Japan’s first Taigei-class submarine commissioned into service

The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) commissioned a new diesel-electric submarine into service in a ceremony on Wednesday, March 9.

JS Taigei (“Great Whale”) is the lead boat of a class of five. It has a length of 84 metres, a hull diameter of 9.1 metres, lithium-ion batteries for extended underwater endurance, and armament including torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles.

Taigei was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Like its sisters, it is a modified variant of the Soryu-class submarines currently in service with the JMSDF.