USS Herring Submarine Wreck Identified Off Kuril Islands
Quick Look
- The wreck of the US WWII submarine USS Herring (SS-233), discovered in 2017 off the Kuril Islands, has been officially identified by the Naval History and Heritage Command using data from the Russian Geographic Society.
- The submarine sank on June 1, 1944, after completing eight war patrols and sinking seven enemy ships.
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Why It Matters
A US WWII submarine wreck, discovered in 2017 by Russian entities off the Kuril Islands, has been identified as the USS Herring (SS-233). The submarine was lost at sea on June 1, 1944, after completing eight war patrols and sinking seven enemy ships.
The wreck site of a US WWII submarine, discovered by the Russian Geographic Society and the Russian Defense Ministry off the Kuril Islands in 2017, was identified as USS Herring, Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) said in a press release.
"Using data collected and provided by the Russian Geographic Society (RGS), <…> NHHC’s Underwater Archaeology Branch confirmed the wreck site as the final resting place of USS Herring (SS-233), which was believed lost at sea on June 1, 1944," according to the press release.
The vessel is resting at a depth of 91 meters (over 300 feet) off the coast of Matsuwa Island in the central Kurils. It maintains a high degree of integrity even as it displays battle damage and evidence of grounding at her bow, NHHC added.
In mid-2017, a joint expedition between the Russian Defense Ministry, RGS, the personnel of the Pacific Fleet and the Eastern Military District travelled to the island and reported the discovery of a submarine wreck 2.8 km (1.5 nautical miles) off the coast. Back then, experts reported it as Herring.
Launched in 1942, the submarine completed eight war patrols before her loss, US military historians said. Herring is credited with sinking seven enemy ships. It was last seen on May 31, 1944 by USS Barb. On the next day, Barb’s crew recorded the sound of depth charges exploding. Later, Japan reported firing upon a submarine with shore batteries, NHHC said.
Open Questions
- What were the specific circumstances of the depth charge explosions recorded by USS Barb?
- What was the exact nature of the shore battery engagement by Japanese forces?
- What specific battle damage was sustained by USS Herring prior to its loss?
