IJN

Crew
107 KIA

Ship History
Built at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Kobe, then towed to the Kure Navy Yard for completion and commissioning.

Wartime History
On November 17, 1941 officers of the Special Attack Unit are briefed on the Hawaii Operation. The I-24 is assigned to Captain Sasaki Hankyu's Special Attack Unit with the I-16, I-18, I-20 and the flagship, the I-22.

Pearl Harbor Attack
On December 7, 1941 the I-16 was seven miles SSW of the entrance to Pearl Harbor. The I-16 launches a Type A Midget submarine piloted by Lt (j.g.) Yokoyama Masaharu with PO2C Ueda Sadamu. Afterwards, the I-16 patrols west of Lanai, Hawaii. She receives a "Tora, tora, tora!" message from Lt Yokoyama about the successful air attack.

Guadalcanal Resupply Attempts
On January 13, 1943, I-16 arrives at Cape Esperance, carrying a cargo of supply drums. Because enemy planes patrol over the area, no Daihatsu barge is dispatched to meet her. The I-16's cargo is abandoned and the sub departs for Rabaul.

On January 25, 1943, the I-16 arrives at Cape Esperance on her second supply run to Guadalcanal, releasting about 18-tons of supplies in supply containers, 'unkato'. Also, it evacuates some Japanese including Lieutenant Commander Kenji Mitsui.

Sinking History
On May 19, 1944 the I-16 was 140 miles NE of Cape Alexander, Solomons and was sighted on the surface by an American aircraft, The ENGLAND, RABY and the GEORGE conduct a line-abreast sonar sweep. At 1335, the ENGLAND finds the I-16 on her sonar.

At 1341, the sub was attacked five times with twenty-four throw-ahead Mark 10 "hedgehog" projector charges. The hedgehogs hit on the second and fifth attacks. At 1435, after the fifth attack, a huge underwater explosion lifts the ENGLAND's fantail out of the water by 6-inches as the I-16 explodes and sinks with all hands aboard.

The explosion must have been at 500 feet or deeper because it is 20 minutes before the first debris appears. Shreds of cork, deck planking, pieces of cabinets and other objects appear. Finally, a sealed rubber container with a bag of rice inside surfaces. Almost an hour later, a small oil slick appears. By the following day, the slick is three miles wide and six miles long. On June 25, 1944 the sub was presumed lost with all aboard.

Contribute Information