The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is presently taking inventory on some 30,000 coastal wrecks off the US shore, many of them casualties of the 1942 Battle of the Atlantic. They are especially looking for those that might pose a threat to the environment.
NOAA's Lisa Symons said, "We're starting to see significant corrosion." Those that did nor blow up or break apart may still have fuel or armaments aboard.
The worst-threat list has been narrowed to 233 vessels with a final list being prepared for the end of the year. Efforts will be made to remove oil from these ships using funds from the Oil Spill liability Trust Fund which is supported by the oil industry.
Wreck spills are a threat globally, with an especially high concentration in the western Pacific (where many World War II battles took place). But the US coastline is littered with the wrecks of ships sink by German and Japanese submarines.
A Congressional appropriation of $1 million is being used for the identification project, part of which involves looking through ship manifests, naval records, sinking reports, insurance documents and survivors accounts. (Hey, even a lot can be learned through a quick Yahoo! search.)
More to Come. --Cooter
Showing posts with label Japanese Submarines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese Submarines. Show all posts
Monday, November 14, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
World War II Submarine Found
From the Oct. 28th ABC News-World "Navy investigating possible World War II submarine."
The Australian and New Zealand navies are working in a joint Render Safe operation to rid the southwest Pacific of unexploded World War II ordnance. In Simpson Harbor in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, contact was made with a twenty meter long solid man-made object. The Australian Navy thinks it might be a World War submarine (if it is, it would likely be mini-sub like the ones that attacked Pearl Harbor).
The New Zealand Navy is not sure.
I looked up Simpson Harbor in Wikipedia and found out the harbor is a huge flooded caldera on an ancient volcano. Rabaul, the capital of New Britain, is on its shore. The Japanese had a huge naval base here during World War II and it often came under attack by the Allies. Sixty-five Japanese ships were sunk here.
Wonder Whose Sub It Is? --Cooter
The Australian and New Zealand navies are working in a joint Render Safe operation to rid the southwest Pacific of unexploded World War II ordnance. In Simpson Harbor in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, contact was made with a twenty meter long solid man-made object. The Australian Navy thinks it might be a World War submarine (if it is, it would likely be mini-sub like the ones that attacked Pearl Harbor).
The New Zealand Navy is not sure.
I looked up Simpson Harbor in Wikipedia and found out the harbor is a huge flooded caldera on an ancient volcano. Rabaul, the capital of New Britain, is on its shore. The Japanese had a huge naval base here during World War II and it often came under attack by the Allies. Sixty-five Japanese ships were sunk here.
Wonder Whose Sub It Is? --Cooter
Monday, October 3, 2011
Looking for Oil Leaking from World War II Shipwreck
From the Sept. 29th KCOY, Santa Maria, California.
A contract has been awarded to Global Diving and Salvage by the US Coast Guard to see if there is oil in the wreck of the SS Montebello, 900 feet deep and 6.5 miles off Cambria, California.
It was sunk be a Japanese submarine December 23, 1941 and broke apart.
Between 1996 and 2010, multiple dives were made to see if the hull is still intact.
From the California State Military Museum and Wikipedia sites.
The Japanese submarine I-21, which participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor, fired two torpedoes at the 440 foot long SS Montebello loaded with 4.1 million gallons of oil. One was a dud, but the other exploded, fortunately, not by a filled oil tank. The 39 men on the ship abandoned it and the submarine surfaces and opened fire on the burning vessel to speed up its sinking.
Later that same day, the I-21 shelled and damaged the tanker SS Idaho. The I-21 went on to have a very successful career sinking allied ships until it was lost at sea sometime in 1943.
The Montebello was found November 29, 1996.
Still having Problems with World War II. --Cooter
A contract has been awarded to Global Diving and Salvage by the US Coast Guard to see if there is oil in the wreck of the SS Montebello, 900 feet deep and 6.5 miles off Cambria, California.
It was sunk be a Japanese submarine December 23, 1941 and broke apart.
Between 1996 and 2010, multiple dives were made to see if the hull is still intact.
