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| IJN Type B3 Cruiser submarine 2,140 Tons (surfaced) 3,688 Tons (submerged) 357' x 31' x 17' 6 x torpedo tubes with 23 torpedoes 1 x 140mm deck gun 2 x 25mm AA guns 1 x floatplane hanger and catapult (removed) |
Wartime History Built by Yokosuka Navy Yard in Yokosuka. Laid down December 26, 1942 as the last Type B Kai 2/B3 I-54-class cruiser submarine as Submarine No. 631. The deck had space for four kaiten human-torpedoes (only two are initially fitted with access tubes), the aft deck gun is not fitted. A Type 22 surface/air-search radar is installed atop the aircraft hangar and an E27/Type 3 radar detector on the bridge. On July 31, 1943 renumbered I-58. Launched October 9, 1943. Completed and commissioned September 7, 1944 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of LtCdr Mochitsura Hashimoto assigned to the Sixth Fleet, SubRon 11 and conducts training in the Inland Sea. On December 2, 1944 assigned to SubDiv 15, Sixth Fleet. Wartime History On December 8, 1944 assigned to the Kongo (Steel) group with I-36, I-47, I-48, I-53 and I-56 to launch kaiten attacks against U.S. anchorages. I-58 plans to enter Apra Harbor off Guam on January 11, 1945 and conduct a kaiten attack. On December 19, 1944 moves to Otsujima and conducts kaiten exercises then departs Sasebo bound for Kure to load fuel, torpedoes and provisions. On December 29, 1944 departs Kure bound for Otsujima and the next day loads four kaiten and crew then departs with a banner that reads "Injustice, Fairness, Law, Strength and Heaven" with I-36 on the second kaiten mission. On January 6, 1945 while on the surface west of Guam recharging batteries, her radar detects a large flying boat. On January 11, 1945 arrives 26 miles southwest of Guam and begins an approach towards Apra Harbor and at 9:00pm spots a large transport. On January 12, 1945 at 3:10am roughly 11 miles west of Apra Harbor launches her four kaiten with no. 3 suffering an engine malfunction and explodes. Leaving the area, the submarine observes two columns of smoke and departs westward back to Japan. On January 20, 1945 approaching Bungo Suido makes radar contact with a target that is later identified as I-36. On January 22, 1945 returns to Kure and is credited with sinking an escort carrier and a large tanker, in fact no damage was caused. During late February 1945, a new Type 13 air-search radar is installed. PARTIAL HISTORY On March 20, 1945 conducts exercises in the Inland Sea with kaitens along with I-36, I-44, I-53, I-56 and I-47. On July 30, 1945 fired torpedoed that hit and sink USS Indianapolis (CA-35) in the North Philippine Sea. PARTIAL HISTORY On August 12, 1945 at 5:00pm while surfaced roughly 360 miles southeast of Okinawa her radar detects multiple ships and soon afterwards masts are seen on the horizon and dives. At 5:16pm spots a "seaplane carrier" in fact USS Oak Hill (LSD-7) escorted by destroyer USS Thomas F. Nickel (DE-587) enroute from Okinawa to Leyte. At 5:17pm launches kaiten no. 3 is launched piloted by FPO1C Yoshiaki Hayashi from a distance of 8,800 yards but the attack is unsuccessful when spotted by lookouts on both vessels and the destroyer makes a depth charge attack and likely sank the kaiten while I-58 escapes undetected. On August 17, 1945 arrives Hirao and the next day departs for Kure. On September 2, 1945 at Kure surrendered to the U.S. Navy. Afterwards, stripped of all usable equipment prior to being scuttled. Sinking History On April 1, 1946 during "Operation Road's End" towed by USS Nereus AS-17 from Sasebo to an area off Goto Islands and scuttled by gunfire at roughly Lat 32-37N, Long 129-17E. References Combined Fleet - IJN Submarine I-58: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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