The Wreck of I-401 – Japanese Super Submarine

Few submarines are as famous as the I-400s. Massive, hulking beasts designed to carry out airstrikes on American soil. These ships have, in recent years, become quite popular topics. Admittedly, overplayed in some ways as many Axis 'wonder weapons' are.

Nonetheless, they remain impressive feats of engineering. And in today's video, we'll look at the wreck of one of them. I-401, sunk in deep water off Hawaii to deny her to the Soviets.

Much like I-201, last weekend, this wreck is remarkably well-preserved. Not quite as much, but still very good condition. Ignoring the obvious fact that she's in three major pieces, anyway.

Still, an interesting wreck to look at.

Nautilus Video:

Original Survey Pictures:

[NorthernStruggler]

They should raise that Deck gun and the Tripple barrel 25mm AAA mounts. Those would be amazing if preserved w/original paint? I'd love to see some of that. A memorial of sorts.

[MrGoesBoom]

Yet another unique vessel that would have made a fantastic musuem ship if only they'd had the will or the cash. Thanks for the upload, didn't realize they'd located this sucker

[TheGimpy]

My grandfather is probably somewhere in those photos. He was one of the guys who brought the submarine back to Hawaii. He always said they where poorly built when compared to US submarines and they "didn't dare dive the thing".

[fw]

Hikoki Publications released a very good book on the I 400’s in the early 2000’s. I have one of them and it has nice photos of them on the bottom off Barbers Point Hawaii.

[williamsmith]

The conning tower of I-400 class was actually offset significantly to the left of the centre-line to allow a longer aircraft hanger while maintaining a low profile. When traveling submerged, this required the helmsman to maintain several degrees of rudder to counter the yaw created by conning tower’s asymmetry. An I-400 class submarine filled with tons of Yamashita’s gold is featured in the excellent historical novel “Shokuzai (Atonement)” by William Myers, which also features Yanagi missions to exchange vital war materials with the Nazis. It’s a real shame that I-401 was not preserved intact at some location as an historical artifact.

[marcatteberry]

The Japanese Crew, were excited and proud of their Submarine. They were very cooperative and most helpful as I recall from some source I cant recall.

[jasonatkin]

The handsome looking twin goalpost-masted US Navy ship seen at 5:08 is the USS Euryale (AS-22). It's interesting to note the proximity of the crow's nest on the foremast to the radar antenna.

[alexanderleach]

It's quite an awesome sub. Shame that they were scuttled, they would have made incredible museum ships.

[seankasion]

The concept of this submarine would make a great drone deployment system.

[nikerailfanningttm]

I-401’s propeller that is visible should be raised and returned to Japan as a memorial to her crew, seeing that they were on their first and only mission, only to be told to return to port as the empire surrendered.

[davidbarnsley]

Great video watched it twice now
Second time on a bigger screen so I can see the details better 👍👍🇦🇺

[jigaraphale]

For the I-13 & I-14, those are NOT "Type AM class", this is a mistranslation.
They are either "I-13-class", or "Junsen Type A Kai 2" (Type A K2 for short, or Type A Mod.3 to properly translate Kai 2).
(great video as always for the rest ^^)

[edwardwilliams]

I was watching a documentary a couple years ago and it showed one of these subs showing a picture of the golden gate bridge from her commingle tower and recorded firing 2 torpedoes at the bridge nylons scoring 2 misses. A few years back those 2 torpedoes were discovered inside the bay area stuck in the sand not far from the bridge. I'm surprised that they didn't try for an air attack on the bridge,
Wish I could remember the documentary and which sub it was telling about.

[Urbicide]

While looking at this submarine, I could not help but to recall the Steven Spielberg movie, 1941. There is a scene where the crew of the Japanese submarine has captured an American citizen, played by Slim Pickens, and are attempting to get both him & his massive wood-cased radio down into the submarine. Slim Pickens fits, but the radio is much to large to get through the hatch opening. One sailor says to another, "We have to figure out a way to make these things smaller". 😁

[leroysgamesandmore]

Idk why but the conning tower of the I-400 class always reminds me of the German U-boats

[andrewnorgrove]

Dimensions ! for your information, Length: 400 ft (122 m)
Beam: 39 ft (12 m)
Draft: 10.2 m
Displacement: 5, 223 long tons (5, 307 t) surfaced, 6, 560 long tons (6, 665 t) submerged
Maximal speed: 80 knots submerged, 60 knots surfaced that's 90 MPH

[zachbenjamin]

I believe that piece of metal behind the prop is the rudder.

[johnmcmickle]

An implosion would only occur if that compartment had the watertight doors closed.

[mikeynth]

The hatch cover is in position, arguing that it was left open.

[curleyhoward]

uss segundo (ss398) seized the i401. the battle flag proudly shows the i401 in the segundo's jaws!!