Japanese submarine I-72 facts for kids
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|} The I-72, later known as I-172, was a cruiser submarine built for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) in the 1930s. She was part of the KD6 sub-class of Kaidai-type submarines. This submarine played a role in the early parts of World War II. She helped with the attack on Pearl Harbor, patrolled near Hawaii in early 1942, and took part in the Guadalcanal campaign. She was sunk in November 1942.
Contents
- First War Patrol Mission
- Second War Patrol Mission
- Third War Patrol Mission
- Fourth War Patrol Mission
- The Loss of I-172
| History | |
|---|---|
 Empire of Japan |
|
| Name | I-72 |
| Builder | Mitsubishi Kobe Yard, Kobe, Japan |
| Laid down | 16 December 1933 |
| Launched | 6 April 1935 |
| Completed | 7 January 1937 |
| Commissioned | 7 January 1937 |
| Renamed | I-172, 20 May 1942 |
| Stricken | 15 December 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk October–November 1942 (see text) |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | KD6 Type, Kadai type submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 322 ft 10 in (98.4 m) |
| Beam | 26 ft 11 in (8.2 m) |
| Draught | 15 ft 0 in (4.6 m) |
| Propulsion | Twin shaft Kampon 9,000 bhp (6,711 kW)/two stroke diesels |
| Speed |
|
| Range | 14,000 nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) |
| Test depth | 230 ft (70 m) |
| Complement | 60–84 officers and enlisted |
| Armament | |
I-72 was built by Mitsubishi in Kobe, Japan. Her construction started on 16 December 1933. She was launched into the water on 6 April 1935. The submarine was finished and officially joined the Imperial Japanese Navy on 7 January 1937.
Submarine Service History
Before World War II Starts
After joining the navy, I-72 became part of Submarine Division 20. This division was based in the Kure Naval District. On 5 May 1938, while sailing on the surface, I-72 had a minor accident. She bumped into a Japanese motor vessel called Hachiyo Maru in the Seto Inland Sea. I-72 only had small damage, but Hachiyo Maru sank a couple of minutes later.
As the Japanese Navy got ready for the upcoming Pacific War in the Pacific Ocean, I-72 left Seaki, Japan. She sailed with other submarines like I-68, I-69, I-70, I-71, and I-73. They arrived at Kwajalein Atoll on 20 November 1941.
World War II Begins
First War Patrol Mission
On 23 November 1941, I-72 began her first war patrol from Kwajalein. On 2 December 1941, she received a secret message. It told her that war with the Allies would start on 8 December 1941 (Japan time). She reached the Hawaiian Islands on 5 December 1941. There, she checked out the Kalohi Channel between Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi.
She also looked at Lahaina Roads near Maui to see if the U.S. fleet was there. On 6 December 1941, she reported to the Japanese Carrier Striking Force that no U.S. warships were at Lahaina Roads.
On 7 December 1941, I-72 took her position near Pearl Harbor. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor happened that morning. This event brought Japan and the United States into World War II. On the evening of 16 December 1941, she surfaced near Hilo Bay. She used her deck gun to shell Hilo, Hawaii. On 19 December 1941, she fired a torpedo at the American cargo steamer Prusa. Prusa was sailing from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Baltimore, Maryland. She sank about nine minutes later, 150 nautical miles (278 km; 173 mi) south of Oahu. I-72 then returned to Kwajalein on 28 December 1941.
Second War Patrol Mission
On 12 January 1942, I-72 left Kwajalein with I-71 and I-73 for her second war patrol. This mission was also in Hawaiian waters. The three submarines took over from other submarines on a patrol line. I-72 arrived in her patrol area on 21 January 1942.
On 23 January, I-72 found the U.S. Navy oiler USS Neches (AO-5). Neches was sailing alone to meet Task Force 11. I-72 fired her first torpedo, but it did not explode. Her second torpedo hit Neches on the right side, destroying her engine room. I-72's third torpedo hit Neches on the left side. When I-72 came to the surface to finish off Neches with her deck gun, Neches fired back. This forced the submarine to dive again. Neches then tilted to the right and sank by the front. The loss of Neches meant Task Force 11 could not refuel. This forced them to cancel an air strike and return to Pearl Harbor.
