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| IJN Type A Kō-hyōteki kō-gata 46 Tons (surfaced) 47 Tons (submerged) 78.5' x 6' x 10.2' 2 x Type 97 torpedo 140kg scuttling charge  USN 1960  Tom Burchill 2004 |
Captain Lt(jg) Shigemi Furuno (KIA) Crew PO1C Shigenori Yokoyama (KIA) Sunk December 7, 1941 Sub History Built in Kure during 1938. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as HA-18 Type A Midget Submarine. Known to the U.S. Navy as "Midget D", the 4th midget sumarine encountered during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mission History On December 7, 1941 one of five midget subs attached to five I-class "mother" submarines (I-16, I-18, I-20, I-22 and I-24) to be launched 5-6 hours before the aerial attack, within a few miles off Pearl Harbor to penetrate the harbor and attack any ships attempting to sortie. Submerged, the midget submarines would navigate counterclockwise around Ford Island, fire their torpedoes then rendezvous with the submarines seven miles west of Lanai Island. Sinking History On December 7, 1941 at 2:15am I-18 arrived at the launch point 13 miles from the entrance to Pearl Harbor and launches this midget submarine. Aboard is commander Lt(jg) Shigemi Furuno and PO1C Shigenori Yokoyama. Spotted, this midget submarine was depth charged and sunk in Keehi Lagoon east of the entrance to Pearl Harbor. It did not participate in the attack against Pearl Harbor and did not fire either torpedo. Fates of the Crew The fate of the crew is unknown, they either died aboard the submarine or attempting to escape. Shipwreck On June 13, 1960 during U.S. Navy training exercise, Navy divers located this submarine at a depth of 75' in Keehi Lagoon with the conning tower hatch open and both torpedoes aboard. On July 6, 1960 salvaged by USS Current ARS-22. Aboard, no human remains are found aboard. The forward section with the two torpedoes was unbolted and dumped at sea. Inside is the remains of a flight suit, a flying boot, a glove, a rubber sandal, an empty bottle of sake, wrenches and spanners. The submarine was dubbed "Midget D" (M-18), the fourth submarine from the Pearl Harbor attack discovered. Display At the request of Japan, this midget submarine was was restored with a new forward section then returned to Japan. On March 15, 1962 placed on display as a memorial at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy at Eta Jima outside the Naval Tactical School No. 1. Memorial On March 6, 1942, the midget submarine crews of all the Pearl Harbor attack (except Ensign Sakamaki who was taken prisoner) were posthumously promoted two ranks. The crews are also memorialized at the Nine War Gods Monument at Suga Park, Mitsukue Bay, Ehime Prefecture. References Combined Fleet - Midget Submarines at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii 1941 Combined Fleet - HIJMS Submarine I-18: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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