Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-159 The Japanese Kaidai types were based on the World War-I German U-139 submarine design. The I-159 was a KD3B Type submarine, these were large double-hull boats derived from the previous KD1 and KD2 types, but with strengthened hull components.  Specifications, Type KD3A: Displacement (srf/sub tons): 1,800/2,300 Dimensions (L*B*D feet): 330`0*26`0*16`0 Propulsion: 2*3,400hp diesel engines, 2*900hp electric motors, 2 shafts Speed (srf/sub knots): 20.0/8.0 Range (srf/sub n/miles@knots): 10,000@10/un known Diving depth (feet): 200 Complement: 60 officers and crew Torpedo: 6*21" (533mm) bow torpedo tubes, 2*21" aft torpedo tubes, total of 16 torpedoes Mines: none Armament: 1*120mm/50cal. Main deck gun Construction A total of 9 units were constructed under this type all completed between 1927 to 30. This type is actually two slightly different classes, KD3A (I-53, I-54, I-55, and I-158) and KD3B (I-156, I-157, I-159, I-60, and I-63).  The latter were 16 inches (40 cm) longer than shown in the table above, due to a different bow shape.   Note: I-156, I-157, I-158, and I-159 were originally numbered I-56, I-57, I-58, and I-59 respectively, but were renumbered in 1942. Back to History Index