I-168 or Imuya was the first ship of the eight Type KD6 (Kaidai-class VI Submarine or the I-168 series). She was built under the 1st Naval Armaments Supplement Program (Circle 1 Program) of 1931, she was laid down ay Kure Naval Arsenal on June 18, 1931, she was launched on June 26, 1933 and was commissioned on July 31, 1934 as Submarine I-68. Her displacement is 1,400 tons when surfaced and 2,440 tons when submerged. She's equipped with two Type 8 diesel powered engines capable of producing 9,000 horsepower when surfaced and 1,800 horsepower when submerged. Her speed could range up to 23 knots when surfaced, 8.2 knots when submerged and her maximum depth is 75 meters below sea-level. She's armed with six 533mm (21-inch) torpedo tubes, one 10cm (4-inch) 65 cal. naval guns, one 13mm Type-93 auto-cannons, and one 7.7mm Type-92 machine guns.
Upon commission she was assigned to SubDiv 12 together with I-70 and I-68, SubDiv 12 was transferred to SubRon 2, 2nd on November 15, 1935 till December 1, 1937. On November 15, 1939, SubDiv 12 was transferred to SubRon 3, 2nd Fleet. She present in the Yokohama Naval Review on October 11, 1940. On November 15, 1940, SubRon 3 was transferred to the 6th Fleet. During the initial preparation for the Plan Z (Attack on Pearl Harbor) on November 11, 1941, she was assigned to the Advance Expeditionary Force under the command of Vice Adm. Shimizu Mitsumi, I-68 departed from Saeki to Kwajalein. On November 23, 1941, she departed from Kwajalein for her first war patrol. During the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, SubRon 3 was deployed south of Oahu, she was ordered to scout the area and attack any sortieing ships from Pearl Harbor. I-68 patrolled from 25 to 50 nautical miles from Oahu together with 4 submarines from SubRon 3. On the next day, she was ordered to lay off the entrance to Pearl Harbor to rescue midget submarine crews together with I-69, all crews were lost, she returned to her patrol area afterwards. On December 17, 1941, she was subjected to 21 separate depth-charge attacks from this and the following days, the last attack wrecked her battery cells and caused flooding on her aft torpedo tubes. She decided leave her patrol area for Kwajalein then she departs for Kure on December 31, 1941, she arrived at Kure on January 9, 1942, she was docked for repairs afterwards.
She was renumbered as I-168 on May 20, 1942, then on May 23, 1942, she departed from Kure for her second war patrol to scout Midway Island prior to its invasion together with 4 submarines from DesRon 3. Dawn on June 2, 1942, she arrived at northwest Midway Island, she conducted the first periscope reconnaissance on Sand Island, then she circumnavigates around Midway and provided weather data for the invasion force till the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. USS Yorktown CV-5 was badly damaged during the carrier engagement. The submarines were ordered to bombard the airfield on Eastern Island, the order was cancelled afterwards she remained near the island to report the subsequent aircraft traffic. On June 5, 1942, she fired a total of 6 4-inch shells at the island but inflicted no damage, she was detected by onshore batteries searchlight and returned fire, I-168 immediately submerged to avoid damage, she was chased by patrol vessels but somehow escape afterwards. Then Mikuma's floatplane discovered the damaged Yorktown and sent a message to I-168, she proceed to pursuit the damaged carrier, while she tracked the carrier, I-168 was attacked by PBY flying boats, she quickly dive and escaped with no damage.
On June 6, 1942, at 04:10, she located Yorktown, then she notice that the carrier was surrounded by 6 destroyers circling miles away. Yorktown was being towed by the minesweeper USS Vireo AM-52 while USS Hammann DD-412 put a salvage party on Yorktown. I-168 skillfully approached the group, she managed to pass the destroyer-cruiser screen without being detected. Then at 13:31, from 1,900 yards away from the carrier, she fired 2 torpedoes in overlapping formation, she fired 2 more torpedoes 3 seconds later. The first torpedo directly hit Hammann which break the destroyer and sunk for about 4 minutes. At 13:32, two torpedoes hit Yorktown but did not sunk just yet, then the fourth torpedo passes through the carrier. At 13:36, destroyers began their counterattack, they dropped depth charges at her which flooded her forward torpedo room and maneuvering room, her battery cells were extensively damaged from the engagement. At 16:40, she was approached by destroyers USS Gwin DD-433, USS Hughes DD-410 and USS Monaghan DD-354 were five miles from the submarine, I-168 set off to 14 knots while undergoing emergency repairs, two destroyers fired shells at her from 6500 yards for about 30 minutes. After the emergency repairs, she immediately submerged and stays beneath the water till 20:00, the chase elapsed for 13 hours, she's been attacked with 40 depth-charges. On June 7, 1942, Yorktown rolls over to port and sinks, I-168 departs her patrol area for Japan due to lack of fuel, she limped back to Japan using only her two engines.
