Harushio-class submarine


The Harushio class is a diesel-electric submarine class that was operated by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. The design is an evolution from the being slightly larger and with better noise reduction. Asashio, was modified to test air-independent propulsion, and the remaining vessels were decommissioned and replaced by the

Design and description

The Harushio class were designed to replace the ageing and were an improved version of the preceding, being slightly larger, with improved noise reduction, weaponry and sensors. Using a double hull system, the pressure hull was made of NS 110 steel and allowed the submarines to dive to a reported depth of. Their hulls were covered in an anechoic coating to reduce their noise signature.
As built, the vessels measured long with a beam of and a draught of. They had a surfaced displacement of and submerged. The submarines, powered by a diesel-electric system, initially mounted two Kawasaki 12V5/255 diesel engines that operated the one shaft while surfaced, creating. While submerged, the submarines utilised the two Kawasaki alternators connected to the two 480-cell battery sets driving the shaft, creating. These were later swapped for two Mitsubishi-MAN V8/v24-30 MATL diesel engines creating each and two alternators paired with two tandem Toshiba electric motors creating. On the surface, the ships were capable of and while dived.
The Harushio class mounted six Type HU-0603B torpedo tubes amidships that could be used to fire either Type 89 torpedoes or UGM-84C Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The submarines carried 20 reloads. The vessels had a complement of 75, composed of 65 enlisted personnel and 10 officers. The final submarine of the class,, had a reduced crew from launch due to increased automation in the engineering control systems, which comprised 71, including ten officers.
The class was equipped with flank-mounted sonars, namely the Hughes-Oki ZQQ-5B active/passive model. They were also equipped with the ZQR-1 TASS towed passive sonar array. They received the ZLA-7 electronic warfare intercept suite and the ZLR 3-6 electronic support measures suite and had a VHF receiver with a towed antenna. The submarines mounted the JRC ZPS-6 navigation/surface search radar that operated on the I-band.

''Asashio''

As the final submarine of the class, Asashio was a modified version of the initial design. Due to the aforementioned increased automation, the submarine was marginally longer than the other submarines of the class, measuring long overall with an increased surfaced displacement of and dived. Asashio was later selected to be the test bed for air-independent propulsion for the Japanese submarine fleet and had an Sterling V4-275R Mk II AIP unit installed. To accommodate the AIP system, the submarine's hull was further extended by and the vessel's displacement increased by roughly to standard and submerged.

Vessels

Project no.Building no.Pennant no.NameLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissioned
S1268098SS-583JDS Harushio 21 April 198726 July 198930 November 199027 March 2009
S1268099SS-584JDS Natsushio 8 April 198820 March 199020 March 199126 March 2010
S1268100SS-585/
TSS-3606
JDS Hayashio 9 December 198817 January 199125 March 199215 March 2011
S1268101SS-586JDS Arashio 8 January 199017 March 199217 March 199319 March 2012
S1268102SS-587JDS Wakashio 12 December 199022 January 19931 March 19945 March 2013
S1268103SS-588/
TSS-3607
JDS Fuyushio 12 December 199116 February 19947 March 19956 March 2015
S1298104SS-589/
TSS-3601
JDS Asashio 24 December 199212 July 199512 March 199727 February 2017

Construction and career

The first submarine of the class was authorised in 1986 and one per year until 1992. Asashio was reclassified as a training submarine on 9 March 2000. After undergoing conversion to AIP, Asashio re-entered service on 30 November. Hayashio was reclassified as a training submarine in 2008.