Japanese submarine I-5

The Japanese submarine I-5 was the first aircraft-carrying submarine in the Imperial Japanese Navy and operated during World War II. The sole member of the Junsen 1 Mod. (巡潜一型改) class, the submarine was launched on 19 June 1931 at Kobe by Kawasaki. I-5 displaced 2,279 t (2,243 long tons) when surfaced and 2,968 t (2,921 long tons) submerged and had a range of 24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi). A single Yokosuka E6Y floatplane was carried, although this capability was removed in 1940.

I-5 at sea in 1932
History
Empire of Japan
Name: I-5
Builder: Kawasaki Dockyard Co., Kobe
Laid down: 30 October 1929
Launched: 19 June 1931
Completed: 31 July 1932
Stricken: 10 September 1944
Fate: Believed sunk 19 July 1944
General characteristics
Class and type: Junsen I Mod.
Displacement:
  • 2,279 t (2,243 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 2,968 t (2,921 long tons) (submerged)
Length: 97.5 m (319 ft 11 in)
Beam: 9.22 m (30 ft 3 in)
Draft: 4.94 m (16 ft 2 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Speed:
  • 18.8 knots (34.8 km/h; 21.6 mph) surfaced
  • 8.1 knots (15.0 km/h; 9.3 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 24,000 nmi (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 60 nmi (110 km; 69 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged
Test depth: 80 m (260 ft)
Complement: 93
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 × Yokosuka E6Y floatplane

In 1937, I-5 served in the Second Sino-Japanese War as part of the Third Fleet patrolling the coasts of China, a role that the submarine reprised off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The submarine subsequently supported the Dutch East Indies campaign and was then transferred to the Indian Ocean, where the submarine sank a merchant vessel. After successfully supporting the Aleutian Islands campaign, the submarine was re-equipped as a transport to supply distant Japanese garrisons in 1943. The vessel, equipped with a Daihatsu-class landing craft, ran supplies as far afield as New Britain. I-5 went missing in 1944 and is believed to have been sunk by US Navy destroyer escort USS Wyman near the Mariana Islands with no survivors on 19 July 1944.

Design and development

During the period following World War I, the Imperial Japanese Navy saw the potential of aircraft carrying submarines, with investigations noted as early as 1924, when an American report stated, "special investigations are now in place at the Oppama (Yokosuka) Aviation Corps about airplane carrying submarines".[1] These concepts culminated in a requirement for a submarine larger than existing cruiser submarines and capable of launching a single reconnaissance floatplane. In response, the Junsen 1 Mod. was developed based on the Junsen 1 (巡潜一型).[2]

The submarine was similar in dimensions to the predecessors but had a larger displacement, 2,279 tonnes (2,243 long tons) surfaced and 2,968 tonnes (2,921 long tons) submerged.[3] Length was 97.5 metres (319 ft 11 in), beam 9.22 m (30 ft 3 in) and draught 4.94 m (16 ft 2 in). Power was provided by two 3,000-brake-horsepower (2,237 kW) diesel engines which drove two shafts when running on the surface up to a maximum speed of 18.8 knots (34.8 km/h; 21.6 mph). These also charged the batteries that powered the vessel underwater. When submerged, power was provided by electric motors that provided 2,600 bhp (1,939 kW) and enabled a maximum speed of 8.1 knots (15.0 km/h; 9.3 mph).[4] 589 tonnes (580 long tons) of fuel oil was carried which gave an endurance of 24,000 nautical miles (44,000 km; 28,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) on the surface. Submerged, the boat could travel for 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph). The submarine had a diving depth of 80 m (260 ft). The complement was 93, including officers.[2] In addition, the submarine's large size meant that it could operate as a flagship.[5]

