Pilot  Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki (POW)
Crew  PO2C Inagaki Kiyoshi (KIA)
Grounded  December 7, 1941

Ship History
Built in Kure during 1938.

Mission History
One of five midget subs attached to five I-class "mother" submarines (I-16, I-18, I-20, I-22 and I-24) to be launched 5-6 hours before the aerial attack, within a few miles of Pearl Harbor to penetrate Pearl Harbor, navigate submerged, counterclockwise around Ford Island, escape and meet up with their mother subs seven miles west of Lanai Island.

In November-December 1941, this sub transported aboard I-24 to Pearl Harbor. Launched on December 7, 1941, this submarine ran aground near Waimanalo, Oahu due to a malfunctioning gyro compass, preventing it from participating in the attack.

Sakamaki was the first Japanese POW captured by the United States during the Pacific War. The other crew member, Kiyoshi drowned after the grounding.

Salvage and Display
Dubbed "Midget C" as the third sub encountered by USN, Ha-19 was salvaged and later sent to the United States' mainland, where she was featured at War Bond drives throughout the country. After the end of World War II she was exhibited at Key West, Florida. Begining in 1991, Ha-19 became part of the collection at the Nimitz Museum.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009