From the California State Military Museum and Wikipedia sites.
The Japanese submarine I-21, which participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor, fired two torpedoes at the 440 foot long SS Montebello loaded with 4.1 million gallons of oil. One was a dud, but the other exploded, fortunately, not by a filled oil tank. The 39 men on the ship abandoned it and the submarine surfaces and opened fire on the burning vessel to speed up its sinking.
Later that same day, the I-21 shelled and damaged the tanker SS Idaho. The I-21 went on to have a very successful career sinking allied ships until it was lost at sea sometime in 1943.
The Montebello was found November 29, 1996.
Still having Problems with World War II. --Cooter
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Back to the AHS Centaur-- Part 2
The $4 million search for the Centaur's final resting place was financed by both Australian state and federal funds.
At the ceremony on September 24rh, "The Last Post" was played by bugler Andy Aitchison and the ship's bell rung 268 times, once for each victim. The ashes of three loved ones were also scattered overboard.
Some of the relatives aboard the HMAS Manoora:
David McFarlane-- his aunt was nurse Mary McFarlane.
Jan Thomas-- secretary of 2/3 AHS Centaur Association. Was six when her father, Captain Bernard Hindmarsh died. She recalled a girl at her school desperately needing penicillin which was not available to civilians. Her dad came home with the needed drug and saved her life.
Irene Burrows received a telegram about the loss of her two brothers.
Mrs. Butcher's older brother, Private Bill Lawson, died.
Barry McCosker's father, Vince, was 20 and was one of 26 who survived in a single life boat. he later died in 1998.
The wreck is at 27 degrees 16.98' S and 153 degrees 9.22' E.
At the ceremony on September 24rh, "The Last Post" was played by bugler Andy Aitchison and the ship's bell rung 268 times, once for each victim. The ashes of three loved ones were also scattered overboard.
Some of the relatives aboard the HMAS Manoora:
David McFarlane-- his aunt was nurse Mary McFarlane.
Jan Thomas-- secretary of 2/3 AHS Centaur Association. Was six when her father, Captain Bernard Hindmarsh died. She recalled a girl at her school desperately needing penicillin which was not available to civilians. Her dad came home with the needed drug and saved her life.
Irene Burrows received a telegram about the loss of her two brothers.
Mrs. Butcher's older brother, Private Bill Lawson, died.
Barry McCosker's father, Vince, was 20 and was one of 26 who survived in a single life boat. he later died in 1998.
The wreck is at 27 degrees 16.98' S and 153 degrees 9.22' E.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Back to the AHS Centaur-- Part 1
From the September 25th Brisbane (Au) Times "After 67 years 'cloud of sorrow' finally lifted" by Daniel Hurst.
Mary Sutton, Tom Bracken and Peter Bracken attended the ceremony. They lost two brothers when the Centaur was torpedoed, Paul and John Bracken.
Martin Pash, a Centaur survivor, was also there and remembers spending 36 hours in the water before being rescued.
The memorial service was held on the HMAS Manoora on September 24th.The ship was over the wreck of the Centaur. More than 300 attended the service. Most were relatives of the 268 who died that day and the 64 survivors who were rescued bu the destroyer USS Mugford.
"I cried and threw the wreath over for my brothers. Now, I'm going to a pub and going to have a beer for me."
The Centaur's final resting place was found by UK-based shipwreck-hunter David Mearms 48 kilometers east of the southern tip of Moreton Island.
More to Come. --Cooter
Mary Sutton, Tom Bracken and Peter Bracken attended the ceremony. They lost two brothers when the Centaur was torpedoed, Paul and John Bracken.
Martin Pash, a Centaur survivor, was also there and remembers spending 36 hours in the water before being rescued.
The memorial service was held on the HMAS Manoora on September 24th.The ship was over the wreck of the Centaur. More than 300 attended the service. Most were relatives of the 268 who died that day and the 64 survivors who were rescued bu the destroyer USS Mugford.
"I cried and threw the wreath over for my brothers. Now, I'm going to a pub and going to have a beer for me."
