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Kaichū type submarine
Class of WW2-era Japanese submarines From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Kaichū type submarine (海中型潜水艦, Kaichū-gata sensuikan) submarines were double-hulled medium-sized submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The name was derived from the Kaigun-shiki Chū-gata Sensuikan (海軍式中型潜水艦, Navy Medium Type submarine).
Several variants existed. From 1934 to 1944, the K6 type (Ro-33 Class) and the K7 type (Senchū, Ro-35 Class) were built. They were equipped with a 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 gun and four 53 cm torpedo tubes for ten type 95 Long Lance torpedoes.
Most of these submarines were destroyed in combat, suffering from Allied anti-submarine warfare measures, and only Ro-50 survived the war.
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Class variants
Summarize
Perspective
The Kaichū type submarines were divided into seven classes:
- Kaichū I (海中1型（呂一一型）, Kaichū-ichi-gata, Ro-11-class)
- Kaichū II (海中2型（呂一三型）, Kaichū-ni-gata, Ro-13-class)
- Kaichū III (海中3型（呂一六型）, Kaichū-san-gata, Ro-16-class)
- Kaichū IV (海中4型（呂二六型）, Kaichū-yon-gata, Ro-26-class)
- Toku-Chū/Kaichū V (特中型/海中5型（呂二九型）, Toku-Chū-gata/Kaichū-go-gata, Ro-29-class)
- Kaichū VI (海中6型（呂三三型）, Kaichū-roku-gata, Ro-33-class)
- Sen-Chū/Kaichū VII (潜中型/海中7型（呂三五型）, Sen-Chū-gata/Kaichū-nana-gata, Ro-35-class)
Kaichū I (Ro-11 class)
Project number S7. In 1910s, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) bought a license of Schneider-Laubeuf design submarine. The IJN used the design as model and built the S Type (Schneider Type) submarine, the Ha-9 and Ha-10. The Kaichū I is the submarine which jumboized the S Type submarines.
- Boats in class
Kaichū II (Ro-13 class)
Project number S18. The Kaichū II had an increased range compared with the Kaichū I, and the turning torpedo tubes were removed.
- Boats in class
Kaichū III (Ro-16 class)
Project number S18. Their project number was the same as in the Kaichū II type submarine, however their performance was improved.
- Boats in class
Kaichū IV (Ro-26 class)
Project number S18A. Improved model from the Kaichū III type.
- Boats in class
Kaichū V (Toku-Chū, Ro-29 class)
Project number S18B. They were built for the commerce raiding role. The IJN official designation of these boats was Special Purpose-Medium Type submarine (特中型潜水艦, Toku-Chū-gata sensuikan).
- Boats in class
Kaichū VI (Ro-33 class)
Project number S30. They were planned as a prototype for a mass production submarines in the wartime under the Maru 1 Programme.
- Boats in class
Kaichū VII (Sen-Chū, Ro-35 class)
Project number S44. The final design in the Kaichū series. They were equipped with a Freon air-conditioner, because the IJN took into consideration that they were to be active on the equator area too. The official IJN designation of these boats was Medium Type submarine (中型潜水艦, Chū-gata sensuikan), also called for short, Medium Type (中型, Chū-gata) or Submarine-Medium Type (潜中型, Sen-Chū-gata).
The IJN planned to build these boats under the following Naval Armaments Supplement Programmes:
- 9 boats in the Maru Rin Programme (Boat # 201 - 209)
- 12 boats in the Maru Kyū Programme (Boat # 385 - 396)
- 15 boats in the Maru Tui Programme (Boat # 640 - 654)
- 43 boats in the Kai-Maru 5 Programme (Boat # 5181 - 5223)
However some of the boats were cancelled and their naval budgets, materials and staffs were transferred to the I-201 class submarines.
