On 6 June, 1942 the I.J.N. submarine I-16 under command of KK K. Yamada, sank the 3,889 Yugoslavian steamer SUSAK with torpedo and gunfire.

On 8 June, 1942 I-16 used her deck gun to sink the 4,847 Greek steamer AGIOS GEORGIOS IV.

On 12 June, I-16 sank the 3,748 Yugoslavian steamer SUPETAR using both torpedo and deck gunfire.

On 1 July, 1942 I-16 torpedoed and sank the 5,243 ton Swedish motorship EKNAREN

On 15 November, 1942 I-16, along with I-20 and I-24 launched midget submarines at a Task Group. One destroyer and one transport was assumed sunk with no confirmation. Only one of the midgets was recovered by its mother sub.

On 29 November, I-16 and possibly I-20 again launched midgets against a Task Group and again, it was assumed that one destroyer and one transport were sunk but there was no confirmation. The 6,198 ton USN transport ALCHIBA was damaged & beached but was later re-floated, repaired and on 14 April, 1943 she returned to service.

I-16 was a variant C-1 on the Type C boat. Five boats of this variant were produced; this one at Kawasaki in Kobe 1937 - 40

Displacement: 2,554/2561 tons
Dimensions: 358' 6" x 30' x 17' 6"
Machinery: twin diesel-electric
Power (electric): 12,400 hp
(electric): 2,000 hp
Speed (diesel): 23.6 knots
(electric): 8 knots
Range (diesel): 14,000 miles @ 16 knots
(electric): 60 miles @ 3 knots
Tubes fwd: eight 21 inch (carried 20 torpedoes)
Guns: single 5.5 inch 50 cal (150mm) deck gun
AA Guns: two twin mounted 25mm
Crew: 101
Depth of dive: 100 meters (328 feet)

I-16 during trials in 1940

These were a double hull ocean-going submarine which was developed from the earlier KAIDAI 6 type but with many improvements in displacement, armament and were a larger boat.

The first five boats, the first variant, were ordered in 1937 and were designed primarily to attack warships. With their increased underwater mobility, added stowage area for weaponry and food these boats could remain at sea for 90 days. They had a TYPE A midget submarine, which was carried on the foredeck in a cradle.

I-16 had a major refit in 1943 in which her deck gun was removed, she could carry less of a torpedo reload, and provisions were made for her to mount a DAIHATSU landing craft as well as many tons of cargo. I-16 was to be used as a pack mule to carry supplies to the Japanese garrisons then under such intense pressure from American forces in the Pacific.

More History of the Japanese Submarine Navy

Part 1: 1905
Part 2: 1912-17
Part 3: C-1 and C-2
Part 4: Ha-9, Ha-10 and Tsing-Tao
Part 5: Ro-11, Ro-13, Ro-16
Part 6: Ro-1, Ro-3
Part 7: Kaichu Type 4
Part 8: Batteries
Part 9: Ro-57 and Ro-60
Part 10: I-16
Part 11: O-1 (ex U-125) and O-2 (ex U-46)