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| IJN Type B1 submarine 2,631 Tons (surfaced) 3,713 Tons (submerged) 356' 8" x 30' 6" x 16' 9" 6 x torpedo tubes 1 x 14cm deck gun 2 x 25mm Type 96 AA guns 1 x floatplane (removed) 1 x catapult (removed)  Justin Taylan 2003 |
Sub History Built at the Navy Yard at Yokosuka as a Type B1 submarine. Completed September 30, 1942 as I-36. Delivered to the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and assigned to the Kure Naval District. Wartime History On December 18, 1942 departed Kure and arrives Shortland Harbor on December 31, 1942. Then, departed for a supply run bound for Guadalcanal. On January 3, 1943 a half hour after sunset surfaced in Kamimbo Bay while four barges transfered 20 tons of cargo ashore and 23 wounded Japanese were evacuated. On January 8 returns again to Kamimbo Bay delivering 12 tons of cargo. Next proceeds to the Buna area. On January 17, 1943 evacuates 47 Japanese from the mouth of the Mambare River. Returns again on January 24 and delivers 13 supply drums and evacuates 39 personnel. On January 30, 1943 arrives at Lae to deliver 23 tons of supplies and evacuates 59. Then returns to Mambare on January 24 to deliver 13 supply drums and evacuates 39. On February 16 returns to Lae to deliver 45 tons of supplies and evacuates 90. Returns to Lae again on February 16 delivers 40 tons, 10 soldiers and evacuates 72. Afterwards, returns to Yokosuka on March 7, 1943. On April 6, 1943 departs Yokosuka for the Aleutians. During May 29-30, 1943 conducts Unkato (cargo transporting tube) towing tests in the Inland Sea, then again during June 1943 off Iyo Nada during June. On June 15 departs Paramushir for a supply run to Kiska towing a Unkato container, but it is lost in rough seas. The sub dives to evade USN destroyers in the area, I-36 aborts her supply mission on June 21 and patrols instead. Afterwards, returns to Yokosuka for overhaul, and a radar detector is installed. On August 31, 1943 the submarine is ordered to perform a reconnaissance of Pearl Harbor with a Yokosuka E14Y1 Glen seaplane. Tests were made in the Inland Sea. On September 8, 1943 departs Yokosuka arrives off Hawaii on September 19 and radar detector is used, and moves east of Hawaii to avoid detection. On October 16, launches E14Y1 Glen seaplane 120 nautical miles south of Pearl Harbor, an hour later, the seaplane returns, but is unable to be found or recovered. Returning, I-36 sites a convoy of oilers, but must break off attack due to escorting destroyers. On November 1, 1943 surfaces off Canton Island and the deck gun fires thirteen shells at the island. On November 12, 1943 returns to Truk. On December 21, 1943 departs Truk for a supply mission to Sarmi, arriving on December 31, then returns to Rabaul, departing on January 6, 1944 and returns to Sasebo for overhaul. Resumes training on January 27 in the Inland sea for "Operation Tan". On March 26, 1944 departs Kure on with Yokosuka E14Y1 Glen seaplane to reconnaissance the Majuro Atoll with I-16. On April 16 sites a carrier and fires six torpedoes, then dives and resurfaces 6 hours later. On April 22, 1944 launches seaplane which performs a reconnaissance over Majuro Atoll anchorage, returning the seaplane fails to locate the submarine, and lands on the sea. The next morning it is located, crew recovered and seaplane scuttled. The mission is reported to HQ on April 23. Afterwards on April 30 attacked by a patrol plane, causing the sub to crash dive to 260' damage is only minor. Returns to Kure on May 9. During May 1944 participates in training that is later canceled. On May 23, 1944 performs tests with Type 4 amphibious tracked Ka-Tsu vehicles. On June 19, 1944 departs Kure with supplies including diesel fuel, torpedoes and ammunition arriving eleven days later at Truk. On July 5, 1944 departs Truk transporting 86 passengers including Cdr Izumi Masachika arriving eleven days later at Kure. On September 1, 1944 reassigned as a Kaiten (manned torpedo carrier) and was modified with the aft deck gun removed for the Kaiten. Kikusui Group: First Kaiten Mission On November 8, 1944 at 9:00am departs Otsujima as part of the "Kikusui Group" (Floating Chrysanthemum Group) with four Kaiten on the deck under the command of Captain Ageta Kiyoi with I-37 and I-47 to attack Ulithi Atoll. After crossing the Bungo Suido, I-36 orders the submarines to proceed independently to the target with I-37 proceeding to Palau. On November 16, 1944 a C6N1 Myrt spots four carriers, three battleships, cruisers and destroyers in the north anchorage and transports and oilers in the south anchorage with this reconnaissance relayed to the Kikusui Group. By November 19, 1944 both I-36 and I-47 reach the launch area at the entrance to Mugai Channel on the eastern side of the Urushi Anchorage. On November 20, 1944 at 12:30am I-36 surfaces north of Loosiyep Islet to allow Ensign Taichi Imanichi to board Kaiten No. 3 and Ensign Kudo Yoshihiko to board Kaiten No. 4, both lack access tubes then submerge. At 3:00am while submerged, the other two Kaiten are manned but both are stuck in their chocks and unable to be launched. Also, No. 4 developed an engine leak. At 4:15am Kaiten No. 4 piloted by Ensign Taichi Imanichi launches roughly 9.5 miles east-southeast of Masi Islet and attacks Urushi Anchorage. At 5:45am one of the Kaitens hit USS Mississinewa AO-59 causing an explosion and fire that causes the ship to capsize and sink after 8:30am. Later, Ensign Imanichi is erroneously credited with sinking an aircraft carrier. Afterwards, I-36 surfaces roughly 15 miles east of Falalop Island to recover Ensign Kudo Yoshihiko and