancelled before their keels were laid.

I-351 was modified before completion into an oil tanker. The boat made one round trip from Singapore, carrying {{convert|132000|USgal}} of aviation fuel, and was sunk on the return leg of her second trip in the South China SeaStille, pp. 36–37 at coordinates {{Coord|04|30|N|110|00|E|display=inline,title}} by the American submarine {{USS|Bluefish|SS-222|2}} on 14 July 1945. I-352 was 90 percent complete when she was destroyed during an air raid by Boeing B-29 heavy bombers on 22 July.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last1=Carpenter|first1=Dorr|last2=Polmar|first2=Norman|title=Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945|year=1986|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-396-6}}
• {{cite book| last = Jentschura| first = Hansgeorg| first2 = Dieter |last2=Jung|first3=Peter |last3=Mickel| year = 1977| title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945| publisher = United States Naval Institute| location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 0-87021-893-X}}
• {{cite book|last=Stille|first=Mark|title=Imperial Japanese Navy Submarines 1941-45| series =New Vanguard|volume=135|year=2007|publisher=Osprey Publishing|location=Botley, Oxford, UK|isbn=978-1-84603-090-1}}

• {{cite book|url=http://rekigun.net/ | last =Rekishi |first=Gunzō|title= History of [the] Pacific War|volume =17|chapter=I-Gō Submarines|publisher= Gakken |location=Tokyo|date= January 1998|isbn=4-05-601767-0|language=Japanese}}
• {{cite book| last =Rekishi |first=Gunzō|series=History of Pacific War Extra|title= "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces" |publisher=Gakken|location=Tokyo|date= March 2005|isbn= 4-05-603890-2|language=Japanese}}
• {{cite journal|journal=The Maru Special|title='Japanese Naval Vessels No.43, "Japanese Submarines III"|publisher= Ushio Shobō|location=Japan |date=September 1980 |language=Japanese}}

{{I-351 class submarines}}

{{WWII Japanese ships}}

Category:Submarine classes

Category:Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy