SENSUIKAN!

© 2001-2016 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp
Revision 4

20 April 1927:
Laid down at Mitsubishi's Kobe Yard.

29 November 1928:
Launched as I-62.

20 September 1929:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Uozumi Jisaku (42) (former CO of RO-65) is appointed the Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).

24 April 1930:
Kobe. I-62 is completed and attached to Sasebo Naval District. Assigned to SubDiv 29. LtCdr Uozumi Jisaku is the CO.

1 December 1931:
LtCdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kato Yoshio (43) (former CO of I-124) is appointed the CO.

15 November 1932:
LtCdr (Cdr, posthumously) Hattori Kunio (47)(former CO of I-56) is appointed the CO.

25 May 1935:
LtCdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Okamoto Yoshisuke (47) (former CO of I-51) is appointed the CO.

21 October 1935:
LtCdr (promoted Cdr 15 November; Rear Admiral, posthumously) Otake Toshio (45)(the current CO of I-64) is appointed the CO of I-62 as an additional duty.

21 October 1935-April 1936:
Placed in reserve at Sasebo.

27 January-15 February 1936:
Cdr Otake is appointed the CO of I-61 as an additional duty.

15 February 1936:
LtCdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Fujii Akiyoshi (49)(former CO of I-121) is appointed the CO of I-61, I-62 and I-64 (until 10 March) as an additional duty.

10 April 1936:
LtCdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Fukaya Sokichi (46) (former CO of RO-26) is appointed the CO.

1 December 1936:
LtCdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kobayashi Hitoshi (48)(former CO of I-2) is appointed the CO.

1 December 1937:
Cdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kato Ryonosuke (48) (former CO of I-73) is appointed the CO.

1 November 1938:
LtCdr (promoted Cdr 15 November; later Captain) Nishino Kozo (48)(former CO of I-59) is appointed the CO.

15 November 1939:
Placed in reserve at Sasebo. LtCdr (Captain, posthumously) Hanabusa Hakushi (51)(the current CO of I-64) is appointed the CO of I-62 as an additional duty. [1]

20 March 1940:
Placed in 3rd reserve at Sasebo. LtCdr (Captain, posthumously) Ogawa Tsunayoshi (50)(current CO of I-64) is appointed the CO of I-62 and I-61 (until 15 April) as an additional duty.

15 June 1940:
LtCdr (later Cdr) Kono Masamichi (52)(former CO of I-66) is appointed the CO.

26 July-30 October 1940:
LtCdr Kono Masamichi is appointed the CO of I-64 as an additional duty.

30 October 1940:
LtCdr (promoted Cdr 15 November 1940; Captain, posthumously) Izu Juichi (51)(former CO of I-124) is appointed the CO.

1940-1941:
Placed in reserve for diesel and torpedo tubes replacement.

1 July 1941:
LtCdr (Rear Admiral, posthumously) Kinashi Takakazu (51) (former CO of RO-34) is appointed the CO. [2]

26 November 1941:
I-62 is in Rear Admiral, the Marquis, Daigo Tadashige's SubRon 5 in Captain Tamaki Tomejiro's SubDiv 29 with I-64.

I-62 departs Sasebo for Palau with Admiral Daigo's flagship light cruiser YURA and SubDivs 29 and 30. En route, SubRon 5 is diverted to Samah, Hainan Island, China.

5 December 1941:
Departs Samah with I-64 on her first patrol.

8 December 1941: Operation "E" -The Invasion of Malaya:
South China Sea. Off Trengganu, Malaya. I-62 forms a patrol line with I-57, I-58, I-64 and I-66.

26 December 1941:
Reassigned to Patrol Unit "B".

27 December 1941:
Arrives at Camranh Bay, Indochina.

7 January 1942:
Departs Camranh for her second patrol in the Indian Ocean. All boats departing during that period proceeded via the S coast of Java and further westwards because a large British minefield was reported in Malacca Strait.

28 January 1942:
Indian Ocean. At 0240 LtCdr Kinashi attacks a tanker in the area W of Ceylon, but misses.

31 January 1942:
24 miles W of Colombo, Ceylon. At 0753, LtCdr Kinashi attacks the 9,463-ton British oiler LONGWOOD, which makes it to Colombo, albeit seriously damaged. British sloop FALMOUTH, auxiliary patrol boat OKAPI and Greek destroyer VASILISSA OLGA are sent to hunt down I-62, but fail to locate her.

3 February 1942:
SW of Colombo. After 2300 Kinashi attacks the British 7,402-ton armed tanker SPONDILUS at 06-16N, 79-38E, damaging it. The gunners from SPONDILUS, in turn, claim to have damaged the attacker. British sloop FALMOUTH and auxiliary patrol boat OKAPI again try to locate I-62, but to no avail.

10 February 1942:
Arrives at Penang.

28 February 1942:
Departs Penang on her third patrol for the Indian Ocean.

10 March 1942:
Indian Ocean. I-62 shells and sinks the 235-ton British sailing ship LAKSHMI GOVINDA at 13-22N, 87-27E. [2].

