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  HA-21 Type A Midget Submarine M22
IJN
Type A midget submarine



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June 1, 1942
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PacificWrecks.com
Justin Taylan 2006
PacificWrecks.com
Dave Arnold 2006

Captain  Lt. Keiu Matsuo (KIA)
Navigator  Chief Petty Officer Masao Tsuzuku (KIA)
Sunk  June 1, 1942 7:30am

Crew History
Matsuo served aboard the I-22 during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Mission History
One of three midget submarines, along with M24 and M27 attacked Sydney Harbor on the night of May 31, 1942.

This submarine was released from Submarine I-22. It successfully crossed the indicator loop at the entrance to Sydney Harbor at 11:00pm. Spotted at 2:50am on June 1, 1942 by USS Chicago, at 3:00am registered crossing the harbor's indicator loop. At 3:50 it was spotted by an Australian ship and fired upon. Between 5:00am - 8:30am, M22 was trapped in Taylors Bay and attacked with depth charges by Australian ships. Around 7:30am, the crew committed suicide.

Salvage
M22 wreck was salvaged by the Australian Navy from Taylors Bay in Sydney Harbor, during the first week of June 1942. The remains of the crew were removed and cremated with full military honors and their ashes passed to the Japanese authorities.

Wreckage
It was put on display in Sydney and traveled around Australia raising money for the war widows fund. After the war the wreckage was returned to the RAN. In 1975 it was decided to combine the salvaged wrecks of M22 and M27 into one complete sub.

Display
The sub in the Australian War Memorial (AWM) is the bow of M22, and mid and stern sections of M27.

The restored mid section of M22 was returned to the RAN and is displayed at the RAN Heritage Centre in 1978. It has been on pubic display at the new centre since October 2005. A display of pebbles from the hometown of Masao Tsuzuku, donated by his sister are displayed inside the center section.

The restored tail section of M22 is displayed in the Second World War Hall at Australian War Memorial (AWM).

References
Thanks to CMDR Shane Moore, Director RAN Heritage Centre for display information.

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Last Updated
October 2, 2009

 

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