World War II Database

Submarine I-402, along with her sister submarines, were the largest submarines in the world until 1965. Built at Sasebo, Japan seven months after the launch of the first ship in the class, her plans were changed mid-way through the construction, converting her from a submarine aircraft carrier to an aviation fuel tanker. After her completion, she joined Submarine Squadron 1 of the Sixth Fleet with Commander Otoji Nakamura in command. She remained in port at Kure, Japan in late Jul 1945 and did not join her sister ships in the abortive attack on Ulithi in the Caroline Islands. At 1040 on 11 Aug, while at Kure, she was attacked by two P-51D Mustang fighters; the strafing punctured the main fuel tanks and wounded two sailors.

The Americans never learned of the existence of the I-400-class submarines until their crews surrendered. I-402 was studied by the United States Navy at Sasebo, Japan between Oct 1945 and Apr 1946. As the Russians planned a mission to Sasebo to study captured Japanese submarines, the US Navy decided to launch Operation Road's End on 1 Apr 1946, which used I-402 as a target ship for destroyer USS Larson. She was later scuttled off Nagasaki, Japan near the Goto Islands.

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