Japanese submarine I-24 (1939) facts for kids
The second I-24 was a special type of submarine built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. She was one of five "Type C" submarines, designed to be long-range attack vessels. Her main job was to carry and launch small, two-person midget submarines.
I-24 played a part in important events like the attack on Pearl Harbor and the attack on Sydney Harbour. She also helped Japanese forces in battles like the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Later, she served in campaigns in Guadalcanal, New Guinea, and the Aleutian Islands. Sadly, she was sunk in June 1943.
Quick facts for kids History |
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 Empire of Japan |
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| Name | Submarine No. 48 |
| Builder | Sasebo Naval Arsenal, Sasebo |
| Laid down | 5 December 1938 |
| Renamed | I-24 on 30 September 1939 |
| Launched | 12 November 1939 |
| Completed | 31 October 1941 |
| Commissioned | 31 October 1941 |
| Fate | Sunk 11 June 1943 |
| Stricken | 1 August 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type C1 submarine |
| Displacement |
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| 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 |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Test depth | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Crew | 95 |
| Armament |
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| Notes | Fitted to carry 1 × Type A midget submarine |
Contents
Submarine Design and Features
The Type C submarines were made for long-distance attacks. They were based on an older design but had more torpedoes. When on the surface, I-24 weighed about 2,554 tons. When underwater, she weighed 3,561 tons.
Size and Diving Depth
I-24 was about 109.3 meters (358 feet) long. Her width, or beam, was 9.1 meters (29 feet 10 inches). The part of the ship underwater, called the draft, was 5.3 meters (17 feet 5 inches). She could dive to a depth of 100 meters (328 feet).
Power and Speed
On the surface, I-24 used two powerful diesel engines. These engines gave her a top speed of 23.6 knots (about 43.7 kilometers per hour). When submerged, she used electric motors, which allowed her to travel at 8 knots (about 14.8 kilometers per hour).
Travel Range
The submarine could travel very far. On the surface, she had a range of 14,000 nautical miles (about 25,928 kilometers) at 16 knots. Underwater, her range was 60 nautical miles (about 111 kilometers) at 3 knots.
Weapons and Crew
I-24 was well-armed. She had eight torpedo tubes at the front, carrying 20 torpedoes in total. She also had a large 140 mm (5.5 inch) deck gun and two 25 mm anti-aircraft guns. A special feature was her ability to carry one small midget submarine at the back of her conning tower. Her crew consisted of 95 sailors.
I-24 was built by the Sasebo Naval Arsenal in Sasebo, Japan. Her construction started on December 5, 1938, and she was first called Submarine No. 48. On September 30, 1939, her name was changed to I-24.
She was launched into the water on November 12, 1939. The submarine was finished and officially joined the Imperial Japanese Navy on October 31, 1941.
Service History in World War II
After joining the navy, I-24 was quickly changed to carry a Type A midget submarine. This work was finished by November 10, 1941. She became part of a special unit of five submarines, each carrying a midget submarine.
Pearl Harbor Attack
On November 17, 1941, the commanders of these five submarines learned about a secret mission: the attack on Pearl Harbor. Their job was to launch their midget submarines near Pearl Harbor to join the attack.
On December 7, 1941, I-24 launched her midget submarine, No. 19, near Pearl Harbor. No. 19 had problems and couldn't get into the harbor before the main air attack. It later ran aground and was found by the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Helm (DD-388). The midget submarine's crew tried to destroy it, but it didn't explode. One crewman drowned, and the commander, Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, was captured. He became the first Japanese prisoner of war of World War II. No. 19 was captured and is now on display in a museum in Fredericksburg, Texas.
I-24 waited for her midget submarine to return, but it never did. She then sailed to Kwajalein Atoll.
First War Patrol
In January 1942, I-24 and two other submarines were sent to patrol near the Hawaiian Islands. On January 25, I-24 tried to attack Midway Atoll with her deck gun. However, U.S. forces quickly fired back, forcing her to dive after only six shots.
