|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| IJN KD7-class Cruiser Submarine 1,833 Tons (surfaced) 2,602 Tons (submerged) 346' x 27' x 15' 6 x 21" torpedo tubes with 12 Type 95 torpedoes 1 x 120mm deck gun |
Sub History Built by Yokosuka Navy Yard. Laid down April 17, 1941 as a Kaidai type, KD7-class cruiser submarine No. 158. On November 1, 1942 renumbered I-80. Launched February 7, 1942 attached to Sasebo Naval District. On May 20, 1942 renumbered I-180. Completed January 15, 1943 and commissioned in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as I-180 under the command of LtCdr Toshio Kusaka assigned to SubDiv 22. On March 15, 1943, reassigned to SubRon 3's SubDiv 22 with the I-177 and I-178. On March 30, 1943 departs Kure with the I-177 and the I-178 southward bound for Truk arriving April 7, 1943. First War Patrol On April 10, 1943 departs Truk with the I-177 and the I-178 on her first war patrol off the east coast of Australia. On April 26, 1943 off eastern Australia, fires a spread of three torpedoes at an unidentified merchant at Lat 28S, Long 157E but scores no hits. On April 29, 1943 spots Wollongbar roughly 55 miles ESE of Smokey Cape and fires two torpedoes that both hit, broke into two pieces with the bow rand stern rising sharply then quickly sinking. Five of her crew survive were later rescued by the trawler X.L.C.R. On May 5, 1943 off Coffs Harbor, New South Wales I-180 fires a torpedo at SS Fingal a 2,137-ton Norwegian merchant, under charter to the Australian Government enroute from Sydney to Darwin with general cargo and ammunition, escorted by USS Patterson (DD-392). Fingal is hit by one torpedo portside aft and then hit by another in the engine room. She goes down within a minute at 30-35S, 153-29E. Two hours later, the Patterson picks up 19 survivors of her crew of 31. On May 12, 1943 northeast of Coffs Harbour. Australian merchant Ormiston (5,832 tons) commodore of a 15 ship Allied convoy P.G. 50 and was on the last leg of a voyage with a cargo of bagged sugar from Cairns via Brisbane to Sydney. I-180 fired a torpedo that hit Ormiston on her port side but failed to explode and does no damage. Ormiston, escorted by HMAS Ballarat, HMAS Kybra and USS Henley (DD-391) successfully reach Coffs Harbor, undergoes temporary repairs and eventually reaches Sydney. Afterwards, I-180 departs for Truk arriving May 25, 1943. Second War Patrol On June 20, 1943 departs Truk with I-177 to operate off the eastern coast of Australia. On June 1943, both submarines were instead directed to an area between New Georgia and Santa Isabel to attack enemy landing off Rendova, and arrives in the patrol area July 6, 1943. After The Battle of Kolombangara on July 13, 1943, I-180 arrives in the area of the battle at 07-38S, 157-06E and rescues 21 crew members from Jintsu. On July 20, 1943, SubRon 3 is reassigned to the Southeast Area Fleet. On July 21, 1943 the submarine arrives at Buin (Kahili) and departs that same day, returning to Rabaul the next day. On August 2, 1943 departs Rabaul on a supply run to Lae, arriving two days later at Lae, unloads cargo, and departs for Truk, returning August 10, 1943 to Truk. On September 8, 1943, arrives Rabaul. On September 14, LtCdr Fujita Hidenori (former C.O. of RO-103) assumes command and Commander Kusaka becomes the C.O. of I-26. On September 17, 1943, departs Rabaul for a supply missions to Finschafen, arriving two days later, unloads cargo, departs and returns to Rabaul on September 21. On September 24, 1943, departs Rabaul on her third supply run to Finschafen, arriving three days later. After establishes contact with ground troops, but before she can unload her cargo, the I-180 is attacked by enemy vessels and depth-charged. She submerges and releases her deck cargo in rubber containers. After the attack the I-180 remains in the vicinity. On September 29, 1943, off Finschafen reestablishes contact with the ground troops and unloads the rest of her cargo. On October 7, 1943, arrives at Sio, unloads cargo and departs, returning to Rabaul on October 10, 1943. October 1943: American Air Raid on Rabaul: 5th Air Force hits Rabaul with the biggest raid made up to this time in the Pacific war. 349 aircraft, including 87 B-17 and B-24 bombers, 114 B-25 strafers, 12 RAAF "Beaufighters" and 125 P-38 "Lightning's" and others from New Guinea and Australia hit Rabaul town, airfields and Simpson Harbor. Over 50 Japanese aircraft are destroyed and several ships sunk and damaged. The I-180, moored at a pier undergoing repairs, is the only submarine damaged in the attack. Unable to move, she is hit by a bomb that destroys her superstructure and wounds her torpedo officer Lt Higuchi Toshio (he dies three days later) and three crewmen on the bridge. As a result of her damage, the I-180 can not dive. On October 21, 1943 departs Rabaul and five days later arrives at Truk and departs the same day reassigned to SubRon 1. On November 2, 1943 arrives Sasebo, and remains until January 1, 1944, when the submarine departs for Truk, arriving January 8. On January 19 1944, departs Truk but suffers a mechanical failure and turns back, returning on January 21 and undergoes repairs, departing the next day. Arrived Sasebo on January 30, 1944 and remains until March 16, 1944, arriving at Ominato three days later. On March 20, 1944 departs Ominato to patrol east of Unalaska and south of Kodiak, and is scheduled to return to Ominato on May 13. On April 19, 1944 south of Alaska I-180 torpedoes and sinks the 7,176-ton American Liberty ship John Straub, sinking by the bow at 54-22N, 163-24E. On April 25, 1944, while south-west of Cherikof Island, in the Aleutians. Lt W. D. Jenckes' USS GILMORE (DE-18) and the EDWARD C. DALEY (DE-17) are escorting a convoy from Dutch Harbor to Kodiak. At 2230, USS Gilmore SG radar picks up a surfaced submarine at 8,000 yards. At 4,000 yards, the "pip" disappears and contact is broken. The Gilmore acquires a sound contact at 2,600 yards. In the next hour, Jenckes lays down three separate barrages of Mark 10 "hedgehogs" of twenty-four projector charges without result. Sinking History On April 26, 1944 at 12:27am USS Gilmore drops a pattern of 13 depth charges without result. At 1:07am, Jenckes drops another pattern of 13 depth charges. At 0112, the Gilmore's efforts are rewarded by a heavy underwater explosion that rocks the destroyer escort. The submarine, probably I-180 was sunk at roughly 55-10N, 155-40W. On May 20, 1944 I-180 is presumed lost with all hands in the Kodiak area. Officially removed from the Navy list on July 10, 1944. References Combined Fleet - IJN Submarine I-180: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
