Japanese submarine Ro-38
History | |
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Japan | |
Name | Submarine No. 204 |
Builder | Mitsubishi, Kobe, Japan |
Laid down | 20 June 1942 |
Renamed | Ro-38 on 1 November 1942 |
Launched | 24 December 1942 |
Completed | 24 July 1943 |
Commissioned | 24 July 1943 |
Fate |
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Stricken | 30 April 1944 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Kaichū type submarine (K6 subclass) |
Displacement |
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Length | 80.5 m (264 ft 1 in) overall |
Beam | 7 m (23 ft 0 in) |
Draft | 4.07 m (13 ft 4 in) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion |
|
Speed |
|
Range |
|
Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
Crew | 61 |
Armament |
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Ro-38 was an Imperial Japanese Navy Kaichū 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.
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-
The boats were armed with four internal bow 53.3 cm (21.0 in)
Construction and commissioning
Ro-38 was
Service history
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
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
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-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.