After this, I-24 headed back to Japan. On the way, another Japanese submarine, I-73, which was following the same route, was sunk by a U.S. submarine. I-24 arrived safely at Yokosuka on February 2, 1942.
Supporting the Coral Sea Battle
In April 1942, I-24 and other submarines sailed to Truk. From there, they went to patrol southwest of Guadalcanal. This was to support a Japanese plan to invade Tulagi and Port Moresby.
On May 2, 1942, I-24 was attacked by U.S. aircraft, but she managed to avoid damage. The Battle of the Coral Sea began, and I-24 patrolled her assigned area. After the battle, she returned to Truk. During this return trip, another submarine, I-28, which was sailing with I-24, was sunk by a U.S. submarine.
Attack on Sydney Harbour
On May 18, 1942, I-24 received another midget submarine. She then sailed with two other submarines, I-22 and I-27, towards Sydney, Australia. Their mission was to launch midget submarines to attack ships in Sydney Harbour.
On May 31, 1942, I-24 launched her midget submarine, M17, off Sydney. At 00:29 on June 1, M17 fired a torpedo that missed its target but hit a breakwater. This explosion sank HMAS Kuttabul, an old ferry used as a barracks ship, killing 21 sailors. M17 then disappeared.
I-24 waited for her midget submarine but it never returned. She then began patrolling for merchant ships. On June 3, she attacked the Australian steamer Age but didn't damage it. Later that day, she sank the Australian merchant ship Iron Chieftain with a torpedo. On June 5, she chased another ship, Echunga, but couldn't hit it.
On June 8, 1942, I-24 surfaced near Sydney and fired her deck gun at the Sydney Harbour Bridge. None of her shells hit the bridge, but one exploded and damaged a house. When Australian searchlights tried to find her, she submerged. I-24 then left the area and returned to Japan on July 12, 1942.
Guadalcanal Campaign Operations
In August 1942, the Guadalcanal campaign began. I-24 was sent to the Solomon Islands to patrol. She tried to intercept U.S. ships but didn't succeed.
During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October 1942, I-24 attacked a U.S. task force with torpedoes but missed. On November 3, she took on another midget submarine, No. 12, and launched it off Guadalcanal on November 22. No. 12 was never heard from again.
On December 1, 1942, I-24 embarked midget submarine No. 38. On December 7, she launched No. 38 off Guadalcanal. No. 38 torpedoed the damaged cargo ship USS Alchiba (AK-23). No. 38 was also never heard from again. I-24 then went to Truk.
New Guinea Supply Runs
In January 1943, I-24 began transporting supplies from Rabaul to Japanese forces fighting in New Guinea. She delivered food and ammunition and evacuated soldiers from Buna on January 11, 18, and 26, and February 10.
She also made supply runs to Lae, delivering cargo and evacuating soldiers on February 10 and 17. After these missions, she returned to Yokosuka, Japan, for repairs.
Aleutian Islands Campaign
In May 1943, I-24 was sent to the Aleutian Islands to help Japanese forces there. U.S. forces had landed on Attu, and the Japanese planned to evacuate their troops from Kiska by submarine.
I-24 tried to pick up survivors from Attu, but the Japanese garrison there had been defeated. She then moved to patrol off Kiska. On June 7, 1943, she sent a message reporting many Allied ships near Kiska. This was the last time the Japanese heard from her.
Loss of I-24
On June 11, 1943, the U.S. Navy patrol craft USS PC-487 found I-24 in heavy fog near Shemya Island. PC-487 attacked I-24 with depth charges, forcing her to the surface. The U.S. ship then rammed I-24 twice.
I-24 rolled over and sank, taking all 104 men on board with her. The Japanese declared I-24 lost on June 11, 1943, and she was removed from the Navy list on August 1, 1943.
Images for kids
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HMAS Kuttabul sunk in Sydney Harbour
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