Location
Penang Island is located the west of the Malay Peninsula in Penang State in Malaysia. Borders Penang Harbor. Known as Pulau Pinang in Malaysian.

Wartime History
Penang was occupied by the Japanese and used as an Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) base for maintenance and refueling.

During late April 1942, SubRon 8 "KO" (A) detachment submarines I-10, I-16, I-18, I-20 and I-30 support ships Aikoku Maru and Hokoku Maru arrive at Penang to conduct operations in the western Indian Ocean.

During late August 1943, a Kriegsmarine (German Navy) U-boat submarine command was established under the commanded Wilhelm Dommes (Captain of U-178) with satellite bases at Singapore, Djakarta, Surabaja and Kobe.

During World War II, both Kriegsmarine (German Navy) and Regia Marina (Italian Royal Navy) submarines operating from Penang. U-Boats form the "Monsun Gruppe" (Monsoon Group) to conduct patrols in the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean. German an Italian submarines operating from Penang included U-532, U-188, U-168, Comandante Cappellini, U-183 , Giuliani, U-1062, U-168, U-181, U-537, U-196, U-862, U-843, U-510, U-532, U-861, U-195 and U-183.

Two Arado Ar 196 floatplanes were transported aboard auxiliary cruisers Thor (HSK 4, Schiff 10) and Michel (HSK 9, Schiff 28) to Penang. During March 1944, these two Ar 196s plus Aichi Type 0 Reconnaissance Seaplane / E13A1 (Jake) formed the East Asia Naval Special Service to aid the German Monsun Gruppe and Japanese Navy in the area. The two Ar 196s were painted in Japanese livery and were operated by Luftwaffe pilots under the command of Oberleutnant Ulrich Horn.

During early 1945, Penang was targeted by B-29 Superfortress on bombing missions and aerial mining missions to place mines in Penang Harbor. On August 28, 1945 after Japan surrendered, HMS Nelson (28) arrived to begin surrender negotiations. On September 2, 1945 at 9:15pm aboard HMS Nelson (28) anchored at George Town on Penang, Rear Admiral Uzuni and the Japanese Governor of Penang formally surrendered to Vice Admiral H. T. C. Walker. On September 3, 1945 Royal Marines from the British East Indies Fleet occupy Penang Island.

American missions against Penang
January 11, 1945–February 27, 1945

USS Grenadier (SS 210)
Scuttled April 22, 1943

Haguro 羽黒
Sunk May 16, 1945 by gunfire and torpedoes roughly 55 miles west-south-west of Penang

References
Luftwaffe Officer’s Career Summary / Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries Section G-K [PDF page 663)
"HORN, Ulrich. 04.43 Oblt.z.S., Bo.Fl.Gr. 196 stationed aboard Schiff 28 HSK 9 Michel (to 17.10.43 survived sinking by American submarine USS Tarpon at 33o 42' N/140o 8' E). 15.06.43 Oblt.z.S., Fliegeroffizier Bo.Fl.Gr. 196 aboard Schiff 28 Michel in the area of Australia."

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Last Updated
September 27, 2023