The Japanese Submarine I-56--rather a unique boat

[Guest]

The Japanese Navy Type B3 Cruiser submarine I-56

 

Asymmetric allows me to slip in with my subs, all 12 of them. That said, the Japanese I-56 is probably the most unique in WoWs, and in the Pacific war evolved to be a kaiten carrier--the "heaven-shaker" suicide manned torpedoes (and I am sure the Devs are very tempted to somehow incorporate this). Her sister ship the I-58 sank the Indianapolis, an infamous and terrible story for any ship sunk at sea. She was a cruiser, a long-range submarine. After a momentous career, the I-56 was sunk by the DD USS Hudson on the 5th of April 1945. All 116 crewmen and six kaiten pilots were lost--the most common German Type VII submarine of the war had 44-52 officers and ratings onboard by comparison.

For those into subs I am sure you have watched a fellow Canuck's YouTube videos on subs ("Normal Guy of the North"), and his comment and my impressions of the I-56 are the same: "a favourite sub to play but very difficult."

In Wows she is unique for the following reasons:

--largest sub and HP (25,450)

--fastest torpedo reload of all subs in the game at 35 seconds.

--no anti-sub detection

--lowest dive time but fastest recharge of batteries

--usable 140mm deck gun (and I've sunk a few low HP DDs with this).

--shortest range homing torps; . In fact her main ace is her 12.5 km dumb torps which pack a terrific wallop of 16,387 if you can get them on target.

So of course I will cherry pick a great game in this boat to present, but won't pretend it is common. For those who have a dim view of subs, and speaking as a mostly BB captain with 12k battles in my WoWs career (I've been in this since they were building up the US and IJN lines and people were yelling about CVs as "sky cancer"--now it's the subs. Move along folks, nothing to see here), let me say that love them or hate them, you have to finally understand the steep learning curve with these. People that play these love the challenge and accept the relatively low rewards. Give us the credit please.

I've found subs in Wows to be a beguilingly unique "outside the box" challenge and I'm glad that you can at least use them in Asymmetrical, though not Operations--for understandable reasons. With subs, even after you get through the learning phase and are half-way decent, every battle is a crap shoot, and without team support you cannot hope to do very well. You need the support and it is often not forthcoming. The game I give below is my highest damage--232k--and is really not typical at all. Still probably a novice in this at 385 battles in subs, my average damage--mostly in asymmetrical and a lesser amount in random--is around 50-90k. The sub class in WoWs is not your first choice to rack up damage and earn cash etc. I usually start the day in Operations with 3-4 battles in the Libertad. I finish off the container drops with the subs.

But here we have the I-56 in this match almost carrying the team. The bots kept pushing through a narrow channel and I obliged them with sledge-hammer 6-torp spreads every 35 seconds or less. Not one torpedo was homing. The team had 4 of 6 sunk and it was the Tirpitz and I vs 4 of them or so. I think Normal Guy of the North would commend the manner in which I handled the ship in this--reverse speed is critical. The replay:

Spoiler

!!!!!!!20241215_192404_PJSS518-I56_13_OC_new_dawn.wowsreplay

Note that--another unique feature of the boat--she is the only sub to have a rudder both below and above the main ship hull at the stern.

And the results for those not interested in watching the replay:

皇帝の勝利へ！

(Kōtei no shōri e!)

Any shared I-56 or other sub tales to share out there?

Edited December 24, 2024 by Stauffenberg44

[Wolfswetpaws]

  
  @Stauffenberg44.  🙂 
This is Commander ARP Iona, Captain of my I-56. ^^^

Indeed, the I-56 is a "challenge accepted" 'bote to play in random battles (mostly because of her huge 7+ km detection radius, in my opinion).
She'll rely upon setting-up dumb-fire torpedo launches into predictable targets, while avoiding detection as much as possible.

That said, there is a Wolfpack Scenario Operation for Submarines.  https://wiki.wargaming.net/en/Ship:Operation_Wolfpack  
Sometime after its introduction event, this scenario required being in a division with other people who are also playing submarines.
As I write this, there is a note which indicates, "Note: this operation is currently unavailable".  https://wiki.wargaming.net/en/Ship:Scenarios#Submarines  
Perhaps someone can form a large enough division to allow the Division Commander to choose a Scenario Operation and verify if this is accessible or "out of service"?
https://wiki.wargaming.net/en/Ship:Scenarios#Forming_a_Team  

The I-56 is able to sail in some temporary event modes, such as Convoy and Airship Escort (when those modes are available).
If played well, she can contribute substantially to the overall battle effort.

In Co-op and Assymetric there is the risk of 'Bot opponents rushing forward and over-running her position.

As you mentioned, the manually aimed deck-gun is fun for surface-action shenannigans.

