Japanese Submarine Attack - Ellwood California was a Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts engagement fought in California, 1942. It was a Japan (symbolic) victory.
Following the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, seven Japanese submarines patrolled the American West Coast in late 1941 and early 1942. These submarines sank two merchant ships and damaged six more during their initial patrols, skirmishing twice with U.S. Navy forces before returning to friendly waters by the end of December to resupply. Several submarines, including the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-17, were sent to Kwajalein and subsequently made a return visit to American waters. The I-17, under the command of Commander Kozo Nishino, displaced 3,654 long tons when submerged and was equipped with six 20-inch torpedo tubes, 17 torpedoes, and a 14-cm deck gun, with a crew of 101 officers and men.
The Bombardment of Ellwood occurred in February 1942 when the I-17 conducted a naval attack against United States coastal targets near Santa Barbara, California. This engagement marked a significant escalation of Japanese military operations against the North American mainland.
Though the damage inflicted was minimal, the Bombardment of Ellwood proved to be a pivotal event in American home front history. The attack was key in triggering the West Coast invasion scare and significantly influenced the decision to intern Japanese-Americans. The event also held the distinction of marking the first shelling of the North American mainland during World War II, establishing it as a crucial moment in American military history despite the limited material damage caused.
Approximate location. The nearest recorded settlement is shown; the exact site is unrecorded.
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