Germany had the largest submarine fleet during World War II. Due to the Treaty of Versailles limiting the surface navy, the rebuilding of the German surface forces had only begun in earnest a year before the outbreak of World War II.
During World War II, the IJN operated the most varied fleet of submarines of any navy; including Kaiten crewed torpedoes, midget submarines (Ko-hyoteki and Kairyu), medium-range submarines, purpose-built supply submarines and long-range fleet submarines. They also had submarines with the highest submerged speeds during World War II (I-201-class submarines) and submarines that could carry multiple aircraft (I-400-class submarine). They were also equipped with one of the most advanced torpedoes of the conflict, the oxygen-propelled Type 95.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many of the U.S. Navy's front-line Pacific Fleet surface ships were destroyed or severely damaged. The submarines survived the attack and carried the war to the enemy. Lacking support vessels, the submarines were asked to independently hunt and destroy Japanese ships and submarines. They did so very effectively and without the assistance of other supporting ships.
List Submarine in World War II:
During World War II, the IJN operated the most varied fleet of submarines of any navy; including Kaiten crewed torpedoes, midget submarines (Ko-hyoteki and Kairyu), medium-range submarines, purpose-built supply submarines and long-range fleet submarines. They also had submarines with the highest submerged speeds during World War II (I-201-class submarines) and submarines that could carry multiple aircraft (I-400-class submarine). They were also equipped with one of the most advanced torpedoes of the conflict, the oxygen-propelled Type 95.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many of the U.S. Navy's front-line Pacific Fleet surface ships were destroyed or severely damaged. The submarines survived the attack and carried the war to the enemy. Lacking support vessels, the submarines were asked to independently hunt and destroy Japanese ships and submarines. They did so very effectively and without the assistance of other supporting ships.
The Royal Navy Submarine Service was primarily used to enforce the classic British blockade role. It therefore chiefly operated in inshore waters and tended to only surface by night.
Its major operating areas were around Norway, the Mediterranean (against the Axis supply routes to North Africa), and in the Far East. Royal Navy submarines operating out of Trincomalee and Australia were a constant threat to Japanese shipping passing through the Malacca Straits.List Submarine in World War II:
| Submarine | Picture | Specifications | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| German Type XXIII submarine | Germany | 1945 | ||
| I-201 class submarine | Japan | 1945 | ||
| Amphion class submarine | UK | 1945 | ||
| HMS Meteorite | Germany | 1945 | ||
| Type A2 submarine | Japan | 1944 | ||
| Type AM submarine | Japan | 1944 | ||
| I-400 class submarine | Japan | 1944 | ||
| Tench | US | 1944 | ||
| German Type XXI submarine | Germany | 1943 | ||
| Type C3 submarine | Japan | 1943 | ||
| Gato class submarine | Japan | 1943 | ||
| Type B1 submarine | Japan | 1942 | ||
| Balao | US | 1942 | ||
| German Type X submarine | Germany | 1941 | ||
| German Type XIV submarine | Germany | 1941 | ||
| Type A1 submarine | Japan | 1941 | ||
| British U class submarine | UK | 1941 | ||
| British V class submarine | UK | 1941 | ||
| Marconi class submarine | Italy | 1940 | ||
| Type A Ko-hyoteki class submarine | Japan | 1940 | ||
| British T class submarine | UK | 1940 | ||
| Oruç Reis class submarine | UK | 1940 | ||
| Gato | US | 1940 | ||
| Soviet K class submarine | Russia | 1939 | ||
| Tambor | US | 1939 | ||
| Mackerel | US | 1939 | ||
| German Type IX submarine | Germany | 1938 | ||
| Marcello class submarine | Italy | 1938 | ||
| Brin class submarine | Italy | 1938 | ||
| Adua class submarine | Italy | 1937 | ||
| Sargo | US | 1937 | ||
| Kalev class submarine | Estonia | 1936 | ||
| German Type I submarine | Germany | 1936 | ||
| German Type VII submarine | Germany | 1936 | ||
| Foca class submarine | Italy | 1936 | ||
| Grampus class submarine | UK | 1936 | ||
| Salmon | US | 1936 | ||
| German Type II submarine | Germany | 1935 | ||
| Glauco class submarine | Italy | 1935 | ||
| Pravda class submarine | Russia | 1935 | ||
| Vesikko | Finland | 1934 | ||
| French submarine Surcouf (N N 3) | France | 1934 | ||
| Archimede class submarine | Italy | 1933 | ||
| Soviet M class submarine | Russia | 1933 | ||
| Porpoise | US | 1933 | ||
| Shchuka class submarine | Russia | 1932 | ||
| River class submarine | UK | 1932 | ||
| Leninets class submarine | Russia | 1931 | ||
| Soviet S class submarine | Russia | 1931 | ||
| Cachalot | US | 1931 | ||
| Saukko | Finland | 1930 | ||
| Vetehinen class submarine | Finland | 1930 | ||
| Italian submarine Ettore Fieramosca | Italy | 1930 | ||
| Orzeł class submarine | Netherlands | 1930 | ||
| Rainbow class submarine | UK | 1930 | ||
| Dolphin | US | 1930 | ||
| Wilk class submarine | Poland | 1929 | ||
| Osvetnik class submarine | Yugoslavia | 1929 | ||
| Parthian class submarine | UK | 1929 | ||
| Dekabrist class submarine | Russia | 1928 | ||
| Hrabri class submarine | Yugoslavia | 1928 | ||
| Sirène class submarine | France | 1927 | ||
| Circé class submarine | France | 1927 | ||
| Katsonis class submarine | Greece | 1927 | ||
| Balilla class submarine | Italy | 1927 | ||
| Odin class submarine | UK | 1927 | ||
| Narwhal | US | 1927 | ||
| Type J1 submarine | Japan | 1926 | ||
| HMS X1 | UK | 1925 | ||
| Argonaut | US | 1925 | ||
| Norwegian B class submarine | Norway | 1923 | ||
| Redoutable class submarine (1931) | France | 1922 | ||
| AA-1 | US | 1922 | ||
| S | US | 1922 | ||
| Barracuda | US | 1921 | ||
| British M class submarine | UK | 1920 |
