View source for Japanese submarine I-55 (1925)

{{Short description|Imperial Japanese Navy Kaidai-class cruiser submarine of the KD3A sub-class}}
{{other ships|Japanese submarine I-55}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image= I-55.jpg
| Ship caption=''I-55'' in harbor in 1930.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=
| Ship country=[[Empire of Japan]]
| Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
| Ship name= ''Submarine No. 78''
| Ship ordered=
| Ship awarded=
| Ship builder=[[Kure Naval Arsenal]], [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]],&nbsp;[[Japan]]
| Ship original cost=
| Ship yard number=
| Ship way number=
| Ship laid down=1 April 1924 
| Ship renamed=''I-55'' on 1 November 1924
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship launched=2 September 1925
| Ship sponsor=
| Ship christened=
| Ship completed=5 September 1927
| Ship commissioned=5 September 1927
| Ship decommissioned=10 February 1932 (possibly;&nbsp;see&nbsp;text)
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship recommissioned=20 February 1934 (possibly;&nbsp;see&nbsp;text)
| Ship decommissioned=31 July 1936
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship recommissioned=1 December 1936
| Ship renamed=''I-155'' on 20 May 1942
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship decommissioned=20 July 1945
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship recommissioned=early August 1945
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship struck=
| Ship reclassified=
| Ship renamed=
| Ship motto=
| Ship fate=*Surrendered September 1945
*Stricken 20 November 1945
*[[Scuttling|Scuttled]] 8 May 1946
| Ship notes=
| Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header=
| Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Kaidai|submarine}} (KD3A Type)
|Ship displacement=*{{Convert|1800|LT|t|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} surfaced
*{{Convert|2300|LT|t|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length={{convert|100|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|4.82|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=*{{convert|6800|bhp|lk=in|abbr=on}} (diesels)
*{{convert|1800|hp|abbr=on}} (electric motors)
|Ship propulsion=*[[Diesel-electric]]
*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × [[electric motor]]s
|Ship speed=*{{convert|20|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{convert|8|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=*{{convert|10000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|90|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|3|kn}} submerged
|Ship endurance=
|Ship test depth={{convert|60|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=60
|Ship armament=*8 × {{convert|533|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (6 bow, 2 stern)
*1 × [[12 cm 11th Year Type naval gun|{{convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] [[deck gun]] (removed&nbsp;April&nbsp;1945)
*2 x ''[[kaiten]]'' (added&nbsp;April&nbsp;1945)
}}
|}
'''''I-55''''', later renumbered {{nihongo|'''''I-155'''''|伊号第五五潜水艦| I-gō Dai-Hyaku-gojūgosensuikan}}, was an [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] {{sclass|Kaidai|submarine|0}} [[cruiser submarine]] of the KD3A [[ship class|sub-class]] commissioned in 1927. Early in [[World War II]], she supported Japanese forces in the [[Japanese invasion of Malaya|invasion of Malaya]] and the [[Dutch East Indies campaign]] before assuming training duties in [[Japan]], interrupted briefly in 1943 by her participation in the [[Aleutian Islands campaign]]. She became a ''[[kaiten]]'' manned [[suicide attack]] [[torpedo]] carrier in 1945 before surrendering at the end of the war. She was [[Scuttling|scuttled]] in 1946.

==Background==
Following [[World War I]], the [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] re-evaluated the use of [[submarine warfare]] as an element of fleet strategy due to the successful deployment of long-range [[cruiser submarine]]s for [[commerce raiding]] by the [[Imperial German Navy]]. Japanese strategists came to realize possibilities for using submarines for long-range reconnaissance and in a [[war of attrition]] against an enemy fleet approaching [[Japan]].<ref name=Peatty>Peatty, pp. 212–14</ref> The Japanese already had built two large, long-range [[submarine]]s — {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-51||2}} and ''[[Japanese submarine I-152|I-52]]'' — under the [[Eight-eight fleet|Eight-six fleet program]] as [[prototype]]s, but the arrival on 20 June 1919 of seven German [[U-boat]]s Japan received as war reparations after the end of World War I led to a complete re-design. The Japanese quickly hired hundreds of German submarine engineers, technicians, and former U-boat officers unemployed after the defeat of the [[German Empire]] in World War I and brought them to Japan under five-year contracts. The [[United States Navy]]′s [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] estimated that some 800 German advisors had gone to Japan by the end of 1920. The Japanese also sent delegations to Germany, and were active in purchasing many [[patent]]s related to submarine design and construction.<ref name=Boyd>Boyd, pp. 17–18</ref>

