[Fincuan]

Originally Posted by Nisgeis

I remember reading a war patrol, where it said they picked up a BB at a range of 36,000 yards and that this was noted as exceptional performance. I think it was one of the USS Pampanito's late war patrols.

USS Sealion II's encounter with Kongo also matches that criteria:

Originally Posted by http://www.combinedfleet.com/kongo.htm

Formosa Strait. At 0020, LtCdr (later Vice Admiral) Eli Reich's USS SEALION II (SS-315) makes radar contact at 44,000 yards. The sky is overcast with 1,500 yards visibility and the sea is calm. Reich begins an approach. He goes ahead flank on four engines. By 0043, he has four radar contacts at 35,000 yards. Reich identifies the targets as two battleships and two heavy cruisers. The targets are moving in column with the "cruiser" (actually, KONGO) ahead followed by two battleships (NAGATO and YAMATO) and a cruiser astern ( YAHAGI). All are on course 060 (T), speed 16 knots and not zigzagging.

At 0146, three escorts become visible on radar at 20,000 yards