Japanese Super-Subs rediscovered
Hawaii (Global Adventures): Two Japanese submarines designed to carry bombers to strike the U.S. during World War II have been discovered on the seabed off Hawaii. The 400 feet (122 meter) long boats had been captured by the U.S. Navy when Japan surrendered in 1945 and were sunk deliberately the following year after the Soviet Union demanded access to them.
The U.S. studied the very advanced submarines and did not want the technological secrets falling into the hands of the Soviets, a former ally during the war. During the war, Japan had become aware of its weakness in surface ships. It therefore decided to concentrate on its submarines and created these underwater aircraft carriers.
“If you look at a sub like the I-201, it was nothing like anybody had in the Second World War. It had a streamlined body and conning tower and retractable guns,” said Dr. Hans Van Tillburg, maritime heritage coordinator for the national Marine Sanctuaries in the Pacific Islands. “It looks more like a Cold War sub. And it predates the cruise missile concept.”
With a crew of 144, the subs carried enough fuel to travel 37,500 miles and dive to depths of at least 330 feet (100 meters). Three Japanese Aichi M6A1 Seiran light bombers could be stowed in a hangar on the deck and they would be launched by a catapult. The aircrafts, which could carry one 800 Kilogram bomb, were fitted with floats to land on the water once they returned from their missions.
The submarines, called I-201 and I-401, could approach the surface, prepare and launch an aircraft within minutes. They were able to carry up to 20 type 95 torpedoes.
The Japanese had plans to launch rats riddled with plague as well as insects carrying cholera, dengue fever and typhus, according to several blogs. But with the bacteriological weapons not ready in time, the target switched to the Panama Canal. Japan surrendered, however, before the attack could be carried out.
On 17 March 2005, the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory’s (HURL) deep-diving submersibles Pisces IV & Pisces V located the I-401 off the coast of Kalaeloa. The I-401 lies about 2,665 feet (820 meters) off the coast of Barbers Point. The bow is broken off just forward of the aircraft hangar. The two pieces are not far apart and are connected by a debris field. The main hull is sitting upright on the bottom and the numbers “I-401″ are clearly visible on the sides of the conning tower. Her 25 mm antiaircraft guns seem in almost perfect condition.
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