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