Japanese submarine Ro-55 (1944)

The second Ro-55 was an Imperial Japanese Navy Kaichū type submarine of the K6 sub-class. Completed and commissioned in September 1944, she served in World War II and was sunk during her first war patrol in February 1945.

For other submarines named Ro-55, see Japanese submarine Ro-55.
History
Japan
NameSubmarine No 396
BuilderMitsui Zosensho, Tamano, Japan
Laid down5 August 1943
Launched23 April 1944
RenamedRo-55 on 23 April 1944
Completed30 September 1944
Commissioned30 September 1944
FateSunk 7 February 1945
Stricken10 May 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeKaichū type submarine (K6 subclass)
Displacement
  • 1,133 tonnes (1,115 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,470 tonnes (1,447 long tons) submerged
Length80.5 m (264 ft 1 in) overall
Beam7 m (23 ft 0 in)
Draft4.07 m (13 ft 4 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed
  • 19.75 knots (36.58 km/h; 22.73 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 5,000 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) submerged
Test depth80 m (260 ft)
Crew61
Armament

Design and description

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]

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

Ro-55 was laid down as Submarine No. 396 on 5 August 1943 by Mitsui Zosensho at Tamano, Japan.[4] She was launched on 23 April 1944 and was renamed Ro-55 that day, the second Japanese submarine of that name.[4] She was completed and commissioned on 30 September 1944.[4]

Service history

Upon commissioning, Ro-55 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 4 January 1945.[4]

First war patrol

On 27 January 1945, Ro-55 departed Kure, Japan, to begin her first war patrol, assigned a patrol area in the South China Sea west of Mindoro in the Philippine Islands.[4] While in the Philippine Sea east of Luzon on 2 February 1945, she reported that Allied aircraft had attacked her and that she would reach her patrol area five days late.[4] The Japanese never heard from her again.[4]

Loss

After dark on 7 February 1945, the United States Navy destroyer escort USS Thomason (DE-203) detected a surfaced submarine on radar while escorting a Leyte Gulf-bound Allied convoy off Iba, Luzon. As she closed the range, the submarine submerged, and at 23:30 Thomason began attacks against it, firing 24-projectile Hedgehog barrages that sank the submarine at 15°27′N 119°25′E.[4]

The submarine Thomason sank probably was Ro-55.[4] On 1 March 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy declared her to be presumed lost off the Philippine Islands with all 80 men on board.[4] The Japanese struck her from the Navy list on 10 May 1945.[4]

Notes
  1. Carpenter & Dorr, p. 124
  2. Bagnasco, p. 187
  3. Chesneau, p. 203
  4. Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2017). "IJN Submarine RO-55: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 26 September 2020.

References
  • Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
  • Carpenter, Dorr B. & 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-55: 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.
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