[lapsus calami]

 

 

Also a change in overall strategy. After the war started there were orders for the sub fleet to expressly locate and target Jap capital ships. Consequently subs were being sent to station out in forlorn waters far from concentrations of shipping to take a crack at ships they couldn't catch anyway much less have a hope of lining up a shot at, provided they found anything to shoot at in the first place. That was a blunder that probably prolonged the war in the Pacific, since freight shipping was the lifeblood of their far-flung perimeter and they had a limited fleet to do it with since their manufacturing capacity to replace lost ships was feeble to nonexistent. Each tanker or freighter lost was a keen blow to their effort - even a damaged ship was almost as good as a sunk one since they were so slow and sloppy at repair work.

 

 

[Equine1952]

Sounds like German Uboat tactics. If you have the time and are inclined read “Clear The Bridge”. By O’Kane about USS Tang. An old submariners motto “if it bigger than a shitcan and floats, it’s a target”. :)