Wrecks At Truk Lagoon The I-169

Kaigun type submarines, the I-168 sank the Yorktown at the battle of Midway

The I-169 was one of the 3 largest submarines ever built at that time. It was built at the Mitsubish Kobe shipyards and launched  February 14 1934 it had a length of 331 feet and a 27 x 13 foot beam dimension, with six 21 inch torpedo tubes four in the bow and 2 a-stern, operating rang of 10,500 miles.

The I-169 could run on the surface at 20 knots and 9 knots submerged, it was power by two 6,000 h.p. diesel engines and carried 75 salors and 9 officers.

The I-169 was operating off Oahu when Pearl Harbor was attacked Commander Katsuiji Watanabe was in charge when it became entangled in the antisub net, it took the I-169 38 hours to break  free.

On April 2nd 1944 The I-169 returned to Truk lagoon to replenish its supplies at 11:00 am Navy Avengers and Hellcats began another attack on Truk.

 The I-169 begain its to dive to safty at the bottom of the lagoon as it descended the control room began to flood, a crew member in the control room  failed to close the valve on the storm ventilation tube the water short circuited the electrical system, water tight hatches kept the rest of the sub dry.

A salvage vessel was sent to where the I-169 was at anchor before the attack and a hardhat diver was put into the water he located the I-169 and found crews were still alive in 4 of the 5 compartments on the 3 day of salvage efforts no sign of  life remained.

Over the days that  follow divers were sent down to remove as many of the crew as they could 32 crew members were located and removed, in May fear that the U.S. would invaid Truk  and raise the I-169 lead to the order to destroy the I-169, dept charges were used to destroy the submarine.