Aoshima A003845 1/700 I.J.N. Submarine I-401

The I-401 was a Japanese WWII submarine that entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in January 1945. At the time of launching, the ship was 122 m long, 12 m wide, and her displacement in draft was 6,560 tons. The maximum surface speed of the I-401 reached 18.75 knots on the surface. The main armament at the time of the launch was 8 533 mm torpedo tubes, 1 140 mm gun, 3 35 mm cannons and a single 25 mm cannon. The ship also had aviation equipment in the form of 3 M6A1 Seiran planes.

The I-401 was of the I-400 type. This type included one of the largest submarines built during World War II, which belonged to the so-called submarine cruisers. On the I-401, rubber plates were used to silence its operation and activities, and to make it difficult to detect by sonar. It was also equipped with grills, which made it possible to use internal combustion engines while submerged. Due to the late entry into service, the I-401 did not take part in any major combat operations. The vessel disposed of all weapons and code books on August 26, 1945, and three days later surrendered to the high seas to the USS Segundo. The I-401 was then used by the US Navy as a target ship and was finally sunk in May 1946 near Pearl Harbor.

This is an injection-plastic ship model kit.