I really enjoyed learning about the USS Archerfish, whose crew sank the largest warship ever, the Japanese aircraft carrier “Shinano” on this day 79 years ago. It’s also the remarkable story of the ship’s captain, Jospeh Enright, who failed as a leader but who got back in the saddle and redeemed himself.

Enright and his crew were off of Hokkaido on November 28 with the mission of picking up crew from any bombers damaged during their runs on Tokyo. The bombing raids were cancelled for that day, however, and the Archerfish was free to hunt.

That evening, look outs saw what they thought as a larger tanker leaving Tokyo Bay. Enright tracked this ship and, six hours later, the boat turned backwards, straight towards the submerged Archerfish. Enright let six torpedoes loose, four of which struck the enemy amidship, resulting in massive damage. The Shinano listed and then capsized eight hours later.

The Shinano was the largest aircraft carrier ever built, converted by the Japanese from a battleship after Midway. Naval Intelligence did not believe that such a ship existed but Enright’s sketches of the carrier convinced them that the Archerfish had indeed sunk a carrier. 

The story behind the story is that Enright was not a successful leader the first time he led a submarine in combat, the USS Dace, in 1943. His 49 day patrol was unproductive, failing in attacks on a Japanese carrier and a tanker.

When he returned from the patrol, he asked to be relieved of command, saying, “ “I was responsible for an unproductive patrol and request to be relieved by an officer who can perform more satisfactorily” Admiral Lockwood acceded to his request.

After six months in shore administrative duty, Enright asked for a second command and was given a rare chance to redeem himself. I would love to learn what motivated him and why 

Archerfish received the Presidential Unit Citation and Enright received the Navy Cross for their courage and leadership on this day. Please honor and remember these great Americans!