She arrived at Yokosuka with nearly dry tanks, she refueled and proceed to Kure afterwards. During the time she arrived at Kure, a big crowd welcomed I-168. Captain Tanabe was reassigned as the commanding office of I-176 which still under construction in Kure. I-168 was transferred to Sasebo. On June 30, 1942, she undergoes battle damage repair. Repairs were completed on August 31, 1942, she departed from Sasebo afterwards.
On November 16, 1942, while she was on Truk, Vice Adm. Komatsu Teruhisa, commander of the 6th Fleet announced to the submarine captains that the submarine force has been ordered to supply IJA troops in Guadalcanal. I-168 departed from Truk to Kure for another repair on November 18, 1942. She departed Kure for Truk on December 15, 1942 and participated on her first Tokyo Express run from Truk to Guadalcanal on December 22, 1942 together with the SubDiv 12. She arrived at Guadalcanal on January 1, 1943 carrying 15 tons of cargo, they were chased away by 2 patrol boats with only 60% of the cargo were unloaded. On January 3, 1943, she arrived at Shortland Islands, she departed for Truk on the next day, then from Truk she departed for Kure, then from Kure to Yokosuka, then proceed to Paramushiro. On March 13, 1943, she participated her first supply run to Kiska Island. Then she departed from Kiska to patrol an area south of Amchitka. She departed her patrol area for Paramushiro then departed for Kiska afterwards. On April 1, 1943, she arrived at Kiska and take aboard sick personnel of the Kiska garrison
She was assigned to SubRon 1, Northern District Force, 5th Fleet, under the command of Rear Admiral Kouda Takero, she was together with 7 submarines. SubRon 1's mission is to reinforce and resupply the isolated Japanese garrisons in the Aleutian Islands. On April 4, 1943, she transferred ground personnel of the 452 NAG from Kiska to Attu. On April 17, 1943, she departed from Attu carrying a cargo of ammunition and mail for the troops in Kiska. On April 19, 1943, she arrived at Kiska and unloads her cargo. On May 9, 1943, she returned to Yokosuka for repairs, she was reassigned to SubRon 3.
On July 12, 1943, she departed from Kure to Truk, she arrived on Truk on July 22, 1943, she departed for Rabaul three days later. Another two days later, she sends a regular situation report while at the Isabel Strait. At 17:54, I-168 spotted a surfaced submarine, she was the USN Submarine USS Scamp SS-277, I-168 fired her torpedoes but Scamp detected the incoming attacks, Scamp immediately crash dive within 67 meters deep and avoided the torpedoes and less then 10 minutes Scamp return to periscope. At 18:12, Scamp fires four torpedoes and sunk I-168. Scamp believed that the submarine she sunk was I-24 but later analysis of Japanese records indicates that it was not I-24 but I-168.
I-168 sunk on July 27, 1943, 60 nautical miles off New Hanover. She was presumed lost on September 10, 1943 with all 97 casualties. She sortied for a total of 10 times with 3 war patrols. She only sunk two warships with a total of 21,639 tons combined tonnage, I-168 was accredited for having the largest American ship to be sank by an IJN submarine.
I-168 or Imuya was the first ship of the eight Type KD6 (Kaidai-class VI Submarine or the I-168 series). She was built under the 1st Naval Armaments Supplement Program (Circle 1 Program) of 1931, she was laid down ay Kure Naval Arsenal on June 18, 1931, she was launched on June 26, 1933 and was commissioned on July 31, 1934 as Submarine I-68. Her displacement is 1,400 tons when surfaced and 2,440 tons when submerged. She's equipped with two Type 8 diesel powered engines capable of producing 9,000 horsepower when surfaced and 1,800 horsepower when submerged. Her speed could range up to 23 knots when surfaced, 8.2 knots when submerged and her maximum depth is 75 meters below sea-level. She's armed with six 533mm (21-inch) torpedo tubes, one 10cm (4-inch) 65 cal. naval guns, one 13mm Type-93 auto-cannons, and one 7.7mm Type-92 machine guns.