- Boats in class
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Characteristics
| Type | Kaichū I (Ro-11) | Kaichū II (Ro-13) | Kaichū III (Ro-16) | Kaichū IV (Ro-26) | |
| Displacement | Surfaced | 720 long tons (732 t) | 740 long tons (752 t) | 740 long tons (752 t) | 750 long tons (762 t) |
| Submerged | 1,000 long tons (1,016 t) | 1,003.1 long tons (1,019 t) | 997 long tons (1,013 t) | 1,080 long tons (1,097 t) | |
| Length (overall) | 69.19 m (227 ft 0 in) | 70.10 m (230 ft 0 in) | 70.10 m (230 ft 0 in) | 74.22 m (243 ft 6 in) | |
| Beam | 6.35 m (20 ft 10 in) | 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in) | 6.12 m (20 ft 1 in) | 6.12 m (20 ft 1 in) | |
| Draft | 3.43 m (11 ft 3 in) | 3.68 m (12 ft 1 in) | 3.70 m (12 ft 2 in) | 3.73 m (12 ft 3 in) | |
| Power plant and shaft | 2 × Sulzer Mk.2 diesels 2 shafts |
2 × Sulzer Mk.2 diesels 2 shafts |
2 × Sulzer Mk.2 diesels 2 shafts |
2 × Sulzer Mk.2 diesels 2 shafts | |
| Power | Surfaced | 2,900 bhp | 2,900 bhp | 2,900 bhp | 2,900 bhp |
| Submerged | 1,200 shp | 1,200 shp | 1,200 shp | 1,200 shp | |
| Speed | Surfaced | 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h) | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h) | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h) | 16.0 knots (29.6 km/h) |
| Submerged | 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h) | 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h) | 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h) | 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h) | |
| Range | Surfaced | 4,000 nmi (7,400 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Submerged | 85 nmi (157 km) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h) | 85 nmi (157 km) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h) | 85 nmi (157 km) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h) | 85 nmi (157 km) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h) | |
| Test depth | 30 m (98 ft) | 30 m (98 ft) | 45.7 m (150 ft) | 45.7 m (150 ft) | |
| Fuel | 58.4 tons | 75 tons | 75 tons | 75 tons | |
| Complement | 43 | 43 | 46 | 46 | |
| Armament (initial) | • 6 × 450 mm (18 in) TTs (4 × front, 2 × turret) • 10 × Type 44 torpedoes • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/23.5 5th Year Type AA gun |
• 6 × 450 mm (18 in) TTs (4 × front, 2 × upper deck) • 10 × Type 44 torpedoes • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/23.5 5th Year Type AA gun |
• 6 × 450 mm (18 in) TTs (4 × front, 2 × upper deck) • 10 × Type 44 torpedoes • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/23.5 5th Year Type AA gun |
• 4 × 533 mm (21 in) TTs (4 × front) • 8 × 6th Year Type torpedoes • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/23.5 5th Year Type AA gun | |
| Type | Kaichū V (Ro-29) | Kaichū VI (Ro-33) | Kaichū VII (Ro-35) | |
| Displacement | Surfaced | 852 long tons (866 t) | 700 long tons (711 t) | 960 long tons (975 t) |
| Submerged | 1,030 long tons (1,047 t) | 1,200 long tons (1,219 t) | 1,447 long tons (1,470 t) | |
| Length (overall) | 74.22 m (243 ft 6 in) | 73.00 m (239 ft 6 in) | 80.50 m (264 ft 1 in) | |
| Beam | 6.12 m (20 ft 1 in) | 6.70 m (22 ft 0 in) | 7.05 m (23 ft 2 in) | |
| Draft | 3.73 m (12 ft 3 in) | 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in) | 4.07 m (13 ft 4 in) | |
| Power plant and shaft | 2 × Sulzer Mk.1 diesels 2 shafts |
2 × Kampon Mk.21 Model 8 diesels 2 shafts |
2 × Kampon Mk.22 Model 10 diesels 2 shafts | |
| Power | Surfaced | 1,200 bhp | 3,000 bhp | 4,200 bhp |
| Submerged | 1,200 shp | 1,200 shp | 1,200 shp | |
| Speed | Surfaced | 13.0 knots (24.1 km/h) | 19.0 knots (35.2 km/h) | 19.8 knots (36.7 km/h) |
| Submerged | 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h) | 8.2 knots (15.2 km/h) | 8.0 knots (14.8 km/h) | |
| Range | Surfaced | 6,000 nmi (11,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h) | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h) |
| Submerged | 85 nmi (157 km) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h) | 90 nmi (170 km) at 3.5 knots (6.5 km/h) | 45 nmi (83 km) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h) | |
| Test depth | 45.7 m (150 ft) | 75 m (246 ft) | 80 m (260 ft) | |
| Fuel | 143 tons | 109 tons | 218 tons | |
| Complement | 44 | 61 | 61 | |
| Armament (initial) | • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) TTs (4 × front) • 8 × 6th Year Type torpedoes • 1 × 120 mm (4.7 in) L/45 11th Year Type Naval gun • 1 × 6.5 mm machine gun |
• 4 × 533 mm (21 in) TTs (4 × front) • 8 × Type 89 torpedoes • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 11th Year Type AA gun • 1 × 13.2 mm (0.52 in) Type 93 AA gun |
• 4 × 533 mm (21 in) TTs (4 × front) • 10 × Type 95 torpedoes • 1 × 76.2 mm (3.00 in) L/40 11th Year Type AA gun • 2 × Type 96 25mm AA guns | |
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Bibliography
- "Rekishi Gunzō"., History of Pacific War Vol.17 I-Gō Submarines, Gakken (Japan), January 1998, ISBN 4-05-601767-0
- Rekishi Gunzō, History of Pacific War Extra, "Perfect guide, The submarines of the Imperial Japanese Forces", Gakken (Japan), March 2005, ISBN 4-05-603890-2
- The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.43 Japanese Submarines III, Ushio Shobō (Japan), September 1980, Book code 68343-44
- The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.132 Japanese Submarines I "Revised edition", Ushio Shobō (Japan), February 1988, Book code 68344-36
- The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.133 Japanese Submarines II "Revised edition", Ushio Shobō (Japan), March 1988, Book code 68344-37
- The Maru Special, Japanese Naval Vessels No.135 Japanese Submarines IV, Ushio Shobō (Japan), May 1988, Book code 68344-39
References
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