The I-56's surfaced top-speed is good (for a Submarine). 
Her submerged speed is about half of her surfaced speed, though.
So, it's beneficial to keep opponents close enough to hit, but far enough away to avoid being seen by them.
Because if the opposing ships cannot be sunk soon enough, the I-56's dive-time may run-out.

The 3 km arming-distance nerf to all submarine torpedoes didn't do the I-56 any favors.

Additionally, content-creator videos (made prior to the nerf), became obsolete after the nerf.

Quote

 

I-56 is a Completely Balanced Submarine  (video by Yuro)

World of Warships - I-56 Review, how does she play after the nerfs  (video by Normal Guy of the North)  

 

  

 

How to play and fight against submarines, and the update video to complement the original guide video.

Quote

Comprehensive Submarine Guide (And Fighting them) in World of Warships  

  
Comprehensive UPDATE to the Submarine Guide in World of Warships  

  
 

I'm hoping the ARP I-401 will become available as part of a future Arpeggio of Blue Steel collaboration.  🙂 

[Sumseaman]

3 hours ago, Stauffenberg44 said:

The Japanese Navy Type B3 Cruiser submarine I-56

 

Asymmetric allows me to slip in with my subs, all 12 of them. That said, the Japanese I-56 is probably the most unique in WoWs, and in the Pacific war evolved to be a kaiten carrier--the "heaven-shaker" suicide manned torpedoes (and I am sure the Devs are very tempted to somehow incorporate this). Her sister ship the I-58 sank the Indianapolis, an infamous and terrible story for any ship sunk at sea. She was a cruiser, a long-range submarine. After a momentous career, the I-56 was sunk by the DD USS Hudson on the 5th of April 1945. All 116 crewmen and six kaiten pilots were lost--the most common German Type VII submarine of the war had 44-52 officers and ratings onboard by comparison.

For those into subs I am sure you have watched a fellow Canuck's YouTube videos on subs ("Normal Guy of the North"), and his comment and my impressions of the I-56 are the same: "a favourite sub to play but very difficult."

In Wows she is unique for the following reasons:

--largest sub and HP (25,450)

--fastest torpedo reload of all subs in the game at 35 seconds.

--no anti-sub detection

--lowest dive time but fastest recharge of batteries

--usable 140mm deck gun (and I've sunk a few low HP DDs with this).

--shortest range homing torps; . In fact her main ace is her 12.5 km dumb torps which pack a terrific wallop of 16,387 if you can get them on target.

So of course I will cherry pick a great game in this boat to present, but won't pretend it is common. For those who have a dim view of subs, and speaking as a mostly BB captain with 12k battles in my WoWs career (I've been in this since they were building up the US and IJN lines and people were yelling about CVs as "sky cancer"--now it's the subs. Move along folks, nothing to see here), let me say that love them or hate them, you have to finally understand the steep learning curve with these. People that play these love the challenge and accept the relatively low rewards. Give us the credit please.

I've found subs in Wows to be a beguilingly unique "outside the box" challenge and I'm glad that you can at least use them in Asymmetrical, though not Operations--for understandable reasons. With subs, even after you get through the learning phase and are half-way decent, every battle is a crap shoot, and without team support you cannot hope to do very well. You need the support and it is often not forthcoming. The game I give below is my highest damage--232k--and is really not typical at all. Still probably a novice in this at 385 battles in subs, my average damage--mostly in asymmetrical and a lesser amount in random--is around 50-90k. The sub class in WoWs is not your first choice to rack up damage and earn cash etc. I usually start the day in Operations with 3-4 battles in the Libertad. I finish off the container drops with the subs.

But here we have the I-56 in this match almost carrying the team. The bots kept pushing through a narrow channel and I obliged them with sledge-hammer 6-torp spreads every 35 seconds or less. Not one torpedo was homing. The team had 4 of 6 sunk and it was the Tirpitz and I vs 4 of them or so. I think Normal Guy of the North would commend the manner in which I handled the ship in this--reverse speed is critical. The replay:

  Reveal hidden contents

!!!!!!!20241215_192404_PJSS518-I56_13_OC_new_dawn.wowsreplay 1.8 MB · 2 downloads

Note that--another unique feature of the boat--she is the only sub to have a rudder both below and above the main ship hull at the stern.

And the results for those not interested in watching the replay:

皇帝の勝利へ！

(Kōtei no shōri e!)

Any shared I-56 or other sub tales to share out there?

Nice job. I'd love to get I-56 but as I have Alliance and S-189 it doesn't really fill a gap except for the historical value. Archerfish and Xin Zhong cover the deck gun yummies.

