Japanese submarine I-3 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 Imperial Japanese Navy |
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| Name | SS-76 |
| Builder | Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation, Kobe, Japan |
| Laid down | 1 November 1923 |
| Renamed | I-3 1 November 1924 |
| Launched | 8 June 1925 |
| Completed | 30 November 1926 |
| Commissioned | 30 November 1926 |
| Decommissioned | 15 November 1935 |
| Recommissioned | 1 December 1936 |
| Decommissioned | 15 or 20 November 1939 (see text) |
| Recommissioned | 27 July or 15 November 1940 (see text) |
| Fate | Sunk 9 December 1942 |
| Stricken | 20 January 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | J1 type submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 320 ft (98 m) |
| Beam | 30 ft (9.1 m) |
| Draught | 16.5 ft (5.0 m) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) (surfaced) 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (submerged) |
| Range | 24,400 nmi (45,200 km; 28,100 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Test depth | 80 m (262 ft) |
| Boats & landing craft carried |
1 x 46 ft (14 m) Daihatsu (added November 1942) |
| Complement | 68 officers and men |
| Armament |
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The I-3 was a large submarine built for the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was part of the J1 type class of submarines. Launched in 1925 and ready for service in 1926, the I-3 was known as a "cruiser submarine" because of its size. It played a role in the Second Sino-Japanese War and later in World War II. During World War II, the I-3 supported the attack on Pearl Harbor, patrolled the Indian Ocean, and took part in battles like the Aleutian Islands campaign and the Guadalcanal campaign. It was eventually sunk in December 1942.
Building and Early Missions
Building the I-3
The I-3 was built by Kawasaki Shipbuilding Corporation in Kobe, Japan. Its construction started on 1 November 1923, and it was first called SS-76. On 1 November 1924, while still being built, its name was changed to I-3. The submarine was launched into the water on 8 June 1925. It was officially ready for duty on 30 November 1926.
Early Years (1926-1937)
After joining the navy, the I-3 was based at the Yokosuka Naval District. It was part of Submarine Division 7. On 12 July 1928, the I-3 had a small accident. Its steering system failed, and it ran aground near Ōmishima Island. This caused some damage to its front fuel tank. The submarine was freed later that day and went to Kure for repairs.
The I-3 often took part in training exercises. For example, in March 1935, it went on a training trip to Chinese waters with other submarines. In May 1937, while undergoing maintenance, there was an explosion in an oil tank. This accident sadly killed one person and injured 17 others. The submarine then went to the Kure Naval Arsenal for more repairs.
Serving in the Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War began in July 1937. In September 1937, the I-3 and its submarine squadron were sent to Chinese waters. They were based in Hong Kong. Their job was to help block off China's coast and patrol the area. They also provided distant cover for Japanese battleships carrying troops to Shanghai. To ease tensions with other countries, Japan pulled its submarines out of Chinese waters in December 1938.
Preparing for World War II
After its service in China, the I-3 was put into reserve for a while. It was recommissioned in 1940. By November 1941, the commander of the 6th Fleet, Vice Admiral Mitsumi Shimizu, told his submarine captains about the upcoming attack on Pearl Harbor. This attack would start World War II for Japan.
The I-3 left Japan on 16 November 1941, heading for the Hawaiian Islands. On 2 December 1941, it received a secret message. This message meant that war with the Allies would begin on 8 December 1941 (Japan time). This was 7 December 1941 in Hawaii.
World War II Missions
First Patrol: Hawaii
On 7 December 1941, the day of the Pearl Harbor attack, the I-3 was patrolling near Oahu, Hawaii. Its mission was to watch for any ships leaving Pearl Harbor and attack them. On 27 December 1941, the I-3 was ordered to attack the harbor at Nawiliwili, Kauai.
