View source for Japanese submarine Ro-23

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|Ship caption=
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=Japan
|Ship flag= {{Shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
|Ship name=''Submarine No. 41''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]], [[Yokosuka]], [[Japan]]
|Ship laid down=20 January 1921
|Ship launched=25 October 1921
|Ship completed=28 April 1923
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=28 April 1923
|Ship renamed=''Ro-23'' on 1&nbsp;November&nbsp;1924
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship struck=1 April 1935
|Ship fate=[[Hulk (ship)|Hulked]] 7 August 1935
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship renamed=''Hulk No. 3106'' on 7 August 1935
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[Kaichū type submarine]] (K3 subclass)
|Ship displacement=*{{Convert|740|LT|t|0|disp=flip}} surfaced
*{{Convert|997|LT|t|0|disp=flip}} submerged
|Ship length={{convert|70.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}} overall
|Ship beam= {{convert|6.12|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|3.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=*{{convert|2,900|bhp|lk=in|abbr=on}} (diesel)
*{{convert|1,200|hp|abbr=on}} ([[electric motor]])
|Ship propulsion=*[[Diesel-electric]]
*2 × [[Sulzer (manufacturer)|Sulzer]]&nbsp;Mark&nbsp;II [[diesel engine]], 75 tons fuel
*2 × electric motor
*2 x shafts
|Ship speed=*{{convert|16.5|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{convert|8.5|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=*{{convert|6,000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|85|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged
|Ship crew=46
|Ship test depth={{convert|45.7|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}
|Ship armament=*6 × {{convert|450|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (4 x [[Bow (ship)|bow]], 2 x external on upper deck)
*10 x [[Type 44 torpedo|Type 44]] [[torpedo]]es
*1 × [[8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun|{{convert|76.2|mm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}]] gun
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''''Ro-23''''', originally named '''''Submarine No. 41''''', was an [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] [[Kaichū type submarine|''Kaichū''-Type]] [[submarine]] of the ''Kaichū'' III subclass. She was commissioned in 1923 as the final unit of the ''Kaichu''' III subclass and operated in the waters of [[Japan]], [[Formosa]], and [[Korea under Japanese rule|Chōsen]] before she was stricken in 1935.

==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 {{convert|30|to|45.7|m|ft|sp=us|0}}.<ref name=gray>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.</ref> They [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{Convert|740|LT|t|0|disp=flip}} surfaced and {{Convert|997|LT|t|0|disp=flip}} submerged. The submarines were {{convert|70.10|m|ftin|sp=us}} long and had a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|6.12|m|ftin|sp=us}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|3.70|m|ftin|sp=us}}.

For surface running, the submarines were powered by two {{convert|1,450|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} [[Sulzer (manufacturer)|Sulzer]] Mark II [[diesel engine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]]. When submerged each propeller was driven by a {{convert|600|hp|0|adj=on}} [[electric motor]]. They could reach {{convert|16.5|kn|lk=in|0}} on the surface and {{convert|8.5|kn}} underwater. On the surface, they had a range of {{convert|6,000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}}; submerged, they had a range of {{convert|85|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}}.

The submarines were armed with six {{convert|450|mm|in|0|abbr=on|sp=us}} [[torpedo tube]]s, four internal tubes in the [[Bow (ship)|bow]] and two external tubes mounted on the upper deck, and carried a total of ten [[Type 44 torpedo|Type 44]] [[torpedo]]es. They were also armed with a single [[8 cm/40 3rd Year Type naval gun|{{convert|76.2|mm|in|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}]] deck gun mounted aft of the [[conning tower]].<ref name=gray/>

==Construction and commissioning==

''Ro-23'' was [[Keel-laying|laid down]] as '''''Submarine No. 41''''' on 20 January 1921 by the [[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]] at [[Yokosuka]], [[Japan]].<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23>{{cite web |url= http://www.ijnsubsite.info/RO-Sub%20Details/RO-23.htm |title=RO-23 ex No-41|first1= |last1= |work=iijnsubsite.info |year=2016|accessdate=14 October 2020}}</ref> [[Ceremonial ship launching|Launched]] on 25 October 1921,<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23/> she was completed and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 28&nbsp;April&nbsp;1923<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23/> as the final submarine of the ''Kaichu'' III subclass.

==Service history==

Upon commissioning, ''Submarine No. 41'' was attached to the [[Sasebo Naval District]], to which she remained attached throughout her career.<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23/> On 15 June 1923, she was assigned to Submarine Division 22 and to the [[Sasebo Defense Division]],<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23/> and on 1 November 1924 she was renamed '''''Ro-23'''''.<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23/> On 1 December 1924, Submarine Division 22 was reassigned to the [[Chinkai]] Defense Division on the southern coast of [[Korea under Japanese rule|Chōsen]].<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23/>  Submarine Division 22 returned to the Sasebo Defense Division on 1 December 1925, serving in it until 15 November 1934,<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23/> and thereafter operated directly under the control of the Sasebo Naval District.<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23/>

''Ro-23'' was stricken from the Navy list on 1 April 1935.<ref name=ijnsubsiteRo23/> She was [[Hulk (ship)|hulked]] on 7 August 1935 and renamed ''Hulk No. 3106.''

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
*''{{cite web |url=http://rekigun.net/ |title=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

{{Kaichū type submarine}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ro-023}}
[[Category:Ro-16-class submarines]]
[[Category:Kaichū type submarines]]
[[Category:Ships built by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]]
[[Category:1921 ships]]