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A midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons[citation needed], typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to 6 or 8, with little or no on-board living accommodation. Midget submarines normally work with mother ships, from which they are launched and recovered, and which provide living accommodation for the crew and other support staff.
Both military and civilian midget submarines have been built. Military types work with surface ships and other submarines as mother ships. Civilian and non-combatant military types are generally called submersibles, and normally work with surface ships.
Most early submarines, such as the United States Navy's USS Holland (SS-1) and the British Royal Navy's Holland 1, would now be considered midget submarines.
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The best known role for midget submarines is probably harbor penetration, although only two World War II boats, the British X-craft and the unsuccessful Welman submarine were specifically designed with this in mind. Japan's Ko-hyoteki class submarines were originally designed to take part in decisive fleet actions. However, as circumstances changed, they ended up tasked with harbour penetration. Germany’s various World War II designs were mostly designed to attack Allied shipping off landing beaches and harbours, although the Seehund had a great enough range to attack shipping off the Thames estuary.
Midget submarines have also seen some use in support roles. X-craft were used for reconnaissance, and the Seehund was used to carry supplies. A number of modern midget submarines have also been built for submarine rescue.
Midget submarines are commonly armed with torpedoes and mines. Alternatively, they may carry timed explosive charges.
France also acquired a number of German midget submarines at the end of WW2.
Most German midget submarines were developed late in World War II in an attempt to stop the Allied invasion of Europe and used later to disrupt its supply lines. As a result, the submarines mostly engaged in open water attacks rather than harbour penetration.
The Royal Navy has used a number of midget submarines. Most were developed during the Second World War. The decommissioning of the Stickleback class marked the end of midget submarines designed for combat in the Royal Navy.
The Indonesian Navy shows some interest on having a new Midget Class Submarine, built by local shipyards, not for open water patrol but for coastal patrol. The design was done many years ago by a retired Indonesian NAVY, Submariner Officer, Colonel (Ret) Ir. R. Dradjat Budiyanto, Msc. for the Indonesian Navy. The Midget experiment project with designation MIDGET IM X −1, will be about 150 – 250 tonnes, with a tubular frame design, 24 – 30 meters long, with 4 torpedo tubes and equipped with equipment that is used in a modern submarine. The subs will have minimum of 8 – 10 crew members including officers. It will be equipped with a 40 km range non hull-penetration optronic mast for the attack periscope and also a 20 km range navigation periscope.
The Indonesian Department of Defense Ministry Mr. Purnomo Yusgiantoro showed interest on this Midget submarine design. The Indonesian Navy should have the new submarine built by Indonesian shipyard PT.PAL INDONESIA by late 2011. The Midget Submarine project will take 3 – 4 years for construction. If the vessel starts by end of 2011, The Indonesian Navy expects will be commissioning the first Midget Class submarine by 2014.
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