HURL Artifact No. |
SUB-1c |
*Denotes approximations and speculations |
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Name: |
Mystery Midget or 3 Piece Midget |
Lost: |
7-Dec-41 |
Artifact Type: |
Submarine (stern-section) |
Found: |
27-Jul-92 |
Nationality: |
Japanese |
Dive No: |
PV-200 |
Class or Make: |
Midget |
Location: |
Defensive Sea Area |
Model: |
Type-A (Ko-hyo-teki) |
Depth (m): |
370m |
Purpose: |
Harbor Attack |
HURL crew: |
T. Kerby, G. Larkins, G. Carter |
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Serial Number: |
*HA-15,16,18, or 20 |
Additional Dives: |
PIV-022, PIV-216/PV-729, PIV-217/PV-730 |
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Built/Launched: |
1941 |
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Length: |
25' |
Width: |
5.65' |
Height: |
5.65' |
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Circumstance of Loss: |
*Scuttled with explosives, Later disposed at sea in 3 sections |
Crew Personnel/Position: |
Ensign M. Yokoyama-Captain, Petty Officer S. Uyeda-Crewman |
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Reason of Loss: |
*Destroyed sub to deny it to the enemy |
Crew Survivals/Fatalities: |
Both killed *(likely by suicide) |
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Artifact History: |
One of five midget submarines used in the attack on Pearl Harbor. This sub was salvaged from shallow water at some point, dismantled, rigged, and disposed outside the harbor in the Defensive Sea Area. The identification of this sub is based largely on the figure-8 torpedo guard which is thought to have been only used in the Pearl Harbor attack. This guard configuration was not seen on any of the subsequent midget submarines throughout the remainder of the war. |
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Artifact Condition: |
Cables are rigged to stern and forward ends for disposal. Section was disconnected from main body. Screws are in good condition. Some of the internal motor is visible. About 15' of the submarine is missing between the stern and mid sections. It is likely that this missing portion was the area of explosion from the subs scuttling charges. |
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Additional Information: |
One theory regarding the 3-piece midget is that it was recovered from Pearl Harbor's West Loch during the salvage and disposal of numerous vessels lost in an explosion there in May 1944, another is, that in 1951, it was spotted on the seabed just outside of the harbor by the research ship "Pioneer". It was then quickly and quietly removed by the Navy and dumped. |