The same day, SubDiv 29 is disbanded. I-62 is reassigned to SubDiv 28.

21 March 1942:
S of Colombo. At 1132, I-62 torpedoes and damages the 8,012-ton British motor tanker SAN CIRILO at 06-40N, 79-40E. SAN CIRILO makes Colombo two days later.

22 March 1942:
Indian Ocean. E of northern entrance to Palk Strait. I-62 torpedoes and damages an unidentified cargo/passenger steamer at 10-50N, 83-59E, but it escapes.

25 March 1942:
Returns to Penang.

2 April 1942:
Departs Penang.

10 April 1942:
SubDiv 28 is disbanded. I-62 is reassigned to SubDiv 30.

12 April 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.

18 May 1942:
Departs Sasebo.

20 May 1942:
I-62 is renumbered I-162.

24 May 1942:
Arrives at Kwajalein.

26 May 1942: Operation "MI" - The Battle of Midway:
Operation "MI" - The Battle of Midway: Departs Kwajalein on her fourth patrol. I-162 is Vice Admiral, the Marquis, Komatsu Teruhisa's Advance Expeditionary Force (Sixth Fleet) in SubRon 5 with I-156, I-157, I-158, I-159, I-165 and I-166.

21 June 1942:
Returns to Kwajalein.

24 June 1942:
Departs Kwajalein for Sasebo.

30 June 1942:
LtCdr (Captain, posthumously) Shimose Kichiro (58) (former CO of RO-31) is appointed the CO.

1 July 1942:
Arrives at Sasebo.

10 July 1942:
SubRon 5 is disbanded.

14 July 1942:
I-162 is reassigned to the Southwest Area Fleet's SubDiv 30 with I-8, -163, -166 and tender RIO DE JANEIRO.

22 July 1942:
Departs Sasebo for Penang, stopping at Camranh Bay.

23 August 1942:
Departs Penang on her fifth war patrol to raid enemy communications in the Bay of Bengal.

12 September 1942:
Returns to Penang.

28 September 1942:
Departs Penang on her sixth war patrol to raid enemy communications in the Bay of Bengal.

3 October 1942:
Bay of Bengal, E of Vizagapatnam. At 1452, I-162 torpedoes the 2,332-ton Soviet armed timber ship MIKOYAN, en route from Calcutta to Karachi with a general cargo. MIKOYAN receives one hit to starboard between the holds Nos. 1 and 2 and goes dead in the water. The pumps fail and after transmitting an SOS the crew abandons the ship. At 1509, MIKOYAN sinks at 19-24N, 85-24E.

7 October 1942:
400 miles ESE of Masulipatam, India. At 1624, the I-162 torpedoes the 5,597-ton British armed steamer MANON en route from Calcutta and Vizagapatnam to Colombo with 7,100 tons of coal. The merchant sinks at 15-00N, 80-30E. Eight sailors are killed, the survivors land at Bangara Pallaur, EC India. [3]

13 October 1942:
Bay of Bengal, E of Dondra Head, Ceylon. At 1620 the I-162 torpedoes and damages the 4,161-ton British steamer MARTABAN, which receives a hit to bow at 06-31N, 82-03E; two sailors are killed.

A large fire breaks out aboard the crippled merchant. Several RAAF Consolidated PBY "Catalina" flying boats arrive and assist the crew that had abandoned ship. The Catalinas also search for I-162 but fail to find her. MARTABAN is later towed to Colombo; 61 survivors are rescued by HMAS LAUNCESTON.

18 October 1942:
Returns to Penang.

Early November 1942:
Departs for a new raid into Indian Ocean, but has to return to Penang almost immediately because of engine trouble.

15 November 1942:
Departs Penang for Surabaya.

21 November 1942:
Arrives at Surabaya.

24 November 1942:
Departs Surabaya on her seventh war patrol to raid enemy communications in Arafura Sea.

17 December 1942:
Returns to Surabaya.

1 January 1943:
I-162 is in the Southwest Area Fleet's SubDiv 30 based at Surabaya, Java with the I-165 and I-166.

7 January 1943:
Departs Surabaya on her eighth war patrol in Arafura Sea-Gulf of Carpentaria.

13 January 1943:
Returns to Surabaya.

26 January 1943:
Operation "KE" – the Evacuation of Guadalcanal. Departs Surabaya for a diversionary raid off the NW coast of Australia on her ninth war patrol.

Late January 1943:
Reconnoiters Cocos Island.

14 February 1943:
Off the Lesser Sundas. I-162 is attacked by USS THRESHER (SS-200) E of Thwartway Island at 06-05S, 105-47E. THRESHER launches two Mark 14 steam torpedoes, but one is a dud and the other misses and explodes harmlessly. I-162 fires her deck guns at THRESHER, turns north and breaks contact.

16 February 1943:
Returns to Surabaya.

Late February 1943:
Departs Surabaya for Sasebo.

