USS S-28 SS 133

USS S-28 SS 133 S-1 Class

July 4, 1944. Unknown causes. 49 men lost.

From: Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

S-28

(SS-133: dp. 854 (surf.), 1,062 (subm.); 1. 219'3"; b. 20'8"; dr. 15'11" (mean); s. 14.5 k. (surf.), 11 k. (subm.); cpl. 42; a. 1 4", 4 21" tt.; cl. S-1)

On July 28, 1944, S-28 left the Submarine Base at Pearl Harbor to conduct training exercises. On July 3 and 4 she acted as a target for American anti-submarine warfare vessels. During the late afternoon of July 4, all contact with S-28 was lost. A thorough search was conducted for S-28 through the afternoon of July 6 when a diesel oil slick was found in the area where she had been operating. A subsequent Court of Inquiry found that S-28 lost depth control "...from either a material casualty or an operating error of personnel, or both, and that depth control was never regained. The exact cause of the loss of S-28 cannot be determined." It was also stated that the loss of S-28 was not caused by negligence or inefficiency of any person or persons. Because of the depth of the water (1400 fathoms), salvage operations were deemed impossible.

S-28 was awarded one battle star for her services in World War II. She is credited with sinking the 1,368-ton converted Japanese gunboat Katsura Maru No. 2 on September 19, 1943.