ITALIAN BOATS

On 15 June, 1942 the Italian midget sub C.B.3 under TV Giovanni Sorrentino, claimed the sinking of an un-named Soviet submarine at 43.40N x 33.48E. There was no Soviet confirmation of this action. This was the only attack by C.B.3 and the only action headed by Sorrentinno.

JAPANESE BOATS

On 31 May, 1942 two midget submarines launched from the I.J.N. submarine I-22 reached the harbor at Sydney, Australia. They attacked the US Navy cruiser USS CHICAGO which they reported in error as the Royal Navy battleship HMS WARSPITE. These midget subs were working in concert with other midgets launched from I-24 and I-27 in this action. They claimed hit on the cruiser, but actually their torpedoes exploded when they hit the seawall and only damaged an old hulk (KUTTABUL) which was used for sleeping quarters etc. It was a total loss. This was the only action by I-22 during the war.

I-22, under command of Naruzawa was lost with all hands on 4 November by attack of the American PT-122 or more probably on 25 December of 1942 due to marine disaster or diving accident.

26 February, 1942 (date approximate) the I.J.N. submarine I-23 under command of KK Genichi Shibata was lost, probably as a result of a diving accident. She last reported in on 14 February while south of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands.

This was the only I.J.N. submarine sunk in the month of February, 1942 and during this month, no Italian submarines were lost.