The submarines of the K6 sub-class were versions of the preceding K5 sub-class with greater range and diving depth.[1] They displaced 1,133 tonnes (1,115 long tons) surfaced and 1,470 tonnes (1,447 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 80.5 meters (264 ft 1 in) long, had a beam of 7 meters (23 ft 0 in) and a draft of 4.07 meters (13 ft 4 in). They had a diving depth of 80 meters (260 ft).[2]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 2,100-brake-horsepower (1,566 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 600-horsepower (447 kW) electric motor.[3] They could reach 19.75 knots (36.58 km/h; 22.73 mph) on the surface and 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) underwater. On the surface, the K6s had a range of 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km; 13,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph); submerged, they had a range of 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).[1]
Upon commissioning, Ro-38 was attached formally to the Maizuru Naval District,[4] and on 31 July 1943 she was assigned to Submarine Squadron 11 for workups.[4] On 31 October 1943 she was reassigned to Submarine Division 34 in the 6th Fleet, and she departed Maizuru bound for Truk that day. She arrived at Truk on 8 November 1943.[4]
Ro-38 got underway from Truk on 19 November 1943 to begin her first war patrol, assigned a patrol area in the Gilbert Islands in the vicinity of Makin and Tarawa.[4] The Japanese never heard from her again.[4]
On 20 November 1943, the Battles of Makin and of Tarawa began with the U.S. landings on those atolls. That day, the commander-in-chief of the 6th Fleet, Vice AdmiralTakeo Takagi, ordered Ro-38 and the submarines I-19, I-21, I-35, I-39, I-40, I-169, I-174, and I-175 to attack the U.S. invasion fleet off the atolls.[4] On 26 November 1943, Takagi ordered I-19, I-40, I-169, and Ro-38 to form a patrol line north of Makin, with Ro-38 northeast of Makin at the eastern end of the line.[4] The 6th Fleet ordered Ro-38 to move to a new patrol area southeast of Tarawa on 27 November 1943,[4] and on 4 December 1943 it sent her orders to patrol between Tarawa and Canton Island.[4]Ro-38 did not acknowledge any of these orders.[4]
The circumstances of Ro-38′s loss are unknown. It is possible that the United States NavydestroyerUSS Cotten(DD-669) sank her west of Tarawa on 24 November 1943.[4] On 2 January 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy declared her to be presumed lost off the Gilbert Islands with all 77 hands.[4] She was stricken from the Navy list on 30 April 1944.[4]
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrHackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2017). "IJN Submarine RO-38: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
Referencesedit
Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-962-6.
Carpenter, Dorr B. & Polmar, Norman (1986). Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-396-6.
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2017). "IJN Submarine RO-38: Tabular Record of Movement". SENSUIKAN! Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's Submarines. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
Hashimoto, Mochitsura (1954). Sunk: The Story of the Japanese Submarine Fleet 1942 – 1945. Colegrave, E.H.M. (translator). London: Cassell and Company. ASIN B000QSM3L0.
October 27, 2023
japanese, submarine, imperial, japanese, navy, kaichū, type, submarine, class, completed, commissioned, july, 1943, served, world, sunk, november, 1943, during, first, patrol, historyjapannamesubmarine, 204buildermitsubishi, kobe, japanlaid, down20, june, 1942. Ro 38 was an Imperial Japanese Navy Kaichu type submarine of the K6 sub class Completed and commissioned in July 1943 she served in World War II and was sunk in November 1943 during her first war patrol HistoryJapanNameSubmarine No 204BuilderMitsubishi Kobe JapanLaid down20 June 1942RenamedRo 38 on 1 November 1942Launched24 December 1942Completed24 July 1943Commissioned24 July 1943FateMissing after 19 November 1943 Possibly sunk 24 November 1943Stricken30 April 1944General characteristicsClass and typeKaichu type submarine K6 subclass Displacement1 133 tonnes 1 115 long tons surfaced 1 470 tonnes 1 447 long tons submergedLength80 5 m 264 ft 1 in overallBeam7 m 23 ft 0 in Draft4 07 m 13 ft 4 in Installed power4 200 bhp 3 100 kW diesel 1 200 hp 890 kW electric motor PropulsionDiesel electric 1 diesel engine 1 electric motorSpeed19 75 knots 36 58 km h 22 73 mph surfaced 8 knots 15 km h 9 2 mph submergedRange5 000 nmi 9 300 km 5 800 mi at 16 knots 30 km h 18 mph surfaced 