The Centaur's final resting place was found by UK-based shipwreck-hunter David Mearms 48 kilometers east of the southern tip of Moreton Island.
More to Come. --Cooter
Friday, September 24, 2010
AHS Centaur Memorial
From September 22nd news.com.au.
Judith Holland of Auchenflower, Australia, will spread her husband's ashes at the site of the wreck of the AHS Centaur as part of a memorial. Professor Angus Holland died three years ago. Major L.L. Holland, one of the victims of the attack on the hospital ship back during World War II. Angus was just sixteen when his father died.
Major Holland was a graduate of the University of Sydney and a medical officer on board the Centaur. He had previously served in the Middle East during the war.
Three hundred Centaur family members from across Australia will be going to the site aboard the HMAS Kanimbia.
Ms. Holland will be one of three people spreading loved ones' ashes over the wreck. Flowers will also be thrown overboard.
For more information, just click on the label Centaur below. I've had lots of posts about the ship, 53 to be exact.
A Sad Event Memorialized. --Cooter
Judith Holland of Auchenflower, Australia, will spread her husband's ashes at the site of the wreck of the AHS Centaur as part of a memorial. Professor Angus Holland died three years ago. Major L.L. Holland, one of the victims of the attack on the hospital ship back during World War II. Angus was just sixteen when his father died.
Major Holland was a graduate of the University of Sydney and a medical officer on board the Centaur. He had previously served in the Middle East during the war.
Three hundred Centaur family members from across Australia will be going to the site aboard the HMAS Kanimbia.
Ms. Holland will be one of three people spreading loved ones' ashes over the wreck. Flowers will also be thrown overboard.
For more information, just click on the label Centaur below. I've had lots of posts about the ship, 53 to be exact.
A Sad Event Memorialized. --Cooter
Saturday, September 11, 2010
AHS Centaur Update
There are not too many articles in Australian papers now about the tragic hospital ship Centaur, but, I did come across this in the August 27th Courier-Mail (Australia). "Centaur Memorial Health Precinct to remind nursing students of World War II sacrifice" by Margaret Wenham.
Pam Gilbert was just 5 and not yet in school when her father, Fred Fortier, was killed in the May 14, 1943, Japanese submarine attack on the Centaur.
Now 72, Gilbert and two other relatives of Centaur's crew attended the opening of the Centaur Memorial Health Precinct, a new $4.5 million facility for training nurses.
She remembers that her mother received the telegram that her husband was dead within hours after a similar one arrived at her grandparents' house saying that her Uncle Alan was dead. Both brothers had been members of the 2nd 12th Field Ambulance contingent aboard the ill-fated Centaur.
The new facility has classrooms, a staff room and state-of-the-art health center. The staff area is named after Sister Savage, the only one of 12 nurses aboard the Centaur to survive the attack.
Still a Very Heart Rending Event. --Cooter
Pam Gilbert was just 5 and not yet in school when her father, Fred Fortier, was killed in the May 14, 1943, Japanese submarine attack on the Centaur.
Now 72, Gilbert and two other relatives of Centaur's crew attended the opening of the Centaur Memorial Health Precinct, a new $4.5 million facility for training nurses.
She remembers that her mother received the telegram that her husband was dead within hours after a similar one arrived at her grandparents' house saying that her Uncle Alan was dead. Both brothers had been members of the 2nd 12th Field Ambulance contingent aboard the ill-fated Centaur.
The new facility has classrooms, a staff room and state-of-the-art health center. The staff area is named after Sister Savage, the only one of 12 nurses aboard the Centaur to survive the attack.
Still a Very Heart Rending Event. --Cooter
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Young Anglers the Last to See the Centaur
From the Dec. 23, 2009 Chronicle (Australia). This was back when a search was on to locate the wreck of the AHS Centaur, a hospital ship sunk by a Japanese submarine. I have done many entries about this vessel. Surprisingly, very little was printed in the United States about it.
On May 14, 1943, Kevin Watkins, now 76, was fishing off South Stradbroke Island with his brother and father when he saw the distant light of the Centaur.
