Nearly seven decades after the attack on Pearl Harbor, researchers believe they have uncovered new evidence that a Japanese miniature submarine may have helped strike Battleship Row.
During a routine test dive, marine researchers spotted some unusual steel debris on the ocean floor near Pearl Harbor. The wreckage, investigators from the PBS series NOVA concluded, was likely the remains of a Japanese mini-sub scuttled by its crew after the attack.
Sections of the two-man, Japanese vessel -- resting than 1,000 feet below the surface -- were spotted by the Pisces IV and the Pisces V, deep-sea research submersibles operated by the Hawaii Underwater Research Laboratory. The remains of the sub were intermingled with wrecks of several U.S. amphibious assault vehicles, destroyed in a 1944 ammunition fire and later dumped in the ocean. Parks Stephenson, a marine forensic historian and former Navy officer and submariner, led the NOVA expedition to investigate the mini-sub find.
Discovery of the submersible may close a chapter on the history of Pearl Harbor. Five mini-subs were to scheduled to take part in the surprise attack, but four of them never reached their target: They either ran aground, were scuttled or destroyed. The fifth submarine was unaccounted for, but the NOVA research team concludes that the vessel managed to penetrate Pearl Harbor and fire its two 800-pound torpedoes, most likely striking the Oklahoma.
The documentary doesn't air until January 5, but you can visit the newly-launched website for the show to listen to a podcast and read up on the historical background.
This isn't the only recent find. A National Geographic team has explored the depths off the island of Oahu to find the remains of Japan's largest and fastest submarines, which were built to attack the U.S. mainland or attack the Panama Canal. The giant subs -- which could carry up to three catapult-launched bombers -- were captured by the United States, and were later scuttled by the Navy to deny the Soviets possible access to the technology.
[PHOTO: NOVA/Ingo Bauernfeind]
