SENSUIKAN!

© 2001 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp

31 August 1942:
The I-35 is completed at Mitsubishi, Kobe, commissioned in the IJN and based at the Kure Naval District. LtCdr Yamamoto Hideo is assigned as the Commanding Officer.

1 September 1942:
Assigned to the Kure SubRon for working-up with the I-34, RO-100 and the tender SANTOS MARU.

September 1942:
Departs Japan for the Aleutians. After arriving, the I-35 conducts patrols with the I-31.

15 November 1942:
Reassigned to Fifth Fleet with the I-34.

28 November 1942:
Departs Kure. Participates in supply missions and patrols in Kiska area while based at Paramushiro, Kuriles.

1 December 1942:
Arrives at Ominato with the I-34.

9-10 December 1942:
Arrives at Kiska.

19 January 1943:
The I-35 departs Kiska for Yokosuka but is recalled after the American landing on Amchitka.

23 January 1943:
En route to Kiska, the light cruiser KISO and the destroyer WAKABA spot an "enemy submarine" and decide to return so as to not compromise their supply mission. Later they learn that the I-35 was patrolling in the same area.

30 January 1943:
The I-35 arrives at her prescribed patrol area off Constantine Harbor, Amchitka.

17 February 1943:
Departs her patrol area, stops briefly at Attu to take aboard a staff officer.

23 February 1943:
Returns to Kure for overhaul.

24 March 1943:
Departs Kure for another supply mission to Kiska.

1 April 1943:
The I-35 is in SubDiv 15 of Rear Admiral Kouta Takero's SubRon 1 with the I-2, -7, -31, -34, -168, -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.

May 1943:
The I-35 delivers 4 tons of cargo to Kiska.

9 May 1943:
The I-35 departs Paramushiro for a supply run to Attu but is recalled on 12 May and redirected to Holtz Bay area.

11 May 1943: American Operation "Sandcrab" - The Invasion of Attu, Aleutians:
Rear Admiral (later Admiral) Thomas C. Kinkaid's Task Force 16, covered by Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell's Task Force 51, lands elements of the Army's 4th and 7th Infantry Divisions under the command of Maj Gen Eugene M. Landrum at Holtz Bay and Massacre Bay that later capture the island.

13 May 1943:
Attu. LtCdr John E. Edwards' USS PHELPS (DD-360) is screening Captain William A. Corn's USS PENNSYLVANIA. The PHELPS makes a sound contact and drops two depth charges. The contact appears stationary during the destroyers' approach, but at the last minute there is a sudden shift in bearing rate and a perceptible change in relative speed, as if the submarine is attempting to escape.

At 1530, contact is regained and LtCdr Edwards drops five 600-lb. depth charges and four 300 lb. DCs. Nearby, LtCdr Richard C. Williams, Jr.'s converted fast minelayer USS PRUITT (DM-22/DD-347) reports: "Relative to your pinnacle, one metal drum brought to surface slight diesel oil slick. SMSD and fathometer confirm your hits." A depth charge may have knocked the drum off the submarine's deck. The identity of the submarine is unknown, but the I-35 and the I-34 are operating in the area at the time.

15 May 1943:
Holtz Bay, Attu. In the foggy morning, Cdr John B. McGovern's attack transport USS J. FRANKLIN BELL (APA-16) is completing unloading slowly onto the narrow, rocky beach. The PENNSYLVANIA is standing nearby.

A submarine - either the I-35 or the I-34 - launches a salvo of torpedoes launches a salvo of torpedoes at the battleship. At 1140, four torpedoes pass on either side of the BELL and astern of the PENNSYLVANIA. Attempts to destroy the submarine are unsuccessful. The BELL is withdrawn temporarily from the area to avoid further attacks.

16 May 1943:
The I-35 fires two torpedoes at a light cruiser - probably Captain (later Rear Admiral) Russell S. Berkey's SANTA FE (CL-60) - that is part of the invasion covering force.

The I-35 is damaged heavily in a depth-charge attack . She surfaces in the fog and escapes, but she cannot resubmerge. LtCdr Yamamoto reports erroneously that he has damaged a light cruiser.

21 May 1943: Operation "KE-Go" - The Evacuation of Kiska:
The Imperial General Headquarters decides to evacuate the garrison at Kiska Island, Aleutians.

2 June 1943:
Returns to Kure, later transferred to Kobe for repairs.

8 September 1943:
The I-35 is reassigned to the Sixth Fleet. Departs Kure, still under LtCdr Yamamoto.

11 October 1943:
Departs Truk to reconnoiter Canton Island and Espiritu Santo.

17 October 1943:
At 0032, LtCdr William D. Irwin's USS NAUTILUS (SS-168), is returning to Pearl after reconnoitering Makin in the Gilbert Islands. He reports sighting a submarine at 19-47N, 181-24. Irwin sees only the conning tower and thinks "it looks like a new type U.S. submarine". Later, ComSubPac advises that it was a Japanese submarine - perhaps the outbound I-35.

19 November 1943:
The I-35 is 300 miles SW of the Hawaiian Islands. She is ordered to proceed to Tarawa in the Gilberts with the I-19, -39, -169 and the I-175.

20 November 1943: American Operation "Galvanic" - The Invasion of the Gilberts:
The Americans invade Tarawa and Makin Islands. The invasion fleet of 200 ships includes 13 battleships and 11 carriers.

22 November 1943:
LtCdr Yamamoto reports sighting an enemy Task Force in the Gilberts area. This is probably Rear Admiral Van H. Ragsdale's TG 53.6 CarDiv 22, comprising the USS SUWANEE (CVE-27), CHENANGO (CVE-28) and the SANGAMON (CVE-26) and its destroyer screen.

The I-35 is presumed MIA from this date.

23 November 1943:
W of Betio, Tarawa. The I-35's propeller sounds are detected by Rear Admiral H.F. Kingman's TG 53.4's USS MEADE (DD-602) on an anti-submarine patrol. TG 53.4's FRAZIER (DD-607) joins LtCdr James R. Mulholland's MEADE. Between 1530 and 1738, the destroyers launch five intensive depth charge attacks. The MEADE's final barrage forces the I-35 to battle surface. Both destroyers shell the submarine with 5-inch and 40-mm. fire.

At 1751, Cdr Elliott M. Brown's FRAZIER charges in and rams the submarine's port quarter aft of her conning tower, rupturing her pressure hull. The FRAZIER backs off, her bow badly damaged. At 1754, the I-35 sinks stern first at 01-25N, 172-40E. The destroyers launch boats to recover survivors. Three are rescued. A fourth survivor opens fire on his rescuers and is killed. The survivors identify the submarine as the I-35. A total of 92 crewmembers are KIA.

10 January 1944:
Presumed lost with all hands in the Gilberts area.

10 April 1944:
Removed from the Navy List.

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Authors' Note: Special thanks for help in preparing this TROM go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan.
– Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.

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