"We saw a boat going north towards Brisbane and it was all lit up. We made remarks at the time because it was war-time and the ships should usually be blacked. So we figured it must have been a neutral or a hospital ship."
They later noted a bright flash over the water.
The next day they found a crate of oranges washed up on the shore and now feel sure it was from the Centaur. They ate it all.
A Sad Story of a War Tragedy. --Cooter
On May 14, 1943, Kevin Watkins, now 76, was fishing off South Stradbroke Island with his brother and father when he saw the distant light of the Centaur.
"We saw a boat going north towards Brisbane and it was all lit up. We made remarks at the time because it was war-time and the ships should usually be blacked. So we figured it must have been a neutral or a hospital ship."
They later noted a bright flash over the water.
The next day they found a crate of oranges washed up on the shore and now feel sure it was from the Centaur. They ate it all.
A Sad Story of a War Tragedy. --Cooter
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Centaur's Felt Hat
From the Jan. 18th Redland Times "Felt hat symbol of Centaur tragedy." By far, one of the most telling photos taken of the wreck of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was of the felt hat sitting upright on the ocean floor.
Pam Gilbert received a "jolt" when she saw it. Her father and uncle were both drivers with the 2/12 Ambulance Unit. Both died in the tragedy.
She was fine while looking at the photos until she saw that hat. "That gave me quite a jolt." This was the type of hat her father and uncle would have worn.
Could it have been one of theirs?
She was just five when the Centaur was torpedoed.
That hat was the most telling of all the photos of the wreck for me as well. I tried to download it, but was unable.
A Very Sad Event. --Cooter
Pam Gilbert received a "jolt" when she saw it. Her father and uncle were both drivers with the 2/12 Ambulance Unit. Both died in the tragedy.
She was fine while looking at the photos until she saw that hat. "That gave me quite a jolt." This was the type of hat her father and uncle would have worn.
Could it have been one of theirs?
She was just five when the Centaur was torpedoed.
That hat was the most telling of all the photos of the wreck for me as well. I tried to download it, but was unable.
A Very Sad Event. --Cooter
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Back to the Centaur
From the January 14th Northern Daily Leader.
Ellen (Nell) Savage was one of only twelve nurses to survive the Centaur. She enlisted in 1941 and was described as "curly brunette with a dimpling smile. After the sinking, she was honored with the George Medal by King George IV, which is primarily a civilian decoration but can be awarded to serving military personnel for gallant conduct not in the face of the enemy.
The citation reads, "Although suffering from severe injuries...she displayed great heroism while she and some male members of the ship's company were floating in a raft to which they clung for 34 hours before being found by an American destroyer.
"She rendered conspicuous service in attending to wounds and burns sustained by the other survivors.
"Sister Savage's example of high courage and fortitude did much to maintain the morale of her companions. With sharks circling the raft, ships and planes missing them, she organized a singalong to keep up spirits."
Ellen Savage died in 1983.
A Hero for the Times. --DaCoot
Ellen (Nell) Savage was one of only twelve nurses to survive the Centaur. She enlisted in 1941 and was described as "curly brunette with a dimpling smile. After the sinking, she was honored with the George Medal by King George IV, which is primarily a civilian decoration but can be awarded to serving military personnel for gallant conduct not in the face of the enemy.
The citation reads, "Although suffering from severe injuries...she displayed great heroism while she and some male members of the ship's company were floating in a raft to which they clung for 34 hours before being found by an American destroyer.
"She rendered conspicuous service in attending to wounds and burns sustained by the other survivors.
"Sister Savage's example of high courage and fortitude did much to maintain the morale of her companions. With sharks circling the raft, ships and planes missing them, she organized a singalong to keep up spirits."
Ellen Savage died in 1983.
A Hero for the Times. --DaCoot
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Looking Back at the AHS Centaur-- Part 2
Continuing from yesterday's entry from the Northern Star.
The M/V Limerick, sunk by the I-177, was in a convoy of five ships going from Brisbane to Sydney and escorted by two Australian minesweepers, the HMAS Colac and HMAS Ballarat.
