The following day, 26 September, "Thresher" came upon a 5,000-ton oiler and cut loose with four stern tubes from a range of . Those on the bridge saw the target disappear within a minute. Tubes dry, "Thresher" headed for Midway. "En route", on 3 October, she sighted, tracked, and approached a small trawler. After sunset, "Thresher" surfaced and manned her deck guns. After firing 27 rounds of five-inch ammunition, the boat soon received close return fire which forced her to back off. Too dark to see the target, "Thresher" resumed her passage to Midway.