Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
The ("I-15"-class) submarines (, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ) were the most numerous type of submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. In total 20 were made, starting with "I-15", the class ship. These were fast, very long ranged, and carried a single Yokosuka E14Y seaplane, located in a hangar in front of the conning tower, launched by a catapult.
Japanese submarine I-1
The Japanese submarine "I-1" was a "J1 type" submarine built by Kawasaki, Kobe, for the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was a large cruiser submarine displacing 2,135 tons and was the lead of four boats built in the class.
She was commissioned on 10 March 1926 and served in the Second World War. On 29 January 1943, during Operation Ke, the New Zealand naval trawlers "Kiwi" and "Moa" intercepted and wrecked her after a surface battle at Kamimbo Bay, Guadalcanal.On 29 January 1943 she encountered the New Zealand minesweepers, "Kiwi" and "Moa". Unable to penetrate "I-1"s hull with their deck guns, the minesweepers rammed and chased her to shallow water, eventually driving her aground on the reef at Kamimbo Bay, Guadalcanal. The wreck partially protrudes from the water.