On 16 February 1942, I-72 went back to Kwajalein.
Third War Patrol Mission
I-72 left Kwajalein on 18 February 1942 with I-71. Their mission was to patrol and defend Rabaul. The U.S. Navy's Task Force 11 was planning air raids there. However, Task Force 11 lost its element of surprise and pulled back. The two submarines were then sent to patrol areas east of Wake Island. After a quiet patrol, I-72 went to Japan. She arrived on 5 March 1942 for repairs at Kure.
While I-72 was at Kure, her division was changed. On 20 March 1942, she was moved to Submarine Division 12. She left Kure on 15 April 1942. She visited Yokosuka from 3 to 10 May 1942. Then she returned to Kure on 12 May 1942 for more repairs. While she was there, her name was changed to I-172 on 20 May 1942. After her repairs, she left Kure on 22 August 1942. She then sailed to Truk, arriving on 28 August 1942.
I-172 left Truk on 30 August 1942. The Guadalcanal campaign had started on 7 August 1942. Her main job was to scout the Guadalcanal area. She returned to Truk on 30 September 1942.
Fourth War Patrol Mission
With the commander of Submarine Division 12 on board, I-172 left Truk on 12 October 1942 for her fourth war patrol. She was ordered to help a planned attack by Type A midget submarines. These small submarines were going to attack Allied ships near Guadalcanal's Lunga Point. However, on 14 October, her orders changed. She was told to join another submarine, I-26, south of San Cristóbal. Her new job was to recharge the batteries of midget submarines carried by the seaplane tender Chiyoda.
Her orders changed again on 15 October 1942. She was told to join a group of other submarines. This group, called "Group A," formed a patrol line southeast of Guadalcanal. She stayed on this duty through the end of the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands (25–27 October 1942). Group A was broken up on 28 October 1942. I-172 then moved to waters southwest of San Cristóbal. Her new orders were to attack Allied ships bringing supplies to American forces on Guadalcanal.
The Loss of I-172
Sources agree that I-172 was sunk while operating southwest of San Cristóbal. However, they have different ideas about when and how she was lost.
One report says the U.S. Navy destroyer minesweeper USS Southard (DMS-10) is officially credited with sinking I-172. This happened near the southern end of Indispensable Strait on 10 November 1942. But this report also notes that Japanese records suggest Southard might have actually sunk another Japanese submarine, I-15. This report claims the Imperial Japanese Navy said I-172 was missing after 28 October 1942. It suggests I-172's sinking was caused by a U.S. Navy PBY-5 Catalina flying boat. This plane from Patrol Squadron 11 saw a Japanese submarine on 29 October 1942. It dropped two depth charges after the submarine quickly dived. A lot of oil appeared on the water and was still there the next day.
Another source, The Imperial Japanese Navy Page, says that on 3 November 1942, I-172 saw a group of American transport ships. They were heading for Lunga Point on Guadalcanal. She sent her last message at 04:10, reporting seven transport ships. One of the convoy's escort ships, the U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Helena (CL-50), detected a target on its radar. The destroyer USS McCalla (DD-488) left the convoy to investigate. McCalla saw a submarine that was almost still. The submarine dived at 05:32. McCalla then started a depth charge attack at 05:37. Her crew heard several underwater explosions. After the third explosion, McCalla lost contact with the submarine. Her crew noticed a strong smell of oil. This was the end of I-172.
The Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships mentions that McCalla did a depth charge attack on 2 November 1942. However, it does not say McCalla sank a submarine on 2 or 3 November 1942. It claims that early on 10 November 1942, USS Southard (DMS-10) found I-172 on the surface. Southard opened fire, and I-172 dived. Southard then started depth-charge attacks. After several attacks, oil appeared on the surface. The submarine then surfaced almost straight up, showing its conning tower and part of its hull. Then it quickly sank by the back. Even though it was never fully confirmed, all signs pointed to the submarine being sunk. The combinedfleet.com website states that "Although USS Southard (DMS-10) is often credited with I-172′s sinking, her target was more likely I-15.
On 27 November 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy announced that I-172 was believed to be lost near Guadalcanal. All 91 men on board were also lost. She was removed from the Navy List on 15 December 1942.
