Japanese submarine Ro-117
| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name | Submarine No. 408 |
| Builder | Kawasaki, Kobe, Japan |
| Laid down | 16 January 1943 |
| Renamed | Ro-117 on 5 July 1943 |
| Launched | 13 September 1943 |
| Completed | 31 January 1944 |
| Commissioned | 31 January 1944 |
| Fate | Sunk 17 June 1944 |
| Stricken | 10 August 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Ro-100-class submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 60.90 m (199 ft 10 in) overall |
| Beam | 6.00 m (19 ft 8 in) |
| Draft | 3.51 m (11 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Crew | 38 |
| Armament |
|
| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
Ro-117 was an Imperial Japanese Navy Ro-100-class submarine. Completed and commissioned in January 1944, she served in World War II and was sunk in June 1944 during her second war patrol.
Design and description
The Ro-100 class was a medium-sized, coastal submarine derived from the preceding Kaichū type. They displaced 611 tonnes (601 long tons) surfaced and 795 tonnes (782 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 60.9 meters (199 ft 10 in) long, had a beam of 6 meters (19 ft 8 in) and a draft of 3.51 meters (11 ft 6 in). They had a double hull and a diving depth of 75 meters (246 ft).[2]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 500-
The boats were armed with four internal bow 53.3 cm (21.0 in)
Construction and commissioning
Ro-117 was
Service history
Upon commissioning, Ro-117 was attached formally to the Yokosuka Naval District and was assigned to Submarine Squadron 11 for workups.[5]
First war patrol
Ro-117 got underway from Japan on 31 March 1944 along with the submarine
Second war patrol
On 4 May 1944, Ro-117 was reassigned to Submarine Division 51 in Submarine Squadron 7 in the 6th Fleet.[5] She departed Kure, Japan, on 15 May 1944, called at Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 24 to 26 May 1944, then proceeded to Truk, which she reached on 31 May 1944.[5]
Ro-117 got underway from Truk on 4 June 1944 for her second war patrol with orders to join a submarine patrol line north of
The Battle of Saipan began with U.S. landings on Saipan on 15 June 1944.[5] That day, the 6th Fleet ordered most of its submarines, including Ro-117, to withdraw from the Marianas.[5] On 16 June 1944, Ro-117 was ordered to join Patrol Unit C along with the submarines Ro-113, Ro-115, and Ro-116.[5] Ro-117 specifically was directed to patrol southeast of Tinian between the patrol areas of Ro-111 and Ro-113.[5]
Loss
In the predawn darkness of 17 June 1944, Ro-117 was on the surface 350 nautical miles (650 km; 400 mi) southeast of Saipan when an
Ro-117 was ordered to return to Truk on 22 June 1944 but did not respond.[5] On 12 July 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy declared her to be presumed lost off Saipan with all 55 men on board.[5] The Japanese struck her from the Navy list on 10 August 1944.[5]
Notes
- ^ a b "RO-117". IJN Submarine Service – Ijnsubsite.info. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ Carpenter & Dorr, p. 123
- ^ Chesneau, p. 204
- ^ Bagnasco, p. 193
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2017). "IJN Submarine RO-117: Tabular Record of Movement". combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 5 October 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 (2016). "IJN Submarine RO-117: Tabular Record of Movement". SENSUIKAN! Stories and Battle Histories of the IJN's Submarines. Combinedfleet.com. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
