The Military History Society of New South Wales Incorporated presents
Noel Phelan
from the
Australian National Maritime Museum
on
The Japanese Mini-Submarine Attack on Sydney Harbour
On 29 May 1942 five large Japanese I class submarines rendezvoused some 35 nautical miles northeast of the entrance to Sydney Harbour. Before daylight the next morning an E14Y Glen float-plane launched from one of the submarines, I-21, and crewed by Warrant Flying officer Susumo Ito and Ordinary Seaman Iwasaki, flew a daring reconnaissance mission over the harbour, twice circling the cruiser USS Chicago before flying off to the east.
The aerial intrusion was observed and reported but it did not initiate any special harbour defensive measures being implemented. Many mistakenly believed it an American floatplane conducting a routine training flight. For the Japanese raiders, it was the latest of a number of reconnaissance flights conducted over Sydney providing valuable intelligence for an impending surprise attack on the numerous Allied warships anchored peacefully in the harbour. Prime targets included the cruisers HMAS Canberra and USS Chicago.
The presentation will describe the action that took place as well as highlight details such as the design of the Japanese submarines, the state of the Harbour defences and the response from the Australian and American defenders.
The presenter is Noel Phelan from the Australian National Maritime Museum.
Saturday, 13th May 2017, 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Anzac Room, 99 York St Conference and Function Centre, Sydney
Entry is free. RSVP is essential by Wednesday 5 April 2017 as numbers are restricted 0418 671 582 or email rsvp@militaryhistorynsw.com.au
The Japanese Mini-Submarine Attack on Sydney Harbour
