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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 torpedoes 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 Kō-hyōteki-class midget submarine. Also known as I-18 tou or I-18a. Known to the U.S. Navy (USN) as Midget D, the 4th midget submarine 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. This midget submarine was spotted and subjected to a depth charge attacks by a number of destroyers. After sustaining damage sank off Keehi Lagoon (Ke‘ehi) before it could enter Pearl Harbor or fire its torpedoes. When it failed to reach the rendezvous, the sub and crew were declared missing. Fates of the Crew The exact fate of both crew members is unknown. When the submarine was discovered with the conning tower hatch open, it proved one or both crew may have attempted to escape when damaged or after the sub settled on the bottom. Neither of their bodies were ever located and both remain missing. Their remains were not found inside the submarine when discovered in 1960. Shipwreck On June 13, 1960 during U.S. Navy training exercise, this midget submarine was discovered by divers from of A Company, 3rd Recon Battalion including Laurence McInnis and Fred Stock off Keehi Lagoon (Ke‘ehi) at a depth of 75' / 22.8m. The submarine was damaged by depth charges with the conning tower hatch open and both torpedoes still aboard. Based on the location and damage it was determined to be HA-18 by the U.S. Navy and Japanese Midget Submarine Association. Dubbed "Midget D" (M-18), as the fourth submarine from the Pearl Harbor attack found. Aftterward, the forward section with the torpedoes was unbolted and dumped further out to sea in deeper water. On July 6, 1960 salvaged by USS Current (ARS-22). Inside were the remains of a flight suit, a flying boot, a glove, a rubber sandal, an empty bottle of sake, wrenches and spanners. No remains were found inside. Display At the request of Japan via the consul general in Hawaiʻi, the midget submarine was returned to Japan. On June 19, 1961 transported aboard Japanese LST Shiretoko from Pearl Harbor to Japan. In Japan, a replica bow section was created to make it a complete midget submarine, replacing the original removed before it was salvaged. On March 15, 1962 placed on display as a memorial at the 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 National Marine Sanctuaries - Japanese mini Submarines at Pearl Harbor Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Japanese Midget Submarines Contribute
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