Ha-3-class submarine

The Ha-3 class submarine (波三型潜水艦) was an early class of submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Background
Along with placing orders with Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness in the UK for two British C class submarines, which were commissioned into the Imperial Japanese Navy as the Ha-1 class, the Japanese government ordered another three vessels, which were received as knock-down kits. These kits were assembled at the Kure Naval Arsenal.

Design
Physically almost identical to the Ha-1 class, the three vessels assembled in Japan incorporated a number of improvements, including extended bow for improved seaworthiness, improved rudder for surface handling, and an increase in the size of the bridge and conning tower.

Ships in class

 * Japanese submarine Ha-3 (波号第三潜水艦), laid down 1 August 1910; launched 5 March 1911; commissioned 12 August 1911 as Submersible No.10; reclassified as 2nd class submersible on 4 August 1916, reclassified as 3rd class submarine on 1 April 1919; renamed Ha-3 on 15 June 1923, decommissioned on 1 December 1929.
 * Japanese submarine Ha-4 (波号第四潜水艦), laid down 1 August 1910; launched 13 March 1911; commissioned 26 August 1911 as Submersible No.11; reclassified as 2nd class submersible on 4 August 1916, reclassified as 3rd class submarine on 1 April 1919; renamed Ha-4 on 15 June 1923; decommissioned on 1 December 1929.
 * Japanese submarine Ha-5 (波号第五潜水艦), laid down 1 August 1910; launched 27 March 1911; commissioned 3 August 1911 as Submersible No.12; reclassified as 2nd class submersible on 4 August 1916, reclassified as 3rd class submarine on 1 April 1919; renamed Ha-5 on 15 June 1923; decommissioned on 1 December 1929.