Type AM Japanese submarine
Encyclopedia
The AM (A Modified) type submarine was a large seaplane-carrying submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy
, with a hangar space for 2 aircraft. These giant submarines were originally of the A2 type
, meant to act as command boats for groups of submarines, but their design was revised after construction started so that they could carry a second aircraft. Seven units were ordered, but only two (I-13
and I-14
) were completed, while construction of two more was abandoned in March 1945, with construction of the remaining three submarines never started. The seaplanes were to be the Aichi M6A1
, bomber carrying 800 kg bombs.
The range and speed of these submarines was remarkable (21,000 nmi at 16 knots), but their underwater performance was compromised, making them easy targets. I-13 was sunk on 16 July 1945 by the destroyer escort USS Lawrence C. Taylor
and aircraft action from escort carrier USS Anzio
about 550 nautical miles (1,019 km) east of Yokosuka. I-14 surrendered at sea at the end of the war, and was scuttled off Oahu in 1946. In 2009 researchers at the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
found I-14 at a depth of about 2600 feet (792.5 m).
Imperial Japanese Navy
The Imperial Japanese Navy was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1869 until 1947, when it was dissolved following Japan's constitutional renunciation of the use of force as a means of settling international disputes...
, with a hangar space for 2 aircraft. These giant submarines were originally of the A2 type
A2 type submarine
The Type A2 submarine was a single class of submarine in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, consisting of one boat, I-12, equipped with an aircraft. The design was similar to the earlier Type A1 submarine, except for the A2's having weaker engines...
, meant to act as command boats for groups of submarines, but their design was revised after construction started so that they could carry a second aircraft. Seven units were ordered, but only two (I-13
Japanese submarine I-13
Japanese submarine I-13 was an AM type submarine. The submarine was built at the Kawasaki shipyard in Kobe....
and I-14
Japanese submarine I-14
The submarine I-14 was a large, seaplane-carrying submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy of the AM type. 400 feet long and 40 feet high, it didn't see action in World War II. With a range of 21,000 nmi, it could carry two or three Aichi M6A Seiran bombers, whose wings and tail could be folded to...
) were completed, while construction of two more was abandoned in March 1945, with construction of the remaining three submarines never started. The seaplanes were to be the Aichi M6A1
Aichi M6A
The Aichi M6A Seiran was a submarine-launched attack floatplane designed for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II...
, bomber carrying 800 kg bombs.
The range and speed of these submarines was remarkable (21,000 nmi at 16 knots), but their underwater performance was compromised, making them easy targets. I-13 was sunk on 16 July 1945 by the destroyer escort USS Lawrence C. Taylor
USS Lawrence C. Taylor (DE-415)
USS Lawrence C. Taylor was a acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket...
and aircraft action from escort carrier USS Anzio
USS Anzio (CVE-57)
USS Anzio , was an Casablanca class escort carrier of the United States Navy.Originally classified as auxiliary aircraft carrier ACV-57, was laid down on 12 December 1942 by the Kaiser Shipbuilding Co., Vancouver, Washington, under a Maritime Commission contract ; named Alikula Bay on 22 January...
about 550 nautical miles (1,019 km) east of Yokosuka. I-14 surrendered at sea at the end of the war, and was scuttled off Oahu in 1946. In 2009 researchers at the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory
The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory is a regional undersea research facility under the auspices of the U. S. government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Undersea Research Program and administered by the University of Hawaii. Its headquarters are at University of...
found I-14 at a depth of about 2600 feet (792.5 m).
See also
- I-400 class submarineI-400 class submarineThe Imperial Japanese Navy submarines were the largest submarines of World War II and remained the largest ever built until the construction of nuclear ballistic missile submarines in the 1960s. They were submarine aircraft carriers able to carry three Aichi M6A Seiran aircraft underwater to their...
- 3-aircraft submarine with catapult launcher - Submarine aircraft carrierSubmarine aircraft carrierSubmarine aircraft carriers are submarines equipped with fixed wing aircraft for observation or attack missions. These submarines saw their most extensive use during World War II, although their operational significance remained rather small...