IJN
Submarine
Built
December 10, 1928
Kawasaki's Kobe Yard
Captain
LtCdr Kisagami
Ship History
Completed December 10, 1928 at Kawasaki Kobe Yard and commissioned in Japanese Navy as the SS-60. In June 1938, renumbered I-124.
Wartime History
Participates in the attack on the Philippines, laying mines in Manila Harbor. Sinks British freighter Hareldawins. Then, participates in the Celebes operations, and patrols Darwin area.
Sinking History
Early in the morning of January 21, 1942, the USS Alden (DD-211) makes contact and drops six depth charges but without result. A plane from USS Langley (AV-3) reports attacking a submarine. The ALDEN steams to the reported position, sees an oil slick and attacks. After dropping her last depth charge, she returns to port. That afternoon, while taking on fuel, the ALDEN is ordered to accompany the EDSALL to the location of the earlier attack. The Australian corvettes HMAS DELORAINE, LITHGOW and the KATOOMBA are ordered to the scene. LtCdr Desmond A. Menlove's new DELORAINE arrives first.
LtCdr Kisagami sets up on this new threat and fires a torpedo with a shallow depth setting at the DELORAINE. At 1335, the corvette's starboard lookout reports "torpedo approaching, Green 100". The DELORAINE turns hard starboard at full speed and the torpedo passes ten feet astern. The corvette's ASDIC locates the I-124 about 2,500 yards ahead and creeping south. The DELORAINE drops pattern after pattern of depth charges. Then the bridge lookout reports a conning tower breaking surface. The DELORAINE rolls a depth charge close alongside of the I-124. The submarine submerges, but air bubbles and oil rise to the surface.
The ALDEN and EDSALL arrive, accompanied by a Consolidated PBY and two American floatplanes, to find the DELORAINE dropping depth charges. The Americans patrol near the submarine contact but are unable to locate the oil slick because of a heavy rainsquall. The LITHGOW and the KATOOMBA patrol another area.
The overpressures created during the depth charge attacks deform the thin seals of the I-124's hatch gaskets and she takes on water. She sinks with 80 crewmen in the western entrance of the Clarence Strait. After the action, the DELORAINE claims two, and the KATOOMBA one, submarine sunk. The I-124 is the first Japanese warship sunk by the Royal Australian Navy. Late, four Japanese mines, possibly laid by the I-124, wash ashore near Darwin on February 11, 1942.
Wreckage
During the war, divers from the submarine tender USS Holland (AS-3) dive the wreck. The I-124 lies upright in 140'. Her conning tower is largely disintegrated. She is declared a war grave and is also protected under the Australian Historic Shipwrecks Act. Vessels are prohibited from anchoring within 500 meters of the wreck.
12 05N
130 06E
140'
Tabular Movements