On 30 December 1941, the I-3 surfaced after dark. It fired 20 shells from its deck guns at the harbor's breakwater and a building. Most shells missed, but one damaged a house and another hit a gasoline tank. The damage was small, about $500. The I-3 then continued its patrol. It returned to Kwajalein on 22 January 1942, and then to Yokosuka, Japan, for repairs.
Second Patrol: Indian Ocean
In February 1942, the I-3 was sent to the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia). From there, it headed to the Indian Ocean off Australia. On 2 March 1942, it attacked the New Zealand steamer Narbada. The Narbada fired back, and the I-3 submerged.
On 3 March 1942, it chased another New Zealand steamer, the Tongariro, but again, the steamer fired back, and the I-3 gave up the chase. On 6 March 1942, the I-3 mistakenly fired on a United States Navy submarine, the S-40. The S-40 quickly submerged and tried to attack, but the I-3 was too far away. The I-3 finished this patrol in Penang, British Malaya, on 14 March 1942.
Third Patrol: Supporting the Indian Ocean Raid
In March 1942, the I-3 was ordered to scout the coasts of Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) and western India. This was to prepare for a big Japanese attack by aircraft carriers, known as the Indian Ocean raid. The I-3 left Penang on 28 March 1942. It arrived near Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 2 April 1942. Its job was to send weather reports for the Japanese aircraft carriers. It also looked for ships leaving or entering the harbor.
On 7 April 1942, the I-3 attacked the British merchant ship Elmdale. It fired shells and torpedoes, hitting the Elmdale 14 times, but the ship survived. The next day, 8 April 1942, the I-3 attacked another merchant ship, the Fultala, which was carrying coal. It hit the Fultala with a torpedo, and the ship sank. All of its crew were rescued. The I-3 then returned to Japan for repairs.
Fourth Patrol: Aleutian Islands
While the I-3 was being repaired, the Aleutian Islands campaign began in June 1942. Japanese forces attacked Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and occupied Attu and Kiska. The I-3 was sent to the Aleutian Islands area on 11 June 1942 for its fourth patrol. It stayed on patrol until 3 July 1942. On 1 August 1942, it returned to Yokosuka for more repairs.
Guadalcanal Supply Runs
The Guadalcanal campaign started in August 1942. U.S. forces landed on Guadalcanal and other islands in the Solomon Islands. The I-3 was sent to help the Japanese forces fighting on Guadalcanal. Its new mission was to deliver supplies by submarine.
The I-3 left Japan on 8 September 1942. It stopped at Truk and then went to Shortland Island. There, it picked up special landing craft that carried supplies like guns and mortars. The I-3 would tow these landing craft to Guadalcanal.
On 27 September 1942, the I-3 made its first supply run to Guadalcanal, towing a Daihatsu. It successfully delivered its cargo. In November 1942, the I-3 had its rear gun removed. In its place, a special mounting was added for a waterproof Daihatsu. This allowed the submarine to unload supplies even faster.
The I-3 made several more supply runs to Guadalcanal. On 28 November 1942, it reached Kamimbo Bay, unloaded its Daihatsu, and quickly left. On 3 December 1942, it tried another supply run, but two Allied patrol boats spotted it. The I-3 had to submerge and return without delivering its cargo.
Final Mission and Sinking
On 7 December 1942, the I-3 left Shortland Island for its sixth supply mission to Guadalcanal. On 9 December 1942, the I-3 surfaced at Kamimbo Bay. It launched its Daihatsu and began to prepare for unloading.
At 6:52 AM, two American patrol boats, PT-59 and PT-44, spotted the I-3. At 7:03 AM, PT-59 fired two torpedoes. The first torpedo hit the I-3's rear, causing a huge explosion. The I-3 quickly sank. Four crew members were thrown into the water and swam to Guadalcanal, surviving. Sadly, the other 90 crew members of the I-3 were lost.
Because of the loss of the I-3, the Japanese stopped using submarines for supply trips to Guadalcanal on 11 December 1942. The I-3 was officially removed from the Navy list on 20 January 1943.