The main armament was similar to the preceding Junsen 1 submarines, consisting of six internal 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes, all in the bow.[4] Twenty torpedoes could be carried. At about the same time as the boat was entering service, the Japanese Navy introduced a new standard torpedo for submarines, the Type 89, which entered service in 1931.[6].[6] The torpedo delivered a warhead of 300 kilograms (660 lb) over a range of 5,500 metres (18,045 ft) at 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph). It remained in service until the early days of World War II until being replaced by the Type 95, which could carry a larger warhead further at a higher speed, being capable of propelling 405 kg (893 lb) of explosives over a range of 12,000 metres (39,370 ft) at up to 47 knots (87 km/h; 54 mph).[7]

The deck was fitted with one mount for a single 14 cm (5.5 in) 40 calibre 11th Year Type gun, which could fire a 38 kg (84 lb) shell 1,600 metres (5,249 ft) at a rate of five rounds per minute.[8] For anti-aircraft defence, a single 7.7 mm (0.30 in) machine gun was mounted on the conning tower.[9]

A single Yokosuka E6Y observation floatplane was carried disassembled in two watertight retractable containers aft of the conning tower, one each port and starboard.[5] The wings were stored in one container, the fuselage and floats in the other.[10] To operate the aircraft, the submarine was required to stop, the containers deployed, the components assembled and the seaplane launched into the sea from which it would then take-off. During training, this proved a lengthy exercise during which the submarine was vulnerable to attack. Later, the deck was fitted with a catapult to increase the range of the aircraft and reduce the time of exposure, but this extended the time for launch as the assembled aircraft had to be mounted on the catapult.[1]

Construction and career

I-5 was laid down on 30 October 1929 at Kawasaki Dockyard Co. in Kobe, launched on 19 June 1931, and commissioned on 31 July 1932.[11] The vessel entered service and was attached to Yokosuka Naval District, undergoing training and trials until 1933 when a catapult was fitted during refit. Similarly, between February and July 1936, the deck gun was temporarily replaced with a 12.7 cm (5 in) Type 89 dual purpose gun.[9] At the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, the submarine was attached to the Third Fleet (China Theatre Fleet) based at Hong Kong alongside the submarine tender Komahashi and a fleet of cruiser submarines. The fleet was tasked with patrolling and blockading the central and southern Chinese coasts.[12] Between 21 and 23 August, the submarine was in the East China Sea, providing distant cover for two battle fleets built around the battlecruisers Haruna and Kirishima, and the battleships Mutsu and Nagato that ferried troops from Japan to China.[13]

Following the commissioning of more modern submarine aircraft carriers, the Type A and Type B, the more primitive installation on I-5 was deemed superfluous and in 1940 the provision to operate an aircraft was removed and an aft deck gun fitted.[12] A single 25 mm (1 in) Type 96 anti-aircraft gun was fitted to an extended bridge at the same time.[10]

On 16 November 1941, the submarine departed as part of the 2nd Submarine Squadron led by Admiral Mitsumi Shimizu in I-7, alongside I-4 and I-6, arriving off the coast of Hawaii to take up a patrol position west of Oahu. The boat was tasked with patrolling the area and attacking any ships that attempted to escape.[13] On 7 December, the submarine moved to patrol north of Molokai, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The boat then remained on station during the attack, and the Japanese declaration of war.[14] The speed of Japanese success in this attack, and in Malaya and the Philippines, led to the submarine being withdrawn swiftly ready for the next offence.[15]

After a brief interlude on 9 January 1942 joining the hunt for the aircraft carrier USS Lexington along with other vessels of the Japanese Navy, the submarine returned to the Japanese mainland. Following a refit in Yokosuka between 2 and 11 February, the submarine then departed to support the Dutch East Indies campaign, arriving at Staring-baai in Sulawesi on 23 February. On 25 February, while patrolling west of Timor, the submarine was observed by a Mitsubishi C5M reconnaissance aircraft which was being escorted by a flight of nine Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters. Thinking that they had spotted an enemy vessel, the fighters attacked the submarine, inflicting minor damage and injuring three officers.[13] After repairs, the submarine was sent to the Indian Ocean to disrupt shipping and support the Indian Ocean raid.[16] On 5 April, the ship sank the merchant ship SS Washingtonian.[17] On 5 June, I-5 was transferred to the Aleutian Islands campaign and joined the force, led by Admiral Boshirō Hosogaya, that landed the Japanese Northern Army on Attu Island. This was followed by the successful landing and subsequent Japanese occupation of Kiska from 7 June.[13]

