The Fate of the Captured Midget Submarine HA. 19

The fate of the captured midget submarine HA. 19 is one of the most intriguing stories to emerge from the attack on Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, before the infamous air assault began, HA. 19—a Type A Ko-hyoteki-class midget submarine—set off on a perilous mission to infiltrate Pearl Harbor. What followed was a series of misfortunes that not only thwarted its mission but also turned it into a symbol for the Allied cause during World War II.

Launched from the Type C submarine I-24, HA. 19 was crewed by Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki and Chief Warrant Officer Kiyoshi Inagaki. Almost immediately, the vessel faced difficulties as its gyrocompass malfunctioned. Despite this setback, the crew pressed on, but their troubles only multiplied.

HA. 19 eventually reached the entrance of Pearl Harbor but struck a reef multiple times, rendering the submarine grounded and exposed. At approximately 0817, it was discovered by the USS Helm (DD-388), whose crew fired on the stranded submarine. Although the shots missed, they dislodged HA. 19 from the reef. Inagaki managed to dive, temporarily evading further attacks, but the damaged submarine continued to struggle.

Repeated attempts to enter the harbor were thwarted by the surrounding reefs. During one such attempt, depth charges severely damaged the sub’s torpedo launcher and periscope. Realizing their mission had failed, Sakamaki and Inagaki tried to return to I-24, but the submarine’s engine gave out, leaving them stranded once more. Sakamaki ordered the vessel abandoned. Tragically, Inagaki drowned, and his body washed ashore the following day. Sakamaki, meanwhile, was captured, becoming the first Japanese prisoner of war in U.S. custody during World War II.

The midget submarine remained stuck on a reef until American bombers inadvertently dislodged it with missed explosions. HA. 19 washed ashore, where it was recovered and transported to the submarine base at Pearl Harbor. After investigation, it was disassembled into three sections, marking the beginning of its transformation into an instrument of American wartime propaganda.

The United States launched a robust War Bond campaign to finance its military efforts. Among the tools employed to encourage public investment was HA. 19, a tangible symbol of the enemy’s failure. In September 1942, the submarine was shipped to California, where it was mounted on a flatbed trailer and prepared for a nationwide tour.

The vessel was modified for public viewing, with 22 portholes cut into its hull. Visitors could pay $1 to peer inside, where lifelike dummies dressed as Japanese sailors were staged at the controls. The spectacle attracted crowds wherever it went, raising substantial funds for the war effort.

One of the tour’s most remarkable stops occurred in Belen, New Mexico, on January 13, 1943. Despite the town’s modest population of 8,000—many of whom were serving in the military—2,000 residents gathered to see HA. 19. In just one hour, over $3,200 was raised in War Bond sales, a testament to the submarine’s powerful symbolism and the community’s support for the Allied cause.

After touring more than 2,000 cities and towns across 41 states, HA. 19 was retired from its War Bond duties. Initially displayed at the Key West Naval Station in Florida, it found a permanent home in 1991 at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas. Visitors can still marvel at this extraordinary piece of World War II history, which serves as a reminder of the pivotal events of Pearl Harbor and the resilience of the Allied spirit.

HA. 19’s journey—from a failed mission to a national icon—captures the unpredictability of war and the power of unity in the face of adversity. This small submarine, intended to bring destruction, became a rallying symbol for victory, making its story an enduring part of World War II lore.