[torpedobait]

January 15-16 at the mouth of Bungo Suido received a strong radar return. Turned out to be Yamato, an Agano light cruiser, and 2 destroyer escorts. I tracked them heading southwesterly at about 18 knots. Before I could race to get ahead of them, the two escorts charged me. I sank one outright as he made a run at a decoy (see, I did learn a lesson about decoys after a bad encounter with Pete), and eventually got the other when he slowed to listen for me. Yamato still showed up on radar so I surfaced and raced after her. Got into position and at 800 yards let go all six bow tubes - 5 hits, 1 dud. Barely slowed her. Fired remaiing 2 stern tubes (all are Mark IVs) at Agano and missed. Dove deep and let Yamato manouver away. Allowing her to move out of visual range, I then surfaced and reloaded bow tubes with last six remaining MK IVs, still running south at all-ahead flank to keep Yamato in radar range. She turned directly south and held course, making only 14 knots now. So I was able to intercept her again. Fired all six tubes at about 750 yards. Six hits, but first four killed her (total of nine hits). Regrettably Agano got away, but it was still a thrill to intercept Yamato. I believe she was on her suicide run to Okinawa but have not tried to verify the dates. What great fun!