Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy submarines originated with the purchase of five Holland type submarines from the United States in 1904. Japanese submarine forces progressively built up strength and expertise, becoming by the beginning of World War II one of the world's most varied and powerful submarine fleets.
Japanese submarine I-8
The Japanese submarine "I-8" was a World War II Junsen Type J-3 Imperial Japanese Navy submarine. The vessel, along with "I-7", were the largest Japanese submarines to be completed before the outbreak of the Pacific War. It was based on the KD ("Kaidai") type. Both submarines participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor, they also conducted patrol missions with Yokosuka E14Y seaplanes.
In 1943 "I-8" completed a technology exchange mission by sailing to German occupied France and back to Japan. Under a new commander later in her career, the submarine's crew committed several war crimes in the latter period of the second world war.