Japanese submarine I-175 facts for kids
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|} The I-75, later known as I-175, was a special type of submarine called a Kaidai-class cruiser submarine. It was part of the Imperial Japanese Navy and started service in 1938.
During World War II, this submarine was very active. It took part in major events like the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway. It also played a role in the Guadalcanal campaign and other battles. The I-175 operated near Australia before it was sunk in 1944. It is most famous for sinking the American escort carrier USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56) in November 1943.
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History | |
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Name | I-75 |
Ordered | 1934 |
Builder | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe, Japan |
Laid down | 1 November 1934 |
Launched | 16 September 1937 |
Commissioned | 8 December 1938 |
Renamed | I-175 on 20 May 1942 |
Fate | Sunk 4 February 1944 |
Stricken | 10 July 1944 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Kaidai type (KD6B Type) |
Displacement |
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Length | 105 m (344 ft 6 in) |
Beam | 8.2 m (26 ft 11 in) |
Draft | 4.57 m (15 ft 0 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion | |
Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 75 m (246 ft) |
Complement | 70 |
Armament |
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- First Missions and Attacks
- Midway and Australia Patrols
- Guadalcanal and Repairs
- Aleutian Islands Missions
- Sinking the USS Liscome Bay
- Final Patrol and Loss
About the I-175 Submarine
How the I-175 was Built
The I-175 was part of the KD6B sub-class of submarines. These submarines were quite large for their time. They weighed about 1,810 tons when on the surface. When fully underwater, they weighed about 2,564 tons.
The submarine was 105 meters (344 feet) long. It had a width of 8.2 meters (26 feet 11 inches). Its draft, which is how deep it sat in the water, was 4.57 meters (15 feet). The I-175 could dive to a depth of 75 meters (246 feet).
Power and Speed of the Submarine
To move on the surface, the I-175 used two powerful diesel engines. Each engine turned a propeller shaft. This allowed the submarine to reach speeds of up to 23 knots (about 43 kilometers per hour or 26 miles per hour) on the surface.
When underwater, the submarine switched to two electric motors. These motors allowed it to travel at 8 knots (about 15 kilometers per hour or 9.2 miles per hour). On the surface, it could travel 10,000 nautical miles (18,520 kilometers) at 16 knots. Underwater, its range was 65 nautical miles (120 kilometers) at 3 knots.
Weapons of the I-175
The I-175 was well-armed for its missions. It had six torpedo tubes. Four of these were at the front (bow) and two were at the back (stern). It carried a total of 14 torpedoes.
For fighting on the surface, the submarine had a large deck gun. This was a 120 mm (4.7 inch) gun. It also had two 13.2 mm (0.52 inch) machine guns. These were used for anti-aircraft defense against enemy planes.
Early Life of the I-175
Building and Starting Service
The I-75 was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Kobe, Japan. Its construction began on November 1, 1934. It was officially launched into the water on September 16, 1937. The submarine was completed and started its service on December 18, 1938.
Before World War II Began
When it was first put into service, the I-75 was part of Submarine Division 11. This division belonged to the 2nd Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In March 1940, the I-75 went on a training trip to Chinese waters with other submarines.
In October 1940, the I-75 took part in a huge fleet review in Yokohama Bay. This was a big event with 98 Japanese Navy ships and over 500 aircraft. It celebrated a special anniversary for Japan's first emperor.
In November 1941, the leaders of the 6th Fleet met with submarine commanders. They discussed plans for "Operation Z." This was the secret plan for the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This attack would mark the start of the Pacific War for Japan.
The I-75 left Japan on November 11, 1941, heading for Kwajalein Atoll. On December 2, 1941, it received a secret message. This message meant that war with the Allies would begin soon.
I-175 in World War II
First Missions and Attacks
When the attack on Pearl Harbor happened on December 7, 1941, the I-75 was patrolling near Oahu. Its job was to look for and attack any ships leaving Pearl Harbor.
On December 15, 1941, the I-75 fired its deck gun at the harbor in Kahului on Maui. Some shells hit a pineapple cannery, causing damage.
A few days later, on December 17, 1941, the I-75 attacked an American merchant ship called Manini. It hit the ship with a torpedo. The Manini was carrying goods from Honolulu to San Francisco. It sank, and one crew member was lost.
On December 24, 1941, the I-75 attacked Palmyra Atoll. It fired shells at the atoll's radio station. One shell hit a dredge ship called Sacramento. A coastal gun battery on the atoll fired back, forcing the submarine to dive and leave. The I-75 returned to Kwajalein on December 31, 1941.
Midway and Australia Patrols
In January 1942, the I-75 traveled north to the Aleutian Islands and then to Japan. After repairs, it started its second patrol in April 1942. It patrolled east of Japan but did not find any enemy ships.
On May 20, 1942, the I-75 was renamed I-175. It then took part in "Operation MI," which was Japan's plan to invade Midway Atoll. The I-175 was supposed to help with reconnaissance flights over Pearl Harbor. However, American ships were already at the planned refueling spot, so the flights were cancelled.