The Limerick became separated from the rest while having engine problems and was zig-zagging. "Around 1 am on the 126th, the I-177 announced her presence torpedoing the Limerick abaft her beam on the port side and the vessel quickly developed a heavy list to port.
The Colac began anti-submarine search and dropped depth charges while the Ballarat continued with the convoy. The Colac picked up survivors during the night. The Limerick sank at 6:30 am. The captain and 70 crew members were picked up, but the 3rd and 4th engineers went down with the ship.
The Wollongbar was bound for Byron Bay from Sydney at the time the Limerick was sunk and was diverted to search for survivors. Gale force conditions hampered the search and the ship returned to Ballina, only to be sunk three days later. Of 37 crew, only five survived in a lifeboat.
The I-177 was later sunk by the USS Samuel S. Miles.
That I-177 Was Really One Busy Submarine. --Cooter
The M/V Limerick, sunk by the I-177, was in a convoy of five ships going from Brisbane to Sydney and escorted by two Australian minesweepers, the HMAS Colac and HMAS Ballarat.
The Limerick became separated from the rest while having engine problems and was zig-zagging. "Around 1 am on the 126th, the I-177 announced her presence torpedoing the Limerick abaft her beam on the port side and the vessel quickly developed a heavy list to port.
The Colac began anti-submarine search and dropped depth charges while the Ballarat continued with the convoy. The Colac picked up survivors during the night. The Limerick sank at 6:30 am. The captain and 70 crew members were picked up, but the 3rd and 4th engineers went down with the ship.
The Wollongbar was bound for Byron Bay from Sydney at the time the Limerick was sunk and was diverted to search for survivors. Gale force conditions hampered the search and the ship returned to Ballina, only to be sunk three days later. Of 37 crew, only five survived in a lifeboat.
The I-177 was later sunk by the USS Samuel S. Miles.
That I-177 Was Really One Busy Submarine. --Cooter
Monday, June 21, 2010
Looking Back at the AHS Centaur
From the January 15th Northern Star.
Two months before the Centaur was sunk, the I-177 torpedoed and sank the MV Limerick 32 kilometers off Cape Breton. Three days later, on April 29, the passenger steamer SS Wollongbar was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Crescent Head. That submarine is not known, but believed to be the I-177 which was operating in the area.
The same day, the SS Bonalbo had sailed through the same area but encountered no problem. It was held in Ballina for safety.
These were extremely rough days for the Australian Merchant Marine which was delivering supplies between Sydney, Darwin and Papua New Guinea. Japanese subs sank five ships in April alone. A total of 87 died and 25 tons of cargo lost.
Rough Times for Australia. --Cooter
Two months before the Centaur was sunk, the I-177 torpedoed and sank the MV Limerick 32 kilometers off Cape Breton. Three days later, on April 29, the passenger steamer SS Wollongbar was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of Crescent Head. That submarine is not known, but believed to be the I-177 which was operating in the area.
The same day, the SS Bonalbo had sailed through the same area but encountered no problem. It was held in Ballina for safety.
These were extremely rough days for the Australian Merchant Marine which was delivering supplies between Sydney, Darwin and Papua New Guinea. Japanese subs sank five ships in April alone. A total of 87 died and 25 tons of cargo lost.
Rough Times for Australia. --Cooter
Monday, June 14, 2010
Some More on the AHS Centaur
Looking back at some older things I've written down. here are some more stories regarding the Centaur.
The I-177, was the Japanese submarine that sank the Centaur. It was a Japanese KD7-type Kaidai-class submarine, commissioned December 28, 1942. It was sunk itself on October 3, 1944, by the USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183) with the loss of the whole crew of 101. The commander of the submarine when it sank the Centaur, Lt.-Cmdr. Hajime Nakagawa, was not aboard at the time, however.
The Miles was a destroyer escort of the Cannon-class and was commissioned November 4, 1943 and served in the Pacific Ocean doing convoy duty and protecting against Japanese submarines. During the war, the Miles won a remarkable 8 battle stars.
