Japanese and German Navy Submarines

[James Jim Wright]

Did any Japanese submarines venture into Atlantic or European waters early in World War 2 and how about German submarines, did any go to Japan in the early years of World War 2?

[Delta Tank]

Did any Japanese submarines venture into Atlantic or European waters early in World War 2 and how about German submarines, did any go to Japan in the early years of World War 2?

Yes, I do believe some German submarines went or tried to go to Japan. IIRC Clay Blair in his two volume series on German Submarines described their voyages and I think the "History Channel" did a show on one of these voyages, but I can't vouch for its accuracy.

Mike

[Takao]

How are you defining "early in World War 2"?

Most of the early movement was done by blockade runners.
http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/km/blbr.htm

Submarines did not enter the picture until mid-1942, and then, it was just one mission, the Japanese I-30. I-30 would not complete her mission, she was sunk by a mine shortly after leaving Singapore enroute to Kure. More missions would follow in 1943 & 1944.
http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/achse/yanagi.htm

A good write up on the Japanese Yanagi missions: http://www.historynet.com/world-war-ii- ... onvoys.htm
The German Monsoon U-Boats: http://www.uboat.net/ops/monsun.htm

[gttf]

Hello,
apart from the surface blockade runners, at least three Italian submarines reached Japanese bases during the summer of 1943; they were seized by Japanese at the Italian Armistice, then given to Kriegsmarine then again to Imperial Japanese navy in May, 1945.
A short overview of the story of the submarines and other Italian surface vessels in Far East is given here, http://www.regiamarina.net/detail_text. ... id=1&cid=1
Best regards

Fabrizio