45 nmi 83 km 52 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph submergedTest depth80 m 260 ft Crew61Armament4 bow 533 mm 21 in torpedo tubes 1 76 2 mm 3 00 in L 40 anti aircraft gun 2 single 25 mm 1 0 in AA guns Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and commissioning 3 Service history 4 Notes 5 ReferencesDesign and description editThe submarines of the K6 sub class were versions of the preceding K5 sub class with greater range and diving depth 1 They displaced 1 133 tonnes 1 115 long tons surfaced and 1 470 tonnes 1 447 long tons submerged The submarines were 80 5 meters 264 ft 1 in long had a beam of 7 meters 23 ft 0 in and a draft of 4 07 meters 13 ft 4 in They had a diving depth of 80 meters 260 ft 2 For surface running the boats were powered by two 2 100 brake horsepower 1 566 kW diesel engines each driving one propeller shaft When submerged each propeller was driven by a 600 horsepower 447 kW electric motor 3 They could reach 19 75 knots 36 58 km h 22 73 mph on the surface and 8 knots 15 km h 9 2 mph underwater On the surface the K6s had a range of 11 000 nautical miles 20 000 km 13 000 mi at 12 knots 22 km h 14 mph submerged they had a range of 45 nmi 83 km 52 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph 1 The boats were armed with four internal bow 53 3 cm 21 0 in torpedo tubes and carried a total of ten torpedoes They were also armed with a single 76 2 mm 3 00 in L 40 anti aircraft gun and two single 25 mm 1 0 in AA guns 1 Construction and commissioning editRo 38 was laid down as Submarine No 204 on 20 June 1942 by Mitsubishi at Kobe Japan 4 She was renamed Ro 38 on 1 November 1942 4 and was provisionally attached to the Maizuru Naval District that day 4 She was launched on 24 December 1942 4 and completed and commissioned on 24 July 1943 4 Service history editUpon commissioning Ro 38 was attached formally to the Maizuru Naval District 4 and on 31 July 1943 she was assigned to Submarine Squadron 11 for workups 4 On 31 October 1943 she was reassigned to Submarine Division 34 in the 6th Fleet and she departed Maizuru bound for Truk that day She arrived at Truk on 8 November 1943 4 Ro 38 got underway from Truk on 19 November 1943 to begin her first war patrol assigned a patrol area in the Gilbert Islands in the vicinity of Makin and Tarawa 4 The Japanese never heard from her again 4 On 20 November 1943 the Battles of Makin and of Tarawa began with the U S landings on those atolls That day the commander in chief of the 6th Fleet Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi ordered Ro 38 and the submarines I 19 I 21 I 35 I 39 I 40 I 169 I 174 and I 175 to attack the U S invasion fleet off the atolls 4 On 26 November 1943 Takagi ordered I 19 I 40 I 169 and Ro 38 to form a patrol line north of Makin with Ro 38 northeast of Makin at the eastern end of the line 4 The 6th Fleet ordered Ro 38 to move to a new patrol area southeast of Tarawa on 27 November 1943 4 and on 4 December 1943 it sent her orders to patrol between Tarawa and Canton Island 4 Ro 38 did not acknowledge any of these orders 4 The circumstances of Ro 38 s loss are unknown It is possible that the United States Navy destroyer USS Cotten DD 669 sank her west of Tarawa on 24 November 1943 4 On 2 January 1944 the Imperial Japanese Navy declared her to be presumed lost off the Gilbert Islands with all 77 hands 4 She was stricken from the Navy list on 30 April 1944 4 Notes edit a b c Carpenter amp Dorr p 124 Bagnasco p 187 Chesneau p 203 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Hackett Bob Kingsepp Sander 2017 IJN Submarine RO 38 Tabular Record of Movement combinedfleet com Retrieved 20 September 2020 References editBagnasco Erminio 1977 Submarines of World War Two Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 962 6 Carpenter Dorr B amp Polmar Norman 1986 Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904 1945 London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 396 6 Chesneau Roger ed 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 Hackett Bob Kingsepp Sander 2017 IJN Submarine RO 38 Tabular Record of Movement SENSUIKAN Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN s Submarines Combinedfleet com Retrieved 20 September 2020 Hackett Bob Sander Kingsepp 2003 Kaichu Type Sensuikan Combinedfleet com Retrieved 20 September 2020 Hashimoto Mochitsura 1954 Sunk The Story of the Japanese Submarine Fleet 1942 1945 Colegrave E H M translator London Cassell and Company ASIN B000QSM3L0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Japanese submarine Ro 38 amp oldid 1162234831, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
