Yes it is true that I said that, but...
At the time, the only convoys I had encountered were close to the Japanese Home Island. When I said that the crew wasn't ready for a convoy, I meant that they weren't ready to take on the escorts and I felt that they need more experience firing at faster-moving targets and there is always room for improvement no matter what you are doing.
When we were ordered to intercept the Task Force, we were told to go to Truk Harbor. This crew has Harbor-Raided before. The ships we were to attack were at anchor and the shallow water was too shallow for depth charges in such a close proximity. The depth charges would've damaged other IJN ships. This was my thinking when I moved into the 65 foot water. I felt that my crew was ready to take this challenge, but, we need more experience before we take on a convoy in deep water where the danger of Depth Charges is real.
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