Shinano was being moved for completion when her zigzag pattern repeatedly crossed USS Archerfish's tracking path. Her captain recalled a destroyer that tried to investigate because he feared the visible submarine might be a decoy drawing escorts away for a wolfpack. That interpretation was especially costly in Japan's Inland Sea, where the presence of an entire American pack would itself have indicated a profound defensive failure. An overheating propeller-shaft bearing then limited the nominally 28-knot carrier to eighteen knots, leaving Archerfish able to maintain contact and reach an attack position.
Chapter · 1:24:18-1:28:41
Shinano's course choices keep Archerfish in contact
Shinano detects a possible submarine but repeatedly crosses Archerfish's track, recalls an investigating destroyer, and loses her speed advantage to machinery trouble.