What if Japan....?

[edwest]

Hikoki Publications' I-400 Japan's Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine: Objective Panama Canal, is now available in the US. A brief overview:

It is noteworthy that information was obtained from Japanese and American veterans. The book begins with a brief history of the Japanese Submarine Service from Dec. 1904, including a Japanese map clearly showing locations attacked along the American coast, east and west, and Guantanamo, Cuba (dated 1942). Next is the story of how the I-400 came to be. There are beautifully rendered images of the I-400, including a trifold showing the I-400 and on the back, a cutaway of the Seiran, plus a cutaway view of two Seirans in their hangar tube in American markings. The next chapter focuses on the Seiran and includes a close-up of a data plate from the I-400 which describes the preheating systems for the Seiran. Also included are six pages of what I'll call engineering drawings of this aircraft. This is followed by a chapter detailing the importance of the Panama Canal and proposed attack plans. The aircrew for the I-400 and I-401 are listed. The next chapter is titled Operations Hikari and Arashi, which includes a speculative reconstruction of how one of the three Seirans may have looked in US markings. Next is the story of the I-400's capture, followed by its arrival at Pearl Harbor for examination. Interior and exterior shots give a true impression of its size. Details include photos of guns and radar (Mark 3, Model 1; Mark 2, Model 2; Mark 3, Model 1 and the E27 radar detector), plus German made periscopes. And an additional chapter about the recent discovery of the I-401 near Hawaii. Appendices include the crew roster of the I-400 and a roster of the Prize Crew of Americans that boarded I-400 on 28 August 1945. 143 pages, including bibliography.


Ed