Captain  Lt. Kenshi Chuma (KIA)
Navigator  Petty Officer Takeshi Omari (KIA)
Scuttled  May 31, 1942 at 10:35pm

Mission History
On May 31, 1942 this midget submarine was launched by Japanese submarine I-27. This midget submarine along with HA-24 (M24) and HA-21 (M22) were on a mission to penetrate Sydney Harbor and torpedo enemy vessels.

At 8:00pm this submarine successfully crossed the indicator loop at the entrance to Sydney Harbor without being detected. At 8:15pm, this submarine became tangled in the anti-torpedo boom net between Green Point and Georges Head and was spotted by workers.

At 10:35pm, Lt. Kenshi Chuma detonated the demolition charge that triggered an en explosion that blew the bow section outward, killed the crew and sank the submarine to the bottom of Sydney Harbor.

Shipwreck
In early June 1942 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) raised the submarine from Sydney Harbor.

Recovery of Remains
After the submarine was salvaged, the remains of both crew members were recovered, cremated and given a military funeral with full honors in Australia. Afterwards, their ashes were transfered to Japan.

Display
During June 1942 until the end of the Pacific War, this submarine was put on display in Sydney and toured around Australia to raise money for the war widows fund.

Postwar, the submarine was returned to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). In 1955 the stern section of M27 and 105mm deck gun from SMS Emden were displayed outdoors at at HMAS Penguin overlooking the entrance of Sydney Harbor.

Display
In 1975, the Australian War Memorial (AWM) assembled a complete Type A Midget Submarine (composite) using the bow section of M22 combined with the center and stern section of M27 to form an externally complete submarine for display purposes.

Display
A complete Type A Midget Submarine (composite) is display in ANZAC Hall at Australian War Memorial (AWM). The center section of the submarine has a "14" inside a circle painted in white, possibly indicating this was HA-14, the 14th Type A midget submarine built.

Since 2001, the complete Type A Midget Submarine (composite) is displayed in ANZAC Hall at Australian War Memorial (AWM). Displayed below the submarine are artifacts related to the May 31-June 1, 1942 midget submarine attack on Sydney Harbor. The display includes the conning tower hatch from either M22 or M27, Type 97 torpedo and the helmet that belonged to Lt. Kenshi Chuma commander of M27.

The sub in the Australian War Memorial (AWM) is the bow of M22, and mid and stern section of M27. Other artifacts in the museum's collection include Chuma's helmet are displayed nearby.

In the 1970s it was displayed outdoors. Today, it is displayed indoors at ANZAC Hall.

References
RAN Japanese Midget Submarine Attack on Sydney Harbour by John Perryman

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Last Updated
August 4, 2020