By 21:00, "Thresher" had maneuvered into position off the enemy's port bow and waited for the Japanese ships to make a zig which would place her at a desirable point for the attack. "Thresher" closed in for the kill and loosed four torpedoes as the group turned to the right. The Japanese, however, did not meet her prediction, and the first spread ran wide of its targets. Still undetected, "Thresher" quickly came about and fired four stern "fish" from . The second spread ran true, hitting 6,854-ton freighter "Gyōkū Maru". The explosions broke the cargoman's back, and she quickly slipped from sight. "Thresher" retired at high speed when she detected the presence of three additional ships closing rapidly.