In a significant naval engagement, the American submarine USS Sealion, under the command of Captain Edward C. 'Eddie' McKinley, executed a successful attack on the Japanese battleship Kongō and the destroyer Urakaze on November 21, 1944. The encounter took place in the Formosa Strait, a critical maritime area that connected Taiwan with the Philippines. The Kongō was one of the few remaining fast battleships in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and its sinking represented a crucial blow to Japanese naval power. The Sealion utilized advanced torpedo technology and navigational tactics to target the massive warships effectively.

During the attack, the Sealion penetrated the enemy task force with stealth, a hallmark of submarine warfare that was particularly challenging during this period. The successful sinking of Kongō marked one of the final blows to Japan’s battleship fleet, which had been dwindling due to previous Allied victories and losses from extensive bombing campaigns. As part of Operation Goodtime, the USS Sealion's actions directly supported the broader U.S. strategy in the Pacific, aiming to diminish Japanese naval operations and secure sea routes for Allied forces.

The engagement not only exemplified the growing dominance of submarines in naval warfare but also illustrated the shift in tactics and technology in World War II. The ability to take down such formidable vessels was crucial, impacting Japanese morale and their ability to project power across the Pacific. The loss of battleships like Kongō symbolized the decline of Japan's naval supremacy as the United States continued its island-hopping campaign toward the Japanese mainland.