For what it's worth to you.
From December 18 to 24, 1941, nine Japanese submarines along the U.S. west coast attacked eight American merchants sinking two and damaging two . It was the only time that more than one Japanese submarine patrolled the American coast.
On December 10, the 12 subs placed around Pearl Harbor were informed that an American carrier was heading for the U.S. mainland. Nine subs were ordered to pursue and sink it then take up positions at designated sites and attack American merchant ships. On Christmas Eve the subs were ordered to shell selected U.S. cities and lighthouses. After expending all of their 5.5-inch shells, they were to retire to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands.
I also have read that as the war progressed, Japanese subs were hindered by the US breaking of their naval codes and a bad habit of shelling the enemy coast at the end of their patrol so they could claim having fired upon enemy soil. These two details allowed the US to intercept the subs on their return course.
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