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Originally Posted by Torplexed
The irony is, that by the time they were completed in 1945 most of the American fleet was already in the Pacific. A little late to be hitting the Panama Canal at that point. I believe at the time of the surrender they were sailing to Ulithi Atoll to attack the carrier anchorage there.
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The Japanese command knew this. They were sending the I400 and the I401, it's sister-boat, together with supply and attack-subs through the Indian Ocean and the Atlantik. The US-Navy did not know, until the submarine-group signaled their surrender and was completely surprised.
The I400 and the fleet have been sunk to not let it fall into the hands of the Russians, as they stated, the technology was far more advanced as anything they had for their own subs or learned from German subs. Their wet graves have been recently rediscovered and an US military historican stated, if the war had ended several weeks later, the attack would have been an utter success. The US didn't even imagine an attack from the Atlantik side and the main forces were gathered in the Pacific allready.
The 3 planes were able to carry 800kg-bombs each. That would have meant 6 planes with each a 800kg bomb against a not even prepared target. It would not have turned the tides, but it would have slowed down the war dramatically.