The Type F submarines (F型潜水艦, F-gata Sensuikan) were medium Imperial Japanese Navy submarines in commission during the 1920s. They were Japan's first true seagoing submarines and the earliest Japanese submarines classified as "second-class" or "medium" submarines.
The Type F submarines were designed by the Italian firm Fiat-Laurenti and built under license by Kawasaki at Kobe, Japan.[1] The Type F submarines 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.
As built, Type F submarines had no deck gun, but soon after they were completed each of them had a 76.2 mm (3 in)/40 gun installed on her deck.[1] The Type F submarines 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] Because of their disappointing performance, they did not serve as the basis for any later Japanese submarine classes.[1]
Class variants
The Type F submarines were divided into two subclasses:
Type F1 (F1型（呂一型）, Ro-ichi-gata, Ro-1-class)
Type F2 (F2型（呂三型）, Ro-san-gata, Ro-3-class)
Type F1 (Ro-1-class)
Submarine No. 18 (left background) and Submarine No. 21 (foreground) in 1920. On 1 November 1924, they were renamed Ro-1 and Ro-2, respectively.
The F1 subclass was ordered under the 1915–1916 naval program.[1] Two were constructed between 1917 and 1920:[1][3][4]
Renamed Ro-2 on 1 November 1924. Stricken 1 April 1932.
Type F2 (Ro-3-class)
Submarine No. 33 at Sasebo, Japan, ca. 1922. She was renamed Ro-5 on 1 November 1924.
The F2 subclass (Ro-3-class) was ordered in 1918.[1] It was an improved version of the F1 subclass with a modified bridge.[1] The Fiatdiesel engines were unreliable and the F2 subclass′s top surface speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) was well below the intended 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph).[1] Additional F2 subclass units planned under the 1919 construction program were cancelled and replaced by the new Kaichū-type and Type L submarines.[1]
Three submarines of the F2 subclass were constructed between 1919 and 1922:[1][5][6][7]
^"RO-1 ex No-18". iijnsubsite.info. 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
^"RO-2 ex No-21". iijnsubsite.info. 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
^"RO-3 ex No-31". iijnsubsite.info. 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
^"RO-4 ex No-32". iijnsubsite.info. 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
^"RO-5 ex No-33". iijnsubsite.info. 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
Bibliography
Gray, Randal, ed., Conway′s All the World′s Fighting Ships 1906–1921, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN0 87021 907 3.
March 03, 2023
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The Type F submarines F型潜水艦 F gata Sensuikan were medium Imperial Japanese Navy submarines in commission during the 1920s They were Japan s first true seagoing submarines and the earliest Japanese submarines classified as second class or medium submarines Class overviewNameType F submarinesBuildersKawaski Kōbe JapanOperators Imperial Japanese NavyPreceded byNoneSucceeded byType L submarineSubclassesType F1 Ro 1 class Type F2 Ro 3 class Built1917 1922In commission1920 1932Completed5Retired5 Contents 1 Design and description 2 Class variants 2 1 Type F1 Ro 1 class 2 2 Type F2 Ro 3 class 3 Characteristics 4 References 5 BibliographyDesign and description EditThe Type F submarines were designed by the Italian firm Fiat Laurenti and built under license by Kawasaki at Kobe Japan 1 The Type F submarines 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 As built Type F submarines had no deck gun but soon after they were completed each of them had a 76 2 mm 3 in 40 gun installed on her deck 1 The Type F