The Type F submarines were designed by the Italian firm Fiat-Laurenti and built under license by Kawasaki at Kobe, Japan.

[1] Because of their disappointing performance, they did not serve as the basis for any later Japanese submarine classes.

[1] For surface running, the submarines were powered by two 1,400-brake-horsepower (1,044 kW) Fiat diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft.

[1] When submerged each propeller was driven by a Savigliano 600-horsepower (447 kW) electric motor.

[1] On the surface, they had a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph);[1] submerged, they had a range of 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).