I-14 was built by Kawasaki at Kobe. Laid down May 18, 1943 as as Submarine No. 5091, the second AM-class Submarine (A Class, modified) with a hanger to transport two Aichi M6A1 Serian seaplanes. On November 5, 1944 Cdr Tsuruzo Shimizu is appointed as as Chief Equipping Officer (CEO).
On December 15, 1944 the 631 Kokutai (631 Air Group) is formed for a special attack mission by ten submarine launched Aichi M6A1 Serians that would attack the Panama Canal. Launched and completed March 14, 1945 as I-14 in the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) under the command of Cdr Shimizu Tsuruzo. Registered in the Yokosuka Naval District. Assigned to the Sixth Fleet, SubDiv 1 as the flagship with I-13, I-400 and I-401.
That same day departs Kobe for Kure arriving the next day and commences training. On March 19, 1945 at Kure during the first air raid by U.S. Navy (USN) carrier planes from Task Force 58 (TF 58) but is not damaged.
Plans were made to use I-400, I-401, I-13 and I-14 on a mission to attack the Panama Canal and disable the locks. During June 1945 the decision was made to switch targets and instead attack the US Navy anchorage at Ulithi Atoll. The mission was code-named Hikari (Shining Light), the first phase of Operation Arashi. The plan was for I-13 and I-14 to proceed to Truk during early July 1945. I-14 would transport crated C6N2 Myrt reconnaissance aircraft to relay target information about aircraft carriers and troop transports to I-400 and I-401 that would launch six Aichi M6A1 Serian for a strike planned for August 17, 1945.
On July 6, 1945 I-14 was under repair in Ominato and attacked by US Navy carrier aircraft. She submerged and remained underwater until the end of the raid. Then, I-14 is loaded two crated C6N2 Myrt aircraft. On July 14 departs Ominato for Truk. Enroute, the I-14's sound operator picks up screw noises of a lone merchant. Cdr Shimizu considers an attack, but abandons the idea so not to endanger the mission.
During the voyage, the I-14 is detected by enemy surface craft and tracked by several destroyers. She is forced to remain underwater for 35 hours, expending their batteries and compressed air, forcing the submarine to raise its snorkel to recharge the batteries. On August 4, 1945 arrives at Truk and unloads the crated Myrts. On August 15, 1945 after Japan surrenders, ordered to return to Japan on the surface. On August 18, 1945 departs Truk and steams via Hong Kong then northeast to Japan.
On August 27, 1945 spotted by U.S. Navy (USN) carrier planes from Task Force 38 (TF-38). Afterwards, I-14 surrenders at sea to destroyers USS Murry (DD-576) and USS Dashiell (DD-659) roughly 227 miles northeast of Tokyo. The destroyers send a boarding party aboard to accept the surrender and collect the officer's swords. Afterwards, they escort I-14 to the mouth of Sagami Bay.
On August 28, 1945 USS Bangust (DE-739) arrives with a prize crew under the command of Cdr Clyde B. Stevens who board I-14 and forty Japanese are removed from the submarine as Prisoners Of War (POWs). I-14 escorted by the destroyer enters Sagami Bay.
On August 29, 1945 at 9:55am moors alongside I-400 outboard of USS Proteus (AS-19) inside Sagami Bay. On August 30, 1945 the trio of USS Proteus (AS-19), I-400 and I-14 depart for Tokyo Bay arriving at 2:58pm and anchor together. A formal surrender ceremony is held aboard Proteus with Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, Jr., representing U.S. Navy submarine force embarked formally accepts their surrender. On August 31, 1945 the three move to berths off Yokosuka in the lagoon adjacent to the former Japanese submarine base and anchor by 4:50pm. Later, U.S. submarines are moored in the same area.
On September 2, 1945 during the official surrender ceremony aboard USS Missouri (BB-63), Admiral Lockwood orders his flag hoisted over I-400.
Afterwards, the submarine proceeds under escort to Pearl Harbor for evaluation by the U.S. Navy.
On May 28, 1946 hit by a torpedo fired by USS Bugara SS-331 to tests a new torpedo Mark 10-3 exploder, sinking off Barber's Point into deep water. Over the course of several days. a total of four captured submarines were sunk including I-201, I-400, and I-401.
