Richardson investigates and is knocked unconscious when a series of depth charges explode simultaneously outside the submarine's hull.
The Akikaze then drops depth charges on the Nerka, causing damage in the forward torpedo room. After the Nerka torpedoes just miss the Akikaze, a wild torpedo circles back toward the Nerka, forcing evasive maneuvers. The submarine lures the destroyer by sinking two freighter ships, but as the Akikaze closes in on the Nerka, enemy bomber planes attack, forcing Richardson to order an early dive. After days of scouting, the Nerka sights the Akikaze escorting a supply convoy. Although the officers cite naval regulations, Bledsoe instantly quashes the plan, telling them it is their duty to follow their captain where ever he leads them. Gerald Cartwright and several officers propose to Bledsoe that he relieve Richardson. Shortly after the crew has been informed of the change in orders, Lt. Bledsoe angrily accuses Richardson of senselessly risking the lives of the crew and threatens to bring charges against him if he fails. Richardson insists that the Nerka crew has proven their ability to master the tricky, dangerous "down-the-throat" bow shot that will be necessary to sink the Akikaze. When challenged, Richardson reminds Bledsoe that a captain has discretion to change orders if it becomes advantageous to do so. Suspicious when Richardson orders a change of course, Bledsoe discovers the commander is taking the Nerka into the Bungo Straits. The crew are greatly cheered by their successful attack, but later confounded when Richardson purposely evades a Japanese convoy the next day. Under Richardson's guidance, the Nerka destroys the tanker from the surface, then purposely lures the destroyer toward the submarine, which then executes a precision shallow dive that allows the crew to shoot torpedoes directly into the enemy ship's bow. Richardson doubles the drills and, a few days later, when the Nerka sights a tanker and a destroyer, orders the submarine into combat. When Richardson questions Bledsoe about the laxness of the crew, the exec informs him that the men have lost their respect for him because of his refusal to attack the enemy. During a rapid dive drill, sailor Russo is accidentally trapped on the deck while emptying garbage and barely survives. After a week of intensive drilling, the crew responds excitedly when a Japanese submarine is sighted, but are perplexed when Richardson refuses to engage the enemy ship. Richardson's demanding, precision drills heighten the crew's anxiety until Bledsoe informs them that their orders forbid them to enter the straits. After the Nerka returns to sea with its new captain, the crew is soon dismayed to learn they have been assigned to patrol Area 7, which contains the Bungo Straits. After Bledsoe receives orders to remain "exec" to Richardson, who has been assigned to captain the Nerka, Bledsoe confronts Richardson at his home, but Richardson flatly refuses Bledsoe's demand to be relieved. James Bledsoe, expects to assume command. Because the Nerka 's captain has been injured, the ship's executive officer, Lt. Soon after, the submarine Nerka arrives at Pearl Harbor. Learning from his yeoman, Mueller, that the fourth submarine sent into the Bungo Straits has been destroyed by the Akikaze, Richardson resolves to request a return to sea duty. Richardson, who is among the survivors, spends the next year stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. J." Richardson is sunk by the Japanese destroyer Akikaze. Naval submarine captained by Commander "P. In 1942, in the Bungo Straits near the coast of Japan, a U.S.
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