From: "Steve Saunders" Date: 29 Oct 2001 Subject: Rabaul Submarines Dear Sir,I have read your excellent page on history of Japanese Submarines involved at Pearl Harbor. I am secretary of the Rabaul Historical Society, at the moment we are refurbishing what is known as 'Yamamotos Bunker' in Rabaul. Before the 1994 eruption this was a museum, we are hoping to re-establish it with more factual information than before.
One other place that is currently being improved is the Submarine Base at Tavui Point. The base was established here by the Japanese, as just off-shore a submerged caldera means that depths of many 100 meters are only 15-20 meter out from the coast, so subs could crash dive if surprised whilst being re-supplied from the piers constructed there. I would like to produce an information sheet to display at the site.
There is very little information about which submarines used this base. Have you any? Would I be right in assuming that most subs involved in the Guadalcanal campaign were likely to have been re-supplied here? I would be glad of any information at all that might be relevant to the Rabaul Submarine Base, especially the supply subs which used it extensively in the later part of the war. The location of good quality images of subs would be much appreciated.
Many thanks in advance for your time
Steve Saunders
This is to acknowledge your kind words and request.
What I know now about the subs in on the web pages.
However, since the website has become popular, I have purchased several authoritative series of reference books that I have not yet read in full. Now that your area of interest is known, information can be gathered, but I fear it will have to be gathered one tiny bit at a time over a long time.
I can't find a website for the Rabaul Historical Society; would you like me to post your interests on WW2Pacific until you do? I can work your letter into the website and that may attract others with the same interests as you.
All best,
Jim
Dear Jim, Thanks for the prompt reply. Any information over what ever time frame would be much appreciated and added to our modest archives. The Rabaul Historical Society has only just been resurrected after the 1994 eruption. It is unlikely that we would have a web site in the near future as Papua New Guinea is not the easiest place to set such a thing up, mainly because of cost. A mailing address for the Rabaul Historical Society is:- Rabaul Historical Society C/O Steve Saunders Rabaul Volcano Observatory, PO Box 386 Rabaul, ENBP Papua New Guinea . [image] Here are a couple of sites which involve things we are doing here with Justin Taylin's Pacific Wreck data base.All the best, Steve Saunders
About this page: RabaulHS - Rabaul Historical Society interest in Japanese submarines based at Tavui Point, Rabaul, during WW2.
Last updated on October 30, 2001.