Ep 59. Japanese Sub at Pearl Harbor

Japanese Sub at Pearl Harbor tells the story of the surprise attack on the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941, through the lens of one of the most intriguing and least known aspects of the attack - the arrival of five Japanese mini-subs into the harbor. Using interviews with survivors and experts, as well as archival footage and computer-generated graphics, the episode details the design, construction, and deployment of the submarines, the roles they played in the larger attack, and their ultimate fates.

The episode begins by exploring the background of the Pearl Harbor attack, including the strained relations between Japan and the United States, and the preparation and planning that went into the attack. It then introduces the five mini-subs, which were designed to be highly maneuverable, difficult to detect, and able to carry two torpedoes each. The subs were launched from larger mother submarines just outside the harbor and were intended to infiltrate the harbor undetected, surface, and launch their torpedoes at the American ships.

The episode then delves into the attack itself, using eyewitness accounts to recreate the chaos and confusion of that day. The mini-subs played a critical role in the larger attack, with one of them firing the first torpedo salvo at the USS West Virginia and the USS Oklahoma, and two others going on to engage in close-range battles with American ships and shore batteries. The episode explores the bravery and resourcefulness of American sailors and marines in fighting back against the surprise attack, and the sacrifices that were made.

As the episode continues, it turns its attention to the aftermath of the attack and what happened to the mini-subs. Two of the five subs were sunk during the attack, and the remaining three were hunted down and destroyed in the hours and days that followed. However, the subs themselves became the subjects of intense interest for both sides, as the Americans sought to learn more about Japanese naval technology, and the Japanese tried to recover their subs and any potential intelligence assets they contained.

The episode concludes with a look at the legacy of the mini-subs and the Pearl Harbor attack more broadly. It examines the impact of the attack in galvanizing American support for the war effort, and explores the role that the attack played in shaping the course of the war. It also highlights the ongoing significance of the mini-subs in terms of the technological innovations they represented and their place in naval history.

Through its exploration of one of the most dramatic and lesser-known aspects of the Pearl Harbor attack, Japanese Sub at Pearl Harbor offers viewers a unique and compelling glimpse into a critical moment in American and world history.