Upon commission she was assigned to SubDiv 12 together with I-70 and I-68, SubDiv 12 was transferred to SubRon 2, 2nd on November 15, 1935 till December 1, 1937. On November 15, 1939, SubDiv 12 was transferred to SubRon 3, 2nd Fleet. She present in the Yokohama Naval Review on October 11, 1940. On November 15, 1940, SubRon 3 was transferred to the 6th Fleet. During the initial preparation for the Plan Z (Attack on Pearl Harbor) on November 11, 1941, she was assigned to the Advance Expeditionary Force under the command of Vice Adm. Shimizu Mitsumi, I-68 departed from Saeki to Kwajalein. On November 23, 1941, she departed from Kwajalein for her first war patrol. During the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, SubRon 3 was deployed south of Oahu, she was ordered to scout the area and attack any sortieing ships from Pearl Harbor. I-68 patrolled from 25 to 50 nautical miles from Oahu together with 4 submarines from SubRon 3. On the next day, she was ordered to lay off the entrance to Pearl Harbor to rescue midget submarine crews together with I-69, all crews were lost, she returned to her patrol area afterwards. On December 17, 1941, she was subjected to 21 separate depth-charge attacks from this and the following days, the last attack wrecked her battery cells and caused flooding on her aft torpedo tubes. She decided leave her patrol area for Kwajalein then she departs for Kure on December 31, 1941, she arrived at Kure on January 9, 1942, she was docked for repairs afterwards.
She was renumbered as I-168 on May 20, 1942, then on May 23, 1942, she departed from Kure for her second war patrol to scout Midway Island prior to its invasion together with 4 submarines from DesRon 3. Dawn on June 2, 1942, she arrived at northwest Midway Island, she conducted the first periscope reconnaissance on Sand Island, then she circumnavigates around Midway and provided weather data for the invasion force till the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. USS Yorktown CV-5 was badly damaged during the carrier engagement. The submarines were ordered to bombard the airfield on Eastern Island, the order was cancelled afterwards she remained near the island to report the subsequent aircraft traffic. On June 5, 1942, she fired a total of 6 4-inch shells at the island but inflicted no damage, she was detected by onshore batteries searchlight and returned fire, I-168 immediately submerged to avoid damage, she was chased by patrol vessels but somehow escape afterwards. Then Mikuma's floatplane discovered the damaged Yorktown and sent a message to I-168, she proceed to pursuit the damaged carrier, while she tracked the carrier, I-168 was attacked by PBY flying boats, she quickly dive and escaped with no damage.
On June 6, 1942, at 04:10, she located Yorktown, then she notice that the carrier was surrounded by 6 destroyers circling miles away. Yorktown was being towed by the minesweeper USS Vireo AM-52 while USS Hammann DD-412 put a salvage party on Yorktown. I-168 skillfully approached the group, she managed to pass the destroyer-cruiser screen without being detected. Then at 13:31, from 1,900 yards away from the carrier, she fired 2 torpedoes in overlapping formation, she fired 2 more torpedoes 3 seconds later. The first torpedo directly hit Hammann which break the destroyer and sunk for about 4 minutes. At 13:32, two torpedoes hit Yorktown but did not sunk just yet, then the fourth torpedo passes through the carrier. At 13:36, destroyers began their counterattack, they dropped depth charges at her which flooded her forward torpedo room and maneuvering room, her battery cells were extensively damaged from the engagement. At 16:40, she was approached by destroyers USS Gwin DD-433, USS Hughes DD-410 and USS Monaghan DD-354 were five miles from the submarine, I-168 set off to 14 knots while undergoing emergency repairs, two destroyers fired shells at her from 6500 yards for about 30 minutes. After the emergency repairs, she immediately submerged and stays beneath the water till 20:00, the chase elapsed for 13 hours, she's been attacked with 40 depth-charges. On June 7, 1942, Yorktown rolls over to port and sinks, I-168 departs her patrol area for Japan due to lack of fuel, she limped back to Japan using only her two engines.
