JAPANESE SUBMARINES MINE AUSTRALIAN WATERS
DURING WW2

visits since 22 November 2000

SUBMARINE I-6
On 2 March 1943 Japanese Submarine I-6, under the command of Monshiro Izutsu left Truk headed for Brisbane where it laid 9 mines magnetic, including six German TMC type mines near the approaches to the Brisbane River on 13 March 1943. The US Navy had a large Submarine Base at Capricorn Wharf at New Farm in Brisbane. 

US Naval Intelligence listening stations monitored I-6's radio transmissions. USS Stingray (SS-186), USS Trigger (SS-237) and USS Halibut (SS-232) attempted to unsuccessfully to intercept I-6.

Submarine I-6 arrived back in Rabaul on 27 March 1943.

German mines were found washed up on Sunshine Beach, on the Sunshine Coast during WW2 and another was washed up on Surfers Paradise Beach, in March 1966. Can anyone confirm whether they were linked to the mining operations of Japanese submarine I-6.

SUBMARINE I-121
On 11 January 1942 Japanese Submarine I-121 was in the shallow waters of Joseph Bonaparte Gulf about 125 miles south west of Darwin. I-121 laid 39 mines in the area on 12 January 1942.

SUBMARINE I-122
On about 15 January 1942, Japanese submarine I-122 laid 30 mines in the western approaches to Torres Strait.

SUBMARINE I-123
Japanese Submarine I-123 laid 30 mines in Dundas Strait off Cape Don on the Coburg Peninsula.

SUBMARINE I-124
Japanese submarine I-124 laid 27 mines in the waters near Darwin in about January 1942.

REFERENCE BOOKS

Jenkins, David, "Battle Surface - Japan's Submarine War against Australia 1942 - 44", Random House Australia, 1992

Australian Coastline mined during WW2
by the Allies, the Japanese and the Germans

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

"Australia @ War"

This page first produced 22 November 2000

This page last updated 17 February 2008