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Japanese Midget Submarines in Pearl Harbor

Discussion in 'Pearl Harbor' started by kimfdim, Aug 13, 2008.

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  1. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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  2. dabrob

    dabrob Dishonorably Discharged

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    Please let me offer a hearty recommendation for Burlingame's book "Advance Force - Pearl Harbor"

    His work is full of details that I have found nowhere else and believe me, I have a library full of publications on the topic of Pearl Harbor.

    One chapter that speculates on the possibility that a second minisub found it's way into that base is, to me at least, a disappointment but with that one small exception, I have great respect for his efforts.

    No other publication portrays the full interplay of all the vessels, large and small, that populated Mamala Bay on that infamous morning. All are detailed from the IJN minisubs thru the USN tugboats, the Japanese owned fishing sampan and the hard working US Coast Guard Cutters that plowed the waters between Barber's Point, Pearl Harbor and Honolulu Harbor. Even the 7 American PBYs that were actually in the air at 0755 on Dec.7'41 are positioned and have their air seach missions properly explained.

    Diagrams, maps and photos (many of which i have never seen before) bring the events of that week to life.

    Highly recommended for those interested in Oahu's defenses.
     
  3. Razgriz

    Razgriz recruit

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  4. lwd

    lwd Ace

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  5. Kevin Kenneally

    Kevin Kenneally Member

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    I saw this TV show and was impressed at the details they were able to display.

    Makes one wonder.
     
  6. lwd

    lwd Ace

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    Two of the researchers who helped with the TV show are activly participating on the thread I mentioned over on the IJN board. At least one of them has a web page devoted to the topic with a lot more info than was in the program.
     
  7. auApex

    auApex Member

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    Seems incredible that with all those contacts the Americans did not 'raise the alarm' prior to the air strike on PH!
     
  8. Fred Wilson

    Fred Wilson "The" Rogue of Rogues

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  9. CAC

    CAC Ace of Spades

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    Mini subs in Sydney Harbour aswell...not one got away...
     
  10. Fred Wilson

    Fred Wilson "The" Rogue of Rogues

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  11. wolves69

    wolves69 recruit

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    The midget sub was on display in Bellows Airfield in Hawaii while I was stationed there from 2003-2006. At some point it was removed and replaced with a temporary marker. I don’t recall the reasons, but Bellows said it was only temp but added it was the will of politicians who always know better. I don’t think it was returned.
     
  12. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    I saw it when I was there in the '80s.
     
  13. Oregon Diver

    Oregon Diver Member

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    Just an FYI, the "midget sub" that has been in Hawaii for quite some time is not one of the Pearl Harbor midgets, but a Kaiten, which is basically a giant manned torpedo.
    It was located there at the Submarine base for as long as I was there or visiting there (1977-1994).
     
  14. wm.

    wm. Well-Known Member

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    What was the magnetic sweeping gear mentioned by Capt. Outerbridge?
     
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  15. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Gear used to set off magn
    I know of two types of magnetic sweeping gear in that era. One swept magnetic mines, the other looked for magnetic anomalies. Like, say, a big steel tube. As WARD was patrolling the approaches to the Channel, where subs weren't allowed to operate submerged, the latter would be my SWAG.
     
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  16. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    The minesweeper, USS Condor in this case, would stream a short wire & a long wire behind her, then run electrical current through both of them. This would generate a magnetic field that would hopefully trigger any magnetic mines.
     
  17. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    Drop the S...Since Science would tell you that the Ward was, essentially, a big steel tube, and that a MAD unit onboard Ward would continuously detect the ship itself. Hence, MAD units were put onboard aircraft - being composed mostly of non-magnetic aluminum, which posed little interference.

    Besides, it was the USS Condor that was doing the sweeping, not the Ward.
     
  18. wm.

    wm. Well-Known Member

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    Wouldn't a MAD unit onboard aircraft continuously detect the plane itself?
     
  19. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    If the people who designed it were total idiots, yes. But consider radar on a warship.
     
  20. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    Aluminum in nonferrous, and does not create much interference. Neither does the engine...Steel on the other hand.
     

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