1 US Sub Sinks a Japanese Supercarrier - Sinking of Shinano Documentary
TLDROn November 29th, 1944, the USS Archerfish, an American submarine, achieved a remarkable feat by sinking the Japanese supercarrier Shinano, the largest ship ever sunk by a sub. Originally a battleship, Shinano was converted into a carrier after the Battle of Midway and was rushed to completion, leading to a hasty departure with only eight operational boilers. Commanded by Captain Toshio Abe, the carrier was vulnerable and without air cover, making it an ideal target. Archerfish, under Commander Joseph Enright, pursued and fired six torpedoes, four of which struck the carrier. Despite being a robust vessel, the damage was catastrophic, and Shinano sank with a significant loss of life. The sinking was a severe blow to Japan and was kept secret to protect morale. The Archerfish's success marked the most successful US submarine patrol of World War II in terms of tonnage sunk.
Takeaways
- 📅 On November 29th, 1944, the USS Archerfish sank the Japanese supercarrier Shinano, marking the largest ship ever sunk by a submarine.
- 🛠️ Shinano was initially built as a battleship but was converted into an aircraft carrier after the Battle of Midway to counteract losses.
- 🚀 The carrier was designed to hold up to 170 planes and serve as a central hub for fleet aircraft maintenance and support.
- ⏳ Due to the urgency of the war situation, Shinano's completion was rushed, leading to a hasty commissioning and departure with incomplete tests and only eight of twelve boilers operational.
- 💣 USS Archerfish, under Commander Joseph Enright, detected Shinano and pursued it, despite Enright's initial lack of confidence.
- 🔊 Archerfish used its radar aggressively to track Shinano, while Shinano's crew could hear the radar emissions but did not consider a single submarine a significant threat.
- 🔄 Shinano's captain, Toshio Abe, made several course changes attempting to evade the perceived submarine threat, inadvertently aiding Archerfish in positioning for an attack.
- 🎯 At 3:15 am, Archerfish fired six Mark 14 torpedoes at Shinano, four of which struck the carrier's starboard side, causing significant damage.
- 💥 The torpedo hits compromised Shinano's integrity, leading to rapid flooding and a severe list, despite the ship's advanced design and armor.
- 🛑 As Shinano began to sink, Captain Abe ordered counterflooding measures, but the ship continued to list and lose speed, eventually leading to its sinking.
- 🕒 Over 1000 crew members died when Shinano sank at 10:55 am, with Captain Abe and many officers going down with the ship.
- 🏆 The sinking of Shinano was a major victory for the USS Archerfish and U.S. submarine warfare, with Enright's patrol being the most successful by tonnage in the war.
Q & A
What was the USS Archerfish's most significant achievement during World War II?
-The USS Archerfish's most significant achievement was the sinking of the Japanese supercarrier Shinano, which was the largest ship ever sunk by a submarine at that time.
Why was the Shinano initially built?
-The Shinano was initially planned as the third ship in Japan’s Yamato class of enormous battleships, but was later converted into an aircraft carrier after the Battle of Midway in 1942.
Why was the completion date for Shinano moved up to November 1944?
-The completion date was moved up due to the desperate situation of the Japanese navy as the war progressed through 1944, and the need for a powerful asset to potentially change the tide of the war.
What was the state of Shinano when it left Yokosuka for its maiden voyage?
-Shinano left Yokosuka with only eight of her twelve boilers operational and had not completed a series of tests to ensure airtight compartments. The ship was also not fully completed, with over 2,500 people on board, including 300 civilian workers still working on parts of the ship.
Why did Captain Toshio Abe request a delay in Shinano's departure?
-Captain Toshio Abe requested a delay because the ship had not been fully tested and was not operationally ready, with only eight boilers functional and concerns about airtight compartments.
What was the role of Commander Joseph Enright in the sinking of Shinano?
-Commander Joseph Enright was the captain of the USS Archerfish. He skillfully maneuvered his submarine into an attack position and authorized the firing of six torpedoes at the Shinano, four of which hit their target, leading to the supercarrier's sinking.
Why did Shinano's crew not consider the single submarine a significant threat?
-Captain Abe did not consider a lone submarine a significant threat because, in his mind, only a coordinated attack by a wolfpack of multiple submarines could pose a serious danger to a large ship like Shinano.
How did the Shinano's design and size affect its sinking?
-Despite being a large ship with sophisticated armor and anti-torpedo bulges, Shinano's design contributed to its sinking due to inadequate torpedo protection, poor build quality, and a series of unfortunate events that led to catastrophic damage and flooding.
What was the final fate of Shinano and the number of casualties?
-Shinano eventually sank at 10.55 am on November 29th, 1944, with a loss of 1,455 lives out of 2,515 people on board.
Why was the sinking of Shinano kept a secret by the Japanese?
-The loss of Shinano was a devastating blow to Japan's war efforts and morale. To prevent further demoralization, the sinking was kept top secret for months, and survivors were interned away from the public.
What was the outcome for Commander Enright and the USS Archerfish after the sinking of Shinano?
-Commander Enright and the USS Archerfish returned to Guam at the end of their patrol on December 15th, 1944. Initially met with skepticism, they were eventually credited with sinking an aircraft carrier of between 59,000 and 72,000 tons, marking the most successful US submarine patrol by tonnage during the war.
What were the factors identified in the inquiry that contributed to Shinano's sinking?