One of Those Little-Known Stories. --DaCoot
The I-177, was the Japanese submarine that sank the Centaur. It was a Japanese KD7-type Kaidai-class submarine, commissioned December 28, 1942. It was sunk itself on October 3, 1944, by the USS Samuel S. Miles (DE-183) with the loss of the whole crew of 101. The commander of the submarine when it sank the Centaur, Lt.-Cmdr. Hajime Nakagawa, was not aboard at the time, however.
The Miles was a destroyer escort of the Cannon-class and was commissioned November 4, 1943 and served in the Pacific Ocean doing convoy duty and protecting against Japanese submarines. During the war, the Miles won a remarkable 8 battle stars.
One of Those Little-Known Stories. --DaCoot
Friday, June 4, 2010
AHS Centaur
From the Dec. 22, 2009 Australian.
In 2003, the Australian government declared the area east of where the wreck was presumed to be a war grave zone and at least one survivor has had their ashes spread there after death.
The Centaur had not always been a hospital ship and, upon its conversion, the Japanese government had been notified Feb. 5, 1943, of its change of status. The vessel was marked with green bands bow to stern on both sides and red crosses on either side of the funnel. In addition, three large red crosses were painted on either side of the hull.
The ship was also equipped with many lights and would be lit at night so as to be easily discerned. There were so many lights, one Centaur survivor described the ship as being "lit up like a Christmas tree."
Eight months before the Centaur was sunk, a Japanese ship in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, had trained a spotlight on the AHS Manunda, which was similarly marked but had not fired upon the ship.
It is not known why the Japanese submarine commander Hajime Nakagawa torpedoed the Centaur.
A Sad Story. --Cooter
In 2003, the Australian government declared the area east of where the wreck was presumed to be a war grave zone and at least one survivor has had their ashes spread there after death.
The Centaur had not always been a hospital ship and, upon its conversion, the Japanese government had been notified Feb. 5, 1943, of its change of status. The vessel was marked with green bands bow to stern on both sides and red crosses on either side of the funnel. In addition, three large red crosses were painted on either side of the hull.
The ship was also equipped with many lights and would be lit at night so as to be easily discerned. There were so many lights, one Centaur survivor described the ship as being "lit up like a Christmas tree."
Eight months before the Centaur was sunk, a Japanese ship in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, had trained a spotlight on the AHS Manunda, which was similarly marked but had not fired upon the ship.
It is not known why the Japanese submarine commander Hajime Nakagawa torpedoed the Centaur.
A Sad Story. --Cooter
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Dead Page: Centaur Survivor Dies
From the April 11th Leader Community Newspapers.
Matthew Morris, 89, the oldest remaining survivor of the AHS Centaur, died April 9th in Ringwood, Australia. He was 23 when the ship was sunk in 1943.
despite advanced dementia, it was clear that he still was haunted by the memories. Recently he was interviewed and said, "I wish I had never seen that ship."
The funeral was yesterday, April 13th and fellow Centaur survivor Marty Pash, 89, was there and said "He was a great mate" about Mr. Morris.
A sad Part of History.
Matthew Morris, 89, the oldest remaining survivor of the AHS Centaur, died April 9th in Ringwood, Australia. He was 23 when the ship was sunk in 1943.
despite advanced dementia, it was clear that he still was haunted by the memories. Recently he was interviewed and said, "I wish I had never seen that ship."
The funeral was yesterday, April 13th and fellow Centaur survivor Marty Pash, 89, was there and said "He was a great mate" about Mr. Morris.
A sad Part of History.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Killer Subs at Pearl Harbor-- Part 4
Japanese mini-sub #5 escaped to West Loch after firing its torpedoes. and set off a scuttling charge when it became apparent they couldn't get out. It appears that the charges were set off underwater with the two men still aboard.
THE BIG QUESTION. HOW DID THE SUBMARINE GET OUTSIDE THE HARBOR?
Cables were found on all three pieces of the sub.
On May 21, 1944, a huge explosion took place at the West Loch as ammunition and supplies were being loaded on LST-353 for the attack on the island of Okinawa. The explosion also sank six other LSTs and damaged two others. The Navy lost 163 sailors killed and 396 wounded.
