SENSUIKAN!

© 2001-2002 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp

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14 August 1944:
The I-365 is completed at the Yokosuka Navy Yard, commissioned in the IJN and based in the Yokosuka Naval District. The I-365 is a Type D1 "Tei-gata" transport submarine and has no torpedo tubes. LtCdr Nakamura Motoo is the Commanding Officer. The I-365 is assigned to SubRon 11 for working up.

30 September 1944:
The I-365 is assigned to Rear Admiral Owada Noboru's (former CO of YAMASHIRO) SubRon 7, Sixth Fleet.

1 November 1944:
The I-365 departs Yokosuka on a transport mission carrying medicine and mail to Truk.

15 November 1944:
Arrives at Truk.

16 November 1944:
Departs Truk for Yokosuka via the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands. She carries 96 persons aboard, including 31 passengers from Truk.

25 November 1944:
E of the Ogasawara Islands. The I-365 sends a routine signal. It is her last message.

29 November 1944:
75 mile SE of Yokosuka. LtCdr Frederick A. Gunn's USS SCABBARDFISH (SS- 397) on lifeguard duty off Japan. The I-365, running on the surface, is sighted by the SCABBARDFISH's high periscope.

LtCdr Gunn tracks the submarine for over three hours and attempts an "end-around" to outrun the target and reach a favorable firing position. The SCABBARDFISH is spotted by a Japanese aircraft (that fails or is unable to warn the I-365). Gunn is forced to dive, but finishes his approach submerged and launches two stern torpedoes at 1,625-yards. At 0940, a torpedo explodes on the Japanese submarine's starboard side in the forward battery compartment. The I-365 sinks in 30 seconds at 34-44N, 141-01E.

The SCABBARDFISH surfaces and finds five survivors amid the oil-strewn debris. Four refuse rescue. PO Sasaki is the sole survivor. He identifies the submarine as the I-365.

10 December 1944:
Presumed lost off the Ogasawara Islands.

10 March 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

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

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