View source for Japanese submarine I-158

{{Short description|Imperial Japanese Navy Kaidai-class cruiser submarine of the KD3A sub-class}}
{{redirect|Japanese submarine I-58 (1925)|other submarines with the same name|Japanese submarine I-58}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image= I-58.jpg
| Ship caption=''I-58'' at sea
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=
| Ship country=[[Empire of Japan]]
| Ship flag= {{shipboxflag|Empire of Japan|naval}}
| Ship name= ''I-58''
| Ship ordered=
| Ship awarded=
| Ship builder=[[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]], [[Yokosuka]],&nbsp;[[Japan]]
| Ship original cost=
| Ship yard number=
| Ship way number=
| Ship laid down=3 December 1924
| Ship launched=3 October 1925
| Ship sponsor=
| Ship christened=
| Ship completed=15 May 1928
| Ship Commissioned=15 May 1928
| Ship decommissioned=1 June 1932
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship recommissioned=1 December 1932
| Ship decommissioned=1 November 1933
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship recommissioned=by 27 September 1934
| Ship decommissioned=after 5 October 1934
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship recommissioned=1 December 1936
| Ship decommissioned=7 January 1937
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship recommissioned=1 January 1938
| Ship decommissioned=15 December 1938
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship recommissioned=15 November 1939
| Ship renamed=''I-158'' on 20 May 1942 
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header=yes
| Ship decommissioned=
| Ship out of service=
| Ship reclassified=
| Ship renamed=
| Ship motto=
| Ship fate=*Surrendered 2 September 1945
*Stricken 30 November 1945
*[[Scuttling|Scuttled]] 1 April 1946
| Ship notes=
| Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header=
| Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Kaidai|submarine}} (KD3A Type)
|Ship displacement=*{{Convert|1800|LT|t|0|disp=flip|abbr=on}} surfaced
*{{Convert|2300|LT|t|0|disp=flip|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length={{convert|100|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|4.82|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=*{{convert|6800|bhp|lk=in|abbr=on}} (diesels)
*{{convert|1800|hp|abbr=on}} (electric motors)
|Ship propulsion=*[[Diesel-electric]]
*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × [[electric motor]]s
|Ship speed=*{{convert|20|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{convert|8|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=*{{convert|10000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|90|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|3|kn}} submerged
|Ship endurance=
|Ship test depth={{convert|60|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=60
|Ship armament=*8 × {{convert|533|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s {{nowrap|(6 bow, 2 stern)}}
*1 × [[12 cm 11th Year Type naval gun|{{convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] [[deck gun]]
}}
|}
'''''I-58''''', later '''''I-158''''', was an [[Imperial Japanese Navy]] {{sclass|Kaidai|submarine|0}} [[cruiser submarine]] of the KD3A [[ship class|sub-class]] commissioned in 1928. During [[World War II]], she supported Japanese forces during the [[invasion of Malaya]] in December 1941 and was instrumental in tracking [[Force Z]], the two British [[capital ship]]s that attempted to intercept the Japanese invasion forces, so they could be sunk by [[torpedo bomber]]s. She sank four Dutch [[merchant ship]]s in early 1942 during the [[Dutch East Indies campaign]] and then was transferred to the [[Central Pacific Area|Central Pacific]] in May 1942 to support the fleet during the [[Battle of Midway]] in early June 1942. Upon her return to Japan in July 1942, she became a [[training ship]] until early 1945 when she was modified to serve as a carrier for ''[[kaiten]]'' manned [[suicide attack]] [[torpedo]]es. She surrendered to the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] at the end of the war and was [[Scuttling|scuttled]] in 1946.

