I-21

was a Japanese submarine which saw service during World War II in the Imperial Japanese Navy. She displaced 1,950 tons and had a speed of 24 knots. I-21 was the most successful Japanese submarine to operate in Australian waters, participating in the Attack on Sydney Harbour in 1942 and sinking 44,000 tons of Allied shipping during her two deployments off the east coast of Australia.^[1]

Sinking of the Kalingo

In January 1943, off the east coast of Australia, the I-21 sank the ship Kalingo, with the loss of two of the Kalingos crew.

Sinking of SS Iron Knight

The BHP iron ore carrier SS Iron Knight was part of a convoy of ships travelling up the east coast of New South Wales on February 8, 1943. Under cover of darkness at approximately 2:30 am, the I-21 fired a torpedo at the naval ships flanking the Iron Knight at the head of the flotilla; however, the torpedo passed under the bow of the Bathurst-class corvette HMAS Townsville and struck the Iron Knight, sinking her with the loss of 36 crewmen in less than two minutes. Most of the ship's crew were below decks and were unable to escape the ship as she went down. Only 14 survived, clambering on board a single lifeboat until they were picked up by the French destroyer Le Triomphant. HMAS Mildura, the other corvette guarding the convoy, pursued the I-21 for several days.

On 4 June 2006, the wreck of the Iron Knight was discovered in waters off the New South Wales town of Bermagui at a depth of approximately 125 metres. Local fishermen had snagged their nets on the wreck over the years, unaware of the ship lying deep in the waters. Families and descendants of the crew traveled to the site and laid a wreath and poppies on the waters above the wreck. The sole remaining survivor of the sinking, John Stone, was unable to make the journey from his home in Southern Victoria.

Sinking of the Starr King

The Starr King sinking after being attacked by the I-21 near Port Macquarie on 10 February 1943.

Other ships damaged along the Australian east coast

During January 1943, the I-21 also torpedoed the tanker Mobilube, with the loss of 3 lives, and the liberty ship Peter H. Burnett, which was towed back to Sydney by HMAS Mildura.

Loss

On 4th February 1944 the I-21 was intercepted and sunk by US destroyer USS Charrette near the Marshall Islands.

References

• Sinking of the SS Cape San Juan
• An account of the HMAS Mildura, including the sinking of the Iron Knight and other vessels attacked by I-21.
• Cyber Diver News Network, account of the discovery of the Iron Knight
• ABC Stateline ACT, transcript of the Iron Knight documentary, researched and written by Craig Allen, and aired by ABC Canberra on Friday 4 August 2006.
• ABC Australia Wide, the video of the Iron Knight news story that aired on ABC Television and ABC Australia Wide on the discovery of the Iron Knight.

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