Once of the best sub tales I have is of sinking a Jager who had destroyed 5 of our teammates (CV included). I would have been its 6th if it had not been for the super homing Alliance acoustics. With a double ping it charged me thinking it could close the distance or dodge. Thing is they had been in the water for the required arming time long before I pinged. With a double ping those things rarely miss. It went to the bottom and its spree was at an end. Would have been a 4K plus BXP game for that Jager if I hadn't sunk it and back capped. The karma went down and I dribbled in transcendent ecstasy on my shirt. 

Edit: A moment of contemplation. Now there is 25% off of dub ships I could get it...but I would have to play it in randoms. @Stauffenberg44and @WolfswetpawsI desire your counsel. Should I get it?

Edited December 24, 2024 by Sumseaman

[Guest]

23 minutes ago, Wolfswetpaws said:

Additionally, content-creator videos (made prior to the nerf), became obsolete after the nerf.

Quote

 

I-56 is a Completely Balanced Submarine  (video by Yuro)

World of Warships - I-56 Review, how does she play after the nerfs  (video by Normal Guy of the North)  

 

I think I need to snort some meth to follow all that but I got it, I think. lol

 

[Wolfswetpaws]

16 minutes ago, Sumseaman said:

Edit: A moment of contemplation. Now there is 25% off of dub ships I could get it...but I would have to play it in randoms. @Stauffenberg44and @WolfswetpawsI desire your counsel. Should I get it?

Dear @Sumseaman,

If you have the doubloons to spare, then I suggest you seriously consider welcoming the I-56 to your Port.
Her long-ranged torpedoes pack a potent wallop and are wonderful for soundly spanking the unsuspecting afts of ships.
 

For opponents that don't immediately go down, you have the choice of finishing them off with your deck-gun, or ...
using your size and speed to perform a ramming maneuver for a satisfying conclusion.  😉 

Sincerely,
 @Wolfswetpaws

 

[Wolfswetpaws]

37 minutes ago, Stauffenberg44 said:

I think I need to snort some meth to follow all that but I got it, I think. lol

 

 🙂 

[Sumseaman]

14 minutes ago, Wolfswetpaws said:

Dear @Sumseaman,

If you have the doubloons to spare, then I suggest you seriously consider welcoming the I-56 to your Port.
Her long-ranged torpedoes pack a potent wallop and are wonderful for soundly spanking the unsuspecting afts of ships.
 

For opponents that don't immediately go down, you have the choice of finishing them off with your deck-gun, or ...
using your size and speed to perform a ramming maneuver for a satisfying conclusion.  😉 

Sincerely,
 @Wolfswetpaws

 

I have sum time to consider it before the offer ends. I'll do sum research to see if it doesn't overlap with Archerfish too much. Of course the drawcard is that it will be the only premium sub sub I don't have... That and the fact that the bulk of the community simply wants more subs in the game.

Edited December 24, 2024 by Sumseaman

[Wolfswetpaws]

4 minutes ago, Sumseaman said:

I have sum time to consider it before the offer ends. I'll do sum research to see if it doesn't overlap with Archerfish too much. Of course the drawcard is that it will be the only premium sub sub I don't have...

Totally understandable.  🙂 
For what it is worth, I'm planning to welcome the Archerfish to my Port, someday.  (I simply don't have enough steel, at the moment.)
But, the overlap would be more relevant with the Gato (though I-56 is Tier-8, while Gato is Tier-10), I think.
As for cost/commodities, the I-56 is available for doubloons or cash, whereas the Gato and the Archerfish are available for steel.
The decision is yours, of course.  🙂 

P.S. ...

Spoiler

  

I'm sure you can find other uses for long-lance torpedoes, too.
 

 

 

[Guest]

28 minutes ago, Sumseaman said:

That and the fact that the bulk of the community simply wants more subs in the game.

lolol

Well the I-56 is worth it for sheer unique gud bote-ness. I keep going back to it every day. Roll the dice, lose-win, it's always interesting. I have to tell you that surfacing with a pest DD too close to torp, and surprising the heck out of the low-HP DD player finishing her off with your 140mm gun is one of those unique WoWs moments I have to say.🤭

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, Wolfswetpaws said:

For what it is worth, I'm planning to welcome the Archerfish to my Port, someday. 

I just don't have the patience to save and save for months for that. Give me time, I'll come around.

[Wolfswetpaws]

1 minute ago, Stauffenberg44 said:

I just don't have the patience to save and save for months for that. Give me time, I'll come around.

Life is a journey.  🙂 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Wolfswetpaws said:

Life is a journey.  🙂 

And it's the journey itself, getting there, not the final arrival, I know I know...

