I-201 Class Submarine

I-201 Class Submarine

The I-201-class submarines (伊二〇一型潜水艦, I-Nihyakuichi-gata sensuikan?) were submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. These submarines were of advanced design, built for high underwater speed, and were known as Submarine High speed-Large type (潜高大型, Sen Taka-Dai gata?) or Submarine-High speed type (潜高型, Sen Taka gata?). They were one of the fastest submarine class built during World War II, second only to Walter Type XVII closed-cycle powered submarines.

Twenty-three units were ordered from the Kure Navy Yard under the 1943 construction program. Due to the deteriorating war situation, only eight boats were laid down, and only three, numbered I-201, I-202 and I-203, were completed before the end of the war. None of them saw operational use.