THE CHASE, CAPTURE, AND BOARDING OF A JAPANESE SUBMARINE

Since 12-24-04

http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-401.htm

Alex 'Snoopy' Leitch

Published in POLARIS December 1985

USS SEGUNDO (SS-398) deported Midway Island on 10 August 1945 for her fifth and final patrol of WWII. Her Patrol Area was the Sea of Okhotsk, and under the command of LtCdr. S.L. Johnson, USN, who had just relieved Cdr. J.D. FuIp, USN on Midway, we proceeded to our Patrol Area. On 15 August 1945 we received word of the surrender of Japan. Captain Johnson immediately granted a warm can of beer for all hands. On 18 August 1945 we were ordered to patrol outside the Kurile Island Chain and await further orders. On 24 August 1945 we received orders to proceed to Tokyo Bay and we left station heading South.

NOW FOR THE STORY:

I was a qualified SI/c (SS) and standing Helm and Radar Watch. You remember the routine, 1/2 hour Radar, 1/2 hour Helm and 1/2 hour "Goof-off" or messenger. Standing the Mid-Watch (0000 to 0400) I had just relieved the Radar watch at 1145 on 27 Aug. 1945. There were no contacts on the screen. I was munching away on a sandwich and cup of coffee, when all of a sudden, a close and intense blip appeared on the screen about 3,000 yards away. I ran the couple of steps needed to get my head under the upper Conning Tower hatch, and hollered up to the OOD, "Radar Contact, 3,000 yards!" At the same time one of the Lookouts yelled, "Ship, bearing --- degrees, close aboard". I went back to the radar and soon Capt. Johnson came flying up to the bridge. He told me to keep giving him bearings and ranges.

Since hostilities had ceased on 15 August and the target had not made any move, except to turn away, the Captain did not send us to Battle Stations. It quickly became apparent that the target was picking up speed and trying to outrun us. Joe Brown, GM1 /c was on the helm and I was still on the radar. As radar range increased, the Captain ordered flank speed and began giving course changes to Gunner Brown at the helm. As our speed increased to maximum, 19 to 20 knots, it was soon clear that we would be able to close the target. However, we could maintain our distance and position. We stayed on his tail, about 4000 yds, and so it went throughout our entire Mid-Watch.

We were relieved at 0400 and went below. Just about all of the off-going watch assembled in the after battery, drinking coffee, and talking about the mysterious ship we were chasing. As dawn was breaking, the Captain had the Quartermaster send out the International Signal to Stop on our 12 inch Searchlight. The Captain now ordered All Hands to Battle Stations Surface! As we manned our Battle Stations, I found myself in a most advantageous position. As Gun Captain on the forward 40 mm, just forward of the Bridge, I could hear all the dialogue between the captain and everyone else. Our quarry had stopped dead in the water and we were in an ideal torpedo firing situation. As it became brighter, it became apparent that our contact was a huge Submarine.

It turned out to be the IJN I-401, a boat over 400 feet long, displacing 5500 tons and equipped to carry aircraft. In fact, the I-401 was an extremely unusual craft. She, and two sister subs, were originally built for a single mission to destroy the Panama Canal. But the events of the war made it impossible for that operation to ever be undertaken. The boat was designed to handle two seaplanes, but had been modified, so that when the SEGUNDO came upon her, the deck hangar space had been enlarged to handle three Seaplane Bombers. Compared to her, the 1500 ton, 311 foot long SEGUNDO was a lightweight.

When the sun came up, it was decided by the captain, of course, that we would try to board the I-boat. After exchanging blinker light signals, a rubber raft was put over the side, and proceeded to the side of the I-boat. On its return, it carried a Japanese English speaking Officer. The captain gave our terms to the Jap officer, who then got back in the rubber raft and was taken back to the I-boat. To the best of my recollection, at least three trips, with Officer representatives from each side, were made before an agreement was arrived at.

