Japanese submarine I-16 facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" | 
|}
The I-16 was a special type of submarine called a Type C cruiser submarine. It was built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. This submarine was one of five in its class. It was designed to carry a small, special submarine called a midget submarine.
I-16 was used in many important battles. It helped in the attack on Pearl Harbor and an attack on ships in Madagascar. It also patrolled the Indian Ocean and fought in the Guadalcanal campaign, New Guinea campaign, and Bougainville campaign. The I-16 was sunk in May 1944.
Contents
- Preparing for War
- Attack on Pearl Harbor
- Missions in the Indian Ocean
- Fighting in Guadalcanal
- Supply Runs in New Guinea
- Final Mission and Loss
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan |
|
| Name | Submarine No. 44 |
| Builder | Mitsubishi Kobe Yard, Kobe, Japan |
| Yard number | 44 |
| Laid down | 15 September 1937 |
| Renamed | I-16 on 1 June 1938 |
| Launched | 8 July 1938 |
| Commissioned | 30 March 1940 |
| Fate | Sunk 19 May 1944 |
| Stricken | 10 October 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type C1 submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 109.3 m (358 ft 7 in) overall |
| Beam | 9.1 m (29 ft 10 in) |
| Draft | 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Crew | 107 |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | Fitted to carry 1 × Type A midget submarine |
Building the I-16
The I-16 was laid down, or started being built, on 15 September 1937. It was built at the Mitsubishi shipyard in Kobe, Japan. At first, it was called Submarine No. 44. On 1 June 1938, its name was changed to I-16.
The submarine was launched on 8 July 1938. This means it was put into the water for the first time. It was then finished at the Kure Naval Arsenal in Kure. The I-16 was officially ready for service on 30 March 1940.
I-16 in Action
The I-16 was a very busy submarine during World War II. It took part in many important missions.
Preparing for War
After it was built, the I-16 was sent to the Yokosuka Naval District. In late 1941, it was changed so it could carry a Type A midget submarine. Four other submarines were also changed this way. These five submarines were part of a special unit.
On 17 November 1941, the commanders of these five submarines learned about a secret plan. They were told to launch their midget submarines near Pearl Harbor. The midget submarines would then join the main attack.
The next day, on 18 November 1941, each submarine took on a midget submarine. They left Kamegakubi and headed for the Hawaiian Islands. On 2 December 1941, they received a message that meant war with the Allies would start soon.
Attack on Pearl Harbor
On 7 December 1941, the I-16 was the first submarine to launch its midget submarine, called No. 16. This happened near Pearl Harbor. The I-16 and the other submarines then waited for their midgets to return.
I-16 received messages from No. 16 saying the air attack on Pearl Harbor was successful. Later, No. 16 sent a message saying it could not move. I-16 never heard from No. 16 again. None of the five midget submarines came back. I-16 left Hawaii on 12 December and arrived at Kwajalein on 20 December 1941.
Missions in the Indian Ocean
After Pearl Harbor, I-16 went back to Japan for tests. While it was there, Germany asked Japan to attack Allied ships in the Indian Ocean. Japan agreed and sent a group of submarines, including I-16, to East Africa.
On 30 April 1942, I-16 and other submarines left Penang and went into the Indian Ocean. On 17 May 1942, I-16 had a problem when seawater got into one of its engines, but the crew fixed it.
On 29 May, a plane from another Japanese submarine saw the British battleship HMS Ramillies in Diego-Suarez, Madagascar. The Japanese decided to attack it with midget submarines.
On 30 May 1942, I-16 launched its midget submarine near Diego-Suarez. I-16′s midget submarine was never found. However, another midget submarine from I-20 damaged the Ramillies and sank a tanker called British Loyalty.
After this attack, I-16 started sinking Allied merchant ships.
- On 6 June 1942, it sank the Yugoslavian ship Susak.
- On 8 June 1942, it sank the Greek ship Aghios Georgios IV.
- On 12 June 1942, it sank the Yugoslavian ship Supetar.
- On 1 July 1942, it sank the Swedish ship Eknaren.
I-16 returned to Penang on 10 August 1942 and then went to Yokosuka, Japan, for repairs.
Fighting in Guadalcanal
The Guadalcanal campaign started on 7 August 1942. After its repairs, I-16 left Japan on 17 October 1942 to join the fight in the Solomon Islands.
On 4 November 1942, I-16 took on a midget submarine called No. 30. On 11 November, it launched No. 30 near Cape Esperance on Guadalcanal. But No. 30 had a problem with its steering. Its crew had to sink it and swim to shore.
I-16 then took on another midget submarine, No. 10. On 28 November 1942, it launched No. 10 north of Guadalcanal. No. 10 fired torpedoes and damaged the cargo ship USS Alchiba (AK-23). The Alchiba had to be beached to stop it from sinking. No. 10 and its crew were never seen again.
Next, I-16 took on midget submarine No. 22. On 3 December 1942, it launched No. 22 near Savo Island. No. 22 fired torpedoes at a destroyer but missed. Its crew also had to sink it and swim to shore.
I-16 then started carrying supplies to Japanese forces on Guadalcanal. It made several trips, dropping off food and other items. In May 1943, a U.S. Navy ship found a Japanese midget submarine off Guadalcanal. It was later put on display in Groton, Connecticut. People think it might have been No. 10 or No. 30.
Supply Runs in New Guinea
I-16 was then ordered to carry supplies to Japanese soldiers fighting in New Guinea. On its first trip, it delivered 40 tons of cargo to Lae. On 2 April 1943, it accidentally bumped into another Japanese submarine, I-20, underwater. I-16 then went back to Japan for more repairs.
After repairs, I-16 returned to New Guinea in September 1943. It made several more supply runs to Sio, New Guinea. On 24 November 1943, it carried a Japanese admiral and his staff to Wewak, New Guinea.
I-16 made its last supply run to New Guinea on 15 December 1943. On 25 December 1943, it was damaged in an Allied air raid at Rabaul. It then went back to Japan for more repairs.
Final Mission and Loss
Repairs on I-16 finished in February 1944. On 17 March 1944, it left Japan and went to Truk, its new base.
On 14 May 1944, I-16 left Truk for a supply mission to Buin on Bougainville. It was carrying rice for Japanese soldiers. The U.S. Navy intercepted and decoded its message about its arrival time.
On 19 May 1944, an American patrol plane saw I-16 on the surface. Three U.S. Navy destroyer escorts, USS England (DE-635), USS George (DE-697), and USS Raby (DE-698), were sent to find it.
At 1:35 PM, the England found I-16 using its sonar. The England attacked I-16 with special weapons called "Hedgehog" mortars. After the last attack, a huge underwater explosion happened. This meant I-16 was sunk. Debris from the submarine, including cork and rice bags, floated to the surface.
The I-16 was the first of six Japanese submarines that the England sank in just 13 days in May 1944.
On 25 June 1944, the Japanese Navy said I-16 was lost in the Solomon Islands. All 107 crew members were lost. It was removed from the Navy list on 10 October 1944.
I-16 Wreck
The wreck of the I-16 lies underwater at 05°10′S 158°10′E / 5.167°S 158.167°E. It is considered a war grave, a place where those who died in war are honored.
Ships Sunk by I-16
The I-16 sank four ships during its time in service.
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 June 1942 | Susak |  Yugoslavia |
3,889 | Sunk |
| 8 June 1942 | Aghios Georgios IV |  Greece |
4,847 | Sunk |
| 12 June 1942 | Supetar | Yugoslavia |
3,748 | Sunk |
| 1 July 1942 | Eknaren |  Sweden |
5,243 | Sunk |