==Design and description==
The [[submarine]]s of the KD3A sub-class were the first Japanese-designed [[cruiser submarine]]s, based on experience with earlier designs based on British and German cruiser submarines.<ref name=j5>Jentschura, Jung & Mickel, p. 170</ref> They [[Displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{Convert|1800|LT|t|0|disp=flip|sp=us}} surfaced and {{Convert|2300|LT|t|0|disp=flip|sp=us}} submerged. They were {{convert|100|m|ftin|sp=us}} long and had a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|8|m|ftin|sp=us}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|4.82|m|ftin|sp=us}}. They had a diving depth of {{convert|60|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and a complement of 60 [[Commissioned officer|officers]] and [[Enlisted personnel|crewmen]].<ref name=cd3>Carpenter & Polmar, p. 93</ref>

For surface running, the submarines were powered by two {{convert|3400|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} [[diesel engine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]]. When they were submerged, a {{convert|900|hp|0|adj=on}} [[electric motor]] drive each [[propeller]]. They could reach {{convert|20|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|8|kn}} submerged. On the surface, the KD3As had a range of {{convert|10000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}}; submerged, they had a range of {{convert|90|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|3|kn}}.<ref name=c5>Chesneau, p. 198</ref>

The submarines had eight internal {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on|sp=us}} [[torpedo tube]]s, six in the [[Bow (ship)|bow]] and two in the [[stern]]. They carried one reload for each tube for a total of 16 [[torpedo]]es. They also had one [[12 cm 11th Year Type naval gun|{{convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] [[deck gun]].<ref name=b4>Bagnasco, p. 183</ref>

==Construction and commissioning==
Built by the [[Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]] at [[Yokosuka]], [[Japan]], '''''I-58''''' was [[Keel-laying|laid down]] on 3 December 1924.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-158.htm I-158 ijnsubsite.com 20 October 2018 Accessed 24 January 2021]</ref><ref name=combinedfleetI158>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-158.htm |title=IJN Submarine I-158: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |date=1 October 2017|access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref> She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 3 October 1925<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> and completed and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 15 May 1928.<ref name=cd3/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

==Service history==
===Pre-World War II===
[[File:Japanese submarine I-158 in 1927.jpg|thumb|left|''I-58'' at sea, 1927]]On the day of her commissioning, ''I-58'' was attached to the [[Kure Naval District]].<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> On 1 April 1929, the new Submarine [[Division (naval)|Division]] 19 was activated in Submarine [[Squadron (naval)|Squadron]] 2 in the [[2nd Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|2nd Fleet]], a component of the [[Combined Fleet]],<ref>[https://www.ijnsubsite.info/Subdivs/subdiv19.htm Submarine Division 19 ijnsubsite.com Accessed 24 January 2021]</ref> and she was assigned to the new division that day.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> The division was reassigned to the Kure Defense Division in the Kure Naval District on 1 December 1931,<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> but it returned to Submarine Squadron 2 in the 2nd Fleet on 20 May 1932.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> ''I-58'' was placed in [[Reserve fleet|reserve]] at [[Kure, Hiroshima|Kure]], Japan, on 1 June 1932.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/>

''I-58'' returned to active service on 1 December 1932.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> She got underway from [[Sasebo]], Japan, on 29 June 1933 with the other submarines of her squadron — ''[[Japanese submarine I-53 (1925)|I-53]]'', ''[[Japanese submarine I-54 (1926)|I-54]]'' and ''[[Japanese submarine I-155|I-55]]'' of Submarine Division 18 and Submarine Division 19′s ''[[Japanese submarine I-156|I-56]]'' and ''[[Japanese submarine I-157|I-57]]'' — for a training cruise off [[China]] and [[Magong|Mako]] in the [[Penghu|Pescadores Islands]], which the submarines concluded with their arrival at [[Kaohsiung|Takao]], [[Formosa]], on 5 July 1933.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-153.htm I-153 ijnsubsite.com September 19, 2018 Accessed 15 January 2022]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-154.htm I-154 ijnsubsite.com October 11, 2018 Accessed 15 January 2022]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI155>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-155.htm I-155 ijnsubsite.com June 10, 2018 Accessed 15 January 2022]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI156>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-156.htm I-156 ijnsubsite.com October 15, 2018 Accessed 17 January 2022]</ref><ref name=ijnsubsiteI157>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-157.htm I-157 ijnsubsite.com 16 October 2018 Accessed 23 January 2021]</ref> They departed Takao on 13 July 1933 and again trained in Chinese waters before arriving in [[Tokyo Bay]] on 21 August 1933.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI156/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI157/> On 25 August 1933, all six submarines took part in a [[Fleet Review (Japan)|fleet review]] at [[Yokohama]], Japan.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI153/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI154/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI155/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI156/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI157/> ''I-58'' was placed in reserve at Kure again on 1 November 1933.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