==Design==
The four ''Kaidai'' Type 3A submarines were the first mass-produced Japanese [[fleet submarine]]s. Based largely on the lone ''Kaidai'' Type II submarine (''I-52''), their design was also influenced by the largest of the German submarines in Japanese hands, {{ship|SM|U-125}}.<ref name=Stille>Stille, p. 4</ref> Compared with ''I-52'', they a strengthened [[double hull]]. The [[Hull (ship)|hull]] had almost the same outer dimensions as that of ''I-52'', but the increased thickness of the inner hull permitted a diving depth of {{convert|60|m|0|sp=us}}. The internal volume was slightly increased over that of ''I-52'' by making the hull slightly [[trapezoid]]al in cross-section at the expense of 300 tons of additional [[Displacement (ship)|displacement]]. External differences from ''I-52'' included an [[anti-submarine net]] [[Net cutter (submarine)|cutter]] on the [[Bow (ship)|bow]], as well as an O-ring for [[towing]] purposes.

The ''Kaidai'' Type 3A submarines displaced {{Convert|1800|LT|t|0|order=flip|sp=us}} surfaced and {{Convert|2300|LT|t|0|order=flip|sp=us}} submerged. The submarines were {{convert|100|m|ftin|sp=us}} long and had a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|8|m|ftin|sp=us}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|4.82|m|ftin|sp=us}}. They had a complement of 60 [[Commissioned officer|officers]] and [[Enlisted personnel|crewmen]].<ref name=cd3>Carpenter & Polmar, p. 93</ref>

[[Sulzer (manufacturer)|Sulzer]] was retained as the manufacturer for the [[diesel engine]]s, which had a slightly improved performance over the engines in ''I-52''.  For surface running, the submarines were powered by two {{convert|3400|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} [[diesel engine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]]. When submerged, each propeller was driven by a {{convert|900|hp|0|adj=on}} [[electric motor]]. The submarines could reach {{convert|20|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|8|kn}} submerged. On the surface, the KD3As had a range of {{convert|10000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}}; submerged, they had a range of {{convert|90|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|3|kn}}.<ref name=c5>Chesneau, p. 198</ref>

The submarines had eight internal {{convert|53.3|cm|in|1|abbr=on|sp=us}} [[torpedo tube]]s, six in the bow and two in the [[stern]]. They carried one reload for each tube for a total of 16 [[torpedo]]es. They were had one [[12 cm 11th Year Type naval gun|{{convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] [[deck gun]].<ref name=b4>Bagnasco, p. 183</ref>

==Construction and commissioning==
Built by the [[Kure Naval Arsenal]], ''I-55'' was [[laid down]] on 1 April 1924 as {{nihongo|'''''Submarine No.78'''''|第七十八号潜水艦 |Dai-nanajuhachi-gō sensuikan}}.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-155.htm I-155 ijnsubsite.com June 10, 2018 Accessed 22 January 2022]</ref><ref name=combinedfleetI155>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-155.htm |title=IJN Submarine I-155: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |date=May 1, 2016|access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref> While under construction, she was renamed '''''I-55''''' on 1 November 1924.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI155/> She was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 2 September 1925 and completed and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 5 September 1927.<ref name=cd3/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

==Service history==
===Pre-World War II===
On the day she was commissioned, ''I-55'' was assigned to the [[Kure Naval District]]<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI155/> and assigned to Submarine [[Division (naval)|Division]] 18 in Submarine [[Squadron (naval)|Squadron]] 2 in the [[2nd Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|2nd Fleet]], a component of the [[Combined Fleet]].<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> During a training exercise on 11 July 1929 in which she simulated a submerged [[torpedo]] attack against the [[heavy cruiser]] {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Kinugasa||2}}, she accidentally collided with ''Kinugasa'' off [[Kyushu]] {{convert|20|nmi}} southwest of [[Ōdate Shima]] [[lighthouse]], sustaining substantial damage to her bow plating.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI155/> On 1 December 1930, Submarine Division 18 was reassigned to the Kure Defense Squadron in the Kure Naval District.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> 

