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Shane_Currie

The I169 was a large KAIDAI-type cruiser submarine and one of six of the I168 class. The submarines of this class did little to distinguish themselves during World War 11 with the exception of the I168 that sank the carrier USS Yorktown CV10 and the destroyer HAMMAN in the Battle of Midway. The I169 was one of 30 Japanese submarines participating in the Pearl Harbour attack.

The submarine arrived in Chuuk following a patrol for replenishment of fuel and supplies. At 1100h on 2^nd April 1944 it submerged to avoid the pending air raid. When the submarine failed to surface after the raid a rescue tug was sent to the site and a diver sent down to investigate.

The upper valve of the storm ventilation tube in the aft part of the conning tower was open, only a couple of inches. The valve had either been opened by mistake or had failed to be closed prior to the vessel submerging. The diver received replies to his knocking from within 4 of the 5 hatches. The crew couldn’t blow air into the ballast tanks to allow the ship to surface.

The rescue tug attempted to hoist the bow of the sub, but the cables broke and the sub crashed to the bottom. At 2330h tapping responses stopped. With the threat of impeding invasion by U.S. forces in the minds of the Japanese, the 6th Fleet Command bombarded the I169 with depth charges to prevent it being comprised to the enemy. The wreck now lays Northwest of Tonoas Island in 20-38m of water, with poor visibility.

My UWATEC Aladdin Air Dive Profile for the I-169 Submarine September 24th 2001