"rasher" observed nine successive aircraft contacts to the north on the afternoon of 18 august and deduced these were air patrols for an important convoy. that dark, rainy night "rasher"'s radar picked up thirteen ships of convoy hi-71 proceeding at and protected by six escorts. after a surfaced approach to , two stern torpedoes were launched at "teiyō maru" at 2122. both torpedoes hit; and the tanker loaded with gasoline exploded into a column of flame high, with parts of the ship being blown from the flaming hulk. the escorts fired wildly and laid depth charge patterns astern of "rasher". in a second surfaced approach to "rasher" launched a spread of six bow torpedoes at 2310. three torpedoes hit and sank the transport "teia maru", killing 2,665 japanese soldiers, and a fourth torpedo was heard exploding at a timed range of 3900 yards. "rasher" swung hard left to launch four stern torpedoes at 2214. three torpedoes hit and sank the escort carrier "taiyō", and the fourth torpedo was heard exploding on a more distant ship.