''I-58'' apparently was back in service in time to depart [[Ryojun]], [[Manchukuo]], in company with ''I-56'', ''I-57'',  and the submarines {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-61||2}}, ''[[Japanese submarine I-162|I-62]]'', {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-64||2}}, ''[[Japanese submarine I-165|I-65]]'', ''[[Japanese submarine I-166|I-66]]'', and {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-67||2}} for a training cruise off [[Qingdao]], China, which the nine submarines concluded with their arrival at Sasebo on 5 October 1934.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI156/><ref name=ijnsubsiteI157/><ref>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-61.htm I-61 ijnsubsite.com August 24, 2018 Accessed 28 September 2020]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-162.htm |title=I-162 ex I-62 |first1= |last1= |work=iijnsubsite.info |date=9 November 2018|accessdate=31 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-164.htm |title=I-164 ex I-64 |first1= |last1= |work=iijnsubsite.info |date=9 November 2018|accessdate=31 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-165.htm |title=I-165 ex I-65 |first1= |last1= |work=iijnsubsite.info |date=11 May 2018|accessdate=19 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-166.htm |title=I-166 ex I-66 |first1= |last1= |work=iijnsubsite.info |date=30 August 2018|accessdate=19 February 2022}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ijnsubsite.info/I-Sub%20Details/I-67.htm I-67 ijnsubsite.com September 14, 2018 Accessed 28 September 2020]</ref> She apparently again went into reserve at Kure sometime after completing this cruise.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> Meanwhile, Submarine Division 19 was reassigned to the Kure Guard Squadron in the Kure Naval District on 15 November 1934<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> and to Submarine Division 1 in the [[1st Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|1st Fleet]], a component of the Combined Fleet, on 15 November 1935.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/>

''I-58'' returned to active service on 1 December 1936,<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> and that day Submarine Division 19 was reassigned to the Kure Naval District.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> The division was placed in the First Reserve in the district on 7 January 1937,<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> but returned to active service in the district on 1 January 1938.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> The division was placed in Third Reserve in the district on 15 December 1938.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/>

Submarine Division 19 returned to active service on 15 November 1939 with its assignment to Submarine Squadron 4 in the 1st Fleet.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> Tragedy struck while ''I-58'' was on night maneuvers south of [[Tokyo Bay]] on 26 August 1940, taking part in simulated attacks against Combined Fleet [[capital ship]]s with her [[ballast tank]]s partially flooded.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> She began a [[Crash dive|crash-dive]] after completing her final simulated attack, but her [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]] party did not clear the bridge quickly enough as she submerged.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> The last man on the bridge, [[Signalman (rank)|Signalman]] Hirose Masao, realized that ''I-58'' was in danger of submerging with her bridge hatch open and flooding, so he closed the hatch from the outside and drowned when ''I-58'' submerged.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> Submarine Squadron 4 was assigned directly to the Combined Fleet on 15 November 1940.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/>

[[Lieutenant commander|Lieutenant Commander]] {{nihongo|Soshichi Kitamura|北村 惣七|''Kitamura Soshichi''}} took command of ''I-58'' on 31 October 1941.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> As the Japanese armed forces mobilized for an offensive against [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] forces that would begin the [[Pacific War|Pacific campaign]] of [[World War II]], ''I-58'' departed Kure, Japan, on 20 November 1941 bound for [[Sanya|Samah]] on China′s [[Hainan Island]], which she reached on 26 November 1941.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> She departed Samah on 1 December 1941 to support the offensive.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> Tasked with supporting Operation E, the [[Japanese invasion of Malaya|Japanese invasion]] of [[British Malaya]], ''I-58'' proceeded to her patrol area in the [[South China Sea]] off the [[Malayan Peninsula]].<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

===World War II===
====First war patrol====
Hostilities began in [[East Asia]] on 8 December 1941 (7 December across the [[International Date Line]] in [[Hawaii]], where Japan began the war with its [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]). The Japanese invasion of British Malaya began that day, and ''I-57'', ''I-58'', and the submarines ''[[Japanese submarine I-162|I-62]]'', {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-64||2}}, and ''[[Japanese submarine I-166|I-66]]'' formed a patrol line in the South China Sea off [[Trengganu]], British Malaya.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

