© 2001-2003 Bob Hackett & Sander Kingsepp
10 May 1943:
The I-182 is completed at the Yokosuka Navy Yard,
commissioned in the IJN and based in the Sasebo Naval District. The I-182 is
assigned to SubDiv 11, SubRon 1. LtCdr Yonehara Minoru (former CO of I-156) is
the Commanding Officer.
8 August 1943:
Departs Sasebo.
10 August 1943:
Reassigned to SubDiv 22, SubRon 3.
15 August 1943:
Arrives at Truk.
22 August 1943:
Departs Truk to patrol off the New Hebrides.
1 September 1943:
At 1055, Cdr. J. F. Walker's USS WADSWORTH (DD-516)
arrives from Espiritu Santo as part of a hunter-killer group and commences
searching on a north-south axis. At 1300, the WADSWORTH makes a strong sonar
contact and drops a full pattern of 10 depth charges with 150-foot depth
settings, but with negative results.
The WADSWORTH's second attack develops into a stern chase. The submarine
turns left just before the depth charges, set at 250 feet, are fired. The
submarine continues on a southerly, then northeasterly course, creating wakes
that adversely affect the sonar's reception. The WADSWORTH makes several runs
without dropping depth charges, then fires a deep pattern, set at 425 feet. As
the destroyer turns to clear the area, a huge bubble surfaces, but otherwise the
results are negative.
The fourth attack develops into a stern chase, with the submarine
maneuvering to create underwater disturbances. After dropping 10 charges with a
mean setting of 250 feet, the WADSWORTH turns east to open the range. A
Consolidated PBY "Catalina" patrol plane reports an oil slick and debris just
south of the last depth charge pattern. The slick smells like diesel fuel and is
about 400 by 600 yards. Wooden debris is also seen at 15-38S, 166-57E, but the
identity of the submarine that the WADSWORTH sank remains unknown.*
15 September 1943:
The I-182 is ordered to return to Truk, but fails
to respond to the signal.
22 October 1943:
Presumed lost with all 87 hands off Espiritu Santo.
1 December 1943:
Presumed lost.
1943:
Removed from the Navy List.
Authors' Notes:
*The I-182 and the I-20 were operating in the New Hebrides at
this time and neither submarine returned from their mission. It is possible that
the WADSWORTH sank one of them in this attack. Author/historian Kimata Jiro
credits the WADSWORTH with sinking the I-182.
Special thanks for help in preparing this TROM go to Dr. Higuchi
Tatsuhiro of Japan. – Bob Hackett and Sander Kingsepp.
