US Naval Intelligence did not initially believe Enright's claim to have sunk a carrier. "Shinano"s construction had not been detected through decoded radio messages or other means, and the American analysts believed that they had located all of Japan's surviving carriers (however, Japan's intention to build up to four "Yamato"-class battleships was known since January 1938, and the conversion of "Shinano" into an aircraft carrier had been known since July 1943). Enright was eventually credited with sinking a "Hayatake" () carrier by the acting commander of the Pacific Fleet's submarine force on the basis of a drawing Enright submitted depicting the ship he had attacked. Once the existence of "Shinano" was discovered, Enright was credited with her sinking and awarded the Navy Cross.