Japan's surrender caught I-400 and I-401 while their crews still understood the boats as strategically sensitive weapons. Their surrender accounts include efforts to prevent the submarines' systems and capabilities from reaching American hands. Mechanical failure and American interception frustrated those denial attempts, and both boats were captured. The class retained intelligence value even after it had failed to influence the war operationally.
Notable Point · 55:08-55:59
Surrender became a struggle over submarine technology
The surrender stories of I-400 and I-401 reflect Japanese efforts to deny their unusual technology to American boarding parties.