Scientists who have been studying wreckage from Japanese mini-submarines that were part of an advance strike force on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, say a new television show could leave viewers with misunderstandings.  For one thing, they say, the show — part of PBS’s “NOVA” series — reveals no new discoveries.

Navy Capt. John A. Rodgaard, Peter Hsu, a scientist who analyzes forensic shock effects of underwater explosions and Robert Neyland of the Naval History and Heritage Command, which studies shipwrecks and sunken aircraft recapped facts and speculation about the incident during a “DoDLive” bloggers roundtable Jan. 6.  Five mini-subs were launched hours before the main air attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Using the same evidence referenced on the television show, these experts arrived at some different conclusions related to the most recently identified sub.  They said the show misstated the launch order timeline and they questioned the notion that the sub fired a dud torpedo that hit the USS Arizona.  They also clarified what they believe are bigger mysteries concerning the post-war salvaging of the sunken submarines, which were discovered in an underwater US Navy debris field outside Pearl Harbor.   Still, the experts said the program warrants attention and the evidence deserves ongoing research to shed more light this little known chapter of history.

Joining us on the call were Taylor Kiland, www.examiner.com; Chuck Simmins, www.northshorejournal.org; Andrew Lubin, the Military Observer; Jim Dolbow, www.usni.org, and Joe Buff, www.military.com.

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For a transcript of this interview, click here.

To listen to the interview, click here.