Japanese submarine I-18 facts for kids
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The I-18 was a large Type C cruiser submarine built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was one of five submarines of her kind. During World War II, she acted as a "mother ship" for a smaller, special midget submarine. She took part in the attack on Pearl Harbor and an attack on Diego-Suarez. She also patrolled the Indian Ocean and served in the Guadalcanal campaign before she was sunk in February 1943.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan |
|
| Name | Submarine No. 38 |
| Builder | Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Sasebo, Japan |
| Laid down | 25 August 1937 |
| Launched | 19 July 1939 |
| Renamed | I-18 |
| Completed | 31 January 1941 |
| Commissioned | 31 January 1941 |
| Fate | Sunk 11 February 1943 |
| Stricken | 1 April 1943 |
| 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 | 95 |
| Armament |
|
| Notes | Fitted to carry 1 × Type A midget submarine |
Design and Features of the I-18
The Type C submarines were designed for long-range attacks. They were based on earlier Japanese submarine models. The I-18 was a very large submarine. When on the surface, it weighed about 2,554 tons. Underwater, it weighed about 3,561 tons.
The submarine was 109.3 meters (358 feet 7 inches) long. It had a width (beam) of 9.1 meters (29 feet 10 inches). Its depth (draft) was 5.3 meters (17 feet 5 inches). The I-18 could dive to a depth of 100 meters (328 feet).
How the I-18 Moved
On the surface, the I-18 was powered by two diesel engines. Each engine turned a propeller. When underwater, electric motors powered the propellers. This allowed the submarine to move quietly.
The I-18 could travel at 23.6 knots (about 43.7 km/h or 27.1 mph) on the surface. Underwater, it could go up to 8 knots (about 14.8 km/h or 9.2 mph). It had a very long range. On the surface, it could travel 14,000 nautical miles (about 25,928 km or 16,110 mi) at 16 knots. Underwater, it could go 60 nautical miles (about 111 km or 69 mi) at 3 knots.
Weapons and Equipment
The I-18 was well-armed. It had eight torpedo tubes at the front (bow) that fired 53.3 cm (21 inch) torpedoes. It carried a total of 20 torpedoes.
For fighting on the surface, it had a large 14 cm (5.5 inch) deck gun. It also had two 25 mm (1 inch) anti-aircraft guns. These were used to defend against enemy planes. A special feature of the I-18 was that it could carry one Type A midget submarine at the back of its conning tower.
Building and Joining the Fleet
The I-18 was ordered as part of a special naval building program. It was built by the Sasebo Naval Arsenal in Sasebo, Japan. Its keel was laid down on August 25, 1937. At first, it was called Submarine No. 38.
It was launched on July 19, 1939. The submarine was finished and officially joined the navy on January 31, 1941. By this time, it had been renamed I-18.
Service History
Before World War II
After joining the navy, the I-18 was assigned to the Yokosuka Naval District. In late 1941, it was changed to become a "mother ship." This meant it could carry and launch a Type A midget submarine. Four other submarines, I-16, I-20, I-22, and I-24, were also changed this way.
On November 17, 1941, the commanders of these five submarines learned about the upcoming attack on Pearl Harbor. Their job was to launch their midget submarines near Pearl Harbor to help with the attack.
The five submarines picked up their midget submarines on November 18, 1941. They then set off for the Hawaiian Islands. On December 2, 1941, they received a secret message. This message told them that war with the Allies would begin on December 8, 1941 (Japan time). This was December 7, 1941, in Hawaii.
World War II Begins
Pearl Harbor Attack
On December 7, 1941, at 2:15 AM, the I-18 launched its midget submarine, No. 17. This was south of Oahu, about 13 nautical miles from Pearl Harbor. No. 17 was attacked and sunk outside the harbor. Both crew members were lost. The wreck was found in 1960 and later returned to Japan.
The I-18 and the other "mother" submarines waited for their midget submarines to return. None came back. On December 9, 1941, I-18 was ordered to leave the area. She left the Hawaiian Islands on December 12, 1941, and arrived at Kwajalein on December 22, 1941.