Submarine Division 18 began a second assignment to Submarine Squadron 2 in the 2nd Fleet on 1 December 1931.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> At 13:48 on 10 February 1932, ''I-55''′s [[sister ship]] ''[[Japanese submarine I-154|I-54]]'' suffered a steering failure off [[Kyushu]] {{convert|20|nmi}} south of [[Odate Shima]] [[lighthouse]] while Submarine Division 18 was on maneuvers during fleet exercises.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-154.htm I-154 ijnsubsite.com October 11, 2018 Accessed 20 January 2022]</ref><ref name=combinedfleetI154>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-154.htm |title=IJN Submarine I-154: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |date=May 1, 2016|access-date=20 January 2022}}</ref> ''I-54'' reduced speed to {{convert|3|kn}}, but nonetheless accidentally rammed ''I-55''.<ref name=combinedfleetI154/> ''I-54'' suffered bow damage and one of her compartments flooded, but ''I-55'' sustained only minor damage.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI154/>

Between February 1932 and February 1934, Submarine Division 18 was active, concluding duty in Submarine Squadron 2 in the 2nd Fleet with its reassignment to the Kure Defense Division in the Kure Naval District on 15 November 1933<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> and then to the Kure Defense Squadron in the Kure Naval District on 11 December 1933<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> before it began a third tour of duty in Submarine Squadron 2 in the 2nd Fleet on 1 February 1934.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> ''I-55''′s activities during this period are unclear: She may have been in [[Reserve fleet|reserve]] from the day of her collision with ''I-54'' on 10 February 1932 until 20 February 1934,<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> or she may have remained active in her division.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> In the latter case, she got underway from [[Sasebo]] on 29 June 1933 with the other submarines of her squadron (''[[Japanese submarine I-53 (1925)|I-53]]'' and ''I-54'' of her division and Submarine Division 19′s ''[[Japanese submarine I-156|I-56]]'', ''[[Japanese submarine I-157|I-57]]'' and ''[[Japanese submarine I-158|I-58]]'') for a training cruise off [[China]] and [[Magong|Mako]] in the [[Penghu|Pescadores Islands]], which the submarines concluded with their arrival at [[Kaohsiung|Takao]], [[Formosa]], on 5 July 1933;<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-153.htm I-153 ijnsubsite.com September 19, 2018 Accessed 15 January 2022]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI156>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-156.htm I-156 ijnsubsite.com October 11, 2018 Accessed 15 January 2022]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI157>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-157.htm I-157 ijnsubsite.com October 16, 2018 Accessed 17 January 2022]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI158>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-158.htm I-158 ijnsubsite.com October 20, 2018 Accessed 17 January 2022]</ref> departing Takao on 13 July 1933 with the other five submarines and again training in Chinese waters before arriving in [[Tokyo Bay]] on 21 August 1933;<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI156/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI157/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> and taking part with the other five submarines in a [[Fleet Review (Japan)|fleet review]] at [[Yokohama]], Japan, on 25 August 1933.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI156/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI157/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> Submarine Division 18 was reassigned to the Kure Defense Division in the Kure Naval District on 15 November 1933<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> and then to the Kure Defense Squadron in the Kure Naval District on 11 December 1933<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> before it began a third tour of duty in Submarine Squadron 2 in the 2nd Fleet on 1 February 1934.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> 

On 7 February 1935 ''I-55'' got underway from Sasebo along with the other eight submarines of Submarine Squadron 2 — ''I-53'', ''I-54'', ''[[Japanese submarine I-159|I-59]]'', {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-60||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-61||2}}, {{nowrap|''[[Japanese submarine I-162|I-62]]'',}} {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-63||2}}, and {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-64||2}} — for a training cruise in the [[Kuril Islands]].<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI159>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-159.htm I-159 ijnsubsite.com October 27, 2018 Accessed 2 January 2021]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI60>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-60.htm I-60 ijnsubsite.com September 1, 2018 Accessed 15 January 2022]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI61>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-61.htm I-61 ijnsubsite.com August 24, 2018 Accessed 28 September 2020]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI162>{{cite web |url= http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-162.htm |title=I-162 ex I-62 |first1= |last1= |work=iijnsubsite.info |date=9 November 2018|accessdate=31 December 2021}}</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI63>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-63.htm I-63 ijnsubsite.com August 24, 2018 Accessed 2 January 2021]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI164>{{cite web |url= http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-164.htm |title=I-164 ex I-64 |first1= |last1= |work=iijnsubsite.info |date=9 November 2018|accessdate=31 December 2021}}</ref> The cruise concluded with their arrival at [[Sukumo, Kōchi|Sukumo]] Bay on 25 February 1935.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI159/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI60/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI61/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI162/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI63/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI164/> The nine submarines departed Sasebo on 29 March 1935 to train in Chinese waters, returning to Sasebo on {{nowrap|4 April 1935}}.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI159/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI60/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI61/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI162/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI63/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI164/>

