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-73
"I-73" participated in the attack on Pearl Harbor as part of the 3rd Submarine Squadron in the 6th Fleet of the IJN. It was one of the vessels created as part of Japan's 1st Naval Armaments Supplement Programme in 1931. On 27 January 1942, "I-73" became the first warship to be sunk by a United States Navy submarine; USS "Gudgeon" fired three torpedoes at "I-73" and destroyed it. "Gudgeon" claimed that the torpedoes only damaged "I-73", but Station HYPO confirmed the loss.