On 9 December 1941, the Japanese submarine {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-65||2}} spotted [[Force Z]] – a [[Royal Navy]] force consisting of the [[battleship]] {{HMS|Prince of Wales|53|2}}, the [[battlecruiser]] {{HMS|Repulse|1916|2}}, and four [[destroyer]]s – headed north-northwest and posing a threat to Japanese invasion [[convoy]]s.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> ''I-58'' was operating to the north of ''I-65'', but she received an inaccurate position report for Force Z because of faulty communications.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> Shortly after midnight on 10 December 1941, however, ''I-58'' was running on the surface in the South China Sea {{convert|140|nmi}} east of [[Kuantan]], British Malaya, when her lookouts spotted Force Z only {{convert|660|yd}} off her [[Port and starboard|port]] [[Bow (ship)|bow]], with ''Prince of Wales'' in the lead.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> ''I-58'' [[Crash dive|crash-dived]] and attempted to fire a full six-[[torpedo]] salvo from her bow [[torpedo tube]]s at ''Prince of Wales'' in what would have been the first attack on an enemy battleship in history by an Imperial Japanese Navy submarine, but the first torpedo tube's outer door jammed, spoiling the attack.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> She fired her other five bow torpedoes at ''Repulse'', but they all missed.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> She transmitted a report that Force Z was proceeding south-southwest at {{convert|24|kn}} and continued to track the British ships.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> The [[light cruiser]] {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Sendai||2}} received her report and relayed it to the [[heavy cruiser]] {{ship|Japanese cruiser|Chōkai||2}}, [[flagship]] of [[Vice Admiral]] [[Jisaburō Ozawa]], [[Commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]] of the Imperial Japanese Navy′s [[Southern Expeditionary Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|1st Southern Expeditionary Fleet]].<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> At 06:15 on 10 December 1941, ''I-58'' lost contact with Force Z, but [[torpedo bomber]]s of the Imperial Japanese Navy′s [[22nd Air Flotilla]] flying from bases in Japanese-occupied [[French Indochina]] sank both ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'' in the South China Sea that afternoon.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> ''I-58'' concluded her patrol with her arrival at [[Cam Ranh Bay]] in French Indochina on 20 December 1941.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

====Second war patrol====

''I-58'' departed Cam Ranh Bay on 28 December 1941 in company with ''I-56'' to begin her second war patrol, assigned a patrol area in the [[Netherlands East Indies]] off [[Surabaya]], [[Java]].<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> In the [[Java Sea]] northwest of [[Bawean]] Island at 01:45 on 3 January 1942, ''I-58'' hit the Dutch 7,395-[[gross register ton]] [[merchant ship]] {{SS|Langkoeas}} – which had departed Surabaya on 1 January 1942 bound for [[Haifa]] in [[Mandatory Palestine]] with a cargo of [[sugar]]<ref>Edwards, p. 11.</ref> – with one torpedo in her [[engine room]], killing 12 men there,<ref name=edwardsp21>Edwards, p. 21.</ref> then sank her with gunfire at {{coord|05|S|112|E|name=SS ''Langkoeas''}}.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> One of ''Langkoeas''′s [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|lifeboats]] was destroyed by ''I-58''′s gunfire before it could be launched,<ref name=edwardsp16>Edwards, p. 16.</ref> but her surviving crew of 79 men abandoned ship in her other three [[whaleboat]]s,<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> one of which accidentally was dropped into the sea from a height of {{convert|20|ft}}, swamping it and casting many of its occupants overboard.<ref name=edwardsp16/> As another lifeboat with ''Langkoeas''′s [[Sea captain|master]] aboard neared the swamped lifeboat to render it assistance, ''I-58'' approached at speed on the surface.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> Many of the men in boats stood and cheered her approach, thinking that she offered them rescue, but when ''I-58'' had closed to {{convert|220|yd|m}}, her crew opened fire on two of the boats with [[machine gun]]s.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/><ref>Edwards, pp. 16–17.</ref> ''I-58'' then closed to {{convert|110|yd}} of the swamped lifeboat and machine-gunned it as well.<ref name=edwardsp17>Edwards, p. 17.</ref> Seventy-nine men died in the machine-gunning of the three lifeboats,<ref name=edwardsp21/> but ''I-58''′s crew pulled three survivors from the water,<ref name=combinedfleetI158/><ref>Edwards, pp. 17–18.</ref> one of whom had clung to one of the submarine′s [[diving plane]]s.<ref name=edwardsp17/> ''I-58''′s crew threatened them with a [[revolver]], slapped and pushed them, and slashed one with a [[sword]].<ref name=edwardsp18/> Kitamura then interrogated them<ref name=combinedfleetI158/><ref name=edwardsp18>Edwards, p. 18.</ref> in broken [[English language|English]], demanding information on ''Langkoeas''′s identity, departure port, cargo, and destination and on secret Allied codes and signals, threatening them with punishment after each question if they withheld information.<ref name=edwardsp18/> After Kitamura became enraged when he discovered that they had no code or signal information,<ref name=edwardsp18/> ''I-58''′s crew threw them back into the sea,<ref name=combinedfleetI158/><ref name=edwardsp18/> where they spent the night floating in their [[Ceiba pentandra|kapok]] [[life jacket]]s before discovering and boarding an empty [[life raft]] on the morning of 3 January.<ref>Edwards, p. 20.</ref> On 7 January 1942, they drifted ashore on Bawean, where local fishermen found them and summoned help.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/><ref name=edwardsp21/> They were driven to Bawean's capital [[Sangkapoera]],<ref name=edwardsp21/> from which a [[Netherlands Naval Aviation Service]] [[Consolidated PBY Catalina|Catalina]] [[flying boat]] flew them to Java – Batavia<ref name=edwardsp21/> or Surabaya,<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> according to different sources – where they were hospitalized.<ref name=edwardsp21/>

