In the bleak final months of 1942, even the most optimistic US commanders quivered at the thought of the Japanese Navy’s potential for destruction. Their nightmares soon turned into a harrowing catastrophe on the night of September 15.
Dashing deftly under the waves, a lone Japanese submarine, under the command of the intrepid Takakazu Kinashi, infiltrated the perimeter where USS Wasp and her accompanying vessels were escorting transport ships destined for Guadalcanal.
Encountering no resistance, the stealthy Submarine I-19 maneuvered herself into a perfect position, poised to strike the massive USS Wasp aircraft carrier.
Kinashi unleashed a torrent of six oxygen-fueled Type 95 torpedoes in a heartbeat, carving a path of devastation. Three struck true, ripping enormous gashes in the carrier’s hull and igniting violent fires within the beleaguered warship.
Despite the valiant efforts of US sailors, who fought tooth and nail to quench the flames, the fate of USS Wasp was sealed. Yet, the infamous path of devastation of Japan’s most notorious submarine had just begun...
