© 2001 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp
Revision 1
31 July 1934:
The I-68 is completed at the Kure Dock Yard, commissioned in
the IJN and based in the Kure Naval District.
25 July 1941:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Nakamura Otoji is assigned as the
Commanding Officer.
11 November 1941: Operation Z:
The I-68 is in Vice Admiral Shimizu
Mitsumi's (former CO of ISE) Advance Expeditionary Force (Sixth Fleet) with Rear Admiral (later
Vice Admiral) Miwa Shigeyoshi's (former CO of KINU) SubRon 3 in Captain (later Rear Admiral) Nakaoka Nobuki's SubDiv 12 with the I-69 and I-70.
Admiral Shimizu convenes a meeting of all his commanders aboard his
flagship, the light cruiser KATORI. The commanders are briefed on the planned
attack on Pearl Harbor. The I-68 departs Saeki for Kwajalein.
23 November 1941:
Departs Kwajalein for Hawaii on her first war
patrol.
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). Mt. Niitaka, located in
Formosa (now Taiwan), is then the highest point in the Japanese Empire.
7 December 1941: The attack on Pearl Harbor:
SubRon 3 is deployed S of
Oahu. Its mission is to reconnoiter and attack any ships that try to sortie from
Pearl Harbor. The I-68 is assigned to patrol from 25 to 50 miles SW of Oahu with
the I-69, -70, -72 and I-73.
8 December 1941:
The I-68 and I-69 are ordered to lay off the entrance
to Pearl Harbor to rescue midget submarine crews (none return). Returns to her
former station thereafter.
13 December 1941:
SW of Oahu. The I-68 is subjected to 21 separate
depth-charge attacks on this and later days. The last attack wrecks many of her
battery cells and causes flooding in her aft torpedo tubes. LtCdr Nakamura
decides to terminate his patrol and heads for Kwajalein.
28 December 1941:
Returns to Kwajalein.
31 December 1941:
Departs Kwajalein.
9 January 1942:
Arrives at Kure for repairs.
17 January 1942:
Hashirajima. LtCdr Nakamura pays a call on the
battleship YAMATO. He briefs the CINC, Combined Fleet, Admiral (Fleet Admiral, posthumously) Yamamoto Isoroku (former CO of AKAGI), and his staff on the I-68's depth-chargings during the Hawaii operation.
31 January 1942:
Cdr Tanabe Yahachi (former CO of RO-59) is assigned
as the Commanding Officer. LtCdr Nakamura is reassigned as the CO of the I-5 that
is undergoing an overhaul at Yokosuka.
16 March 1942:
Vice Admiral, the Marquis, Komatsu Teruhisa (former CO
of CA NACHI) assumes command of the Sixth Fleet (Submarines).
26 April 1942:
ComSubRon 3 Rear Admiral Miwa is relieved by Rear Admiral (later
Vice Admiral) Kono Chimaki (former CO of FUSO).
20 May 1942:
The I-68 is renumbered the I-168.
23 May 1942:
The I-168 departs Kure on her second war patrol to
reconnoiter the Midway Island prior to its capture.
May 1942:
The I-168 is in Rear Admiral Kono's SubRon 3 with
the I-169, -171, -174 and the I-175. SubRon 3 is deployed between 20N, 166-20W
and 23-30N, 166-20W.
2 June 1942:
At dawn, Cdr Tanabe arrives NW of Midway and conducts
the first periscopic reconnaissance of Sand Island. Tanabe reports "unusually
frequent patrol aircraft launches".
3-4 June 1944:
The I-168 circumnavigates Midway, providing weather
data to Headquarters, Combined Fleet.
4 June 1942: Operation "MI":
Early in the morning, Cdr Tanaka, his
navigator and the gunnery officer witness the air attack on Midway through the
periscope. At 1025, American dive-bombers reduce the carriers AKAGI, KAGA and
the SORYU to burning wrecks, but the HIRYU is not damaged. At 1054, she
launches 18 D3A1 "Val" dive-bombers and six A6M2 "Zeke" fighters that follow
the American planes and find their carriers.
The HIRYU's dive-bombers attack the USS YORKTOWN (CV-3). A bomb hits the
flight deck aft of the island and sets afire three planes in the hangar below. A
second delayed action bomb penetrates three decks and explodes in the uptakes of
the stack, snuffing out the boilers. The YORKTOWN 's speed falls to six knots. A
third bomb hits her forward elevator. Damage control crews fight the fires, but
at 1220 she is brought to a full stop for repairs. She has to work up steam to
get underway again.
Six Japanese planes survive and radio that the American carrier is
burning and that two more carriers are present. At 1245, the HIRYU launches a
second strike of 10 "Kate" torpedo planes and six fighters.
