View source for Japanese submarine Ha-203

{{distinguish|Japanese submarine I-203}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File: Japanese submarine Ha-204-203-109 1945.jpg
|Ship caption=''Ha-203'' (center) with the submarines {{ship|Japanese submarine|Ha-204||2}} (left) and {{ship|Japanese submarine|Ha-109||2}} (right) at [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]],&nbsp;[[Japan]], on 16&nbsp;October&nbsp;1945.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=Japan
|Ship flag= {{Shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
|Ship name=''Submarine No. 4913''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Sasebo Naval Arsenal]], [[Sasebo]],&nbsp;[[Japan]]
|Ship laid down=5 April 1945
|Ship renamed=''Ha-203'' on 1 May 1945
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship launched=25 May 1945
|Ship completed=20 June 1945
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=20 June 1945
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship fate=*Surrendered 2 September 1945
*Stricken 30 November 1945
*[[Scuttling|Scuttled]] 1&nbsp;April&nbsp;1946
|Ship reinstated=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type=Submarine
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|320|LT|t|0}} surfaced
*{{convert|440|LT|t|0}} submerged
|Ship length={{convert|53.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}} overall
|Ship beam= {{convert|4.00|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|3.44|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*1 × intermediate diesel
*400 bhp surfaced
*1,250 shp submerged
*single shaft
|Ship speed=*{{convert|11.8|kn|km/h|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{convert|13.9|kn|km/h}} submerged
|Ship range=*{{convert|3000|nmi|km|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn|km/h}} surfaced
*{{convert|105|nmi|km|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|2|kn|km/h}} submerged
|Ship test depth={{convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=26
|Ship armament=*2 × {{convert|533|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s
*4 × [[Type 95 torpedo]]es
*1 × 7.7 mm machine gun
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''''Ha-203''''' was an [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] [[Ha-201-class submarine|''Ha-201''-class]] [[submarine]]. Completed and commissioned in May 1945, she served during the final months of [[World War II]]. She surrendered at the end of the war in September 1945 and was [[Scuttling|scuttled]] in April 1946.

==Design and description==

At the end of 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy decided it needed large numbers of high-speed coastal submarines to defend the [[Japanese Archipelago|Japanese Home Islands]]<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho>{{cite web|url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/type_sys.htm|title=Sen Taka Sho Type|last=Hackett|first=Bob |author2=Sander Kingsepp |year=2015|work=Sensuikan!|publisher=Combinedfleet.com|access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref> against an anticipated [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] invasion (named [[Operation Downfall]] by the Allies). To meet this requirement, the ''Ha-201''-class submarines were designed as small, fast submarines<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/> incorporating many of the same advanced ideas implemented in the German [[Type XXI submarine|Type XXI]] and [[Type XXIII submarine|Type XXIII]] submarines. They were capable of submerged speeds of almost {{convert|14|kn}}.<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/>

The ''Ha-201'' class [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{Convert|320|LT|t|0|disp=flip|sp=us}} surfaced and {{Convert|440|LT|t|0|disp=flip|sp=us}} submerged.<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/> The submarines were {{convert|53|m|ftin|sp=us}} long, had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|4.00|m|ftin|sp=us}} and a [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|3.44|m|ftin|sp=us}}.<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/> For surface running, the submarines were powered by a single {{convert|400|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} [[diesel engine]] that drove one [[propeller shaft]].<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/> When submerged the propeller was driven by a {{convert|1,250|shp|0|adj=on}} [[electric motor]].<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/> They could reach {{convert|11.8|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|13.9|kn}} submerged.<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/> On the surface, the ''Ha-201''-class submarines had a range of {{convert|3000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}}; submerged, they had a range of {{convert|105|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|2|kn}}.<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/> Their armament consisted of two {{convert|533|mm|in|adj=on|sp=us|sigfig=2}} [[torpedo tube]]s with four [[torpedo]]es and a single mount for a 7.7-millimeter [[machine gun]].<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/>

==Construction and commissioning==

''Ha-203'' was [[Keel-laying|laid down]] on 5 April 1945 by the [[Sasebo Naval Arsenal]] at [[Sasebo]], [[Japan]], as '''''Submarine No. 4913'''''.<ref name=combinedfleetHa203>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/HA-203.htm |title=IJN Submarine HA-203: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |year=2019|access-date=9 October 2020}}</ref> She was renamed '''''Ha-203''''' on 1 May 1945 and was attached provisionally to the [[Sasebo Naval District]] that day.<ref name=combinedfleetHa203/> [[Ceremonial ship launching|Launched]] on 25 May 1945,<ref name=combinedfleetHa203/> she was completed and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 20&nbsp;June&nbsp;1945.<ref name=combinedfleetHa203/>

==Service history==

Upon commissioning, ''Ha-203'' was attached formally to the Sasebo Naval District and assigned to Submarine Division 33 in the [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]] Submarine Flotilla for workups.<ref name=combinedfleetHa203/> She had not yet conducted an operational patrol when hostilities between Japan and the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] ended<ref name=combinedfleetsentakasho/> on 15 August 1945. She surrendered to the Allies at Sasebo on 2 September 1945.<ref name=combinedfleetHa203/> On 2 November 1945, she was reassigned to Japanese Submarine Division Three under [[United States Navy]] command along with her [[sister ship]]s {{ship|Japanese submarine|Ha-201||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|Ha-202||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|Ha-205||2}}, and {{ship|Japanese submarine|Ha-210||2}}.<ref name=combinedfleetHa203/>

==Disposal==
The Japanese struck ''Ha-203'' from the Navy list on 30 November 1945.<ref name=combinedfleetHa203/> She was among a number of Japanese submarines the U.S. Navy [[Scuttling|scuttled]] off the [[Goto Islands]] in [[Operation Road's End]] on 1 April 1946, sinking just beyond the {{convert|100|fathom|adj=on|0}} line at {{coord|32|37|N|129|17|E|name=''Ha-203''}}.<ref name=combinedfleetHa203/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/HA-203.htm|title=IJN Submarine HA-203: Tabular Record of Movement|last1=Hackett|first1=Bob|last2=Kingsepp|first2=Sander|year=2019|work=SENSUIKAN! Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's Submarines|publisher=Combinedfleet.com|access-date=9 October 2020}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.combinedfleet.com/type_sts.htm|title=Sen Taka Sho Type|last=Hackett|first=Bob |author2=Sander Kingsepp |year=2015|work=Sensuikan!|publisher=Combinedfleet.com|access-date=9 October 2020}}
*''{{cite web |url=http://rekigun.net/ |title=Rekishi Gunzō}}, History of Pacific War Vol.17 I-Gō Submarines'', [[Gakken]] (Japan), January 1998, {{ISBN|4-05-601767-0}}
*''Rekishi Gunzō, History of Pacific War Extra, "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces"'', Gakken (Japan), March 2005, {{ISBN|4-05-603890-2}}
*''The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.43 Japanese Submarines III'', Ushio Shobō (Japan), September 1980, Book code 68343-43
*''The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.132 Japanese Submarines I "Revised edition"'', Ushio Shobō (Japan), February 1988, Book code 68344-36
*''Ships of the World special issue Vol.37, History of Japanese Submarines'', {{cite web |url=http://www.ships-net.co.jp/ |title=Kaijinsha}}, (Japan), August 1993

{{Ha-201-class submarines}}
{{1946 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ha-203}}
[[Category:Ha-201-class submarines]]
[[Category:Ships built by Sasebo Naval Arsenal]]
[[Category:1945 ships]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Japan]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1946]]
[[Category:Scuttled vessels]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of Japan]]