Japanese WW2 B.C. sub base

I can quite agree with you on that. Hence my earlier saying that you could hide an aircraft carrier along the B.C. coast; therefore I had no trouble with the two Japanese subs and land based aircraft when first told to me. I do wonder on the route they took to Dutch Harbor though. I can not seem to find anything on thier actual route...ie up thre B.C. coast or along the eastern bloc. Any ideas where to look? Thanks

 

Shattered Sword may have had charts showing it. Some of the other Midway related sites on the web do. It's been a while so I'm not sure which ones. You can also ask over on the ijn board at:
Japanese Ships & Navy Message Board

 

The route for the Japanese attack on Dutch Harbor and the Aleutians

 

The map states Japanese Limit of Advance, not route taken to Attu.


lwd, page 78

 

You seem to think the Japanese abandoned one or two of their subs and some aircraft along the BC coast. Is that an accurate statement?

I can imagine some protected coastal rendezvous where submarines may have waited to refuel reconnaissance aircraft, or make minor repairs to their own vessels, but a sub "base" is really beyond credibility. The BC coast may be sparsely populated but it is well known to fishermen and yachtsmen and a cavern large enough to shelter a submarine or even small float planes would be known by now. I think it's safe to say no such cavern or base exists. There might still be some evidence of small landings along the coast, but I'd bet nothing more than some small arms, ammo, or other minor equipment.

Unless, I had actual physical proof in hand, I'd be very wary of claims of Japanese "bases" on Canada's West Coast.

 

I agree there would be several problems there. If not for the fact my deceased lawyer friend was about to invest a small fortune for this expedition I would have been somewhat sceptical myself.
Actually my own personal thoughts on this is that when the Japanese took a shot at the Aleutians they perhaps decided to house another landing point for later useage. Then when driven out of the Aleutians they left there existing subs and such there due to the allied presence being a bit more intense. It is hard to accurately say why they were there and only finding them again may answer this question. I can quite agree with you on the BC coast being sparsely populated and would assume that they would have been discovered by now, although there are still areas untouched by man. Perhaps they have been. I can get no answer out of the DND nor Coast Guard on this. I try and keep an open mind on this as they are still finding subs in places where never thought...Hawaii, Eastern seaboard, etc. As for the map, it was the only one I could find showing the route to the Aleutians. If you have a more accurate one I would appreciate seeing it. I do have maps and such on the actual lines in Attu, but was more interested in the Naval route taken.

 

Here you go. It contains both Operation MI and AL forces and routes taken.

 

Thanks, much appreciated.

 

I agree there is information about these events that is missing. Are the records of the i-26 available?

 

I live in N.W. Washington, the home of the fishing fleet that travel the "inside passage" (between Vancouver Island and The Canadian Mainland" on the way to the fishing grounds in Alaska. There are also hundreds of pleasure craft that leave from here to sail along the B.C. coast to do a little thing called "gunkholing" putting into every cove and inlet possible to anchor and explore (myself included, but I don't venture too far north). I got the opinion from several fisherman and pleasure boaters about the Japanese hiding two subs and two float planes between here and Alaska and they were all at the opinion that if they did, they would be hidden underwater. I know this doesn't prove anything. What's the old saying, "it's difficult to prove a negative". I'd love to hear that they were found, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

For additional information on the I-26, you may visit the web site, Imperial Submarines, which has the TROM. This is an intriguing question. Has anyone researched this further during the past three years?

 

Read the book "War on our Doorstep" - the unknown campaign on North America's West Coast. by Brendan Coyle - Heritage House Publishing.
Gives insight to Japanese incursions off the west coast.

 

I don't appreciate thinly-veiled advertising from a book author (I presume you are Brendan Coyle), but I appreciate this thread being bumped. Interesting topic.

The whole "my friend said _____" or "someone now deceased said _____" arguement is old, but the idea doesn't seem entirely implausible. It would be nice to have an update.

 

No I'm not the author. I have an interest in the Japanese "action" on the west coast as well as U-boat incidents on Canada's east coast. That book is a Canadian perspective but I would also recommend Silent Siege by Bert Webber - amazing amount of research here for anyone interested in WW2 in the north Pacific.

 

My apologies. I've seen several authors join the forum only to plug their books. I have a strong interest in East Coast uboat operations myself (for a good view of events from the American side, I recommend Torpedo Junction by Homer Hickham). I've never looked at N Pacific submarine operations in detail because I've always felt they were limited (with the exception of the 2 or 3 Japanese submarine surface "attacks" on mainland N.America).

 

I think that you will find it with Slumach's gold.

KTK

 

A bit OT but ...

I personally don't have a problem with that if they are up front as to who they are and it's relevant to the thread. Especially if they post relevant parts. Not sure what the official board position is though.

 

Hiab,

Thank you for the suggestion. I have read Coyle's book and it does provide some insight into the Japanese Navy's activities along the Canadian west coast.

The Hashimoto book, Sunk, and Orita's I-boat Captain, provide additional information on Japanese submarine operations along the North American west coast.

R,
Jim