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| IJN Type C submarine  IJN November 1944 |
Sub History Built at Sasebo Navy Yard in Sasebo. Laid down November 21, 1942 as Boat Number 377. Launched September 29, 1943 as I-47. Completed July 10, 1944 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of LtCdr Zenji Orita based in the Yokosuka Naval District, SubDiv 11 and completed a shake down cruise, then assigned to SibDiv 15. Wartime History During October 1944 while at Yokosuka, configured to transport four Kaiten manned torpedoes. On November 8, 1944 the submarine departed Otsujima on a mission to attack the U.S. Navy (USN) anchorage at Ulithi, as part of the "Kikusui Group" including submarines I-47, I-36 and the I-37, each armed with four Kaitens and eight conventional torpedoes. The I-47 and the I-36 are to attack Ulithi. I-37 is to attack anchored enemy shipping off Palau. After the Kaiten attacks, I-47 and the I-36 are to proceed to Leyte Gulf and attack enemy shipping with conventional torpedoes. On November 16, 1944 a C6N1 Saiun-Kai (Myrt) high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft of the 141 Kokutai from Truk reported four fleet carriers, three battleships, cruisers and destroyers are in the north central part of Ulithi while south central area is occupied by transports, oilers and other vessels. This report is relayed to the Kikusui Group submarines. During the evening of November 18, 1944, I-47 arrives in the area 50 miles west of Ulithi and approaches from the southwest direction. On November 19, 1944 the I-47 and I-36 reach their launching point off Ulithi. At dawn, the I-47 surfaces. LtCdr Orita approaches on the surface at 12 knots. From 4 ½ miles, he sees over 200 ships in the anchorage at Ulithi. On November 20, 1944 at 3:00am I-47 surfaced and prepaired the Kaitens for action. Between 3:28am to 3:42am I-47 launched all four Kaiten including Kaiten No. 1 pilot Lt(jg) Nishina Sekio, Kaiten No. 2 piloted by Ensign Sato Akira, Kaiten No. 3 piloted Ensign Watanabe Kozo and Kaiten No. 4 pilot Lt(jg) Fukuda Hitoshi. Meanwhile, I-36 launched Kaiten No. 4 piloted by Ensign Taichi Imanichi. Her other three Kaiten are unable to launch due to malfunctions. At 5:45am one Kaiten hit USS Mississinewa (AO-59), and was believed Kaiten No. 1 piloted by Lt(jg) Nishina Sekio. At 6:05am was a secondary explosion, presumably the detonation of 5" ammunition. Aboard a total of 63 crew (3 officers and 60 enlisted men) died in the attack, most in the forward compartments of the bridge and forward crew berthing area when it is consumed by flames. By 8:30am he fires were extinguished, but her bow dipped below the surface. After the attack, the I-47 and the I-36 proceed towards Leyte Gulf but were instead ordered to return to Kure, arriving on November 30, 1944. On December 1944 a special conference by 200 officers and specialist was held aboard Tsukushi Maru to evaluate the Kikusui mission and photographic reconnaissance erroneously conclude the Kaitens sank three aircraft carriers and two battleships. 25 December 1944: The Second Kaiten Mission: The plan calls for the "Kongo" group: I-36, I-47, I-48, I-53, I-56 and the I-58 to attack the Americans at five different points. The I-47 departs Otsujima for Hollandia, New Guinea. 30 December 1944: 290 miles W of Guam. The I-47 rescues eight starved Imperial Army soldiers who escaped from Guam on a raft in an attempt to storm the airfield and drifted in the open sea for 32 days. On January 11, 1945, I-47 was roughly 50 miles north of Hollandia and spotted a fully illuminated hospital ship and several torpedo boats heading for the Humboldt Bay anchorage. On January 12, 1945 I-47 enters Humboldt Bay off Hollandia. At 4:15am launched four kaitens at five minute intervals piloted by Lt (jg) Kawakubo Teruo, CPO Muramatsu Minoru, PO2C Sato Katsumi and Lt (jg) Hara Atsuro. At 5:11am, one kaitens damage the anchored American Liberty ship USS Pontus H. Ross. A red column of fire is sighted in the anchorage at roughly Lat 2° 33' S, Long 140° 6W. While withdrawing, the I-47 receives an S. O. S. signal from the direction of the anchorage. Afterwards, departs northward for Japan. On February 1, 1945 arrives Kure. On March 20, 1945 conducts exercises in the Inland Sea with kaitens along with I-36, I-44, I-53, I-56 and