IJN I-53 & Kaitens ; Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) (Lindberg, 1/72)

The I-53 was a significant vessel for the Imperial Japanese Navy, but by late in the war, its role shifted to something pretty desperate. Originally a C3-class cargo submarine, it was modified to carry 'Kaiten' human-steered suicide torpedoes into battle. Its most famous moment came in July 1945, when the crew launched these piloted weapons in an attack that successfully sank the USS Underhill. It’s a dark story, but it highlights just how intense the naval warfare had become in the Pacific right before the end.

As for the machine itself, the I-53 was a C3-class sub specifically adapted to be a 'Kaiten' carrier. Its main feature was the capacity to haul six Type 1 Kaiten submersibles on its deck. These weren't entirely new inventions; they were actually modified Type 93 'Long Lance' torpedoes fitted with a tiny pilot compartment. This setup turned the sub into a mothership for guided weapons, using the massive hull to get those deadly, human-guided torpedoes within striking distance of their targets.