By 1440, the Kates launch Type 91 torpedoes from both sides of YORKTOWN's
bow. The YORKTOWN, making 19 knots, dodges two torpedoes, but two others hit her
port side, cut all electrical power and jam her rudder 15 degrees to port. She
comes to a stop and takes on a list that increases to 26 degrees. At 1455, the
YORKTOWN heels over and her flight deck almost touches the sea. Captain Elliott
Buckmaster orders his 3,000 men to abandon ship. Destroyers pick up the
survivors.
From his flagship, the battleship YAMATO, Admiral Yamamoto issues
orders for a submarine bombardment of the airfield on Eastern Island, Midway
until 0100 when the I-168 is to be relieved by CruDiv 7's MOGAMI, MIKUMA, KUMANO
and the SUZUYA. Later the cruisers' orders are canceled. Additionally, ComSubRon
3 orders Tanabe to remain in vicinity of Midway in order to report about the
subsequent aircraft traffic.
5 June 1942:
At 0124 the I-168 surfaces within 1,100 yds SW of Midway
and opens fire with her 10-cm deck gun. The I-168 fires six shells but inflicts
no damage. The Marine shore batteries snap on searchlights and their return fire
forces the I-168 to submerge. The submarine is briefly chased and depth-charged
by a patrol vessel.
At 0652, the cruiser CHIKUMA's No. 2 floatplane, probably an
E8N2, discovers the damaged YORKTOWN. The plane's signal vectors the I-168 to the carrier.
The CHIKUMA's No. 4 Aichi E13A1 "Jake" scout of Vice Admiral (Admiral, posthumously)
Nagumo Chuichi's (former CO of YAMASHIRO) Kido Butai, radios that it has sighted an enemy carrier 150 miles NNE
of Midway. At 1055 Cdr Tanabe receives an order from ComSubRon 3 to pursue and
sink the carrier.
While running on the surface towards the carrier's reported position, the
I-168 is attacked by a PBY "Catalina" patrol plane. Tanabe dives and escapes
undamaged.
6 June 1942:
At 0410, one of the I-168's lookouts spots the YORKTOWN
about 12 miles away. At 0600, Tanabe spots the first destroyers. He submerges
and slows to three knots. As he closes, he sees six destroyers circling a mile
away. The minesweeper VIREO has the YORKTOWN in tow. At 0605, the USS HAMMANN
(DD-412) puts a salvage party aboard the carrier. The HAMMANN is secured to the
YORKTOWN's starboard side and provides power for the carrier's pumps and foam to
fight the fires.
The I-168 arrives and sights the carrier and her screen. For nine hours,
Tanabe skillfully makes his approach steering by chart and sound with only a few
periscope sightings. Undetected, he penetrates the destroyer and cruiser screen.
At 1331, from 1,900 yards, he fires two torpedoes at the overlapping formation,
followed by two more three seconds later. The first torpedo hits the HAMMANN,
breaks her back and sinks her in about four minutes. As she goes down, her depth
charges explode and kill 81 of her 241-strong crew.
At 1332, the next two torpedoes strike the YORKTOWN starboard below the bridge.
The fourth torpedo misses and passes astern.
At 1336, American destroyers commence a counterattack. A destroyer passes
directly overhead and drops two depth charges. After more attacks the forward
torpedo room and maneuvering room flood. After battery cells are extensively
damaged and all crew dons gas masks. The outer and inner doors of torpedo
tube No. 1 spring and admit water. The lights go out and the emergency lights
come on.
At 1640, with his batteries nearly exhausted, Tanabe battle surfaces
determined to go down fighting, but the three destroyers USS GWIN (DD-433),
HUGHES (DD-410) and the MONAGHAN (DD-354) are about five miles away. Tanabe
sets off at the best speed the I-168 can now make - only 14 knots. Tanabe
signals to the flagship of the Combined Fleet YAMATO that he has attacked and
sunk the YORKTOWN. One destroyer closes within 5,470 yards, firing
intermittently. After the emergency repair of an electric engine is completed,
Tanabe submerges again. The I-168 stays down until 2000 and then resurfaces.
During 13 hours of chase, she has been attacked with some 40 depth-charges.
Contrary to Tanabe's report, the YORKTOWN has not yet sunk. The two
torpedo hits corrected her list from 26 to 17 degrees. Captain Buckmaster
removes the salvage party and plans to resume work in the morning.
Admiral Yamamoto suspends the invasion of Midway.
7 June 1942:
At 0458, the 19,875-ton YORKTOWN rolls over to port and
sinks in about 3,000 fathoms of water.* Cdr Tanabe has made the biggest kill yet
by any submarine in the Pacific.
Japanese plans calls for the I-168 to refuel at Midway after the battle,
but now that is not possible. Tanabe is low on fuel so he sets course across the
Pacific for Japan using only two engines.
19 June 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka with nearly dry tanks. Refuels and
proceeds to Kure. A big crowd greets Tanabe on the I-168's arrival at Kure.