I-58. During late March 1945 begins preparing for her fifth kaiten mission as part of the "Tatara" group with I-44, I-56 and the I-58 each transporting six kaitens, to attack American ships off Okinawa. On March 27, 1945 Rear Admiral Nagai arrives to see the kaiten crews off and presents them with daggers. On March 28, 1945 six kaitens are loaded aboard I-47. On March 29, 1945 departs Hikari bound for Okinawa but around 4:00pm observes a flight of Avenger and crash dives to avoid being detected. On March 31, 1945 roughly 25 miles east of Tanegashima Island south of Kyushu. About 2:00am the I-47 spots two enemy destroyers. She crash-dives, but is chased for the next 12 hours. As the I-47 submerges, fragments rain down on her conning tower. Her No. 1 periscope is knocked out and develops a leak and survives 21 depth charges. Afterwards, surfaces in heavy mist off Tanegashima, LtCdr Orita inspects for damage and finds the I-47 is leaking fuel oil. On April 1, 1945 arrives Kure for repairs and afterwards, returns to Hikari to load new kaitens. 20 April 1945: The Sixth Kaiten Mission: The I-47 and the I-36, each carrying six kaitens, form the "Tembu" ("Heavenly Warriors") group that is ordered to attack American supply ships between Ulithi and Okinawa. The I-47 departs Hikari. 24 April 1945: LtCdr Suzuki Shokichi (former CO of RO-46) is slated to be the I-47's next Commanding Officer. 27 April 1945: LtCdr Orita receives a signal from the I-36 about a successful kaiten attack on a convoy. 1 May 1945: SSW of Oki-Daito-Shima. About midnight, the I-47's Type 22 radar detects an American convoy. That same day, Vice Admiral, the Marquis, Daigo Tadashige (former CO of ASHIGARA) relieves Vice Admiral Miwa of command of the Sixth Fleet (Submarines).** 2 May 1945: 160 miles SSW of Oki-Daito-Shima. About 0900, the I-47's hydrophones pick up screw noises. The I-47 sights two ships heading NW at ten knots. The I-47 launches two kaitens piloted by Lt (j.g.) Kakizaki Minoru and PO1C Yamaguchi Shigeo. Forty-seven minutes later the I-47's soundman hears an explosion. Then the last kaiten piloted by CPO Furukawa Shichiro is launched to attack the escorts. The I-47's soundman reports that Furukawa hit a destroyer.*** 5 May 1945: The I-47 arrives at her assigned area between Guam and Okinawa. 7 May 1945: SSW of Oki-Daito-Shima. The I-47's radar detects a "British LEANDER-class cruiser" (possibly HMNZS ACHILLES). LtCdr Orita launches a kaiten piloted by Lt (j.g.) Maeda Hajime. The remaining two kaitens cannot be launched because of malfunctioning torpedoes . Orita reports a hit on the cruiser to the Sixth Fleet. The I-47 is ordered to return to port. 13 May 1945: Returns to Kure. 14 May 1945: LtCdr Orita is relieved by LtCdr Suzuki. Orita is reassigned as a tactics instructor at the Kure Submarine School. 19 July 1945: The Ninth Kaiten Mission: The I-47 is in the "Tamon" kaiten group with the I-53, I-58, I-367, I-366 and the I-363. Departs Hikari for an area SE of Okinawa, but is unable to make any contacts due to rough weather. On July 21, 1945 roughly 400 miles east of Okinawa, I-47 fires one kaiten at a lone merchant ship, but LtCdr Suzuki does not report the attack. On August 1, 1945 after sunset, I-47 surfaces to recharge her batteries in rough seas. and Kaiten No. 1 is washed away and collides with the submarine as it sinks. The other Kaitens are damaged and develop leaks. On August 6, 1945 recalled to Kure. On August 13, 1945 returns to Hikari where the remaining Kaitens and crews are disembarked then departs for Kure arriving the next day. On August 15, 1945 after the official surrender of Japan, the crew of I-47 refused to surrender. They board a kaibokan in Kure Harbor and confiscate the food supply, rifles and machine guns. The crew planned to take the submarine to Rabaul to continue fighting but lacked enough fuel to make the journey. As time passed, the crew abandoned the idea and abandoned the submarine. On September 2, 1945 I-47 was officially surrendered at Kure. On November 30, 1945 officially removed from the Navy List. Sinking History On April 1, 1946 during "Operation Roads End" I-47 was towed to an area off Goto Retto and scuttled. References Combined Fleet - IJN Submarine I-47: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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