-The inquiry found that a combination of poor decision-making by Captain Abe, substandard construction, inadequate torpedo protection, an inexperienced crew, and bad luck contributed to the sinking of the Shinano.
Outlines
🎯 Sinking of the Japanese Supercarrier Shinano
On the early morning of November 29, 1944, the USS Archerfish, an American submarine, successfully sank the Japanese supercarrier Shinano, which was the largest ship ever sunk by a submarine at that time. The Shinano, initially planned as a battleship, was converted into an aircraft carrier after the Battle of Midway. Despite being incomplete and facing numerous operational issues, it was rushed into service in November 1944. Captain Toshio Abe, the carrier's skipper, was concerned about the ship's readiness but was forced to depart due to the threat of air attacks. The Shinano, with a reduced speed and incomplete tests, left Yokosuka heavily escorted but without air cover, making it vulnerable to submarine attacks. The USS Archerfish, commanded by Joseph Enright, detected the carrier and, after a tense pursuit, managed to fire six torpedoes, four of which hit the Shinano, leading to its sinking.
🐺 Wolfpack Tactics and the Pursuit of Shinano
The narrative unfolds with the USS Archerfish tracking the Shinano, as Captain Abe, anticipating a wolfpack attack, orders evasive maneuvers. Despite the Archerfish's best efforts, contact is temporarily lost. However, due to an engine fault on the Shinano, which further reduced its speed, the American submarine is able to regain contact. Commander Enright reports the carrier's position to Pearl Harbor, which alerts Captain Abe, who suspects a coordinated submarine attack. Consequently, Abe alters course, inadvertently setting the Shinano on a path that leads it directly into Archerfish's attack position. The subsequent dive and torpedo launch by Archerfish mark a pivotal moment in naval warfare, as the submarine successfully strikes the Japanese carrier.
💥 The Catastrophic Damage and Sinking of Shinano
The impact of the torpedoes on the Shinano was devastating, with three hits within the ship's vital 'citadel' area. The flooding led to a rapid list to starboard, and despite efforts to counteract the list and maintain the ship's integrity, the damage was too severe. As the situation below deck deteriorated, with boiler rooms and engine rooms flooding, the ship's list increased, rendering counterflooding efforts impossible. The crew faced a harrowing ordeal as the ship's speed dropped and the vessel began to sink. Captain Abe, recognizing the hopelessness of the situation, finally released the crew from duty, and the Shinano sank with a significant loss of life. The tragedy was kept secret by the Japanese to prevent a drop in morale, and an inquiry into the sinking revealed a confluence of factors that led to the supercarrier's demise.
🏆 Archerfish's Triumph and the Aftermath for Japan
Archerfish's successful patrol concluded with the submarine's return to Guam on December 15, 1944. Initially met with skepticism, the claim of sinking a massive aircraft carrier was eventually verified, earning Archerfish and Commander Enright recognition for the most successful U.S. submarine patrol by tonnage during World War II. The loss of the Shinano was a significant blow to Japanese naval strategy, and it was kept a secret to avoid damaging public morale. The survivors were interned away from the public eye, and an inquiry into the incident concluded that a multitude of errors and poor decisions had contributed to the tragedy. The sinking of the Shinano marked a significant loss in the Pacific theater and a strategic victory for the Allies.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡USS Archerfish
💡Shinano
💡Battle of Midway
💡Aircraft Carrier
💡Yokosuka Naval Shipyard
💡Radar
💡Wolfpack
💡Zig-Zag Pattern
💡Torpedo
💡Damage Control
💡Counterflooding
Highlights
On November 29th 1944, the USS Archerfish fired six torpedoes and sank the 71,000 ton Japanese supercarrier Shinano, the largest ship ever sunk by a submarine.
Shinano was originally planned as a battleship, but was converted into an aircraft carrier after the Battle of Midway in 1942.
Shinano was the largest carrier ever built, with a colossal hangar that could host up to 170 planes.
The Japanese rushed the completion of Shinano in November 1944 to try and change the tide of the war.
Shinano left port for her maiden voyage on November 28th 1944, escorted by three destroyers.
Shinano had only 8 of her 12 boilers operational and had not completed necessary tests before departing.
Archerfish picked up Shinano on radar 22 kilometers away and maneuvered into an attack position.
Shinano's captain was not concerned by Archerfish's radar emissions, believing a lone submarine was no threat.
Archerfish lost contact with Shinano but regained it when the carrier slowed down due to an engine fault.
Archerfish positioned itself in an ideal attack position as Shinano turned back towards them.
Shinano picked up a transmission from Archerfish to Pearl Harbor, spooking the Japanese captain.
At 3:06 am, Archerfish dived and fired six torpedoes at Shinano as it passed by.
Four of the six torpedoes hit Shinano, causing catastrophic damage and flooding.
Shinano's damage control efforts failed as the flooding and list worsened, eventually slowing the ship to a stop.
Captain Abe ordered the crew to abandon ship, but over 1000 went down with the carrier as it sank.
Archerfish returned to Guam and was credited with sinking an aircraft carrier of 59,000-72,000 tons, the most successful US submarine patrol of the war.
The loss of Shinano was kept secret by the Japanese for months to avoid damaging morale.
An inquiry found that a combination of poor decisions, bad luck, and the ship's design flaws led to Shinano's sinking.
Transcripts
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