HIJMS RO-100 (Kaisho / Type KS)

History

Development and production of the RO-100 series of Japanese submarines (sometimes called "Kaisho" or "small" or simply "KS") began in earnest in the 1940s. These ships (eighteen in total) were designed as short-range coastal submarines, originally tasked with protecting their own shores, but their range of service expanded as the needs of the Empire's voyages expanded.

The RO-100 was built with several design flaws that would ultimately reduce the type's performance by greatly limiting its ability to counter Allied fire, either from sea or from the air. Surprisingly, none of the 18 RO-100 class submarines survived until the end of the war due to apparent design flaws, with most falling prey to attacks by Allied aircraft rather than naval ships.

The RO-100 series are classified as coastal submarines - and are designed so - that the RO-100 series has a total operating depth of only 245 feet. In addition, the model carried a total of only eight 533mm torpedoes, which were fired from four launch tubes located in the bow. The 76mm deck gun is almost always removed.

Power is produced by a 1,100-horsepower ground-level diesel engine and a 760-horsepower electric motor driving two axles. The fairly small interior provides space for up to 38 sailors and officers.

As the Empire expanded, there was a growing demand for the RO-100 class, which often forced them to fight in deep water against armored targets they never intended to encounter. The system, however, remained effective at sea against simple merchant ships, but when the RO-100 class was called upon to fight heavily armed American destroyers operating in Pacific waters, it became a David and Goliath scenario.

As the war progressed, this became increasingly the norm. As a result, casualties of this type were heavy, many sunk from the air, and a few were sunk by a US Navy destroyer (HMS England to be precise). The RO-100 class also helps with its notoriously poor handling.

The RO-35 (Type K6) appeared in production alongside the RO-100 as a larger (and improved) variant of the basic RO-100 stage. Only one KO-35 survived the war, and no fewer than 60 instances of this type were eliminated before production began.

RO-106 is believed to have sank the LST-342 landing ship off the coast of New Georgia, while RO-108 is believed to have sank the USS Henry off the coast of New Guinea, both operations taking place in 1943. In addition, the class The Allied cargo responsible for the sinking totaled 35,200 tons.

Production of the KO-100 takes place at Kure Naval Shipyard in Kobe and Kawasaki Shipyard.

Specification

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing