USS Ward DD 139

[Don Boose]

The Patrol Wing Two summary of operations on 7 December 1941, including the report that at "0700 14-P-1 sank enemy submarine one mile off Pearl Harbor entrance," is available at https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN.../PatWing2.html

Don

[papermodelfan]

Cool model work! Great capture of a moment in history. Thinking of building the two subs that are part of the kit?

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by papermodelfan

Cool model work! Great capture of a moment in history. Thinking of building the two subs that are part of the kit?

Will build the mini sub. Probably not the large ocean going sub. It was not directly involved in the PH attack that day.

[Don Boose]

True, I-16 was not directly involved in the Ward/PBY 14-P-1/midget submarine action, and the decision on what to build is entirely yours. The diorama looks good as is, and will look even better with the midget sub.

However, I-16 did carry one of the midget subs to Hawai'ian waters and launched it prior to the attack:

"17 November 1941: For Operation "Z" Pearl Harbor attack], I-16 is assigned to Captain (later Rear Admiral) Sasaki Hankyu's Special Attack Unit with I-18, -20, -24 and the flagship, I-22. The officers of the Special Attack Unit are briefed on the Hawaii Operation at the Kure Naval Club.

18 November 1941: The Special Attack Unit departs Kure for the Kamegakubi Naval Proving Ground. At Kamegakubi each of the unit's submarines embarks a top-secret two-man Type A midget submarine.

19 November 1941: At 0215, all five of the Special Attack Unit's submarines depart for the Hawaiian Islands. They use a direct route, passing S of Midway.

2 December 1941: The coded signal "Niitakayama nobore (Climb Mt. Niitaka) 1208" is received from the Combined Fleet. It signifies that hostilities will commence on 8 December (Japan time).

7 December 1941: The Attack on Pearl Harbor: Seven miles SSW of the harbor entrance. At 0042, I-16 launches a Type A midget submarine under Lt (j.g.) Yokoyama Masaji with PO2C Ueda Sadamu, the first of five midgets released by the Special Attack Unit.

I-16 patrols west of Lanai, Hawaii. At 2241, she receives a message from Lt(jg) Yokoyama about the successful air attack.

8 December 1941: At 0051, I-16 receives another message from her midget that says "unable to navigate." All five of the Special Attack Unit's midgets fail to return to their "mother" submarines.

12 December 1941: Departs her patrol area for Kwajalein."

This is from the Kaigun/Combined Fleet Tabular Record of Movement for I-16, an attempt to replicate the movements of the ship in the absence of a surviving deck log, available at Imperial Submarines

That said, I will be happy to watch whatever you decide to build next.

Don

[MichaelS]

To really complete the set I really need the midget sub. This thing must have just been a sewer pipe with a motor and a torpedo. The crew was truly expendable.

[MichaelS]

Finished the mini sub so calling this a final. The I-16 wasn't really an active participant in the Pearl Harbor attack. Did the waterline and the full hull version of the sub.

[Don Boose]

Excellent diorama.

Don