SENSUIKAN!
HIJMS Submarine I-371: Tabular Record of
Movement
© 2002 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp
2 October 1944:
The I-371 is completed at Mitsubishi's Kobe Yard as a Type D1 "Tei-gata" transport submarine. She is commissioned in the IJN and based in the Sasebo Naval District. The D1's had no torpedo tubes. LtCdr Kamihiroshi Yasuo is the first Commanding Officer.
6 December 1944:
The I-371 is assigned to Rear Admiral Owada Noboru's (former CO of YAMASHIRO) SubRon 7.
December 1944:
The I-371 is transferred from the Inland sea to Yokosuka and undergoes a 20-day working-up there.
30 December 1944:
The I-371 departs Yokosuka on a supply run via Truk to Wolei.
18 January 1945:
Arrives at Truk. She delivers aviation gasoline, aircraft spares, food and ammunition. There is a Nakajima C6N2 Saiun-Kai ("Myrt") long range reconnaissance aircraft of the 171st NAG at Truk, soon to begin flights over Ulithi.
20 January 1945:
An Aichi E13A1 ("Jake") floatplane from Truk arrives on Meleyon, and delivers a coded message about the arrival of the I-371.
22 January 1945:
Departs Truk.
25 January 1945:
Arrives at Wolei at about 2200. The I-371 is the second IJN supply submarine to reach the badly starved IJA garrison. That month, 467 men die of starvation. The I-371 unloads 50 metric tons of edibles and mail. As a result, the daily ration is increased from five to seven ounces of rice per man.
26 January 1945:
All cargo is unloaded by 0300.
31 January 1945:
Departs Truk for Yokosuka carrying evacuees. Her ETA is 21 February.
24 February 1945:
Bungo Suido. Cdr Frank D. Latta's USS LAGARTO (SS-371) is on an anti-picket boat sweep to aid Task Force 38's carrier planes in remaining undetected as they approach to strike Japan. At 1113, the LAGARTO's radar picks up a surfaced submarine at 5,000 yards. Cdr Latta attacks and sinks a submarine - perhaps the I-371* - at 32-40N, 132-33E.
12 March 1945:
Presumed lost with 84 hands including the evacuees.
10 April 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Notes:
*Since the ETA was three days earlier the I-371 may not have been sunk by the LAGARTO. The location of the sinking also does not fit Japanese estimates.
Special thanks for help in preparing this TROM go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan. – Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
Back to Submarine
Page
