USS Archer-Fish sinks IJN Shinano
On November 29, 1944, USS Archer-Fish (SS-311) encountered the partially completed Japanese carrier, IJN Shinano while en-route from Yokosuka Naval Arsenal to Kure Naval Base to complete her fitting out.
Converted from a Yamato class battleship, Shinano was massive. With a length of approximately 870 feet and weighing is at some 65,000 tons, she was larger than her U.S. contemporaries.
Archer-Fish detected Shinano at 20:48, November 28, 1944 and began stalking her and her escorts. At 03:15, Archer-Fish launched a spread of six torpedoes at Shinano. Four of the six torpedoes impacted on Shinano's starboard side and she took on a 10 degree list within minutes. By 06:00, the list had increased to 20 degrees, despite the efforts of the damage control parties. At 10:18, listing 30 degrees, Shinano's commander ordered abandon ship. At 10:57, the ship finally capsized and sank stern-first at coordinates 32°07′N 137°04′E in approximately 13,000 feet of water.
She remains the largest warship ever to be sank by a submarine.
Photos from Naval History and Heritage Command
posted by AIMM Team at 11/29/2013 08:37:00 AM
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