First War Patrol
On January 4, 1942, I-18 began her first war patrol near the Hawaiian Islands. On January 9, she spotted a U.S. Navy group, including the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-2). The next day, she saw planes from the Lexington. This helped her figure out the carrier's location and report it.
On January 18, 1942, I-18 was ordered to bombard Midway Atoll. On January 24, she checked out Midway using her periscope. The next day, I-18 and I-24 surfaced to begin their attack. I-24 started firing, but U.S. Marine Corps guns quickly fired back. I-24 had to dive after only six shots. The I-18 also submerged without firing any shots.
After this, I-18 headed back to Japan. She arrived at Yokosuka on February 2, 1942.
Indian Ocean Operations
In April 1942, Japan agreed to Germany's request to attack Allied ships in the Indian Ocean. The I-18 was part of a special group of submarines sent for this mission. This group also included supply ships and midget submarines.
The I-18 and other units left Penang on April 30, 1942, heading into the Indian Ocean. On May 17, the I-18 had a problem. Her port (left) diesel engine flooded in rough seas, damaging it. This delayed her.
On May 29, a Japanese floatplane spotted the British battleship HMS Ramillies at Diego-Suarez, Madagascar. The Japanese decided to attack Diego-Suarez with midget submarines. I-16 and I-20 launched their midget submarines on May 30. However, the I-18's midget submarine had engine trouble, so she could not launch it.
After the midget submarine attack, the I-18 began sinking enemy ships. On June 8, 1942, she sank the Norwegian merchant ship Wilford in the Mozambique Channel. On July 1, 1942, she badly damaged the Dutch merchant ship De Weert, which sank two days later.
On July 2, 1942, I-18 attacked the British merchant ship Phemius. Her torpedoes exploded too early, and Phemius fired back at I-18's periscope. The I-18 escaped without damage. On July 6, 1942, she sank the British steamer Mundra south of St. Lucia Bay, South Africa. Mundra was carrying many survivors from other ships. After the sinking, many British and South African planes searched for I-18, but she was not found.
The I-18 then checked out Rodrigues on July 20 and Diego Garcia on July 31, 1942. She returned to Penang on August 2, 1942. She then sailed to Japan, arriving at Yokosuka on August 23, 1942, for repairs.
Guadalcanal Campaign
By late 1942, Japan decided to use submarines to deliver supplies to their troops on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The I-18 finished her repairs and left Kure on December 17, 1942. She stopped at Truk and then went to Shortland Island to start her supply missions.
On January 3, 1943, the U.S. submarine USS Grayback (SS-208) spotted I-18 on the surface. Grayback fired torpedoes, and her commander thought I-18 was sunk. However, the torpedoes exploded early, and I-18 dove and escaped safely.
The I-18 made three supply trips to Guadalcanal. Each time, she dropped off cargo in special drums at Cape Esperance on the island's northwest coast. She delivered 15 tons of cargo on January 5, 1943, and 25 tons on January 11, 1943. On January 26, 1943, she delivered 18 tons of cargo on her last supply run.
On January 28, 1943, I-18 joined a group of submarines. Their job was to stop any Allied ships from interfering with Operation Ke. This was the Japanese plan to evacuate their troops from Guadalcanal. The submarines tried to find and attack U.S. Navy forces, but they often lost contact.
The Japanese finished Operation Ke on February 8, 1943. The submarines were ordered to return to Truk.
The Loss of the I-18
On February 11, 1943, the I-18 reported seeing an American task force in the Coral Sea. A U.S. Navy plane from the cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) spotted I-18 about 9 nautical miles from the task force. The plane marked her location, and the destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-445) was called in.
The Fletcher found I-18 using sonar and dropped depth charges. At 3:39 PM, a large bubble of oil and air appeared on the surface. A loud explosion was heard at 3:43 PM. The Fletcher dropped more depth charges. Soon after, cork, wood, and other wreckage floated to the surface in a large oil slick. This showed that the I-18 had been sunk. All 102 men on board were lost.
The Japanese declared I-18 missing on the day she was sunk. She was officially removed from the Navy list on April 1, 1943.
After World War II, the U.S. military thought the submarine sunk by Fletcher was another Japanese submarine, Ro-102. However, it was later confirmed that Ro-102 was still active after this date.
