Japanese submarine Ro-55 (1944)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name | Submarine No 396 |
| Builder | Mitsui Zosensho, Tamano, Japan |
| Laid down | 5 August 1943 |
| Launched | 23 April 1944 |
| Renamed | Ro-55 on 23 April 1944 |
| Completed | 30 September 1944 |
| Commissioned | 30 September 1944 |
| Fate | Sunk 7 February 1945 |
| Stricken | 10 May 1945 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Kaichū type submarine (K6 subclass) |
| Displacement |
|
| 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 |
|
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.
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]
