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RO-35 & RO-36
KG Type
The Kaichu type submarines
were double-hulled medium sized submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
during World War II. They were derived from the Kaigun-shiki Tyuugata
submarine (KT).
These ships were based closely
on the K5 class. As almost the entire force of RO submarines was obsolete by
1940, this class was an attempt to fill the shortage of medium submarines.
The first of the class was laid down in October 1941; ten were completed in
1943, with the final eight finished in 1944. The increase in size from the
K5 translated into greater range as more fuel could be carried.
Additionally, more powerful diesel engines were fitted and the submarine's
operating depth was improved. These were the last RO boats built. Many other
projected units in this class were canceled after they proved alarmingly
vulnerable to US antisubmarine forces.
Armament: Four 21-in. bow
torpedo tubes and ten torpedoes; no guns were originally planned, but during
construction a 3-in. deck gun and a twin 25mm cannon were added. These were
the first RO boats capable of firing the Type 95 torpedo.
War service: The K6 class
epitomized the wartime failure of the Imperial Navy's submarine force.
Despite being well designed and fairly maneuverable and generally considered
to be among the best of Japanese submarine designs, all but one (RO-50) were
destroyed by war's end. Of these, 13 were sunk by surface ships, two by air
attack (one by an acoustic torpedo) and two went missing. In exchange, the
K6 boats succeeded in sinking a single destroyer escort, an 800-ton
(726-tonne) yard oiler, and possibly a tank landing ship while damaging an
attack transport. Most of the units in this class never even reported
attacking the enemy, an utter condemnation of the over-cautious nature of
their skippers. Their dismal record showed the futility of sending
submarines to attack US fleet forces and the unsuitability of using
submarines to defend islands against amphibious attack.
K7 Type:
- RO-35
- RO-36
- RO-37
- RO-38
- RO-39
- RO-40
- RO-41
- RO-42
- RO-43
- RO-44
- RO-45
- RO-46
- RO-47
- RO-48
- RO-49
- RO-50
- RO-55
- RO-56
Name |
RO-35
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RO-36 |
Builder |
Mitsubishi, Kobe |
Mitsubishi, Kobe |
Laid down |
1941.Oct. 9 |
1942. Mar. 7 |
Launch |
1942. Jun. 4 |
1942.Oct.14 |
Complete |
1943. Mar.25 |
1943. May.27 |
Fate |
1943. Aug. 25 sunk
(action, near Espiritu Santo)
[12.57S, 164.23E] |
1944. Jun.13 sunk
(action, E of Saipan)
[15.21N, 147E]
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Technical specification:
Displacement |
960t standard, 1115t surface, 1447t
submerged |
Length |
76.50m pp, 79.00m wl, 80.50m oa |
Width |
7.05m |
Draught |
4.07m |
Machinery |
2-shaft diesel and electric motor,
4200bhp surface, 1200shp submerged |
Speed |
19.7kt surface, 8kt submerged |
Armament |
4-53cm TT, with a total of 10
torpedoes carried 1-8cm/40cal AA gun,
2-25mm AA |
Complement |
54 |
Building the model of RO-35 & RO-36:
The building of the model kit was mostly straight
forward, as the quality of the Pit Road models is high. I used the PE-set's
from Tom's model Work's and IJN crew from Eduard (the box contains 2
submarines as well as 2 mini subs. Please
see the warship main site) The most challenged and also rewarding phase
was the weathering of the hulls.
The scratch building on the kit is:
Collapsible mainmast on the foredeck
(0.3mm) silver wire. Rigging made by invisible tread painted with very
thin layer of grey. The "balls" on the wires is added with thicker
layers of paint (radio wire and insulators). The twin 25mm AA guns is
from the kit too, but their mounts were sanded down to a narrower beam and
two seats were added (made from 0.5mm wire).
This was a enjoyable model kit to assemble. I
was pleased with the choice of adding a full hull option to the waterline
kit, and the pictures show, you will have more display and photo
opportunities
with the kit. The last two pictures of the models are the background painted
in Photo Shop to show the units underwater.
Reference:
Books
form my own library :
 |
Japanese Naval Warship Photo Album Submarines and depot ships
from
Diamond Sha books.
(Pictures) |
 |
Submarines of the
Imperial Japanese Navy 1904-1945 from
Conway Maritime press
(Pictures and history) |
|
Imperial Japanese
Navy Submarines 1941-45 from
Osprey publishing
(Pictures and history) |
The
building time was 4 days.
Mar.
2009
If
you have any questions, remarks or things you will share, please don't
hesitate to contact me.
Aeronautic.
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