On 4 December, "Angler" left on her sixth patrol, during which time she served a brief period of lifeguard duty. On 13 December, was fired on by a Japanese destroyer. A shell tore a large hole in "Bergall"s pressure hull and left the submarine unable to dive. "Angler", operating in the Java Sea, received orders to proceed to "Bergall"s assistance, take off the crew and torpedo the ship. She found the crippled submarine on 15 December. "Bergall"s commanding officer, Commander John Hyde, had decided to remain in "Bergall" with a skeleton crew. "Angler" trailed "Bergall" to take everyone off if a Japanese attack threatened. The two submarines traveled nearly , through waters mostly controlled by the enemy, and reached Exmouth Gulf safely on 20 December without seeing any Japanese airplanes or ships.