Submarine Division 18 was reassigned to Submarine Squadron 1 in the [[1st Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|1st Fleet]], a component of the Combined Fleet, on 15 November 1935.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> While the division was on maneuvers during fleet exercises off Kyushu on 10 May 1936, ''I-55'' collided with her sister ship ''I-53'',<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/> sustaining minor damage to her bow plating.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> On 23 July 1936 ''I-55'' suffered more extensive damage when the Combined Fleet was caught in a [[typhoon]] off [[Beppu, Ōita|Beppu]], Kyushu, during fleet exercises and she ran aground in Terajima Channel, suffering severe damage to her hull plating.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> After her [[superstructure]] was partially dismantled, she was refloated and towed to [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]], Japan, on 31 July 1936, where she was [[drydock]]ed for repairs.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> She was placed in reserve that day.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> All of Submarine Division 18 followed her into reserve at Kure on 20 August 1936.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/>

Submarine Division 18 returned to active service on 1 October 1936, when it began another tour of duty in Submarine Squadron 1 in the 1st Fleet,<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> and ''I-55'' returned to active service in the division on 1 December 1936.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> The division was reassigned to Submarine Squadron 4 in the 1st Fleet on 15 November 1939.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> On 11 October 1940, ''I-55'' was one of 98 Imperial Japanese Navy ships that gathered along with more than 500 aircraft on the Japanese coast at [[Yokohama Bay]] for an Imperial fleet review — the largest [[fleet review]] in Japanese history — in honor of the 2,600th anniversary of the enthronement of the [[Emperor Jimmu]], Japan's legendary first [[Emperor of Japan|emperor]].<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/chitosesp_t.htm |title=IJN Seaplane Carrier CHITOSE: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Athony |last1=Tully |work=combinedfleet.com |date=19 May 2014|access-date=11 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="jdf">{{cite news |title=2012 Fleet Review |url=https://www.mod.go.jp/e/jdf/pdf/jdf_no35.pdf |accessdate=October 8, 2019 |work=Japan Defense Focus |date=December 2012}}</ref> Submarine Squadron 4 was assigned directly to the Combined Fleet on 15 November 1940.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/>

As the Japanese armed forces mobilized for an offensive against [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] forces that would begin the [[Pacific War|Pacific campaign]] of [[World War II]], ''I-53'', ''I-54'', and ''I-55'' departed Kure, Japan, on 20 November 1941 bound for [[Sanya|Samah]] on China′s [[Hainan Island]], which they reached on 26 November 1941.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/> All three submarines departed Samah on 1 December 1941 to take up positions to support the offensive.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/> Tasked with supporting Operation E, the [[Japanese invasion of Malaya|Japanese invasion]] of [[British Malaya]], ''I-55'' formed a patrol line in the [[South China Sea]] east of [[Kuantan]], British Malaya, with ''I-53'' and ''I-54'' on 7 December 1941.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

===World War II===
====First war patrol====
Hostilities began in [[East Asia]] on 8 December 1941 (7 December across the [[International Date Line]] in [[Hawaii]], where Japan began the war with its [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]), and on 9 and 10 December ''I-55'' participated in attempts to intercept Force Z, a British [[Royal Navy]] task force centered around the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Prince of Wales|53|6}} and [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS|Repulse|1916|6}}, before it could threaten Japanese invasion [[convoy]]s.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> Imperial Japanese Navy [[torpedo plane]]s sank the two [[capital ship]]s in the South China Sea off the [[Malayan Peninsula]] on 10 December 1941 before the submarines could engage them.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

