Kaisho Type

(Scanned from "Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy" by Polmar and Carpenter)

Medium submarine RO-109.

The Kaisho (KS) Type (RO-100 class) submarines were originally designed as coastal defense boats. Even so, had they been used as commerce raiders, they may have been successful, but the IJN chose instead to employ them against heavily screened warships against which they were largely ineffective. The USS ENGLAND (DE-635) accounted for five of these boats, while the USS TAYLOR (DD 468) and the USS BATFISH *SS-310) each accounted for two others.

Units 18 (none survived)
Ships RO-100, RO-101, RO-102, RO-103, RO-104, RO-105, RO-106, RO-107, RO-108, RO-109, RO-110, RO-111, RO-112, RO-113, RO-114, RO-115, RO-116 and RO-117
Year(s) Completed 1942 - 1944
Displacement 601 tons / 782 tons
Dimensions 199.75 ft x 19.5 ft x 11.5 ft
Machinery 2 diesels: 1,000 hp

2 electric motors: 760 hp

Speed 14.25 knots / 8 knots
Range 3,500 nm @ 12 knots
Armament 4 x533mm TT fwd + 1x76mm (8 Torpedoes)
Max. Depth 75 m (245 feet)
Crew 38 officers and men