Comments on: Japanese Submarines Prowl the U.S. Pacific Coastline in 1941 http://www.historynet.com/japanese-submarines-prowl-the-us-pacific-coastline-in-1941.htm From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Thu, 23 May 2013 22:48:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Joseph F. http://www.historynet.com/japanese-submarines-prowl-the-us-pacific-coastline-in-1941.htm#comment-792797 Joseph F. Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:45:24 +0000 #comment-792797 On December 24, 1941, an unidentified Japanese mini-sub (80' in length approximately) was shelled by Battery F's 75 mm gun by the Coast Artillery at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, CA. The wreck was discovered in 1959-1960 by divers exploring near a breakwater in the Redono area. The wreck was known in 1942, but I can find no information about the submarine in Japanese archives. Does anyone know of the identity of this submarine and from which mother sub or surface ship it was dispatched from? The I-21 was in the area on December 23, 1941. The I-17 was also nearby around this same time period. This is the only Japanese mini-sub reported in California waters and it deserves to be catalogued and included in future editions of books on this topic. The mystery is that this mission was apparently so secret, no records exist of it. It is a war grave in reasonably shallow water and should be properly identified as such. On December 24, 1941, an unidentified Japanese mini-sub (80' in length approximately) was shelled by Battery F's 75 mm gun by the Coast Artillery at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, CA. The wreck was discovered in 1959-1960 by divers exploring near a breakwater in the Redono area. The wreck was known in 1942, but I can find no information about the submarine in Japanese archives. Does anyone know of the identity of this submarine and from which mother sub or surface ship it was dispatched from? The I-21 was in the area on December 23, 1941. The I-17 was also nearby around this same time period. This is the only Japanese mini-sub reported in California waters and it deserves to be catalogued and included in future editions of books on this topic. The mystery is that this mission was apparently so secret, no records exist of it. It is a war grave in reasonably shallow water and should be properly identified as such.

]]> By: Mark Brewer http://www.historynet.com/japanese-submarines-prowl-the-us-pacific-coastline-in-1941.htm#comment-788111 Mark Brewer Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:42:12 +0000 #comment-788111 About 5-10 years ago I believe that I read an article in our local paper that recounted a story from a local that lived in Santa Cruz during WW2 and said he recalled Japanese military coming ashore from a submarine off of Santa Cruz, in Santa Cruz at night, entering houses, and being scared of by civilians with weapons, possibly even shooting of Japanese soldiers. Can any one confirm this or add any information? About 5-10 years ago I believe that I read an article in our local paper that recounted a story from a local that lived in Santa Cruz during WW2
and said he recalled Japanese military coming ashore from a submarine off of Santa Cruz, in Santa Cruz at night, entering houses, and being scared of by civilians with weapons, possibly even shooting of Japanese soldiers. Can any one confirm this or add any information?

]]> By: EDWARD F BARFF http://www.historynet.com/japanese-submarines-prowl-the-us-pacific-coastline-in-1941.htm#comment-788041 EDWARD F BARFF Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:52:37 +0000 #comment-788041 I have be so fasinated to read.about the sub attacks.along the northern calif. coast. In 1984..86 . I saw..a sub. hidden!in a small canal.in wilmington,ca. being secretly!! repaired. it had a red star..on the conning tower! no number!! it was cut in half. and seperated in front of the conning tower.with a soldier/gaurd,on top of each piece. holding Machine guns!!! it...was not! the B-427! I have be so fasinated to read.about the sub attacks.along the northern calif. coast. In 1984..86 . I saw..a sub. hidden!in a small canal.in wilmington,ca. being secretly!! repaired. it had a red star..on the conning tower! no number!! it was cut in half. and seperated in front of the conning tower.with a soldier/gaurd,on top of each piece. holding Machine guns!!! it…was not! the B-427!

