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| IJN Type L4-class submarine RO-60-class submarine 988 Tons (surfaced) 1,301 Tons (submerged) 257' 2" x 24' 4" x 13' 6 x 533mm torpedo tubes in the bow with 12 torpedoes 1 x 76.2mm L/40 deck gun 1 x 6.5mm MG  IJN c1923-1924  Howson 2004 |
Sub History Built Mitsubishi Yard in Kobe, Japan. Laid down December 5, 1921 as a Type L4-class submarine. Launched December 22, 1922 as Submarine No. 59. Completed and commissioned September 17, 1923 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of LtCdr Sugao Yokoyama assigned to the Sasebo Naval District. On November 1, 1924 redesignated Ro-60-class and renamed RO-60. On July 15, 1941 placed under the command of LtCdr Yasuo Fujimori. On December 6, 1941 at Kwajalein Atoll with Submarine Division 26 (SubDiv 26), SubRon 7, 4th Fleet with RO-61 and RO-62. Wartime History On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War, placed on standby alert. On December 12, 1941 departs Kwajalein Atoll bound for Wake Atoll to reinforce the Wake Occupation Group. On December 21, 1941 roughly 25 miles southwest of Wake Atoll spotted on the surface by F4F-3 Wildcat pilot 2nd Lt David D. Kliewer from Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF-211) strafes and drops two 100 pound bombs that damage the periscope and holed several of the diving tanks and crash dives to escape. Kliewer claimed the submarine as sunk but in fact it had only crash dived and later earned the Silver Star for his attack. At night, surfaces for a hull inspect and LtCdr Fujimori decides the submarine can no longer safely dive. On December 23, 1941 after the U.S. garrison at Wake Atoll surrenders, depart bound for Kwajalein Atoll. Sinking History On December 29, 1941 at 2:00am due to bad weather lost her position and accidentally ran hard aground on a coral reef coral reef in the Northern Atoll of Kwajalein Atoll at roughly Lat 09°00'N, Long 167°30'E. The submarine suffers more damage including damage to the pressure hull and the starboard dive tanks are split open. At 1:00pm submarine tender Jingei arrives to inspect the damage and supervise the rescue and attempts to save the submarine but due to heavy surf further damage is inflicted and her list increases and RO-60 is abandoned after secret documents are destroyed. Officially removed from the Navy list on January 15, 1942. Rescue The entire crew of 66 were rescued by Jingei and transported to Kwajalein Atoll. Shipwreck Later in the Pacific War, the torpedoes aboard explode splitting the hull into two pieces. It is unclear if this was deliberately caused by the Japanese to demolish the submarine or due to strafing by U.S. planes during air raids against Kwajalein Atoll or as a strafing target after American forces occupied the area in early February 1944. Around the submarine are numerous .50 caliber bullets from strafing. The wreckage of this submarine is strewn atop a coral reef. The forward section is detached and is roughly 200 yards ahead of the stern. The conning tower is 150 yards from the forward section. The deck gun is 560 yards away from the conning tower. Over the decades, many bronze artifacts including gauges and tools were removed by visitors. The aft section is against the reef. The wooden deck is still partially intact, but the interior of the stern is hard to penetrate due to waves. During June, many aggressive sharks can be found around the submarine and reef. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Japanese Submarine Casualties in World War Two (I and RO Boats) "29 Dec RO-60 (Takizawa) Wrecked on reef Kwajalein" Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) United States Navy at War page 56 "RO-60 Sunk 29 December 1941 at Kwajalein by grounding" Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Interrogations of Japanese Officials - Vols. I & II United States Strategic Bombing Survey [Pacific] page 465 (Page 465) "Interrogation of: Commander Fujimori... Q. In what operations did the RO-60 engage while you were her commanding officer? A. The RO-60 was in a submarine squadron operating from the MARSHALL ISLANDS in defense of that area at the outbreak of war. A total of 6 submarines were employed in patrolling three areas a distance of 400 to 600 miles to the eastward of the MARSHALLS. One area was located across the line between the HAWAIIAN ISLANDS and the MARSHALLS, a second was located to the south of this, and the third area was located to the north. All areas were 200 miles wide and located on a rough circle 500 miles from KWAJALEIN. One and sometimes two submarines were assigned to each area depending upon their availability. There was also a patrol established between BAKER and HOWLAND Islands. My submarine took part in both patrols from early December until I left her for JAPAN on 26 December 1941. We had no sightings or other experiences of note." Combined Fleet - IJN Submarine RO-60 Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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