Deep beneath the surface slips Archerfish, in anticipation of the depth charge attack she knows will come. The men inside Archerfish hear sounds of beating propellers. The destroyers are starting to unload depth charges. Explosions begin....only fourteen! None dangerously close to Archerfish.

There is tremendous confusion on the surface! The destroyers race about, randomly dumping depth charges, hoping to kill the unseen enemy that has just lashed out at their sister. Vainly, they watch as Shinano lists to starboard.

Inside Shinano, water rushes into her lower decks! Bulkheads crush with the tremendous pressure! The engine rooms flood! Shinano is immobile! Slowly, she gives up her grasp on life. She rolls over, looking like a giant, bloated whale. Beneath the surface slips her bow.! Her stern, with its gigantic rudder and bronze propellers, slides under the water! With one futile struggle for life, her bow bobs above the surface. Finally, surrounded by masses of churning, boiling foam, Shinano sinks from sight!

Beneath the sea, Archerfish silently slips away from the destruction and defeat she has just dealt the Japanese.

Not until a few months later, did Archerfish and crew learn their prize had been the Shinano.

The defeat of Japanese air-sea power during the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, had left any future dreams of Japanese victory at sea with Shinano. Six Archerfish torpedoes, after a frustrating but successful pursuit, shattered those dreams.

For Archerfish, November 29, 1944, meant tremendous pride, recognition, and the Presidential Unit Citation. For Shinano and the Japanese it spelled death and broken dreams.

USS Archerfish (SS-311) had broken the back of the Japanese Imperial Navy Air-sea power.