submarines 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 Because of their disappointing performance they did not serve as the basis for any later Japanese submarine classes 1 Class variants EditThe Type F submarines were divided into two subclasses Type F1 F1型 呂一型 Ro ichi gata Ro 1 class Type F2 F2型 呂三型 Ro san gata Ro 3 class Type F1 Ro 1 class Edit Submarine No 18 left background and Submarine No 21 foreground in 1920 On 1 November 1924 they were renamed Ro 1 and Ro 2 respectively The F1 subclass was ordered under the 1915 1916 naval program 1 Two were constructed between 1917 and 1920 1 3 4 Name Laid down Launched Completed Notes fateRo 1ex Submarine No 18 5 January 1917 28 July 1919 31 March 1920 Renamed Ro 1 on 1 November 1924 Stricken 1 April 1932 Ro 2ex Submarine No 21 1 July 1918 22 November 1919 20 April 1920 Renamed Ro 2 on 1 November 1924 Stricken 1 April 1932 Type F2 Ro 3 class Edit Submarine No 33 at Sasebo Japan ca 1922 She was renamed Ro 5 on 1 November 1924 The F2 subclass Ro 3 class was ordered in 1918 1 It was an improved version of the F1 subclass with a modified bridge 1 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 intended 17 knots 31 km h 20 mph 1 Additional F2 subclass units planned under the 1919 construction program were cancelled and replaced by the new Kaichu type and Type L submarines 1 Three submarines of the F2 subclass were constructed between 1919 and 1922 1 5 6 7 Name Laid down Launched Completed Notes fateRo 3ex Submarine No 31 28 October 1919 10 March 1921 15 July 1922 Renamed Ro 3 1 November 1924 Stricken 1 April 1932 Ro 4ex Submarine No 32 22 December 1919 22 June 1921 5 May 1922 Renamed Ro 4 1 November 1924 Stricken and hulked 1 April 1932 Ro 5ex Submarine No 33 1 March 1920 17 September 1921 9 March 1922 Renamed Ro 5 1 November 1924 Stricken and hulked 1 April 1932 Characteristics EditSources 1 Type F1 Ro 1 F2 Ro 3 Displacement Surfaced 689 long tons 700 t 689 long tons 700 t Submerged 1 047 long tons 1 064 t 1 047 long tons 1 064 t Length overall 65 6 m 215 ft 3 in 60 5 m 198 ft 6 in Beam 6 1 m 20 ft 0 in 6 1 m 20 ft 0 in Draft 4 2 m 13 ft 9 in 4 1 m 13 ft 5 in Power plant and shaft 2 Fiat diesel engines2 x Savigliano electric motors2 shafts 2 Fiat diesel engines2 x Savigliano electric motors2 shaftsPower Surfaced 2 800 bhp 2 100 kW 2 600 bhp 1 900 kW Submerged 1 200 shp 890 kW 1 200 shp 890 kW Speed Surfaced 13 kn 24 km h 15 mph 14 kn 26 km h 16 mph Submerged 8 kn 15 km h 9 2 mph 8 kn 15 km h 9 2 mph Range Surfaced 3 500 nmi 6 500 km at 10 kn 19 km h 12 mph 3 500 nmi 6 500 km at 10 kn 19 km h 12 mph Submerged 75 nmi 139 km at 4 kn 7 4 km h 4 6 mph 75 nmi 139 km at 4 kn 7 4 km h 4 6 mph Test depth 40 m 130 ft 40 m 130 ft Fuel 58 4 tons 58 4 tonsComplement 43 43Armament As built 5 450 mm 18 in torpedo tubes 3 bow 2 stern 8 Type 44 torpedoes 1 7 7 mm machine gunAdded after completion 1 x 76 2 mm 3 in deck gun 5 450 mm 18 in torpedo tubes 3 bow 2 stern 8 Type 44 torpedoes 1 7 7 mm machine gunAdded after completion 1 x 76 2 mm 3 in deck gunReferences Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Gray p 247 Gray p 245 RO 1 ex No 18 iijnsubsite info 2017 Retrieved 22 October 2020 RO 2 ex No 21 iijnsubsite info 2017 Retrieved 22 October 2020 RO 3 ex No 31 iijnsubsite info 2017 Retrieved 22 October 2020 RO 4 ex No 32 iijnsubsite info 2017 Retrieved 22 October 2020 RO 5 ex No 33 iijnsubsite info 2017 Retrieved 22 October 2020 Bibliography EditGray Randal ed Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press 1985 ISBN 0 87021 907 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Type F submarine amp oldid 1123556712, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