]]> By: Michael Perata http://www.historynet.com/japanese-submarines-prowl-the-us-pacific-coastline-in-1941.htm#comment-779380 Michael Perata Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:55:59 +0000 #comment-779380 I arrived here after a news report on KGO-TV 7 about the Montebello being sunk in December 1941. This is fascinating. I knew the Oregon coast had been bombarded with shells from a submarine, but I was not aware of the activity off the California coast. As for the nine submarines in Hawai'i, I had heard about the mini-subs, but not the nine larger subs on patrol. Imagine what the war would have looked like if they had found the aircraft carriers. I arrived here after a news report on KGO-TV 7 about the Montebello being sunk in December 1941.

This is fascinating. I knew the Oregon coast had been bombarded with shells from a submarine, but I was not aware of the activity off the California coast.

As for the nine submarines in Hawai'i, I had heard about the mini-subs, but not the nine larger subs on patrol. Imagine what the war would have looked like if they had found the aircraft carriers.

]]> By: Ben Ballinger http://www.historynet.com/japanese-submarines-prowl-the-us-pacific-coastline-in-1941.htm#comment-779261 Ben Ballinger Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:49:09 +0000 #comment-779261 I am currently reading a book titled " I Boat Captain. I was a bit skeptical about the claims. However, after reading this and other internet articles, I recommend the book as mostly factual and enlightening. Also, I can remember beachcoming as a 12 year old around Oxnard. We found flotsom and human remains on the beach, probably from I Boat operations. I am currently reading a book titled " I Boat Captain. I was a bit skeptical about the claims. However, after reading this and other internet articles, I recommend the book as mostly factual and enlightening. Also, I can remember beachcoming as a 12 year old around Oxnard. We found flotsom and human remains on the beach, probably from I Boat operations.

]]> By: Don Ross http://www.historynet.com/japanese-submarines-prowl-the-us-pacific-coastline-in-1941.htm#comment-265008 Don Ross Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:21:45 +0000 #comment-265008 I lived in San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach. Was a Harbor Commissioner at Port San Luis (Avila Beach). A very tough old client of mine was a lady who had done some civilian shore watch duty during ths time (1941) somewhere near Estero Bay or Southwards towards San Luis Bay (didn't get the exact locale). She said that on one occasion, a Japanese sub surfaced near her watch location. Men came out and stood on the deck. She always had a 30-30 with her (even until her later years) and said she fired it at them, but they were a bit too far away for a good shot. The men scrambled back into the sub and it submerged. Seems she had seen I-21. Don't have any further details and she passed away in the mid-90's. I lived in San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach. Was a Harbor Commissioner at Port San Luis (Avila Beach). A very tough old client of mine was a lady who had done some civilian shore watch duty during ths time (1941) somewhere near Estero Bay or Southwards towards San Luis Bay (didn't get the exact locale).

She said that on one occasion, a Japanese sub surfaced near her watch location. Men came out and stood on the deck. She always had a 30-30 with her (even until her later years) and said she fired it at them, but they were a bit too far away for a good shot. The men scrambled back into the sub and it submerged.

Seems she had seen I-21. Don't have any further details and she passed away in the mid-90's.

]]> By: Art Dahlgren http://www.historynet.com/japanese-submarines-prowl-the-us-pacific-coastline-in-1941.htm#comment-3570 Art Dahlgren Sun, 27 Jul 2008 01:47:20 +0000 #comment-3570 While in the Navy as bomb disposal, was called down to Moro Bay ( I thibk ) to ID parts of a torpedo, this was in 1959. It was a Jap White heas Piston driven, copoy of British. Some one said that a ship was torpoed in late 41 or early 42. one fish ran to the beach and detonated, one sunk to ocean floor and was recovered bt a fish boats drag net. Luckely the war head broke off. Does any one have a news report on the sinking or torpedo recovery? While in the Navy as bomb disposal, was called down to Moro Bay ( I thibk ) to ID parts of a torpedo, this was in 1959. It was a Jap White heas Piston driven, copoy of British. Some one said that a ship was torpoed in late 41 or early 42. one fish ran to the beach and detonated, one sunk to ocean floor and was recovered bt a fish boats drag net. Luckely the war head broke off. Does any one have a news report on the sinking or torpedo recovery?

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