Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:11:54-2:12:28

Minelaying submarines could carry Japan's war to the American coast

Replacing aircraft facilities with mines would turn Japan's very large long-range submarines into covert strategic minelayers.

Commerce WarfareImperial Japanese NavyMinelaying SubmarinesSubmarinesWest CoastWorld War II
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Question

What if Japan built large long-range minelaying submarines instead of aircraft-carrying submarines in a war without Pearl Harbor?

Short answer

They could carry large mine loads and lay fields across the American West Coast.

Notes

The proposal keeps the range and size of Japan's aircraft-carrying submarines but changes their payload. The freed volume would likely support a large mine capacity. These boats could lay minefields along the American West Coast. The change trades a small reconnaissance or strike aircraft for a persistent hazard against shipping and harbor approaches.