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Saturday, October 20, 2007 - 05:26 AM UTC
This just in, Lindberg Models to release to new 1/72 IJN submarines. That’s right folks. Lindberg is set to release their 1/72 I-20 with HA-20 Type "A" Midget, kit #70817 and the I-53 with Kaiten suicide subs, kit #708187 sometime in 2008. Retail price for these kits will be $130.00.
Ship Histories
The I-20 was completed September 26, 1940 at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Kobe, and commissioned in the IJN and based in the Yokosuka Naval District. In November of 1941, the I-20 was assigned to the Special Attack Unit with the I-16, -18, -24 and the flagship, the I-22 as part of Operation "Z" - The Hawaiian Operation. From there the Special Attack Unit departed Kure for the Kamegakubi Naval Proving Ground where submarines embark a top secret 46-ton two-man Type "A" midget submarine that is code-named "Mato".
On December 7, 1941, 5.3 miles from the harbor entrance, the I-20 launches her midget submarine under command of Ensign Hiroo Akira with PO2C Katayama Yoshio. Each of the other of the Special Attack Unit's "mother" submarines also launches their midget. Their orders are to attack any ships that attempt to sortie from the harbor.
At 0408, LT W. W. Outerbridge's USS Ward begins a search for a suspected submarine reported by the minesweeper USS Condor (AMC-14), but finds nothing. At 0630, as Training Squadron 8's flagship 8 USS Antares approaches Pearl's outer gate with a target raft in tow, the Ward's lookouts spot a small conning tower. A patrolling PBY "Catalina" flying-boat, 14-P-1, flown by Ensign William P. Tanner of Patrol Squadrons VP-14, drops smoke markers on the contact.
At 0645, the Ward opens fire at 100 yards. Her first round, the first shot fired in WWII by American Forces, misses. She closes to point blank range (50 yards) and fires a 4-inch shell hitting the midget's conning tower. The Ward overruns her target and the midget wallows in her wake. Outerbridge orders four depth charges dropped and signals his 14th Naval District Headquarters: "WE HAVE ATTACKED FIRED UPON AND DROPPED DEPTH CHARGES UPON SUBMARINE OPERATING IN DEFENSIVE SEA AREA."
The PBY drops more depth bombs. Hiroo and Katayama's midget is sunk. All five of the Special Attack Unit's midgets fail to return to their "mother" submarines.
On February 20, 1944, the I-53 is completed at the Kure Navy Yard, commissioned in the IJN and based in the Kure Naval District. After limited action in October, the I-53 arrived at Kure, during which her deck guns were removed to make room for four "kaiten" human-torpedoes.
On December 27, 1944 the I-53 is assigned to the "Kongo" (steel) group with the I-36, -47, -48, -56 and the I-58 for the second Kaiten mission. The plan calls for attacks on anchored American shipping at five different points. The I-53 departs Kure with the I-36 and the I-58.
January 12, 1945, 4 miles off Kossol Roads, Palaus.
At 0700, the I-53 surfaces. Her No. 1 kaiten, piloted by Lt (j.g.) Kuzumi Hiroshi, explodes soon after launch and No. 3 does not start its engine. Nos. 2 and 4 piloted by Ensign Ito Osamu and CPO Arimori Bunkichi are launched without incident. After an hour and 20 minutes, two explosions are heard. The nearby 30th Base Unit confirms two hits. The I-53 surfaces to check out kaiten No. 3. They find that its pilot had lost consciousness because of fuel fumes.
The I-20 was completed September 26, 1940 at Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, Kobe, and commissioned in the IJN and based in the Yokosuka Naval District. In November of 1941, the I-20 was assigned to the Special Attack Unit with the I-16, -18, -24 and the flagship, the I-22 as part of Operation "Z" - The Hawaiian Operation. From there the Special Attack Unit departed Kure for the Kamegakubi Naval Proving Ground where submarines embark a top secret 46-ton two-man Type "A" midget submarine that is code-named "Mato".
On December 7, 1941, 5.3 miles from the harbor entrance, the I-20 launches her midget submarine under command of Ensign Hiroo Akira with PO2C Katayama Yoshio. Each of the other of the Special Attack Unit's "mother" submarines also launches their midget. Their orders are to attack any ships that attempt to sortie from the harbor.
At 0408, LT W. W. Outerbridge's USS Ward begins a search for a suspected submarine reported by the minesweeper USS Condor (AMC-14), but finds nothing. At 0630, as Training Squadron 8's flagship 8 USS Antares approaches Pearl's outer gate with a target raft in tow, the Ward's lookouts spot a small conning tower. A patrolling PBY "Catalina" flying-boat, 14-P-1, flown by Ensign William P. Tanner of Patrol Squadrons VP-14, drops smoke markers on the contact.
At 0645, the Ward opens fire at 100 yards. Her first round, the first shot fired in WWII by American Forces, misses. She closes to point blank range (50 yards) and fires a 4-inch shell hitting the midget's conning tower. The Ward overruns her target and the midget wallows in her wake. Outerbridge orders four depth charges dropped and signals his 14th Naval District Headquarters: "WE HAVE ATTACKED FIRED UPON AND DROPPED DEPTH CHARGES UPON SUBMARINE OPERATING IN DEFENSIVE SEA AREA."
The PBY drops more depth bombs. Hiroo and Katayama's midget is sunk. All five of the Special Attack Unit's midgets fail to return to their "mother" submarines.
On February 20, 1944, the I-53 is completed at the Kure Navy Yard, commissioned in the IJN and based in the Kure Naval District. After limited action in October, the I-53 arrived at Kure, during which her deck guns were removed to make room for four "kaiten" human-torpedoes.
On December 27, 1944 the I-53 is assigned to the "Kongo" (steel) group with the I-36, -47, -48, -56 and the I-58 for the second Kaiten mission. The plan calls for attacks on anchored American shipping at five different points. The I-53 departs Kure with the I-36 and the I-58.
January 12, 1945, 4 miles off Kossol Roads, Palaus.
At 0700, the I-53 surfaces. Her No. 1 kaiten, piloted by Lt (j.g.) Kuzumi Hiroshi, explodes soon after launch and No. 3 does not start its engine. Nos. 2 and 4 piloted by Ensign Ito Osamu and CPO Arimori Bunkichi are launched without incident. After an hour and 20 minutes, two explosions are heard. The nearby 30th Base Unit confirms two hits. The I-53 surfaces to check out kaiten No. 3. They find that its pilot had lost consciousness because of fuel fumes.
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