The I-400 class was Japan's attempt during the Second World War to marry an aircraft carrier with a submarine and unlike many concepts weapons developed during the conflict, actually lived up to expectations. However, the practicality was never fully exploited as Japan surrendered before its maiden voyage, not to mention the completion of the actual fleet itself (only 2 of 18).
Now, this is were I get into the swing of things. After much careful research, including having combed through several eye-witness reports and interviews, three known missions have cropped up for the I-400 class.
The first, code named: "Cherry Blossoms at Night", called for the use of the submarine fleet's arsenal of Seiran planes to wage biological warfare against the United States, more specifically the West Coast. Unit 731, Japan's wartime biological division, headed by Shiro Ishii, chose plague as their weapon of choice. The disease itself would be carried by infected fleas mixed together with flour inside of ceramic containers and dropped within high population centers--possibly even Army bases. Rats would contract the blight from the infested flour after contact with the fleas and hopefully spread the plague among the citizens. The operation was canceled however by General Yoshijiro Umezu, chief of the army general staff, who declared, “Germ warfare against the United States would escalate to war against all humanity.”
The second, (no code name), called for the use of the submarine fleet's arsenal of planes to attack the Panama Canal. Japan's intention was to damage if not destroy the Gaton Locks along with the channel itself in order to delay the United States' shipment of essential war material to the Pacific Theater. If successful, the attack would give Japan much needed breathing room. The submarines were to surface 100 miles off the coast of Ecuador, where they would launch their planes at night. The Seirans, painted to resemble U.S. colors, would fly northeast over Colombia, turn west over the Caribbean, then attack from the north at dawn, torpedoing the Gatun locks. After returning to their launch point, the pilots would ditch their planes and swim to their respective subs. The twist side of this scheme called for the pilots crash into the locks as Kamikaze.
The third, code named: "Operation Hikari", called for the submarine fleet's arsenal of planes to launch a Kamikaze style raid against the US naval anchorage at Ulithi Atoll, the staging ground for the coming invasion of the Home Islands. The two completed submarines (I-400 and I-401) were to rendezvous with the I-13 and I-14 after a brief recon of the target area. More that ten US carriers were moored at the atoll. Together, the submarines would launch their Seiran planes (painted to resemble U.S. colors) and fly at low altitude to avoid radar. In tandem, Kaitan suicide miniature submarines were also to be launched. The entire operation was to take place under a full moon. Afterwards the subs would then sail to Singapore for rearmament and refueling before the staging another attack elsewhere.
Now, Japan at first chose option no.1, later realizing its lethal consequences, then chose option no.2--though not before the fall of Okinawa set in and finally decided on option no.3, to strike back at the US carrier fleet and hopefully delay the inevitable invasion which never came.
What if any of the following operations were actually carried out by Japan? Obviously these suicide missions (no pun intended) would not bring ultimate victory for Japan, but what would be the result if one of said missions actually succeeded (even in highly unlikely)...?
Now, this is were I get into the swing of things. After much careful research, including having combed through several eye-witness reports and interviews, three known missions have cropped up for the I-400 class.
The first, code named: "Cherry Blossoms at Night", called for the use of the submarine fleet's arsenal of Seiran planes to wage biological warfare against the United States, more specifically the West Coast. Unit 731, Japan's wartime biological division, headed by Shiro Ishii, chose plague as their weapon of choice. The disease itself would be carried by infected fleas mixed together with flour inside of ceramic containers and dropped within high population centers--possibly even Army bases. Rats would contract the blight from the infested flour after contact with the fleas and hopefully spread the plague among the citizens. The operation was canceled however by General Yoshijiro Umezu, chief of the army general staff, who declared, “Germ warfare against the United States would escalate to war against all humanity.”
The second, (no code name), called for the use of the submarine fleet's arsenal of planes to attack the Panama Canal. Japan's intention was to damage if not destroy the Gaton Locks along with the channel itself in order to delay the United States' shipment of essential war material to the Pacific Theater. If successful, the attack would give Japan much needed breathing room. The submarines were to surface 100 miles off the coast of Ecuador, where they would launch their planes at night. The Seirans, painted to resemble U.S. colors, would fly northeast over Colombia, turn west over the Caribbean, then attack from the north at dawn, torpedoing the Gatun locks. After returning to their launch point, the pilots would ditch their planes and swim to their respective subs. The twist side of this scheme called for the pilots crash into the locks as Kamikaze.
The third, code named: "Operation Hikari", called for the submarine fleet's arsenal of planes to launch a Kamikaze style raid against the US naval anchorage at Ulithi Atoll, the staging ground for the coming invasion of the Home Islands. The two completed submarines (I-400 and I-401) were to rendezvous with the I-13 and I-14 after a brief recon of the target area. More that ten US carriers were moored at the atoll. Together, the submarines would launch their Seiran planes (painted to resemble U.S. colors) and fly at low altitude to avoid radar. In tandem, Kaitan suicide miniature submarines were also to be launched. The entire operation was to take place under a full moon. Afterwards the subs would then sail to Singapore for rearmament and refueling before the staging another attack elsewhere.
Now, Japan at first chose option no.1, later realizing its lethal consequences, then chose option no.2--though not before the fall of Okinawa set in and finally decided on option no.3, to strike back at the US carrier fleet and hopefully delay the inevitable invasion which never came.
What if any of the following operations were actually carried out by Japan? Obviously these suicide missions (no pun intended) would not bring ultimate victory for Japan, but what would be the result if one of said missions actually succeeded (even in highly unlikely)...?