Japanese submarine Ha-108

Ha-108 was an Imperial Japanese Navy Ha-101-class submarine. Designed as a transport submarine, she was completed and commissioned in May 1945 as a submarine tender for midget submarines. She served during the final months of World War II, surrendered at the end of the war in September 1945, and was scuttled in April 1946.

History
Japan
Name	Small Supply Submarine No. 4608
Builder	Kawasaki, Senshu and Kobe, Japan
Laid down	5 September 1944
Launched	28 December 1944
Renamed	Ha-108 on 28 December 1944
Completed	6 May 1945
Commissioned	6 May 1945
Fate	Surrendered 2 September 1945 Stricken 30 November 1945 Scuttled 1 April 1946
General characteristics
Type	Transport submarine
Displacement	436 t (429 long tons) surfaced 501 t (493 long tons) submerged
Length	44.5 m (146 ft 0 in)
Beam	6.1 m (20 ft 0 in)
Draft	4.04 m (13 ft 3 in)
Installed power	400 bhp (300 kW) (diesels) 150 hp (110 kW) (electric motor)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric 1 × diesel engines 1 × electric motor
Speed	10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Range	3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 46 nmi (85 km; 53 mi) at 2.3 knots (4.3 km/h; 2.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	100 meters (328 ft)
Capacity	60 metric tons (59 long tons) cargo (as designed) 10 x 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedoes (as completed)
Complement	22
Armament	1 × single 25 mm (1 in) Type 96 anti-aircraft gun

Design and description

The Ha-101-class submarines were designed as small, cheap transport submarines to resupply isolated island garrisons. They displaced 436 metric tons (429 long tons) surfaced and 501 metric tons (493 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 44.5 meters (146 ft 0 in) long, had a beam of 6.1 meters (20 ft 0 in) and a draft of 4.04 meters (13 ft 3 in). They were designed to carry 60 metric tons (59 long tons) of cargo.

For surface running, the boats were powered by a single 400-brake-horsepower (298 kW) diesel engine that drove one propeller shaft. When submerged the propeller was driven by a 140-horsepower (104 kW) electric motor. They could reach 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) on the surface and 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) underwater. On the surface, the Ha-101s had a range of 3,000 nautical miles (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph); submerged, they had a range of 46 nmi (85 km; 53 mi) at 2.3 knots (4.3 km/h; 2.6 mph).

The boats were armed a single mount for a 25 mm (1 in) Type 96 anti-aircraft gun.

Construction and commissioning

Ha-108 was laid down on 5 September 1944 by Kawasaki at Senshu, Japan, as Small Supply Submarine No. 4608. She was launched on 28 December 1944 and was named Ha-108 that day. She subsequently was towed to Kawasaki′s shipyard at Kobe, Japan, for fitting-out. Prior to completion, she was converted from a transport submarine to a submarine tender for midget submarines, the conversion involving the reconstruction of her cargo hold to allow her to carry ten 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedoes for midget submarines and a tripod hoist aft so that she could handle them. Her fitting-out and conversion were completed on 6 May 1945, and she was commissioned at Kobe that day.

Service history

Upon commissioning, Ha-108 was assigned to Submarine Division 33 in the Kure Submarine Squadron for workups. Hostilities between Japan and the Allies ended on 15 August 1945, and on 2 September 1945, Ha-108 surrendered to the Allies at Maizuru, Japan. On 2 November 1945, she was reassigned to Japanese Submarine Division Two under United States Navy command along with her sister ships Ha-103, Ha-105, Ha-106, Ha-107, Ha-109, and Ha-111. In November 1945, the U.S. Navy ordered Ha-108 to move to Sasebo, Japan.

Disposal

The Japanese struck Ha-108 from the Navy list on 30 November 1945. She was among a number of Japanese submarines the U.S. Navy scuttled off the Goto Islands near Sasebo in Operation Road's End on 1 April 1946, sinking just beyond the 100-fathom (600 ft; 183 m) line at 32°37′N 129°17′E.

References

• Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
• Carpenter, Dorr B. & Polmar, Norman (1986). Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-396-6.
• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2015). "IJN Submarine HA-108: Tabular Record of Movement". SENSUIKAN! Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's Submarines. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
• Hackett, Bob; Sander Kingsepp (2015). "Sen Yu Sho". Sensuikan!. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
• "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Extra, "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces", Gakken (Japan), March 2005, ISBN 4-05-603890-2
• Ships of the World special issue Vol.37, History of Japanese Submarines, "Kaijinsha"., (Japan), August 1993
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.43 Japanese Submarines III, Ushio Shobō (Japan), September 1980, Book code 68343-43
• The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.132 Japanese Submarines I "Revised edition", Ushio Shobō (Japan), February 1988, Book code 68344-36
• Senshi Sōsho Vol.88, Naval armaments and war preparation (2), "And after the outbreak of war", Asagumo Simbun (Japan), October 1975