Uzushio-class submarine

Uzushio (SS-566)
Class overview
Name	Uzushio
Builders	Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Operators	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Preceded by	Asashio class
Succeeded by	Yūshio class
Built	1968–1978
In commission	1971–1996
Planned	8
Completed	7
Cancelled	1
Retired	7
General characteristics
Type	Submarine
Displacement	1,850 t (1,820 long tons) standard 3,600 t (3,500 long tons) submerged
Length	72.0 m (236 ft 3 in) pp
Beam	9.9 m (32 ft 6 in)
Draught	7.5 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 depth	200 m (660 ft)
Complement	80
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	6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes Type 89 torpedoes

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.

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]

• 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.