Because of the operation, this was kept secret and all the wreckage was raised an taken three miles out of the harbor and dumped in the Pacific.
Very Interesting Show. --Cooter
THE BIG QUESTION. HOW DID THE SUBMARINE GET OUTSIDE THE HARBOR?
Cables were found on all three pieces of the sub.
On May 21, 1944, a huge explosion took place at the West Loch as ammunition and supplies were being loaded on LST-353 for the attack on the island of Okinawa. The explosion also sank six other LSTs and damaged two others. The Navy lost 163 sailors killed and 396 wounded.
Because of the operation, this was kept secret and all the wreckage was raised an taken three miles out of the harbor and dumped in the Pacific.
Very Interesting Show. --Cooter
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Killer Subs at Pearl Harbor-- Part 3
There is evidence that at least one of the torpedoes fired by this mini sub hit a target.
Arnold Bauer, on the USS Vestal, said he saw one or more torpedo tracks coming in too deep for ones dropped by planes. Don Stratton remembers seeing a pair of torpedoes.
After the attack, an unexploded 1,000 pound torpedo was found. The Japanese planes dropped 500 pound torpedoes.
Divers have gone over the wreck of the Arizona and have found nothing to indicate a torpedo hit on the hull. The West Virginia was hit by 7 torpedoes and up to 9 hit the Oklahoma. One struck the West Virginia.
At the attack's conclusion, there was a big hunt for Japanese submarines. A US minesweeper reported firing on a submarine.
A picture taken from a Japanese plane during the attack shows some splashing in the waters off Battleship Row. This could be the backwash caused by the force of a torpedo being fired from a mini submarine.
More to Come. DaCoot
Arnold Bauer, on the USS Vestal, said he saw one or more torpedo tracks coming in too deep for ones dropped by planes. Don Stratton remembers seeing a pair of torpedoes.
After the attack, an unexploded 1,000 pound torpedo was found. The Japanese planes dropped 500 pound torpedoes.
Divers have gone over the wreck of the Arizona and have found nothing to indicate a torpedo hit on the hull. The West Virginia was hit by 7 torpedoes and up to 9 hit the Oklahoma. One struck the West Virginia.
At the attack's conclusion, there was a big hunt for Japanese submarines. A US minesweeper reported firing on a submarine.
A picture taken from a Japanese plane during the attack shows some splashing in the waters off Battleship Row. This could be the backwash caused by the force of a torpedo being fired from a mini submarine.
More to Come. DaCoot
Killer Subs at Pearl Harbor-- Part 2
Back on January 18th, I wrote about the PBS special on the Japanese mini submarines at Pearl harbor December 7, 1941.
I'm continuing with it.
An area has been found outside of Pearl Harbor which is a World War II underwater museum of debris. Among the objects found are three pieces of a Japanese mini submarine. Items on the sub have positively identified it as one of the five making the attack that day.
Rudders on these submarines were different after the attack. The ones December 7th were too small for much maneuverability. Sharp-edged wire-cutters, called figure-eight net-cutters, were found on the bow to cut the submarine nets across the harbor entrance. Plus, there was a pulley.
Apparently, the other four mini subs didn't fire their torpedoes, but this one had empty torpedo tubes. A message was received by the Japanese Navy from the sub after the attack in morse code saying "Tora" which stood for a successful attack.
The ten sailors on the five submarines became instant heroes in Japan after the attack.
More to Come. --Cooter
I'm continuing with it.
An area has been found outside of Pearl Harbor which is a World War II underwater museum of debris. Among the objects found are three pieces of a Japanese mini submarine. Items on the sub have positively identified it as one of the five making the attack that day.
Rudders on these submarines were different after the attack. The ones December 7th were too small for much maneuverability. Sharp-edged wire-cutters, called figure-eight net-cutters, were found on the bow to cut the submarine nets across the harbor entrance. Plus, there was a pulley.