Early on the morning of 5 January 1942, an unidentified submarine fired a torpedo at ''I-58'' while she was on the surface, but ''I-58'' avoided damage when the torpedo merely grazed her side.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> On 9 January 1942, ''I-58'' opened gunfire on the Dutch 2,380-gross register ton merchant ship {{SS|Camphuys}}, then torpedoed and sank her in the Java Sea west of Bawean Island at {{coord|04|30|S|111|47|E|name=''Camphuys''}}.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> The [[United States Navy]] destroyer {{USS|Paul Jones|DD-230}} rescued ''Camphuys''′s survivors.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> ''I-58'' returned to Cam Ranh Bay on 16 January 1942.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

====Third war patrol====

''I-58'' began her third war patrol on 7 February 1942, getting underway from Cam Ranh Bay to head for a patrol area in the [[Indian Ocean]] south of Java.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> She transited the [[Lombok Strait]] between [[Bali]] and [[Lombok]] and entered the Indian Ocean on 20 February.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> While operating south of [[Tjilatjap]], Java, on 22 February, she attacked the Dutch 2,982-gross register ton [[passenger ship]] {{SS|Pijnacker Hordijk}} with gunfire, then torpedoed and sank her; her crew briefly questioned ''Pijnacker Hordijk''′s [[Sea captain|master]] before releasing him.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

On 25 February 1942, ''I-58'' attacked the Dutch 7,135-gross register ton merchant ship {{SS|Boeroe}} — making a voyage to [[Perth]], [[Australia]] — in the Indian Ocean south of the [[Sunda Strait]], opening gunfire on her at 10:15.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> After she had fired a few rounds, she submerged when a [[Royal Netherlands Navy]] destroyer escorting two [[Oiler (ship)|oilers]] happened upon the scene, but at 11:30 she fired two torpedoes at ''Boeroe''.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> Both hit, and ''Boeroe'' sank slowly.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> According to various sources, her entire crew of 70 survived and escaped,<ref name=combinedfleetI158/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4202-42FEB02.htm |title=Naval Events, February 1942, Part 2 of 2, Sunday 15th – Saturday 28th |publisher=Naval History |access-date=25 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gill |first=G. Hermon |title=Royal Australian Navy 1939-1942 |series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 2 – Navy |volume=1 |year=1957 |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra |page=618 |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/volume.asp?levelID=67910 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525001721/http://www.awm.gov.au/histories/second_world_war/volume.asp?levelID=67910 |archive-date=25 May 2009 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?59276 "SS Boeroe (+1942)" Wreck Site Accessed 22 February 2022]</ref> but one source claims that all on board died in the sinking and suggests that those who survived the sinking itself may have been massacred by ''I-58''′s crew.<ref>Edwards, pp. 22, 230.</ref>

