Ro-29, originally named Submarine No. 68, was an Imperial Japanese NavyKaichu-Typesubmarine of the Kaichu V (Toku Chu) subclass. She was in commission from 1923 to 1936 and saw service in the waters of Formosa and Japan.
The submarines of the Kaichu V sub-class were designed for anti-shipping operations and carried more fuel and had greater range and a heavier gun armament than preceding Kaichu-type submarines. They displaced866 tonnes (852 long tons) surfaced and 1,036 tonnes (1,020 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 74.22 meters (243ft 6in) long and had a beam of 6.12 meters (20ft 1in) and a draft of 3.73 meters (12ft 3in). They had a diving depth of 45.7 meters (150ft).
For surface running, the submarines were powered by two 600-brake-horsepower (447kW)Sulzerdiesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 600-horsepower (447kW)electric motor. They could reach 13 knots (24km/h; 15mph) on the surface and 8.5 knots (15.7km/h; 9.8mph) underwater. On the surface, they had a range of 9,000 nautical miles (17,000km; 10,000mi) — although the Imperial Japanese Navy officially announced it as 6,000 nautical miles (11,000km; 6,900mi) — at 10 knots (19km/h; 12mph); submerged, they had a range of 85nmi (157km; 98mi) at 4 knots (7.4km/h; 4.6mph).
The submarines were armed with four internal bow 533mm (21.0in)torpedo tubes and carried a total of eight torpedoes. They were also armed with a single 120mm (4.7in) deck gun and one 6.5mm machine gun.
Upon commissioning, Submarine No. 68 was attached to the Sasebo Naval District, to which she remained attached throughout her active career.[1] On 1 June 1924, she was assigned to both Submarine Division 25 — in which she spent her active career — and the Mako Defense Division headquartered at Mako in the Pescadores Islands.[1] She was renamed Ro-29 on 1 November 1924.[1] On 1 December 1926, she was reassigned to the Sasebo Defense Division, headquartered at Sasebo, Japan.[1] Her service in the Sasebo Defense Division ended on 15 November 1934, after which she served as a unit of Submarine Division 25 in the Sasebo Naval District.[1]
Ro-29 was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on 1 April 1936.[1] As a hulk, she was renamed Heisan No. 9 on 1 April 1940.[1]
Rekishi Gunzō, History of Pacific War Extra, "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces", Gakken (Japan), March 2005, ISBN4-05-603890-2
The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.43 Japanese Submarines III, Ushio Shobō (Japan), September 1980, Book code 68343-44
The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.132 Japanese Submarines I "Revised edition", Ushio Shobō (Japan), February 1988, Book code 68344-36
The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.133 Japanese Submarines II "Revised edition", Ushio Shobō (Japan), March 1988, Book code 68344-37
The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.135 Japanese Submarines IV, Ushio Shobō (Japan), May 1988, Book code 68344-39
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