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]
Submarine No. 645 was laid down on 2 December 1943 by Mitsui Zosensho at Tamano, Japan, with the provisional name Ro-75.[4] She had been renamed Ro-56 — the second submarine of that name — by the time she was launched on 5 July 1944.[4] She was completed and commissioned on 15 November 1944.[4]
Service historyEdit
Upon commissioning, Ro-56 was attached to the Maizuru Naval District and assigned to Submarine Squadron 11 for workups.[4] She was reassigned to Submarine Division 34 in the 6th Fleet on 10 February 1945.[4] She arrived at Saeki, Japan, on 16 March 1945.[4]
First war patrolEdit
On 18 March 1945, Ro-56 departed Saeki to begin her first war patrol, ordered to operate southwest of Kyushu along with the submarines I-8, Ro-41, and Ro-49.[4] She reported on 22 March 1945 that she had reached her patrol area.[4] While she was at sea, the Battle of Okinawa began with the U.S. landings on Okinawa on 1 April 1945.[4]
The submarine Monssen and Mertz sank probably was Ro-56.[4] On 15 April 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy declared her to be presumed lost off Okinawa with all 79 men on board.[4] The Japanese struck her from the Navy list on 25 May 1945.[4]
Some accounts claim that the U.S. submarine USS Sea Owl(SS-405) sank Ro-56 northeast of Wake Island on 18 April 1945,[4] but Ro-56 never operated near Wake. The submarine Sea Owl attacked was I-372 — and I-372 survived the attack.[4]
^ abcdefghijklmnopqHackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2017). "IJN Submarine RO-56: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 26 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-56: Tabular Record of Movement". SENSUIKAN! Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's Submarines. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 26 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 26, 2023
japanese, submarine, 1944, other, submarines, named, japanese, submarine, second, imperial, japanese, navy, kaichū, type, submarine, class, completed, commissioned, november, 1944, served, world, sunk, during, first, patrol, april, 1945, historyjapannamero, 75. For other submarines named Ro 56 see Japanese submarine Ro 56 The second Ro 56 was an Imperial Japanese Navy Kaichu type submarine of the K6 sub class Completed and commissioned in November 1944 she served in World War II and was sunk during her first war patrol in April 1945 HistoryJapanNameRo 75BuilderMitsui Zosensho Tamano JapanLaid down2 December 1943RenamedRo 56Launched5 July 1944Completed15 November 1944Commissioned15 November 1944FateSunk 9 April 1945Stricken25 May 1945General 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 3 1 First war patrol 3 2 Loss 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 EditSubmarine No 645 was laid down on 2 December 1943 by Mitsui Zosensho at Tamano Japan with the provisional name Ro 75 4 She had been renamed Ro 56 the second submarine of that name by the time she was launched on 5 July 1944 4 She was completed and commissioned on 15 November 1944 4 Service history EditUpon commissioning Ro 56 was attached to the Maizuru Naval District and assigned to Submarine Squadron 11 for workups 4 She was reassigned to Submarine Division 34 in the 6th Fleet on 10 February 1945 4 She arrived at Saeki Japan on 16 March 1945 4 First war patrol Edit On 18 March 1945 Ro 56 departed Saeki to begin her first war patrol ordered to operate southwest of Kyushu along with the submarines I 8 Ro 41 and Ro 49 4 She reported on 22 March 1945 that she had reached her patrol area 4 While she was at sea the Battle of Okinawa began with the U S landings on Okinawa on 1 April 1945 4 Loss Edit On 9 April 1945 the United States Navy destroyers USS Monssen DD 798 and USS Mertz DD 691 were escorting the aircraft carriers of Task Force 58 45 nautical miles 83 km 52 mi west of Okinawa when Monssen detected a submerged submarine on sonar at a range of 900 yards 820 m 4 Monssen dropped three patterns of depth charges after which Mertz joined the attack and dropped another three patterns 4 Monssen then made two more depth charge attacks sinking the submarine at 26 09 N 130 21 E 26 150 N 130 350 E 26 150 130 350 Ro 56 4 The submarine Monssen and Mertz sank probably was Ro 56 4 On 15 April 1945 the Imperial Japanese Navy declared her to be presumed lost off Okinawa with all 79 men on board 4 The Japanese struck her from the Navy list on 25 May 1945 4 Some accounts claim that the U S submarine USS Sea Owl SS 405 sank Ro 56 northeast of Wake Island on 18 April 1945 4 but Ro 56 never operated near Wake The submarine Sea Owl attacked was I 372 and I 372 survived the attack 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 Hackett Bob Kingsepp Sander 2017 IJN Submarine RO 56 Tabular Record of Movement combinedfleet com Retrieved 26 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 56 Tabular Record of Movement SENSUIKAN Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN s Submarines Combinedfleet com Retrieved 26 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 56 1944 amp oldid 1165600321, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