However, an increasingly challenging logistical situation, meant that on 16 November 1942, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto ordered that submarines be made available as transports. Admiral Teruhisa Komatsu responded by ordering the conversion of thirteen submarines as transports.[18] The submarines operated a vital service, transferring supplies and people.[19] I-5 was one of the submarines reassigned, and on 17 March 1943, a Daihatsu-class landing craft was fitted to enable the faster transfer of personnel and resources in what were termed "ant carrying transport" operations.[20] Nine days after, the submarine started the first of nine supply runs between Lae and Rabaul. Later, the submarine was relocated to supply the garrison in the Aleutian Islands. In between, the submarine also undertook other missions, such as rescuing pilots of Mitsubishi G4M bombers shot down by US forces on 14 and 15 May.[13]

In June 1944, the Japanese became aware that their forces in the Mariana Islands would be subject to attack and formed a submarine picket, including I-5, 300 nautical miles (560 km) east of the Islands.[21] The submarine subsequently was sent on a supply run to Pohnpei between 5 and 9 July, subsequently departing on 16 July from Truk.[13] On 19 July, the US Navy destroyer escort USS Wyman identified a sonar contact 360 nautical miles (670 km) east of Guam.[11] Hedgehog bombs were fired and a destroyed submarine reported. The submarine is believed to be I-5.[19][22] There were no survivors. The submarine was removed from the Navy List on 10 September 1944.[10]

References

Citations
  1. Boyd & Yoshida 2002, p. 21.
  2. Bagnasco 1977, p. 181.
  3. Boyd & Yoshida 2002, p. 22.
  4. Carpenter & Polmar 1986, p. 91.
  5. Stille 2007, p. 12.
  6. Campbell 1985, p. 204.
  7. Campbell 1985, p. 208.
  8. Campbell 1985, p. 190.
  9. Chesneau 2001, p. 199.
  10. Bagnasco 1977, p. 182.
  11. Carpenter & Polmar 1986, p. 95.
  12. Boyd & Yoshida 2002, p. 54.
  13. Hackett & Kingsepp 2014.
  14. Goldstein & Dillon 2004, p. 235.
  15. Boyd & Yoshida 2002, p. 72.
  16. Goldstein & Dillon 2004, p. 255.
  17. Cresswell 2016, p. 29.
  18. Boyd & Yoshida 2002, p. 105.
  19. Boyd & Yoshida 2002, p. 209.
  20. Boyd & Yoshida 2002, p. 115.
  21. Carpenter & Polmar 1986, p. 48.
  22. Silverstone 2008, p. 93.

Bibliography
  • Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-85368-331-5.
  • Boyd, Carl; Yoshida, Akihiko (2002). The Japanese Submarine Force and World War II. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-015-1.
  • Campbell, John (1985). Naval Weapons of World War II. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-329-2.
  • Carpenter, Dorr B. & Polmar, Norman (1986). Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-396-4.
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (2001). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-146-5.
  • Cresswell, Robert J. (2016). The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-638-4.
  • Goldstein, Donald M.; Dillon, Katherine V. (2004). The Pacific War Papers: Japanese Documents of World War II. Washington: Potomac Books. ISBN 978-1-57488-632-0.
  • Hackett, Bob; Kingsepp, Sander (2014). "IJN Submarine I-5: Tabular Record of Movement". Combined Fleet. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  • Hashimoto, Mochitsura (1954). Sunk; The Story of the Japanese Submarine Fleet, 1941-1945. London: Cassell. OCLC 62412615.
  • Silverstone, Paul (2008). The Navy of World War II, 1922-1947. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-41597-898-9.
  • Stille, Mark (2007). Imperial Japanese Navy Submarines 1941–45. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-090-1.
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