is attacked by two aircraft and crash dives to escape without damage. At 5:45am and 6:05am while departing the area, I-36 hears two large explosions. Aboard, the other three disappointed kaiten pilots pressed Lt. Cmdr Teramoto to resurface at a safe distance and attempt to repair their Kaiten for a follow-up strike but are overruled. At 11:40pm surfaces to recharge batteries and proceeds towards Leyte but is instead diverted back via Otsujima to Kure where the three Kaiten were removed. On December 22, 1944 begin preparations for the next Kaiten mission. On December 27, 1944 embarks new Kaiten. Kongo Group: Second Kaiten Mission On December 30, 1944 at 10:00am departs Kure with I-53 and I-58 as part of the "Kongo Group" (Steel Group) that plans to attack U.S. targets at five locations along with I-47, I-48, I-56. On January 11, 1945 approaching Ulithi ran aground on a coral reef but was able to free itself by blowing her main tanks and proceeds with the mission. On January 12, 1945 between 0342 and 0357, launches four Kaitens piloted by Lt Kagaya Takeru, Lt(jg) Todokoro Shizuyo, Ensign Motoi Bunya and CPO Fukumoto Yurimitsu. Meanwhile, a PBM Mariner of VPB-21 piloted by Lt Simms spots a midget submarine in the lagoon. Simms drops four depth charges and sinks a kaiten launched by the I-36. Postwar analysis indicates that one kaiten damaged the ammunition ship USS Mazama (AE-9) and another sank the LCI-600. On January 21, 1945 returns to Kure. During February, the aircraft hangar and catapult are removed to accommodate two more kaitens on the foredeck. A Type 13 air-search radar is fitted in front of the conning tower. Shimbu Group: Kaiten Mission Departs Hikari with four kaitens on March 2 with I-58 to attack ships off Iwo Jima, but the mission is cancelled and returns to Kure on March 10. Tembu Group Departs Hikari on April 22 to operate between the Marianas and Okinawa with six kaitens. On April 27, east of Okinawa in the early morning, the I-36 sights an American convoy of 28 ships. LtCdr Sugamasa launches four Kaitens piloted by Lt(j.g.) Yagi Teiji, PO2C Abe Hideo, Ebihara Kiyosaburo and Matsuda Mitsuo. Two of the kaitens malfunction and cannot be launched. LtCdr Sugamasa reports sinking four transports, but, in fact, all the kaitens are unsuccessful. Afterwards returned to Kure on April 30. Todoroki Group Departs Hikari on June 4 to patrol east of Guam. On June 22, I-36 sights an oiler, sailing alone. Attempts to launch two kaitens, but both malfunction. He then attacks with four conventional torpedoes which explode prematurely, causing slight damage to the landing craft repair ship USS Endymion. Sugamasa reports seeing the Endymion assume a slight list, but then manages to pick up speed and escape thereafter. On June 28, USS Antares (AKS-3) is sailing alone from Saipan bound for Pearl Harbor. The I-36 spots and attacks launches a kaiten piloted by Lt(j.g.) Ikebuchi Nobuo. Antares lookouts report a periscope and wake 100 yards on her starboard quarter, goes hard right and the torpedo misses astern. Then the lookouts see a kaiten in the port wake, turning to the right. At 1331, the ship opens fire at the kaiten's periscope wake and zigzags to avoid. One of her 3-inch guns scores a hit on the kaiten and it disappears. At 1344, another periscope appears. The I-36 broaches and Antares aft 5-inch gun opens fire at her. The USS Sproston (DD-577), steaming to the States for overhaul, is signaled by the ANTARES that she is under attack. Arriving in the vicinity, the destroyer makes sonar contact at 1,000 yards. At 500 yards a periscope is observed passing from starboard to port. The destroyer makes an unsuccessful attempt to ram the submarine. Then she drops a full pattern of depth charges. A large oil slick is later observed. She makes six more attacks with negative results. One of the Sproston's lookouts spots a torpedo wake approaching 60 degrees off her port bow. The destroyer turns hard left and the torpedo passes along her port side. A kaiten's periscope is sighted off the port quarter. Sproston's main battery commences firing and a salvo hits the kaiten, causing a large secondary explosion. Other ships arrive to help conduct night radar coverage of the area. After more than ten depth-charge explosions, the I-36 receives a leak in the forward torpedo room. In order to escape, the sub launches two more kaitens from a depth of 200 feet to engage the destroyer, piloted by Ens Kuge Minoru and FPO1C Yanagiya Hidemasa. The next morning, three destroyer escorts join the group. After a thorough search, all ships depart the area. The I-36's rudder is damaged in the attacks, but she slips away. On June 29 bombed on the surface and by a patrol plane and a fuel tank ruptured. On July 5, while running on the surface attacked by USS Gunnel (SS-253), but all four torpedoes miss astern. Returns to Kure on July 6, 1945. On August 11, 1945 while still at Kure strafed by P-51D Mustangs that damaged the submarine's fuel tank and radar, repairs are estimated at eight days. On August 15, 1945 still at Kure when Japan surrendered. Post War Surrendered to Allied forces in September 1945, and transferred from Kure to Sasebo where it was stripped of equipment. Sinking History On April 1, 1946 as part of "Operation Roads End" the I-36 was towed by USS Nereus AS-1 from Sasebo to an area off the Goto Island in Nagasaki Prefecture then scuttled with gunfire. Display Afterwards, a portion of the submarine was salvaged and is displayed at Yasukuni Jinja Museum. References Combined Fleet - IJN Submarine I-36: Tabular Record of Movement Contribute
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