Quote:
Originally posted by chromeboomerang:
I think they even used subs for supply at Guadalcanal. The other problem for them was that there were just not enough subs to go around. They didn't make near as many as Germany.
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Guadalcanal seems to be a microcosm of the way the war went for Japan in the way their submarines were used. At the beginning, specifically on September 15, the I-19 fired 6 Model 95 torpedoes from a range of only 1000 yards. Two of these ripped into the USS Wasp (CV-7) and sunk her, one torpedo hit the USS O'Brien (DD-415). WHile the O'Brien was able to make it back to Espiritu Santo she would later sink due to damage sustained by the torpedo hit. And finally one torpedo hit the USS North Carolina (BB-55) causing damage below the waterline but due to skillful handling and even more skillful damage control she was able to maintain her place in the formation.
By mid-November with the Cactus airforce becoming more and more dominant, the Japanese took to relying on submarines to resupply their beleaguered army. A clear example of the Japanese going from an offensive posture that their submarines were constructed for to a defensive posture such as resupplying troops that could not otherwise be supplied.