Japanese submarine Ro-23

Ro-23, originally named Submarine No. 41, was an Imperial Japanese Navy Kaichū-Type submarine of the Kaichū III subclass. She was commissioned in 1923 as the final unit of the Kaichu' III subclass and operated in the waters of Japan, Formosa, and Chōsen before she was stricken in 1935.

History
Japan
Name: Submarine No. 41
Builder: Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Yokosuka, Japan
Laid down: 20 January 1921
Launched: 25 October 1921
Completed: 28 April 1923
Commissioned: 28 April 1923
Renamed: Ro-23 on 1 November 1924
Stricken: 1 April 1935
Fate: Hulked 7 August 1935
Renamed: Hulk No. 3106 on 7 August 1935
General characteristics
Class and type: Kaichū type submarine (K3 subclass)
Displacement:
  • 752 tonnes (740 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,013 tonnes (997 long tons) submerged
Length: 70.10 m (230 ft 0 in) overall
Beam: 6.12 m (20 ft 1 in)
Draft: 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) surfaced
  • 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 85 nmi (157 km; 98 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth: 45.7 m (150 ft)
Crew: 46
Armament:

Design and description

The submarines of the Kaichu III sub-class were a slightly improved version of the preceding Kaichu II subclass, the man difference being an increase in diving depth from 30 to 45.7 meters (98 to 150 ft).[1] They displaced 752 tonnes (740 long tons) surfaced and 1,013 tonnes (997 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 70.10 meters (230 ft 0 in) long and had a beam of 6.12 meters (20 ft 1 in) and a draft of 3.70 meters (12 ft 2 in).

For surface running, the submarines were powered by two 1,450-brake-horsepower (1,081 kW) Sulzer Mark II diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 600-horsepower (447 kW) electric motor. They could reach 16.5 knots (31 km/h; 19 mph) on the surface and 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) underwater. On the surface, they had a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph); submerged, they had a range of 85 nmi (157 km; 98 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).

The submarines were armed with six 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes, four internal tubes in the bow and two external tubes mounted on the upper deck, and carried a total of ten Type 44 torpedoes. They were also armed with a single 76.2 mm (3.00 in) deck gun mounted aft of the conning tower.[1]

Construction and commissioning

Ro-23 was laid down as Submarine No. 41 on 20 January 1921 by the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal at Yokosuka, Japan.[2] Launched on 25 October 1921,[2] she was completed and commissioned on 28 April 1923[2] as the final submarine of the Kaichu III subclass.

Service history

Upon commissioning, Submarine No. 41 was attached to the Sasebo Naval District, to which she remained attached throughout her career.[2] On 15 June 1923, she was assigned to Submarine Division 22 and to the Sasebo Defense Division,[2] and on 1 November 1924 she was renamed Ro-23.[2] On 1 December 1924, Submarine Division 22 was reassigned to the Chinkai Defense Division on the southern coast of Chōsen.[2] Submarine Division 22 returned to the Sasebo Defense Division on 1 December 1925, serving in it until 15 November 1934,[2] and thereafter operated directly under the control of the Sasebo Naval District.[2]

Ro-23 was stricken from the Navy list on 1 April 1935.[2] She was hulked on 7 August 1935 and renamed Hulk No. 3106.

Notes
  1. Gray, Randal, ed., Conway′s All the World′s Fighting Ships 1906–1921, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN 0 87021 907 3, p. 248.
  2. "RO-23 ex No-41". iijnsubsite.info. 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2020.

References
  • "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol.17 I-Gō Submarines, Gakken (Japan), January 1998, ISBN 4-05-601767-0
  • Rekishi Gunzō, History of Pacific War Extra, "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces", Gakken (Japan), March 2005, ISBN 4-05-603890-2
  • 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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