The Lost Submarines of Pearl Harbor

Ed Rachal Foundation Nautical Archaeology Series

by James P. Delgado, Terry Kerby, Stephen Price

In the pre-dawn darkness of December 7, 1941, five Imperial Japanese Navy submarines surfaced off the coast of Oahu. Secured to the decks of these vessels were secret weapons to be deployed for the first time in modern two-man midget submarines, intended to enter Pearl Harbor without being detected and torpedo the US Navy battleships lying at anchor there. None of them would return from their mission.   

“One of the last remaining and persistent mysteries of the Pearl Harbor attack is that of the Japanese Midget Submarines. It is a fascinating story of innovation, courage, secrets, and failed expectations. And it is not only a story of the morning hours of December 7, but of the years before to develop these weapons and the years after, where they were deployed in the great Pacific War and how they fared as weapons of war.”

These words by Daniel J. Basta, from the foreword of this work, capture both the essence and the impact of The Lost Submarines of Pearl Harbor . James P. Delgado and his coauthors have worked on the story of these incredible craft for decades. They combed the records of the US Navy and the recollections of its veterans as well as Japanese, Australian, and British archives in order to uncover the truth. They have logged hours of direct observation and research on the midget subs in their final resting places, in some cases more than 1,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific. And in the end, they have woven a tapestry of scholarship, historical sleuthing, scientific insight, and good storytelling that will enthrall specialists and history enthusiasts alike.
 

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 7, 2016

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit boring. The author had an opinion about the submarines used by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor that disagrees with other experts opinions on the Submarines success. Recent photo analysis of photos taken during the air raid by the Japanese during the attack suggest that at least one of the minisubs was able to attack US forces within the harbor. The author disputes this, but doesn't offer a convincing argument. The minisub that was recently discovered in three pieces had fired its torpedoes before its destruction by explosive charges set off by the crew inside. It was then cut into three pieces at a future date and disposed of out to sea by the Navy.

[Jon Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book in the gift store at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX when I visited the museum in April of this year. This museum has on display one of the five midget subs deployed by the Japanese navy as part of their attack on Pearl Harbor 12/7/1941. This book gives a detailed history of Japan's development of small submarines and their use in WW2 starting at Pearl Harbor and then throughout the Pacific theater. The book then covers the fate of the five subs used in the Pearl Harbor attack, and the discovery in the 1990's and early 2000's of two of the subs sunk in deep water near the harbor entrance. I enjoyed this book and give it 4 out of 5 stars.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book that describes the development, deployment, and wartime operations of the Japanese mini-subs (not just the five that participated in the Pearl Harbor attack), and then focuses on the discovery and attempts to identify the five mini-subs from Pearl Harbor. Very informative and easy to read, and very well-produced. This book is going to find a home on my living room bookshelf - it's a keeper.