The Japanese Captain would allow a prize crew of One Officer and 5 Enlisted Men to board the I-Boat. They would then proceed to Tokyo Bay with us, as our captive.

The following named men were members of that Boarding Party.

LT. J.E. BALSON, USNR (our Exec.Officer)

E.A. RUSSELL, CTM, USN(ss) (our COB)

R.S. AUSTIN, MoMM1/c (ss) USN

C.M. CARLUCCI, QM3/c(ss) USNR

K.W. DIEKMANN,

EM1 /c(ss)USN

J.V. WALTON, TM2/c(ss) USN

It is my understanding that all the Enlisted Men above received the Bronze Star for this action. I do not know what LT. Balson may have been awarded. The Bronze Stars were sent through the mail, much later, I understand, and not awarded as a general ceremony in front of the crew.

We then began our two-day trip towards Tokyo Bay. It is my understanding that the boarding party removed the Conning Tower Hatch, to prevent the Jap from diving. None of them ever went 'below decks beyond the ladder. You might call this a little bit of "left-over" mistrust, considering their actions in the past. Every time they hollered down for some water, they were presented with a bottle of Saki. Oh well, War is Hell!! It's a good thing they weren't conning the ship. The SEGUNDO, meanwhile, maintained a position on the I-Boat's quarter, with our forward tubes loaded with War Heads. The idea being that any suspicious maneuvering by the I-Boat the Quartermaster would signal the Boarding Party to get over the side and away from the Submarine. Golly, I wonder why? Our Skipper, S.L."Slick" JOHNSON. LCDR, USN, altho' new to us, struck me as a man who wouldn't hesitate two seconds to issue the Command Fire One! Fire Two!

At any rate, there were no problems with the Jap. We escorted the I-401 South into Sagami Wan, the body of water just south of Yokohama and Yokasuka. We arrived at 0500, on the morning of 31 August 1945, and at this time the American Flag was raised aboard the I-401. At 1100 that morning, the Japanese Captain delivered two swords, as a symbol of surrender, to LT. BALSON, the SEGUNDO'S Exec. Officer.

We were then relieved of our prize by the USS GATLING and were told to proceed up to the Tokyo Bay Approach and go to Yokosuka Ko and moor in a nest of Submarines alongside USS PROTEUS (AS 19). The PROTEUS had just arrived from Guam with Admiral Charles LOCKWOOD, ComSubPac, aboard.

The SEGUNDO participated in the Surrender Ceremonies aboard USS MISSOURI on 2 Sept. 1945. On 3 Sept. 1945, SEGUNDO departed Tokyo Bay, in company with 11 other submarines, enroute to Pearl Harbor, T.H. where on 12 Sept. 1945 the SEGUNDO terminated her fifth and final Patrol.

As a member of the herd, so to speak, I have a few questions: At the time of these events I was just a lowly Seaman 1/c, but for some reason or another I certainly expected a little more in print about this distinctly unique and off-beat piece of Submarine Lore. Not for me, Shipmates, but for the SEGUNDO. It would seem to me that someone would have said, "Boy, ain't that something. Our Submarine capturing another Submarine with no outside help whatsoever!" Seems to me that Capt. Daniel Gallery, aboard a 'Jeep' Carrier in the Atlantic, captured a U-Boat. He had two DE's and helicopters plus his own planes, and the Stateside Newspapers made one big hullabaloo about it. Not taking anything away from Capt. Gallery, Lord knows they did their job, and are to be admired for it, but what about us?

Ah so, Shipmates, the Silent Service did its bit, and then some. I'm tired of being "Silent". How about you? Give Hugh Lowder, Editor of POLARIS, a little help by submitting this type of Submarine (Non-fiction) Story. We are running out of time, gentlemen, and it's about time we got "A LOT" of these stories on paper so that our children and grandchildren can see that we were something other than "Old Geezers with nothing better to do than tell Tall Sea Stories".