Early on the morning of 14 December 1941, the Dutch submarine {{HNLMS|K XII}} detected faint propeller noises, apparently those of a Japanese submarine, and at 11:00 sighted a [[periscope]] to [[Port and starboard|starboard]].<ref name=combinedfleetI156>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-156.htm |title=IJN Submarine I-156: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |date=1 May 2016|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> ''K XII'' steered to ram the Japanese submarine and had closed to {{convert|100|m|yd|0|sp=us}} of where lookouts had last seen the periscope when the periscope reappeared to [[Port and starboard|port]].<ref name=combinedfleetI156/> ''K XII'' abandoned the ramming attempt and broke contact by [[zigzag]]ging away.<ref name=combinedfleetI156/> The submarine she attempted to ram probably was ''I-54'', ''I-55'', or ''I-56''.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI154/><ref name=combinedfleetI156/> ''I-55'' concluded her patrol with her arrival at [[Cam Ranh Bay]] in Japanese-occupied [[French Indochina]] on 20 December 1941.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

====Second war patrol====
''I-55'' departed Cam Ranh Bay on 29 December 1941 to begin her second war patrol.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> She patrolled the [[Bangka Strait]] off [[Sumatra]] without incident and returned to Cam Ranh Bay on 14 January 1942.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

====Third war patrol====
''I-55'' departed Cam Ranh Bay for her third war patrol on 31 January 1942, assigned a patrol area at the southern entrance to [[Lombok Strait]] between [[Bali]] and [[Lombok]] as a part of the A Group.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> After refueling at an advance base in the [[Anambas Islands]] on 2 February 1942, she proceeded to her patrol area.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> ''I-55'' often is credited with sinking the Dutch 1,937-[[gross register ton]] [[Steamship|steamer]] {{SS|Van Lansberge}} on 4 February 1942, but ''Van Lansberge'' actually was sunk in an air attack.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

After the Japanese submarine {{ship|Japanese submarine|Ro-34||2}} expended all of her [[torpedo]]es in an attack on an [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] [[convoy]], ''I-53'', ''I-54'', and ''I-55'' received orders on 5 February 1942 to patrol in ''Ro-34''ʼs area.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> On 7 February 1942, ''I-55'' encountered the 4,519-gross register ton Dutch [[passenger ship]] ''Van Cloon'' in the [[Java Sea]] at {{coord|06|18|S|111|36|E|name="''Van Cloon''"}} and engaged her with gunfire, forcing her to beach herself on the south shore of [[Bawean Island]] in a sinking condition.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> The [[United States Navy]] [[patrol vessel]] {{USS|Isabel|PY-10}} arrived on the scene, rescued 187 people from ''Van Cloon'', and opened fire on ''I-55'' when ''I-55'' attempted to surface nearby.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> ''I-55'' dived and later was attacked by an Allied [[PBY Catalina]] [[flying boat]].<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

Japanese forces invaded Sumatra and [[Java]] on 8 February 1942, and at 21:02 on the evening of 13 February ''I-55'' hit the British 4,799-gross register ton armed [[Steamship|steamer]] {{SS|Derrymore}} with two torpedoes in the [[Java Sea]].<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> ''Derrymore'', which was on a voyage from [[Singapore]] to [[Batavia, Dutch East Indies|Batavia]], Java, with a 7,000-ton cargo of military stores including ammunition and six crated [[Hawker Hurricane|Hawker Hurricane Mark II]] fighters and carrying 209 [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF) personnel, sank 90 minutes later about {{convert|5|nmi}} north of [[Jason Rock]] and {{convert|12|nmi}} southwest of [[Sabira (island)|Noordwachter Island]] in the [[Thousand Islands (Indonesia)|Thousand Islands]] at {{coord|05|18|S|106|20|E|name=SS ''Derrymoore''}} with the loss of nine RAAF personnel.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> The [[Royal Australian Navy]] [[corvette]] {{HMAS|Ballarat|J184|6}} quickly rescued ''Derrymore''′s entire crew of 36 (including four gunners) and the other 200 RAAF personnel aboard.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

On 17 February 1942, ''I-55'' and ''I-56'' received orders to proceed to [[Staring-baai|Staring Bay]] on the coast of [[Celebes]].<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> On 18 February 1942, ''I-55'' reported sinking an Allied [[merchant ship]] with gunfire, although her likely target, the 5,804-gross register ton [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[Tanker (ship)|tanker]] {{SS|Madrono}}, actually suffered no damage.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> ''I-55'' ended her patrol with her arrival at Staring Bay on 21 February 1942.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

