伊507 "Lorelei" Japanese submarine...did it exist? (pix)

Modeling Subjects Ships
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A while back there was a topic about Japanese subs, and at that time I had just seen some ads for a new sub movie coming out here in Japan this March (March 5th, actually).
The movie is called Lorelei, the Witch of the Pacific, named after the sub I-507 (the kanji in the topic title is “I,” pronounced “ee”), which according to the story was frantically hunting around the waters of Tinian for the ships carrying the atomic bombs bound for Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Here’s a couple of pix of a little Kaiyodo 1/700 model of the I-507 I picked up at a convenience store for about $2.50 USD the other day:


Nicely detailed little model.

According to the info sheet that came with it, this sub was built in France, later modified in Germany, and finally taken over by the Japanese.
It was 110 meters long (about 366 feet), and displaced 4,303 metric tons (4,841 US tons) submerged. In addition to torpedoes, it was also armed with two 203mm cannons in a forward-mounted turret. It was also equipped with a torpedo-armed N-class minisub, stowed aft of the conning tower.

Question: Just how much of this is true? Was it all just created for the film? I’m no sub specialist, but I’ve never heard of the Lorelei, I-507, or of any giant Japanese subs of French/German origin specifically hunting for atomic bomb transport ships in August of 1945. Nothing in the information that came with the model indicates it is fictional, however.
What do you submarine and Pacific War experts think?

I know, I could do a Google search, but where’s the fun in that? I’d rather hear what you guys have to say.

Hope you enjoy the pix, and thanks for any info! [:)]

UPDATE: April 2005 I have since seen the film, and it is entirely fictitious. Good movie, too! Check it out if you can.

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I don’t know if it’s true (I doubt it - the profile looks vaguely like that "Space cruiser Yamato, or whatever it is) but it is a very intriguing design, isn’t it?

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It is a cool design…maybe a little too cool!
That’s why I’m a bit skeptical about it.
All the literature associated with it plays it completely straight, though…no hint at all that it’s a fictional sub.

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Why would they be cruising around Tinian looking for A-bomb delivery ships in the first place? They didn’t know that the Bomb existed until it was too late and the ship that did deliver them was sunk anyway (Indianapolis). It sounds like a crock.

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I think it’s a bogus ship. It migth be inspired by the Surcouf, a french sub with two guns and a plane.
The most important reason for me to think it’s a fictional ship is that the japanese produced some of the most technicaly advanced sub’s of that period. It makes no sense that they would use an french design

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Thanks for the info, guys!

Although I think the word “fiction” might be a little more accurate (and kinder) than “crock,” Subfixer!
I’ll tell you more after I see the movie. The promo just says they’re trying to stop the delivery of the Bomb to Tinian.

RemcoGrob, the info sheet that came with the model indeed refers to a French sub, which in katakana is called the “Shuruku-fu,” which I suppose could be the Surcouf.

Again, thanks for the info, guys.

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sorry about “crock”

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Ah, no problem! [:D]
I really appreciated the info. Thanks! [:)]

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i think that sub is fake…but there are WWII Japanese sub that is a mini aircraft carrier that can carry 3 SEIRAN planes

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I did a search for surcouf and found a msn group on it and a few other things… it has a pic of the Surcouf and the lines are vaguely similar to the model pics you posted…

guns are definitely smaller, overall looks like they copied the pic and added their own stuff… but it definitely shows they used this as the model for their movie sub…

http://groups.msn.com/Surcouf/_homepage.msnw?pgmarket=en-us

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostsub/hist1918n05.html

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Thanks for the links, Tom!
It does indeed appear that the I-507 is based on the Surcouf, fictional or not.

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UPDATE:
There has been a lot of press in the last few days about this film, and it is indeed a fictional story about a fictional sub on a fictional search for the Bomb.

Thanks for all your replies!

Still, ya gotta admit, it’s a cool-lookin’ sub!

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Please, for all of us in places where they will never show it, check out the movie for us and give us a report. I just hope they don’t do a “Godzilla” type production out of it.

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Will do! [:)]

A buddy of mine went to a sneak preview of the film the other day, and said it was a fast-paced, well-done war/action film with very good special effects.
I’ll let you know what I think in a couple of weeks!

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I would prefer that it looked more like the IJN I-400 class subs… but still, it looks a lot better than the Nautilus from LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN!

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The director, Shinji Higuchi, is in my opinion responsible for setting a new standard of richly detailed miniature/forced perspective sets. I’d recommend renting a dvd of the recent GAMERA films that he worked on, or GODZILLA MOTHRA KING GHIDORA GIANT MONSTERS ALL OUT ATTACK. His miniature sets are lovely - it’s like watching a Takuji Yamada diorama come to life! If you build dioramas, these films will give you a lot of inspiration.

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Let’s just hope it doesn’t end up being revisionist history…

Jeff

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I agree! But from what I’ve read so far, this is presented as pure fiction. … and I’m looking forward to seeing this film more than anything Hollywood is cranking out this summer!

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Yup, saw it a few weeks ago. Complete fiction, and very interesting! Not revisionist at all. Also, Lorelei is not the name of the sub, but of a Nazi-designed supernatural imaging system used for navigation and targeting. Also, the sub is going after a third atom bomb-carrying B-29 heading for Tokyo.
As unsc said, Mr. Higuchi’s effects work is excellent. His stuff on the Heisei Gamera series raised the bar tremendously, and has yet to be matched.
If you get a chance, check it out!

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AAAAAAAAAAH! what is with my computer!?!?!?!
Ican’t see the pix!
it happened to me a million times before !
AAAAAH