IJN
Submarine
Length
250'
Sinking History
Sunk by an American bomber September
28, 1942 at Kiska Harbor. Japanese sorces claim the sub was lost by accident
while diving to escape an air strike.
Shipwreck
This
wreck is most likely RO-65. The diving planes were horizontal, rather
than
pointed
downward as would be expected if the sub was diving, and the screw was fouled
with cable, perhaps from later salvage attempts. The submersible deck gear was
in place.
Material evidence on this side points to sinking by bombing. There was external structural damage to the pressure hull and the entirety of the sail material lay off to the hull side. A debris field lies to the south of the hull, which was facing east toward the harbor mouth. The debris field contained most of the sail-related equipment. The forward torpedo loading hatch was open and a 21-inch torpedo was in place on the port side.
Salvage
Some salvage is evident: hatches are open, deck guns are
missing. It is not clear at present when this was done or by whom,
whether contemporary Japanese, Americans, or later souvenir hunting
divers.
Tabular Movements
