Japanese submarine I-58
_on_trial_run_in_1944.jpg) |
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| History | |
|---|---|
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| Name: | I-58 |
| Builder: | Yokosuka Naval Arsenal |
| Laid down: | 26 December 1942 |
| Launched: | 30 June 1943 |
| Completed: | 7 September 1944 |
| Fate: | Sunk as a target, 1 April 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type B3 submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 108.7 m (357 ft) |
| Beam: | 9.3 m (31 ft) |
| Draft: | 5.19 m (17.0 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Range: |
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| Test depth: | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Boats & landing craft carried: |
6 × Kaiten manned torpedoes |
| Complement: | 94 officers and men |
| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: | None |
| Aviation facilities: | Hangar and launching catapult for floatplane (removed May–June 1945) |
I-58 was a Japanese B3 type cruiser submarine that served in the final year of World War II. Modified to carry Kaiten manned torpedoes, she damaged two enemy destroyers with them, but her most significant success was the USS Indianapolis, sunk with conventional torpedoes on 30 July 1945. The submarine surrendered in September 1945, and was later scuttled by the United States Navy.
The submarine was laid down on 26 December 1942 at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, and launched on 30 June 1943. During construction her 14 cm/40 11th Year Type naval gun was removed, making room for four Kaiten manned suicide torpedoes. The submarine was completed on 7 September 1944 and command was given to Kaigun Shōsa (Lieutenant Commander) Mochitsura Hashimoto.
I-58 was assigned to the Sixth Fleet's Submarine Squadron 11 for training in the Inland Sea before being assigned to the 15th Submarine Division on 4 December 1944. A few days later she was assigned to the Kongo ("Diamond") group, with I-36, I-47, I-48, I-53 and I-56, to launch Kaiten attacks on five different U.S. fleet anchorages. I-58 was assigned to attack Apra Harbor, Guam.
After a week of exercises I-58 took on fuel, provisions and torpedoes, and embarked four Kaiten and their crews, before departing Kure with I-36 on 31 December 1944. Between 03:10 and 03:27 on 12 January 1945, eleven miles west of Apra, she launched all four Kaiten. The last Kaiten detonated immediately after launching, but at 05:30, as I-58 was leaving the area, she observed two pillars of smoke. She arrived at back at Kure on 22 January 1945 and was credited with sinking an escort carrier and a large oiler, but the attack was not successful.
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