Lost at Sea
Following repairs, Capelin departed Darwin for the Celebes Sea on November 17. USS Bonefish (SS-223) reported sighting a US submarine in Capelin's area on December 2, and made tentative contact by underwater telephone. Although post-war analysis of Japanese records indicated an ASW attack on November 23, off Halamahera, in Capelin's area, the records did not report a sinking and further indicated that the attack was broken off. In view of the sighting by Bonefish on December 2, this attack probably was not directed at Capelin. ... There were minefields in the area, but the most probable cause of her loss was a continuing mechanical failure of the upper hatch or, more remotely, her bow planes.
