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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Japanese Midget Submarines

Introduction and related photographs from the Unites States Naval Historical Center.
Ha-19, a 46-ton Type "A" midget submarine, was built at Kure, Japan, in 1938. In November-December 1941, she was transported aboard the larger submarine I-24 to the waters off Pearl Harbor, where she was one of five midget submarines launched to participate on the 7 December Japanese raid.
A non-functioning gyrocompass prevented Ha-19 from entering Pearl Harbor. After many adventures, she went aground at Waimanalo, on the east coast of Oahu. The submarine and her pilot, Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki, were captured on 8 December. Ensign Sakamaki was the first Japanese prisoner of war taken by the United States during the Pacific War.
Ha-19 was salvaged and later sent to the United States' mainland, where she was featured at War Bond drives throughout the country. After the end of World War II she was exhibited for many years at Key West, Florida. In 1991, Ha-19 was moved to Fredericksburg, Texas, where she remains on display at the Admiral Nimitz museum.

Size	Image Description	Source
48k	Watercolour and gouache on paper by the artist Viktor Stepansky entitled "First Japanese Prisoner Kazuo Sakamaki" depicting the scene the morning he was captured by Hawaiian soldier David Akui.	Photo & partial text courtesy of subart.net. & starbulletin.com.
260k	Starboard bow view of the Japanese 2 man submarine *Ha-19* at Mare Island on 10 September 1942.	Official USN photo # 5474-9-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
139k	Broadside view of the Japanese 2 man submarine *Ha-19* at Mare Island on 10 September 1942.	Official USN photo # 5475-9-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
73k	Bow view of the business end of *Ha-19* at Mare Island on 10 September 1942.	Official USN photo # 6291-9-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
155k	Bow view of the Japanese 2 man submarine *Ha-19* at Mare Island on 10 September 1942.	Official USN photo # 5477-9-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
114k	Torpedo tubes aboard the Japanese 2 man submarine *Ha-19* at Mare Island on 10 September 1942.	Official USN photo # 5478-9-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
129k	Bow view of the Japanese 2 man submarine *Ha-19* at Mare Island on 10 September 1942.	Official USN photo # 5479-9-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
123k	Inscription written on the bow of the *Ha-19* while being prepared for its subsequent bond drive says; "TOJO CIGAR INC. The bonds you buy will liquadate this corporation. Buy more, Buy now;" at Mare Island on 10 September 1942. The photo lab had fun adding the art work to the bow.	Official USN photo # 5479-9-42 modified, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
122k	Interior view of *Ha-19* looking forward at Mare Island on 10 September 1942.	Official USN photo # 5481-9-42, courtesy of Darryl Baker.
241k	Mare Island auctioned fragments of *Ha-19* captured at Pearl Harbor as part of the yard's War Bond drive during Navy Day on 27 Oct 1942. Pictured from left to right are auctioneer Hadley, Burton H. Landensohn, who purchased $200 worth of Ward Bonds for an engraved operating rod, and Fred Lutz; whose $750 bought a $1000 War Bond and a two-foot Japanese battery box cover.	Official USN photo courtesy of Darryl Baker.
38k	Captured Japanese submarine. A Japanese vest-pocket sub, captured from the Japs after the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, is being utilized in a plan to sell war bonds and stamps in various communities throughout the States. The sub, which requires only a two-man crew, is shown here as it appeared in Vallejo, California. The purchase of a war stamp or bond entitles the buyer to a peek at the inside of the vessel. The sub is towed from place to place by trailer.	Photo # 8b05750r & text courtesy of memory.loc.gov. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. Washington Division; 1944. Photo added 02/21/08.
40k	Former 1969 President of the Brazilian subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp. Kazuo Sakamaki takes a turn around *Ha-19*, the submarine he piloted the morning of the Pearl Harbor attack. He is shown here in 1991 visiting the boat for the first time since the day the war ended for him and started for the U.S.	Photo & partial text courtesy of hnsa.org. (Historic Naval Ships Association).
27k	The *Ha-19* on display at the National Museum of the Pacific War at Fredericksburg, Texas. She is displayed in the museum's George Bush Gallery in a setting depicting her just prior to launching from the deck of the *I-24* mother submarine off the coast of Oahu.	Photo & text courtesy of hnsa.org. (Historic Naval Ships Association).

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Japanese Midget Submarine HA-19 National Historic Landmark Study by James P. Delgado, December 1988 Designated June 30, 1989
Imperial Japanese Navy Page

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This page is created and maintained by Darryl Baker & Michael Mohl,
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