Music plays and speeches are made. As a reward, Cdr Tanabe is reassigned as the
Commanding Officer of the I-176 under construction and almost completed at Kure.
26 June 1942:
The I-168 is transferred to Sasebo.
30 June 1942:
Cdr Tonozuka Kinzo, Equipping Officer of the I-34 under
construction at Sasebo, is assigned as the Commanding Officer of the I-168 "on
paper" while she undergoes battle-damage repairs.
7 August 1942: American Operation "Watchtower" - The Invasion of
Guadalcanal, British Solomon Islands:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Richmond
K. Turner's Amphibious Task Force 62, covered by Vice Admiral (later Admiral)
Frank J. Fletcher's Task Force 61 and Rear Admiral (later Admiral) John S.
McCain's Task Force 63's land-based aircraft, lands Maj Gen (later
Gen/Commandant) Alexander A. Vandegrift's 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal
opening a seven-month campaign to take the island.
31 August 1942:
Repairs to the I-168 are completed. LtCdr Watanabe
Katsuji (former CO of I-69) is assigned as the Commanding Officer. The same day,
Cdr Tonozuka becomes the Commanding Officer of the I-34 as she is completed.
Departs Sasebo.
15 October 1942:
LtCdr Nakajima Sakae (the former CO of the I-157)
assumes command of the I-168.
16 November 1942:
Truk. Vice Admiral Komatsu convenes a meeting of his
submarine captains. He announces that the submarine force has been ordered by
Admiral Yamamoto to organize a supply system for the IJA's 17th Army garrison on
Guadalcanal.
18 November 1942:
Returns to Kure. Drydocked for repairs.
15 December 1942:
Departs Kure for Truk.
22 December 1942:
Arrives at Truk. Participates in supply missions to
Guadalcanal while directly attached to the Sixth Fleet HQ.
1 January 1943:
The I-168 is in SubRon 3 in SubDiv 12 with the I-169
and the I-171. Arrives at Guadalcanal with 15 tons of cargo but is chased away by
two patrol boats after 60 per cent of the cargo is unloaded.
3 January 1943:
Arrives at Shortland, departs the next day.
7 January 1943:
Arrives at Truk, departs the next day for Kure.
14 January 1943:
Arrives at Kure.
22 February 1943:
Departs Kure for Yokosuka.
25 February 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
5 March 1943:
Departs Yokosuka for Paramushiro.
13 March 1943:
Departs Paramushiro for Kiska. The I-168 participates
in a total of nine supply runs to Kiska.
18 March 1943:
Departs Kiska. Patrols an area S of Amchitka.
Late March 1943:
Returns to Paramushiro. Departs for Kiska.
1 April 1943:
Arrives at Kiska in the company of the I-169. Takes aboard
sick personnel of the Kiska garrison.
April 1943:
The I-168 is in Rear Admiral Kouda Takero's SubRon 1 with
the I-2, -7, -31, -34, -35, -169 and the I-171 in the Northern District Force,
Fifth Fleet. SubRon 1 is given the mission to reinforce and resupply the
isolated Japanese garrisons in the Aleutian Islands.
4 April 1943:
The I-168 transfers the ground
personnel of the 452 NAG from Kiska to Attu.
17 April 1943:
Departs Attu with a cargo of ammunition and mail for Kiska.
19 April 1943:
Arrives at Kiska, unloads her cargo.
9 May 1943:
Returns to Yokosuka. Reassigned to SubRon 3.
12 July 1943:
Departs Kure, still under LtCdr Nakajima.
22 July 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
25 July 1943:
Departs Truk for Rabaul.
27 July 1943:
The I-168 sends a regular situation report while
negotiating the Isabel Strait. This is the last message from I-168.
At dusk around 1754, the I-168 sights a surfaced enemy submarine in the
Steffen Strait between New Ireland and New Hanover. LtCdr Nakajima fires a
torpedo at the submarine, but misses. Lookouts on LtCdr Walter E. Ebert's USS
SCAMP (SS-277) spot the incoming torpedo. Ebert goes ahead full and crash dives.
He levels off at 220 feet, lets the torpedo pass overhead and returns to
periscope depth. At 1812, Ebert fires four torpedoes at the I-168 that sink her
60 miles off New Hanover at 02-50S, 149-01E with all hands (97).
10 September 1943:
Presumed lost with all hands in the area N of
Rabaul.
15 September 1943:
SubRon 3 is disbanded.
15 October 1943:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' notes:
*On 19 May 1998, Dr. Robert D. Ballard, with a National
Geographic Society-sponsored Midway deep-sea expedition, finds the YORKTOWN
sitting upright, virtually intact, in 16,650 feet of water. See
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/midway/
Special thanks for assistance in preparing this TROM goes to Jean
Francois Masson of Canada, Andrew Obluski of Poland and Dr Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan.
- Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
