Osprey New Vanguard 135 : Imperial Japanese Navy Submarines 1941-1945

During World War II the Imperial Japanese Navy was at the forefront of submarine technology. It fielded the largest pre-nuclear submarines in the world, some capable of carrying floatplane bombers, which operated alongside fast combat vessels and midget submarines, all equipped with the best torpedoes available. The Japanese submarine fleet should have been an awe-inspiring force but, despite playing a crucial scouting role and enjoying several notable successes, it was surprisingly ineffective. Using unique colour plates, Mark Stille describes the astounding technical advances of this range of vessels, and the wartime tactics responsible for their failure. Text by Mark Stille with illustrations by Tony Bryan.

Contents

• Origins
• Birth and Growth of the Imperial Navy's Submarine Force
• Development and Operational History
• Doctrine
• Weapons
• Aircraft
• Radar
• I Series Submarines
• RO Series Submarines
• Conclusion
• The Imperial Navy's Submarine Force : A Post Mortem
• Bibliography
• Index