The Snuff Film of the Emperor’s Final Submarines

Some 80 years ago this week, Operation Road’s End saw the U.S. Navy deep-six no less than five large, captured Imperial Japanese Navy submarines off Hawaii. These included I-203, sunk by USS Caiman (SS-323) on 21 May; I-201 by USS Queenfish (SS-393) on 23 May; I-14 by USS Bugara (SS-331) on 28 May; I-401 by USS Cabezon (SS-334) on 31 May, and I-400 by USS Trumpetfish (SS-425). An amazing color film exists of this operation. Video description via NARA: Sinking of Japanese sub I 201, 5/23/46, by USS Queenfish: 1) MS Japanese submarine exploding on surface after being hit by torpedoes from USS Queenfish, large column of smoke and water rising into air. 2) LS GV periscope shot showing Japanese submarine on surface, torpedo track in foreground. Japanese submarine exploding after being hit by a torpedo. MV. 3) MCU DA bow of US submarine, torpedo track in background, Japanese sub exploding in background. 4) LS DA AV Japanese submarine on the surface of the water exploding, a large column of…