On 28 February 1942, ''I-58'' torpedoed the British 6,735-gross register ton [[Tanker (ship)|tanker]] {{SS|British Judge}}  in the Indian Ocean {{convert|10|nmi}} south of the Sunda Strait at "{{coord|06|S|105|E}}.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> The damaged ''British Judge'' survived the attack.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> ''I-58'' concluded her patrol with her arrival at [[Staring-baai|Staring Bay]] on the coast of [[Sulawesi|Celebes]] on 8 March 1942.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

====March–May 1942====

Submarine Squadron 4 was disbanded on 10 March 1942,<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/> and the submarines of Submarine Division 19 – ''I-56'', ''I-57'', and ''I-58'' – were reassigned to Submarine Squadron 5.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> ''I-58'' departed Staring Bay on 13 March 1942 bound for Kure, Japan, where she arrived on 20 March 1942 for repairs.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> With them complete, she got back underway from Kure on 14 May 1942 and set course for [[Kwajalein Atoll]].<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> During her voyage, she was renumbered '''''I-158''''' on 20 May 1942.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> She arrived at Kwajalein on 24 May 1942.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

====Fourth war patrol: The Battle of Midway====

On 26 May 1942, ''I-158'' departed Kwajalein to conduct her fourth war patrol, operating in support of Operation MI, the planned Japanese invasion of [[Midway Atoll]] in the [[Northwestern Hawaiian Islands]], in which Submarine Squadron 5 formed part of the Advance Expeditionary Force.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI162>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-162.htm |title=IJN Submarine I-162: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |year=2016|access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref> She operated in a patrol line between {{coord|28|20|N|162|20|W}} and {{coord|26|00|N|165|00|W}} which also included the submarines {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-156||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-157||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-159||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-162||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-165||2}}, and {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-166||2}}.<ref name=combinedfleetI162/><ref name=combinedfleetI156>{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-156.htm |title=IJN Submarine I-156: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |date=1 May 2016|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> The Japanese suffered a decisive defeat on 4 June 1942 during the [[Battle of Midway]], and that day the [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[6th Fleet (Imperial Japanese Navy)|6th Fleet]], [[Vice Admiral]] [[Teruhisa Komatsu]], ordered the 15 submarines in the Japanese submarine patrol line to move westward.<ref name=combinedfleetI156/>

After the commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet, [[Admiral]] [[Isoroku Yamamoto]], ordered Komatsu to interpose his submarines between the retreating Japanese fleet and the opposing [[United States Navy]] [[aircraft carrier]]s,<ref name=combinedfleetI156/> the Japanese submarines, including ''I-158'', began a gradual movement to the north-northwest, moving at {{convert|3|kn}} by day and {{convert|14|kn}} after dark.<ref name=combinedfleetI156/> ''I-158'' made no contact with enemy forces during the battle,<ref name=combinedfleetI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI162/><ref name=combinedfleetI156/> and returned to Kwajalein on 19 June 1942.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI157/>

====June 1942 – April 1945====

On 22 June 1942, ''I-158'' departed Kwajalein bound for Kure, Japan, which she reached on 30 June.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> On 10 July 1942, Submarine Squadron 5 was disbanded, and Submarine Division 19 – consisting of ''I-156'', ''I-157'', ''I-158'', and ''I-159'' – was reassigned to the Kure Naval District.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> ''I-158'' assumed duties as a [[training ship]] at the Kure Submarine School that day, continuing in that role until March 1945.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

Submarine Division 19 was reassigned to the Kure Submarine Squadron on 1 December 1943.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> During December 1943, ''I-158'' was painted in an experimental light gray [[camouflage]] scheme based on that of the German submarine {{GS|U-511||2}}, which Japan had purchased from [[Nazi Germany|Germany]] in 1943 and renamed ''Ro-500''.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> {{nowrap|''I-158''}} participated in the first stage of Submarine School tests of the paint scheme in the Iyo Nada in the [[Seto Inland Sea]] on 5 January 1944 to determine its value in the waters around Japan, the effectiveness of the camouflage pattern against detection by surface warships and aircraft, its ability to confuse enemy forces attempting to determine the submarine's course and speed, and the durability of the paint.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

