on 18 august 1944, east of samar, "natori" was accompanying the transport "t.3" to palau when they were spotted by the submarine east of san bernardino strait. "hardhead" identified the target as a battleship and closed for a surface attack. one torpedo of its first salvo of five mark 23 torpedoes fired at hit "natori" portside in a boiler room. she stopped dead in the water and was hit starboard amidships with one of a second salvo of four mark 18 torpedoes.