[Sumseaman]

41 minutes ago, Wolfswetpaws said:

Totally understandable.  🙂 
For what it is worth, I'm planning to welcome the Archerfish to my Port, someday.  (I simply don't have enough steel, at the moment.)
But, the overlap would be more relevant with the Gato (though I-56 is Tier-8, while Gato is Tier-10), I think.
As for cost/commodities, the I-56 is available for doubloons or cash, whereas the Gato and the Archerfish are available for steel.
The decision is yours, of course.  🙂 

P.S. ...

  Reveal hidden contents

  

I'm sure you can find other uses for long-lance torpedoes, too.
 

 

 

Actually yes I'm missing Gato too. Of course Archerfish seems to have eclipsed it somewhat so I'm not going to blow steel on two US subs. I suppose I was referring to the twin deck guns. Actually an Archerfish got my Vampire II in ranked with the guns. I was engaged with both it and a Shima simultaneously. Both went down to Australian shells/charges but the sub got me fair and square before it succumbed to flooding. I really shouldn't have eaten a Shima torp. Got a spanking for that.

My remaining steel simply must be used for Shinano as CVs are everyone's favourite type next to succulent sub subs. 

Edited December 24, 2024 by Sumseaman

[Sumseaman]

29 minutes ago, Stauffenberg44 said:

lolol

Well the I-56 is worth it for sheer unique gud bote-ness. I keep going back to it every day. Roll the dice, lose-win, it's always interesting. I have to tell you that surfacing with a pest DD too close to torp, and surprising the heck out of the low-HP DD player finishing her off with your 140mm gun is one of those unique WoWs moments I have to say.🤭

Again perhaps I can have the pleasure of that with Archerfish. We shall see. Wow though. 140mm at VIII beats 127mm at X.

Edited December 24, 2024 by Sumseaman

[Yedwy]

7 hours ago, Stauffenberg44 said:

Asymmetric allows me to slip in with my subs, all 12 of them. That said, the Japanese I-56 is probably the most unique in WoWs, and in the Pacific war evolved to be a kaiten carrier--the "heaven-shaker" suicide manned torpedoes (and I am sure the Devs are very tempted to somehow incorporate this). 

They already have or do you have any other explanation how does active homing on inteerwar sub torps works... 😄

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Yedwy said:

They already have or do you have any other explanation how does active homing on inteerwar sub torps works... 😄

Yes they have short range homing torps. Kaiten torps have a human operator on board each.

[desmo_2]

While I was certainly no fan of subs in this game, I dove into all the sub lines of each nation last Christmas when the 100% first win bonus was active for a couple of weeks.  I got all sub lines up to Tier 10.  Doing that pretty much removed my fear and loathing of subs.  I got Alliance and I-56 from Santa containers, U-4501 for coal and Gato for steel (with a coupon).  Of course I got Xin Zhong Guo 14 during this year's anniversary event.  I don't have S-189 and was hoping I might get her from a Santa container.  That didn't happen this year.  I will get Archerfish once she qualifies for the 25% coupon.

I find I-56 very challenging to play.  Her lack of submarine surveillance and especially her short dive duration will punish you if you get detected, which is hard to prevent with her 7.1 km detection range.  I have only played 9 games with her, so I probably need to spend a bit more time learning how to mitigate those shortcomings.

[Wolfswetpaws]

7 hours ago, Sumseaman said:

Actually yes I'm missing Gato too. Of course Archerfish seems to have eclipsed it somewhat so I'm not going to blow steel on two US subs. I suppose I was referring to the twin deck guns. Actually an Archerfish got my Vampire II in ranked with the guns. I was engaged with both it and a Shima simultaneously. Both went down to Australian shells/charges but the sub got me fair and square before it succumbed to flooding. I really shouldn't have eaten a Shima torp. Got a spanking for that.

My remaining steel simply must be used for Shinano as CVs are everyone's favourite type next to succulent sub subs. 

👍

[Wolfswetpaws]

24 minutes ago, desmo_2 said:

While I was certainly no fan of subs in this game, I dove into all the sub lines of each nation last Christmas when the 100% first win bonus was active for a couple of weeks.  I got all sub lines up to Tier 10.  Doing that pretty much removed my fear and loathing of subs.  I got Alliance and I-56 from Santa containers, U-4501 for coal and Gato for steel (with a coupon).  Of course I got Xin Zhong Guo 14 during this year's anniversary event.  I don't have S-189 and was hoping I might get her from a Santa container.  That didn't happen this year.  I will get Archerfish once she qualifies for the 25% coupon.

I find I-56 very challenging to play.  Her lack of submarine surveillance and especially her short dive duration will punish you if you get detected, which is hard to prevent with her 7.1 km detection range.  I have only played 9 games with her, so I probably need to spend a bit more time learning how to mitigate those shortcomings.

👍