Apparently, the other four mini subs didn't fire their torpedoes, but this one had empty torpedo tubes. A message was received by the Japanese Navy from the sub after the attack in morse code saying "Tora" which stood for a successful attack.
The ten sailors on the five submarines became instant heroes in Japan after the attack.
More to Come. --Cooter
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Japanese Mini Subs at Pearl Harbor
The December 7, 2009, Chicago Tribune had an article about the mini subs that alerted me to the PBS special.
A Japanese mini sub fired two 800 pound torpedoes in Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, most likely at the West Virginia and Oklahoma. It is believed to have been scuttled in the harbor the next day.
The Japanese submarine I-16 received a radio call from the mini sub at 10:41 pm December 8th reporting that the attack was a success, but they couldn't get out of the harbor so were going to scuttle the ship.
A photograph taken from an attacking Japanese plane seems to show a mini sub attacking in the harbor. It is believed that only the blast from a submarine-fired torpedo would have had the force to capsize the Oklahoma. Had it been hit by a lighter aircraft torpedo, it would have sunk by settling straight down to the harbor bottom.
It is believed that the mini sub was scuttled in a part of Pearl Harbor called West Loch, where, on May 21, 1944, a huge explosion took place as ammunition was being loaded for Operation Forager against the Mariana Islands. This was kept top secret and the salvage ship Valve was sent to the area to remove the debris. It is believed that the wreck of the submarine was removed at the time and dumped outside the harbor.
A Little Known Part of the War. --Cooter
A Japanese mini sub fired two 800 pound torpedoes in Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, most likely at the West Virginia and Oklahoma. It is believed to have been scuttled in the harbor the next day.
The Japanese submarine I-16 received a radio call from the mini sub at 10:41 pm December 8th reporting that the attack was a success, but they couldn't get out of the harbor so were going to scuttle the ship.
A photograph taken from an attacking Japanese plane seems to show a mini sub attacking in the harbor. It is believed that only the blast from a submarine-fired torpedo would have had the force to capsize the Oklahoma. Had it been hit by a lighter aircraft torpedo, it would have sunk by settling straight down to the harbor bottom.
It is believed that the mini sub was scuttled in a part of Pearl Harbor called West Loch, where, on May 21, 1944, a huge explosion took place as ammunition was being loaded for Operation Forager against the Mariana Islands. This was kept top secret and the salvage ship Valve was sent to the area to remove the debris. It is believed that the wreck of the submarine was removed at the time and dumped outside the harbor.
A Little Known Part of the War. --Cooter
Friday, March 5, 2010
More on the Centaur
March 2nd Brisbane (Au) Times
Kevin Rudd: "Because in the story of the Centaur we see the worst of humanity at work and the best of humanity. We also honor the families who then waited two-thirds of a century to discover the final resting place of their loved ones."
Survivior Martin Pash said the torpedo hit about 4:1- am and he got in a raft with eleven survivors, including Sister Ellen savage (evidently, Australian nurses were called sisters). They drifted for 32 hours in shark infested waters before being rescued by the USS Mugford.
This ship was used in the atomic blasts at Bikini Atoll in 1946 after the war. After decontamination tests were carried out, it was sunk off Kwajalein Island March 22, 1948.
The services were held in Brisbane, the largest city close to where the Centaur sank.
A Great and Noble Effort by Australia. Congratulations. --Cooter
Kevin Rudd: "Because in the story of the Centaur we see the worst of humanity at work and the best of humanity. We also honor the families who then waited two-thirds of a century to discover the final resting place of their loved ones."
Survivior Martin Pash said the torpedo hit about 4:1- am and he got in a raft with eleven survivors, including Sister Ellen savage (evidently, Australian nurses were called sisters). They drifted for 32 hours in shark infested waters before being rescued by the USS Mugford.
This ship was used in the atomic blasts at Bikini Atoll in 1946 after the war. After decontamination tests were carried out, it was sunk off Kwajalein Island March 22, 1948.
The services were held in Brisbane, the largest city close to where the Centaur sank.
A Great and Noble Effort by Australia. Congratulations. --Cooter
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