Everything about Japanese Submarine I-401 totally explained
The
Sen Toku-class I-401 was once the largest submarine in the world. It was commanded by
Lieutenant Commander Nambu. Capable of carrying three two-seat
Aichi M6A1 "Seiran" (Mountain Haze) float
torpedo bombers, the
Sen Tokus were built to launch a surprise air strike against the
Panama Canal.
When the
I-401 was completed and commissioned on
January 8 1945 at the Kure Naval District, the
Second World War was almost over. This left the fate of
I-401 uncertain. After several attempts to launch, the
I-401 set route to its first target, but was stopped by Emperor
Hirohito's broadcast, calling for an end to all hostilities on
15 August 1945.
On
August 26 1945, the
I-401 hoisted a
black flag of surrender. Its unmanned planes were catapulted into the sea, all 20
Type 95 torpedoes were destroyed, and all codes, logs, charts and secret documents were also destroyed.
Three days later, on
August 29 1945, the
I-401 was picked up by radar by USS Segundo. I-401 surrendered to the Segundo. Lieutenant Commander Nambu delivered two samurai swords, as a symbol of surrender, to Lieutenant J.E. Balson, the Segundo's Prize Crew officer.
The
I-401 was finally sunk, while used as a target ship, off
Pearl Harbor on
May 31 1946.
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 820 meters (2665 feet) 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.
Commanding Officers
Lt. Cmdr. Nobukiyo Nambu - 8 January 1945 - 1 September 1945
Further Information
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