===March 1942–May 1943===
Submarine Squadron 4 was disbanded on 10 March 1942, and Submarine Division 18 was reassigned to the [[Kure Naval District]] and ordered back to Japanese home waters.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI154/><ref name=combinedfleetI153>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-153.htm |title=IJN Submarine I-153: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |date=April 1, 2016|access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref> ''I-53'', ''I-54'', and ''I-55'' departed Staring Bay on 16 March and arrived at [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]], Japan, on 25 March 1942,<ref name=combinedfleetI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI154/><ref name=combinedfleetI153/> where they assumed duties as [[training ship]]s. ''I-55'' was renumbered {{nihongo|'''''I-155'''''|伊号第五五潜水艦|I-gō Dai-Hyaku-gojūgo sensuikan}} on 20 May 1942.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> Sources differ on whether she remained assigned to Submarine Division 18 throughout this period and until 31 January 1944;<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> some claim she was assigned to the Kure Guard Unit in the Kure Naval District on 10 March 1942<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> and did not return to Submarine Division 18 in the Kure Naval District until 1 April 1943,<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> then was reassigned to Submarine Division 33 in the Kure Submarine Squadron in the Kure Naval District on 20 April 1943.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

===Aleutian Islands campaign===
After her return to Japan, ''I-155''ʼs operations were uneventful until 21 May 1943, when the Japanese [[Imperial General Headquarters]] decided to bring the [[Aleutian Islands campaign]] to and end by evacuating Japanese forces from [[Kiska]] in the [[Aleutian Islands]].<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> Ordered to participate in the evacuation, ''I-155'' departed Kure on 22 May 1943,<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> called at [[Yokosuka, Kanagawa|Yokosuka]], Japan, on 23 May,<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> and then proceeded to [[Paramushiro]] in the northern Kuril Islands, being attached temporarily to the Kiska Evacuation Force as a unit of Submarine Squadron 1 in the Northern District Force of the [[5th Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|5th Fleet]] on 29 May 1943 along with the submarines {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-2||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-7||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-21||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-24||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-34||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-36||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-156||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-157||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-168||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-169||2}}, and {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-171||2}}.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> She arrived at Paramushiro on 2 June 1943,<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> and departed on 4 June carrying supplies for the forces in Kiska,<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> but suffered damage in heavy seas and was forced to return to Paramushiro, which she reached on 7 June 1943.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> On 14 June she departed Paramushiro and headed for Kure for repairs.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> She arrived at Kure on 20 June 1943.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

===June 1943–April 1945===
After returning to Kure from her abortive Aleutians service and completing repairs, ''I-155'' resumed duties as a [[training ship]].<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> Sources provide a confusing depiction of her assignment history; some assert that she was assigned to Submarine Division 18 in the Kure Naval District continually until 31 January 1944<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> and that the division was assigned to the Kure Submarine Squadron in the Kure Naval District on 1 December 1943,<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/> while others claim that she was reassigned as part of Submarine Division 33 to the Kure Guard Unit in the Kure Naval District on 28 July 1943<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> and then to Submarine Division 18 in the Kure Submarine Squadron on 1 December 1943.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> On 5 January 1944, she took part in tests of a new submarine camouflage pattern in the Iyo Nada in the [[Seto Inland Sea]] for the Submarine School, painted in a light gray scheme based on that of the German submarine {{GS|U-511||2}}, which the Imperial Japanese Navy had purchased from [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] in 1943 and renamed ''Ro-500''.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

On 31 January 1944, ''I-155'' was reassigned to Submarine Division 19 of the Kure Submarine Squadron and laid up without a crew.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> From 23 to 25 February 1944, however, she tested another camouflage scheme for the Naval Submarine School, painted bluish-gray and black.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> While submerged at 11:50 on 5 May 1944, she suffered damage in a collision with the hybrid [[Oiler (ship)|oiler]]-[[seaplane carrier]] {{ship|Japanese fleet oiler|Hayasui||2}} off [[Kabuto-jima]] in [[Hiroshima Bay]] at [[longitude]] [[140th meridian east|140 degrees East]],<ref name=combinedfleetI155/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/Hayasui_t.htm |title=IJN Hayasui: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |date=|access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref> and garbled Japanese message intercepted, decrypted, and translated by Allied [[signals intelligence]] indicated that her damage included a hole measuring {{convert|2|by|1|m|sp=us}}.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

