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

[1] The Type F submarines were the Imperial Japanese Navy′s first true seagoing submarines,[1] and when the Japanese adopted a three-tiered classification system of its submarines as first-class (I), second-class or medium (Ro), and third-class (Ha) on 1 November 1924,[2] the Type F submarines were the earliest to receive the second-class classification,[1] as reflected in their low numbers in the Ro series,[1] and in fact they were the earliest Japanese submarine classified as anything higher than third-class.

[1] The Type F submarines had non-cylindrical hulls intended to provide extra internal space, but the Japanese considered the hulls weak despite the provision of additional scantlings during construction to reinforce them.

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

[1] Additional F2 subclass units planned under the 1919 construction program were cancelled and replaced by the new Kaichū-type and Type L submarines.