On 20 April 1944, ''I-158'' was reassigned to Submarine Division 34 in the 6th Fleet.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> On 17 March 1945, she suffered minor damage during a [[United States Army Air Forces]] [[Twentieth Air Force]] [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress|B-29 Superfortress]] raid on the [[Mitsubishi Heavy Industries|Mitsubishi]] [[dockyard]] at [[Kobe]], Japan.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

====''Kaiten'' carrier====

While under repair after the air raid, ''I-158'' was equipped with fittings to carry two ''[[kaiten]]'' manned [[suicide attack]] torpedoes.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> During July 1945, the crews of ''I-156'', ''I-157'', ''I-158'', ''I-159'', and ''I-162'' underwent training in launching ''kaiten'' against enemy ships in the event of an [[Operation Downfall|invasion of Japan]].<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

====End of war====
On 15 August 1945, ''I-158'' was reassigned to Submarine Division 15 in the 6th Fleet.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> That same day, [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]] [[Hirohito]] announced the end of hostilities.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> ''I-156'' surrendered to the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] at Kure on 2 September 1945,<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> and on 2 November 1945 the U.S. Navy assigned it to its Submarine Division 1 along with ''I-162'' and the submarines {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-201||2}}, {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-202||2}}, and {{ship|Japanese submarine|I-203||2}}.<ref>[https://www.ijnsubsite.info/Subdivs/Post%20WW2%20Sub.Div.1.htm Post WW2 Sub.Div 1 ijnsubsite.com Accessed 25 January 2022]</ref> The Japanese struck her from the [[navy list]] on 30 November 1945.<ref name=ijnsubsiteI158/><ref name=combinedfleetI158/> She moved to Sasebo and in March 1946 was stripped of all usable equipment.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> The Commander, [[Naval Forces Japan (United States)|Naval Activities, Japan]], U.S. Navy [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] [[Robert H. Griffin]], came aboard ''I-158'' to inspect her in March 1946.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

==Disposal==

On 26 March 1946, the U.S. Navy received orders to sink all captured Japanese submarines.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> On 1 April 1946, the U.S. Navy [[submarine tender]] {{USS|Nereus |AS-17}} [[Towing|towed]] ''I-158'' from Sasebo to an area off the [[Gotō Islands]], where she was one of a number of Japanese submarines [[Scuttling|scuttled]] that day in [[Operation Road's End]].<ref name=combinedfleetI158/> She sank at {{coord|32|37|N|129|17|E|name=''I-157''}}.<ref name=combinedfleetI158/>

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
*{{cite book|last=Bagnasco |first=Erminio |title=Submarines of World War Two |year=1977 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-962-6}} 
*{{cite book|last1=Carpenter|first1=Dorr B.|last2=Polmar|first2=Norman|title=Submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy 1904–1945|year=1986|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-396-6|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=0-85177-146-7}}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-158.htm |title=IJN Submarine I-158: Tabular Record of Movement |first1=Bob |last1=Hackett |first2=Sander |last2=Kingsepp |work=combinedfleet.com |year=2010|access-date=6 November 2015|name-list-style=amp}}
*{{cite book|last=Edwards |first=Bernard |title=Blood and Bushido: Japanese Atrocities at Sea 1941–1945 |year=1997 |publisher=Brick Tower Press |location=New York |isbn=1-883283-18-3}} 
*{{cite book| last = Jentschura| first = Hansgeorg| first2 = Dieter |last2=Jung|first3=Peter |last3=Mickel| year = 1977| title = Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869&ndash;1945| publisher = United States Naval Institute| location = Annapolis, Maryland| isbn = 0-87021-893-X|name-list-style=amp}}

{{Kaidai type submarine}}
{{August 1940 shipwrecks}}
{{January 1942 shipwrecks}}
{{1946 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:I-158}}
[[Category:1925 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built by Yokosuka Naval Arsenal]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Japan]]
[[Category:Kaidai-class submarines]]
[[Category:Ships of the Battle of Midway]]
[[Category:Scuttled vessels]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in August 1940]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in January 1942]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1946]]
[[Category:Japanese war crimes]]