===April 1945–November 1945===
On 20 April 1945, ''I-155'' and the submarine {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-122||2}} were reassigned to Submarine Division 33 in the Kure Submarine Squadron in the Kure Naval District,<ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=combinedfleetI155/> and by late April 1945 ''I-155'' had been converted to transport ''[[kaiten]]'' manned [[suicide attack]] torpedoes to bases on [[Shikoku]],<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> with her {{convert|120|mm|in|1|adj=on|sp=us}} [[deck gun]] replaced by fittings for two ''kaiten''.<ref name=c5/><ref name=combinedfleetI155/> On 20 July 1945, she was placed in [[Reserve fleet|reserve]] and [[anchor]]ed near the Kure Submarine School.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

In the final days of the war, ''I-155'' was selected for a ''kaiten'' mission. Recommissioned in early August 1945, she was fitted with two ''kaiten'' at the naval base at [[Ōzushima]]<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> and was scheduled to depart [[Hirao, Yamaguchi|Hirao]] on 25 August 1945 with the submarine {{Jsub|I-156||2}} as part of the ''Shinshu-tai'' ("Land of Gods Unit") ''kaiten'' group.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> Although [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]] [[Hirohito]] announced the [[Surrender of Japan|cessation of hostilities]] on 15 August 1945, ''I-155'' and ''I-156'' put to sea from [[Hirao]] for the operation on 25 August 1945.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> The ''kaiten'' mission was cancelled that day and the submarines were recalled.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> ''I-155'' proceeded to Kure, where she surrendered to the Allies in September 1945.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/> The Japanese removed her from the [[Navy list]] on 20 November 1945.<ref name=combinedfleetI155/>

==Disposal==
''I-155'' was among 17 captured Japanese submarines sunk by gunfire by the Royal Australian Navy [[destroyer]] {{HMAS|Quiberon|G81|6}} and the [[Royal Indian Navy]] [[sloop-of-war]] {{HMIS|Sutlej|U95|6}} in the Seto Inland Sea between [[Honshu]] and [[Shikoku]] on 8 May 1946 in [[Operation Bottom]].<ref name=combinedfleetI155/><ref>[http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/62888338 Anonymous, "Remaining Jap Subs Sunk", ''Townsville Daily Bulletin'', May 10, 1946, p. 1]</ref><ref>[http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/95537630 Anonymous, "Jap Submarines Demolition Convoy Caught in Gale", ''Kalgoorlie Miner'', May 14, 1946, p. 3]</ref>

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|last=Bagnasco |first=Erminio |title=Submarines of World War Two |year=1977 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-962-6}} 
* {{cite book|last=Boyd|first=Carl|title=The Japanese Submarine Force in World War II|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, MD|year=2002|isbn=1557500150 }}
*{{cite book|last1=Carpenter|first1=Dorr B.|last2=Polmar|first2=Norman|title=Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945|year=1986|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-396-6|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=0-85177-146-7}}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-155.htm |title=IJN Submarine I-155: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |year=2013|access-date=6 November 2015}}
* {{cite book|last=Peattie|first= Mark R.|title=Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887–1941|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, MD|year=1997|isbn=0-87021-192-7}}
*{{cite book| last1 = Jentschura| first1 = Hansgeorg| first2 = Dieter |last2=Jung|first3=Peter |last3=Mickel| year = 1977| title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869&ndash;1945| publisher = United States Naval Institute| location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 0-87021-893-X|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Stille|first=Mark|title=Imperial Japanese Navy Submarines 1941–45|publisher=Osprey|year=2007|isbn=978-1846030901 }}

==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QFWPoplmeM Video: "Sinking of Japanese submarine ''I-155'' - May 1946" on YouTube]

{{Kaidai type submarine}}
{{1929 shipwrecks}}
{{1932 shipwrecks}}
{{1936 shipwrecks}}
{{June 1943 shipwrecks}}
{{May 1944 shipwrecks}}
{{1946 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:I-55}}
[[Category:1925 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Kure Naval Arsenal]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Japan]]
[[Category:Kaidai-class submarines]]
[[Category:Ships of the Aleutian Islands campaign]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1929]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1932]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1936]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in June 1943]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in May 1944]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1946]]
[[Category:Scuttled vessels]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]