History
Japan
NameSubmarine No. 34
BuilderKure Naval Arsenal, Kure, Japan
Laid down24 September 1920
Launched24 February 1921
Completed20 October 1921
Commissioned20 October 1921
RenamedRo-17 on 1 November 1924
Stricken1 April 1936
General characteristics
Class and typeKaichū type submarine (K3 subclass)
Displacement
  • 752 tonnes (740 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,013 tonnes (997 long tons) submerged
Length70.10 m (230 ft 0 in) overall
Beam6.12 m (20 ft 1 in)
Draft3.70 m (12 ft 2 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed
  • 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) surfaced
  • 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) submerged
Range
  • 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 85 nmi (157 km; 98 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth45.7 m (150 ft)
Crew46
Armament

Ro-17, originally named Submarine No. 34, was an Imperial Japanese Navy Kaichū-Type submarine of the Kaichū III subclass. She was commissioned in 1921 and operated in the waters of Japan. She was stricken in 1936.

Design and description

The submarines of the Kaichu III sub-class were a slightly improved version of the preceding Kaichu II subclass, the man difference being an increase in diving depth from 30 to 45.7 meters (98 to 150 ft).[1] They displaced 752 tonnes (740 long tons) surfaced and 1,013 tonnes (997 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 70.10 meters (230 ft 0 in) long and had a beam of 6.12 meters (20 ft 1 in) and a draft of 3.70 meters (12 ft 2 in).

For surface running, the submarines were powered by two 1,450-brake-horsepower (1,081 kW) Sulzer Mark II diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 600-horsepower (447 kW) electric motor. They could reach 16.5 knots (31 km/h; 19 mph) on the surface and 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) underwater. On the surface, they had a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph); submerged, they had a range of 85 nmi (157 km; 98 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).

The submarines were armed with six 450 mm (18 in) torpedo tubes, four internal tubes in the bow and two external tubes mounted on the upper deck, and carried a total of ten Type 44 torpedoes. They were also armed with a single 76.2 mm (3.00 in) deck gun mounted aft of the conning tower.[1]

Construction and commissioning

Ro-17 was laid down as Submarine No. 34 on 24 September 1920 by the Kure Naval Arsenal at Kure, Japan.[2] Launched on 24 February 1921,[2] she was completed and commissioned on 20 October 1921.[2]

Service history

Upon commissioning, Submarine No. 34 was assigned to the Kure Naval District.[2] She was reassigned to Submarine Division 16 in Submarine Squadron 1 in the 1st Fleet on 20 December 1921.[2] Submarine Division 16 was reassigned to Submarine Squadron 2 in the 2nd Fleet on 1 December 1922.[2] On 3 March 1923, an explosion attributed to a build-up of hydrogen gas occurred aboard Submarine No. 34, killing one man and injuring several others.[3]

Submarine Division 16 was reassigned to the Kure Naval District — in which it remained for the rest of Submarine No. 34′s active career — on 1 December 1923.[2] In the years that followed, Submarine No. 34 was renamed Ro-17 on 1 November 1924,[2] and Submarine Division 16 served in the Kure Defense Division from 10 December 1928 to 15 November 1934.[2] Ro-17 was stricken from the Navy list on 1 April 1936.[2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Gray, Randal, ed., Conway′s All the World′s Fighting Ships 1906–1921, Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1985, ISBN 0 87021 907 3, p. 248.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "RO-17 ex No-34". iijnsubsite.info. 2018. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  3. ↑ Airship Investigation: Report of Col. Henry Breckenridge, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1933, p. 55.

References

  • "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
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