1 March 1943:
I-162 is assigned to SubRon 8's SubDiv 30.

10 March 1943:
Returns to Sasebo for overhaul and repairs.

12 May 1943:
LtCdr (Cdr, posthumously) Doi Takashige (60)(former CO of RO-34) is appointed the CO.

4 September 1943:
Departs Kure.

12 September 1943:
Reassigned to Submarine Unit at Southwest Area Fleet.

16 September 1943:
Arrives at Penang.

27 September 1943:
Departs Penang for Sabang.

3 October 1943:
Arrives at Sabang.

6 October 1943:
Departs Sabang on her tenth war patrol to raid enemy communications in the Indian Ocean.

9 October 1943:
Reassigned to SubDiv 30, Eighth Fleet.

9 November 1943:
Returns to Penang.

12 November 1943:
Departs Penang for Singapore.

1 December 1943:
Departs Singapore for Penang.

14 December 1943:
Departs Penang on her eleventh war patrol to raid enemy communications in the Indian Ocean.

22 January 1944:
Returns to Singapore.

22 February 1944:
Departs Penang on her twelfth war patrol to raid enemy communications in the Indian Ocean.

4 March 1944:
Indian Ocean. SW of the Maldive Islands. At 1350, I-162 torpedoes, shells and sinks the 7,127-ton British armed merchant FORT McCLOUD at 02-01N, 77-06E. McCLOUD was sailing independently from Cochin to Durban with 2,000-tons of copper and 1,000-tons of military supplies. The crew is rescued by HM trawler SLUNA and rescue tug INTEGRITY.

18 March 1944:
Indian Ocean, W of One and Half Degree Channel. LtCdr Doi reports sinking a transport at 06-12N, 71-18E.

25 March 1944:
Returns to Penang. SubDiv 30 is disbanded; I-162 is reassigned to Kure Guard SubRon. Departs for Japan soon thereafter.

15 April 1944:
Arrives at Kure. Battle training in western Inland Sea.

30 April 1944:
I-162 arrives at Yokosuka. Lt (Cdr, posthumously) Kawashima Mamoru (64)(former CO of RO-114) is appointed the CO.

25 June 1944:
Reassigned to the Kure SubRon's SubDiv 19.

5 September 1944:
LtCdr (later Captain at the JMSDF) Oba Saichi (62) (former CO of RO-109) is appointed the CO.

10 January 1945:
LtCdr (later Rear Admiral at the JMSDF) Taniura Hideo (65)(former CO of RO-67) is appointed the CO.

1 April 1945:
Reassigned to SubDiv 34. Rebuilt to ferry "Kaiten" human torpedoes to shore bases.

26 June 1945:
I-162, on a fuel trip to Korea, is grounded off the south coast of Korea and receives minor damage.

Late June-early July 1945:
I-162 and I-156 are dispatched on a round trip tanker run to obtain fuel from Dairen, Manchukuo.

July-August 1945:
The crews of I-156, I-157, I-158, I-59 and I-162 are trained to launch kaitens in combat against the anticipated American invasion fleet. I-162 departs Japan for Dairen, Manchukuo on a round trip tanker run to obtain fuel for these training exercises.

10 July 1945:
Off Cape Ashizuri. At 0436 Cdr Bricker H. Ganyard’s USS LIONFISH (SS-298) picks up propeller noises. One minute later a surfaced I-168 class submarine (actually I-162 returning from Dairen) is sighted crossing LIONFISH's stern at 14 knots. At 0443 Ganyard fires five Mk. 18 bow torpedoes from an average distance of 1050 yards, using ST radar ranges. Two explosions, followed by break-up noises, are heard and a cloud of smoke sighted at 32-45N, 131-46E. In reality I-162 receives no damage and arrives at Kure on that same day.

15 August 1945:
Reassigned to SubDiv 15. Emperor Hirohito (Showa) broadcasts an Imperial Rescript calling for an end to hostilities.

2 September 1945:
I-162 is surrendered.

October 1945:
Transferred to Sasebo.

30 November 1945:
Removed from the Navy List.

1 April 1946: Operation "Roads End":
I-162 is stripped of all usable equipment and material and towed from Sasebo to an area off Goto Retto by submarine tender USS NEREUS (AS-17). NEREUS scuttles I-162 by gunfire at 32-37N, 129-17E.

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Authors' Notes:
[1] While several Western sources render Hanabusa Hakushi's first name as Hiroshi, the prewar IJN Naval Registers (1929, 1937 et alia) unanimously identify that same officer as Hanabusa Hakushi.

[2] Kinashi Takakazu appears in many sources erroneously as Kinashi Takaichi.

[3] Several authors credit I-62 with the sinking of Dutch MERKUS on 16 March 1942. In reality, she did not report such attack on that day (MERKUS was sunk by I-7 in a different location). In all likelihood, Dutch naval historian K.W.L. Bezemer was the first to connect I-7’s attack with the loss of MERKUS.

[4] MANON (former WILDENFELS, ex-GILGAI, ex-SURSUM CORDA) was an Italian warprize captured in Italian Somaliland in February 1941.

Thanks go to Dr. Higuchi Tatsuhiro of Japan and Jan Visser of the Netherlands.

– Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp

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