Japanese submarine Ro-5

Last updated
IJN SS Ro5 around 1922 at Sasebo.jpg
Submarine No. 33 at Sasebo,  Japan, ca. 1922. She was renamed Ro-5 on 1 November 1924.
History
Naval ensign of Japan (1889-1945).svgJapan
NameSubmarine No. 33
Builder Kawasaki, Kobe,  Japan
Laid down1 March 1920
Launched17 September 1921
Completed9 March 1922
Commissioned9 March 1922
Renamed
  • Ro-5 on 1 November 1924
  • Hulk No. 3021 on 1 April 1932
Stricken1 April 1932
Fate
  • Hulked 1 April 1932
  • Extant 15 August 1945
General characteristics
Class & type Type F submarine (F2 subclass)
Displacement
  • 700 tonnes (689 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,064 tonnes (1,047 long tons) submerged
Length65.6 m (215 ft 3 in) overall
Beam6.1 m (20 ft 0 in)
Draft4.1 m (13 ft 5 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed
  • 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 3,500  nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth40 m (131 ft)
Crew43
Armament

Ro-5, originally named Submarine No. 33, was an Imperial Japanese Navy Type F submarine of the F2 subclass. The Type F submarines were the first truly seagoing Japanese submarines, and the earliest to be classified as "second-class" or "medium" submarines of the Ro series. Ro-5 was commissioned in 1922 and operated in the waters of Chōsen and Japan. She was stricken in 1932.

Contents

Design and description

The Type F submarines were designed by the Italian firm Fiat-Laurenti and built under license by Kawasaki at Kobe, Japan. [1] They 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. They 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]

The submarines of the F2 subclass displaced 700 tonnes (689 long tons) surfaced and 1,064 tonnes (1,047 long tons) submerged. [1] The submarines were 65.6 meters (215 ft 3 in) long and had a beam of 6.1 meters (20 ft 0 in) and a draft of 4.1 meters (13 ft 5 in). [1] They had a diving depth of 40 meters (131 ft). [1] For surface running, the submarines were powered by two 1,300- brake-horsepower (969 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] They could reach 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) underwater. [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). [1]

The submarines were armed with five 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes, three in the bow and two in the stern, and carried a total of eight Type 44 torpedoes. [1] As built, they were armed with a 7.7 mm machine gun. [1] Soon after completion, however, a 76.2 mm (3.00 in) deck gun was added. [1]

In the F2 subclass, the Fiat diesel engines were unreliable and the F2 subclass′s top surface speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) was well below the expected 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph). [1] Because of their disappointing performance, the Type F submarines did not serve as the basis for any later Japanese submarine classes. [1]

Construction and commissioning

Ordered in 1918, Ro-5 was laid down as Submarine No. 33 on 1 March 1920 by Kawasaki at Kobe, Japan. [3] Launched on 17 September 1921, [3] she was completed and commissioned on 9 March 1922. [3]

Service history

Upon commissioning, Submarine No. 33 was attached to the Sasebo Naval District. [3] She was assigned to Submarine Division 23 on 8 May 1922. [3] On 1 December 1922, Submarine Division 23 was assigned to the Chinkai Defense Division on the southern coast of Chōsen. [3] Submarine No. 33 was renamed Ro-5 on 1 November 1924. [3]

Submarine Division 23 was reassigned to the Sasebo Defense Division in the Sasebo Naval District on 1 December 1924. [3] On 1 June 1925, the division was assigned to the 1st Fleet, [3] and on 1 December 1925 it returned to the Sasebo Defense Division in the Sasebo Naval District, where it remained for the rest of Ro-5′s active service. [3]

Ro-5 was stricken from the Navy list on 1 April 1932. [3] She was renamed Hulk No. 3021 and served as a stationary hulk through the end of World War II on 15 August 1945. [3]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Gray, p. 247.
  2. Gray, p. 245.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "RO-5 ex No-33". iijnsubsite.info. 2017. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2020.

Bibliography