I-19
I-19, officially nicknamed "Iku," is a submarine fleet girl in Kantai Collection based on the real-world Type B1 submarine. Originating as a standard submarine before gaining the ability to convert into a submarine carrier upon modernization, she plays a distinctive role among the playable submarine cast. Known for her laid-back, childlike speech patterns alongside a surprisingly fierce combat instinct, she remains a standout figure within the fleet.
Overview
I-19, officially nicknamed "Iku," is a submarine fleet girl in Kantai Collection based on the real-world Type B1 submarine. Originating as a standard submarine before gaining the ability to convert into a submarine carrier upon modernization, she plays a distinctive role among the playable submarine cast. Known for her laid-back, childlike speech patterns alongside a surprisingly fierce combat instinct, she remains a standout figure within the fleet.
Appearance
She features long bluish-purple hair fading into pink at the tips, bound into a triple-tail hair configuration that combines twintails with a ponytail. Her eyes are red with unique cherry blossom-shaped pupils. She wears a navy-blue school swimsuit adorned with a chest nametag reading "イ19". Equipment-wise, a single gun mount is strapped to her right thigh, and she is depicted holding a large torpedo pressed against her chest.
Personality
Out of battle, I-19 is carefree, playful, and affectionate, speaking in a drawn-out tone with characteristic sentence-ending particles. However, once engaged in combat, her demeanor shifts dramatically toward an aggressive, highly competitive stance that feeds off the intensity of battle. She harbors a deep fondness for the Admiral, though her playful affection sometimes manifests as mild sadism, such as giving intentionally rough shoulder massages or handing out little punishments when ignored.
Abilities
Functioning primarily as a submarine, she excels in specialized underwater operations and torpedo strikes. Within her specific ship class, she possesses slightly higher durability than her peers, though her defensive armor remains fragile compared to surface ships. Upon remodeling into a submarine carrier, she gains the capacity to equip and launch reconnaissance seaplanes.
Background
Originally introduced as a event reward ship, I-19 eventually became obtainable via standard map drops. Her initial game addition experienced a minor delay prior to her official debut, a situation famously parodied in official side media. Over time, seasonal voice lines and interactive base furniture have further expanded her depicted daily life at the naval base, including showing her joining late-night drinking sessions at the harbor bar.
Relationships
She shares close bonds with her fellow submarine sisters, such as I-168 and I-58, frequently operating alongside them in fleet assignments. Seasonal interactions show her interacting playfully with the submarine tender Taigei. Toward the Admiral, she displays unabashed affection and a trusting, highly attached relationship.
Trivia
Her hairstyle was initially assumed by many fans to be standard twintails until official figure sculpts revealed it to be a unique triple-tail design featuring an added ponytail. Her voice lines reference sinking the aircraft carrier Wasp, referring historically to CV-7.
