convoy. I-53′s crew heard a heavy explosion at 03:32. Earl V. Johnson claimed one submarine sunk in the action. In fact, I-53 had survived, and that evening the 6th Fleet ordered her to return to Japan. She reached Otsujima on 12 August 1945 and disembarked her two remaining kaitens, then got underway for Kure, where she arrived on 13 August 1945. End of war On 15 August 1945, World War II ended with the Hirohito surrender broadcast announcing the cessation of hostilities between Japan and the Allies. Japan formally surrendered in a ceremony aboard the battleship in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945. I-53 underwent an inspection at Kure on 5 October 1945, when it was recorded that she was manned by a reduced crew of 50 under the command of her navigation officer and had 15 tons of fuel, 7.2 tons of rice, 20 tons of fresh water, and no weapons on board. In November 1945 she was moved to Ebisu Bay near Sasebo, and her crew was reduced further . Final disposition The Japanese struck I-53 from the Navy list on 30 November 1945. After she was stripped of all useful equipment and valuable materials, the U.S. Navy submarine tender towed her from Sasebo to an area off the Goto Islands and scuttled her with gunfire at on 1 April 1946 as part of Operation Road's End. Using a multibeam echosounder and a remotely operated vehicle, a research team of the Society La Plongée for Deep Sea Technology found and photographed the wreck of I-53 on 7 September 2017. Notes References 1942 ships Ships built by Kure Naval Arsenal Type C3 submarines World War II submarines of Japan Maritime incidents in 1946 Shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean Scuttled vessels