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Two new WWII Imperial Japanese submarine kits are coming this spring from Aoshima. The first is the KD6 type submarine I-168 and they other the C-3 cargo type, I-52.

The I-168 sank the only US naval warships lost at the Battle of Midway -the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) and the destroyer USS Hammann (DD-412). Just over a year later, in July of 1943, she was sunk by the US submarine USS Scamp near New Guinea.

I-52 was a Type C-3 cargo submarine used for a secret mission to German occupied Lorient, France. She carried a cargo of gold believed to be payment for German technology. She was also carrying technician passengers who were to study German weapon systems. She was sunk in route on June 22, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay by a US hunter-killer task force.

The I-168 kit (No. 010648) is due for a May release and the I-52 (No. 012260) is due for June. Interestingly, the I-52 kit also includes an inscale German Seehun midget submarine.

Both items are listed as available for pre-order from Hobby Link Japan. The I-168 is listed for ¥2,880 ($24.16 USD) plus shipping and the I-52 for ¥2,400 ($20.13 USD). Also listed in the link is an Aoshima PE set (No. 010662) for the I-168 for ¥1,600 ($13.42 USD) but no images are available for that from either HLJ or Aoshima.