Japan's WWII Midget Sub
- By Parks Stephenson
- Posted 12.01.09
- NOVA
During WWII, the Japanese Navy deployed hundreds of different sorts of submarines, but on December 7th, 1941, they debuted a particularly secret weapon—the Type A Ko-Hyoteki midget sub. Five furtively made their way toward Pearl Harbor to attack U.S. battleships. At a quarter the size of common fleet subs, the midgets were a technological marvel, far outperforming their western counterparts. Here, explore a model.
Launch Interactive
A 3-D model offers a detailed look at the tiny submarine that carried torpedoes into Pearl Harbor.
Credits
- Producer:
- Melissa Salpietra
- Designer:
- Tyler Howe
- Developer:
- Dan Hart
Images
- (computer generated sub images)
- © Parks Stephenson
- (radio)
- Courtesy Yokohama Radio Museum
- (archival photo of net cutter)
- Courtesy Naval History and Heritage Command
- (archival photos of the forward and aft battery rooms, batteries, conning tower, control room, motor room, propeller, pulley, tail assembly, torpedoes, torpedo room)
- Courtesy U.S. National Archives files "Description and Photographs of Japanese Submarine No. 19"
Related Links
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The Threat of Midget Subs Today
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Pearl Harbor Sub Discovered
Hear how the wreck of a midget submarine found outside the harbor may rewrite the history of the Japanese attack.
-
Anatomy of the Battleship Yamato
Explore a marvel of Japanese WWII technology, the largest battleship ever built.
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