CHAPTER V

JAPANESE SUBMARINES

The Imperial Japanese Navy includes a submarine flotilla of seventeen vessels¹, all except two of which are of the British Holland or Vickers type. Japan commenced the construction of what is now a rapidly increasing and powerful flotilla in 1904 by the purchase of five elementary Holland boats. These, however, are still in the active flotilla and are designated Nos. 1?5. They have a submerged displacement² of 120 tons, and are 65 feet in length and 12 feet in beam. Petrol motors of 160 H.-P. drive them at 9 knots on the surface and electric motors of 70 H.-P. at 7 knots when submerged. Their armament consists of one bow 105expulsion tube with three 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes⁴.
Nos. 6 and 7.
(Completed 1906.)

These two vessels were the first submarine boats to be built in Japan, but are of the same type as Nos. 1?5, only larger and faster. They have a submerged displacement of 180 tons, a length of 100 feet and a beam of 10 feet. The petrol engines are of 300 H.-P. and the electric motors of 100 H.-P. The surface and submerged speed is 10 knots and 8 knots an hour, respectively. Their armament consists of one torpedo³ tube with three 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes.
Nos. 8 and 9.
(Completed 1907?8.)

These two vessels are very similar to the British “C” class, and were built by Messrs. Vickers Ltd. They have a submerged displacement of 320 tons; petrol motors of 600 H.-P., and a surface and 106submerged speed of 13 knots and 8 knots an hour, respectively. Their armament consists of two bow tubes with four to six 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. Their complement⁵ is sixteen officers and men.
Nos. 10?15.
(Completed 1909?12.)

These six vessels are the same in almost every respect as the later “C” class of British submarines (pages 70?71).
Nos. 16?17[4].
(Completed 1912?14.)

These two vessels are of the Schneider-Laubeuf or French type. (British “W” class.) Their submerged displacement is about 500 tons, and the horse-power of their surface engines 2,500. The surface and submerged speed is 18 knots and 9 knots respectively. Their armament consists of six torpedo tubes with eight Schneider torpedoes. The complement is about 30 officers and men.

107The natural adroitness⁶ with which Japanese sailors manipulate complicated machinery⁷, combined with their absolute fearlessness, make them ideal for torpedo work.

1 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 displacement   

n.移置，取代，位移，排水量

参考例句：

• They said that time is the feeling of spatial displacement.他们说时间是空间位移的感觉。
• The displacement of all my energy into caring for the baby.我所有精力都放在了照顾宝宝上。

3 torpedo   

n.水雷，地雷；v.用鱼雷破坏

参考例句：

• His ship was blown up by a torpedo.他的船被一枚鱼雷炸毁了。
• Torpedo boats played an important role during World War Two.鱼雷艇在第二次世界大战中发挥了重要作用。

4 torpedoes   

鱼雷( torpedo的名词复数 )； 油井爆破筒； 刺客； 掼炮

参考例句：

• We top off, take on provisions and torpedoes, and go. 我们维修完，装上给养和鱼雷就出发。
• The torpedoes hit amidship, and there followed a series of crashing explosions. 鱼雷击中了船腹，引起了一阵隆隆的爆炸声。

5 complement   

n.补足物，船上的定员；补语；vt.补充，补足

参考例句：

• The two suggestions complement each other.这两条建议相互补充。
• They oppose each other also complement each other.它们相辅相成。

6 adroitness   

参考例句：

• He showed similar adroitness and persistence in strategic arm control. 在战略武器方面，他显示出了同样的机敏和执著。 来自辞典例句
• He turned his large car with some adroitness and drove away. 他熟练地把他那辆大车子调了个头，开走了。 来自辞典例句

7 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。