The Battle of Midway took place in June 1942. Japan suffered a big defeat, and the invasion of Midway was called off. The I-175 did not encounter any enemy forces during this battle.
In July 1942, the I-175 began its fourth patrol. This time, it was off the coast of Australia. It attacked several merchant ships. On July 23, it hit the Australian ship Allara with a torpedo. The ship was damaged but did not sink.
On July 24, it damaged another Australian ship, the Murada. On July 28, it sank the French merchant ship Cagou, which was carrying nickel ore.
In August 1942, the I-175 attacked the Australian fishing trawler Dureenbee. It fired its deck gun and machine guns, damaging the trawler and causing casualties. The attack was controversial, but submarines on both sides sometimes attacked fishing vessels during the war.
Guadalcanal and Repairs
On August 7, 1942, the Guadalcanal campaign began. The I-175 was ordered to move to the Solomon Islands. On August 12, two American dive bombers attacked the I-175 near Espiritu Santo. The submarine was damaged by bombs and had to dive. It escaped and went to Rabaul for emergency repairs.
The I-175 began its fifth patrol on August 22, 1942, near Guadalcanal. It scouted the area but had no major encounters. It returned to Truk Atoll in September.
Its sixth patrol started in October 1942, also in the Solomon Islands. It was ordered to intercept an American convoy but did not find it.
In November 1942, the I-175 was damaged in a collision with an oiler ship in Truk Lagoon. It had to be run aground to prevent it from sinking. After being refloated, it went to Japan for major repairs. It spent several months in repair yards.
Aleutian Islands Missions
In May 1943, American forces landed on Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands. The I-175 was sent to support Japanese forces there. It was ordered to operate south of Kiska to help with a planned counter-landing on Attu. However, the Japanese forces on Attu were defeated before the counter-landing could happen.
The I-175 then made supply runs to Kiska. It delivered ammunition and food and picked up passengers. It made two such trips in June 1943.
In June 1943, the I-175 began its eighth patrol. It was ordered to attack Allied shipping in the North Pacific Ocean. While it was on patrol, the Japanese evacuated their troops from Kiska. The I-175 did not find any enemy ships and returned to Japan in August 1943.
Sinking the USS Liscome Bay
The I-175 started its ninth patrol in October 1943, near Wake Island. It was ordered to intercept a large Allied convoy, but it missed them.
On November 20, 1943, the U.S. began its attack on the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign. The I-175 was ordered to go to Butaritari (also known as Makin Atoll).
On November 24, 1943, the I-175 was near Butaritari. An American battleship, USS New Mexico (BB-40), detected it on radar. The I-175 quickly submerged to avoid attack.
At 5:10 AM, the I-175 fired four torpedoes at the American task force. Two torpedoes missed the escort carrier USS Coral Sea (CVE-57). However, one torpedo hit the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56). The torpedo struck the Liscome Bay's side, causing its bomb storage area to explode.
The Liscome Bay's stern (back part) was destroyed in a huge explosion. Debris from the explosion even hit the New Mexico, which was about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) away. The Liscome Bay sank quickly at 5:33 AM. Many lives were lost, including 55 officers and 591 enlisted men. Among those lost was Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix.
After the attack, the American destroyer USS Kimberly (DD-521) attacked the I-175 with depth charges. The I-175 reported that it survived a six-hour attack by two destroyers. It claimed three torpedo hits on an aircraft carrier that it believed had sunk. The depth charges damaged the submarine, limiting how deep it could dive. The I-175 returned to Truk on December 1, 1943. Its commanding officer received a special award for sinking the Liscome Bay.
Final Patrol and Loss
The I-175 began its tenth and final war patrol on January 27, 1944. It was heading for an area northeast of the Marshall Islands. While it was at sea, U.S. forces landed on Kwajalein Atoll and other islands. The I-175 was ordered to go to Wotje Atoll.
On February 3, 1944, the battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) detected a vessel on radar near Wotje. The destroyer USS Charrette (DD-581) was sent to investigate. The contact disappeared from radar, meaning the submarine had submerged. The Charrette found the submarine using sonar and dropped eight depth charges.
The destroyer escort USS Fair (DE-35) arrived to help. At 12:40 AM on February 4, 1944, the Fair fired a salvo of 10 Hedgehog projectiles. The Charrette and Fair heard and felt four explosions. These explosions sank the submarine, which was very likely the I-175. It sank about 185 kilometers (100 nautical miles) northwest of Jaluit Atoll.
Most Japanese sources believe that a different submarine, Ro-39, was sunk by the Charrette and Fair on that day. They claim the I-175 was sunk later, on February 17, 1944, by the destroyer USS Nicholas (DD-449).
On March 26, 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy declared the I-175 lost. All 100 people on board were presumed to have died. The I-175 was removed from the Navy List on July 10, 1944.
See also
In Spanish: I-175 para niños