She arrived at Yokosuka with nearly dry tanks, she refueled and proceed to Kure afterwards. During the time she arrived at Kure, a big crowd welcomed I-168. Captain Tanabe was reassigned as the commanding office of I-176 which still under construction in Kure. I-168 was transferred to Sasebo. On June 30, 1942, she undergoes battle damage repair. Repairs were completed on August 31, 1942, she departed from Sasebo afterwards.
On November 16, 1942, while she was on Truk, Vice Adm. Komatsu Teruhisa, commander of the 6th Fleet announced to the submarine captains that the submarine force has been ordered to supply IJA troops in Guadalcanal. I-168 departed from Truk to Kure for another repair on November 18, 1942. She departed Kure for Truk on December 15, 1942 and participated on her first Tokyo Express run from Truk to Guadalcanal on December 22, 1942 together with the SubDiv 12. She arrived at Guadalcanal on January 1, 1943 carrying 15 tons of cargo, they were chased away by 2 patrol boats with only 60% of the cargo were unloaded. On January 3, 1943, she arrived at Shortland Islands, she departed for Truk on the next day, then from Truk she departed for Kure, then from Kure to Yokosuka, then proceed to Paramushiro. On March 13, 1943, she participated her first supply run to Kiska Island. Then she departed from Kiska to patrol an area south of Amchitka. She departed her patrol area for Paramushiro then departed for Kiska afterwards. On April 1, 1943, she arrived at Kiska and take aboard sick personnel of the Kiska garrison
She was assigned to SubRon 1, Northern District Force, 5th Fleet, under the command of Rear Admiral Kouda Takero, she was together with 7 submarines. SubRon 1's mission is to reinforce and resupply the isolated Japanese garrisons in the Aleutian Islands. On April 4, 1943, she transferred ground personnel of the 452 NAG from Kiska to Attu. On April 17, 1943, she departed from Attu carrying a cargo of ammunition and mail for the troops in Kiska. On April 19, 1943, she arrived at Kiska and unloads her cargo. On May 9, 1943, she returned to Yokosuka for repairs, she was reassigned to SubRon 3.
On July 12, 1943, she departed from Kure to Truk, she arrived on Truk on July 22, 1943, she departed for Rabaul three days later. Another two days later, she sends a regular situation report while at the Isabel Strait. At 17:54, I-168 spotted a surfaced submarine, she was the USN Submarine USS Scamp SS-277, I-168 fired her torpedoes but Scamp detected the incoming attacks, Scamp immediately crash dive within 67 meters deep and avoided the torpedoes and less then 10 minutes Scamp return to periscope. At 18:12, Scamp fires four torpedoes and sunk I-168. Scamp believed that the submarine she sunk was I-24 but later analysis of Japanese records indicates that it was not I-24 but I-168.
I-168 sunk on July 27, 1943, 60 nautical miles off New Hanover. She was presumed lost on September 10, 1943 with all 97 casualties. She sortied for a total of 10 times with 3 war patrols. She only sunk two warships with a total of 21,639 tons combined tonnage, I-168 was accredited for having the largest American ship to be sank by an IJN submarine.
That poor Wo-class.... she didn't deserves that. :(
The keen Kaidai Type VI submarine* Stand in: Wo-classMermaid of ship girls worldJust like modern day girls, she plays with her smartphone in her free time. But as soon as she wears her school swimsuit, she transforms into the sniper of the sea.
Her wet and sparkling bodyline makes hearts throb.I-168 participated in the Battle of Midway. During the engagement, after difficult fight, she managed to sink one carrier (USS Yorktown) and one destroyer (USS Hammann), avoided enemy's attack and finally returned to Kure.
When she arrived in Kure, there was only 800 litres of fuel oil left in her tank.Snipe the enemy aircraft carrier!Sniper of Love
i-168During the period of her construction, Kaidai submarines are allocated number 50–100, so originally she’s I-68.
But later, construction of smaller Kaidai submarine has exceeded their original projection and hit number 100. She’s then categorized as medium sized patrol submarine.
