USS S-28: (SS 133) was EB 73 C design

She was built by Fore River Shipbuilding;
Her keel was laid 16 April, 1919;
She was launched 20 September, 1922;
Her sponsor was Mrs. William Munroe;
She was commissioned 13 December, 1923;
Her first Skipper was LT Kemp C. Christian;

History:

22 January, 1942 . . after an extensive overhaul, USS S-28 departed Mare Island Navy Yard for San Diego. Resumed pre-war training duties with the Undersea Sound Training School and continued same until spring, at which time she sailed for Dutch Harbor, Aleutians for duty.

15 May, 1943 Conducted sound tests and antisubmarine warfare exercises with the Royal Canadian Navy and Air Force out of Esquimalt, British Columbia USS S-28 (continued)

15 April, 1943 continued south to the Puget Sound Navy Yard for overhaul and superstructure modifications.

27 June, 1943 returned to Dutch Harbor for patrol duties.
13 July, 1943 underway for her sixth war patrol.
16 August, 1943 entered Massacre Bay, Attu for refit.

WAR PATROLS OF USS S-28 (SS 132)
WP#	DATE	From AREA	To AREA	DURATION
1	29/05/42	SD Alaska	DH	30 days
2	15/07/42	DH Kiska	DH	33 days
3	16/09/42	DH Kiska	DH	24 days
4	27/12/42	DH Kuriles	DH	unknown
5	06/02/43	DH Attu	DH	22 days
6	13/7/43	DH Kuriles	AT	34 days
7	08/09/43	AT Kuriles	AT	35 days

19 September, 1943 At the end of a daytime-submerged-periscope approach, LT Vincent A. Sisler, Jr. commanding, fired four torpedoes, two of which hit the target sinking the 1,368 ton converted gunboat KATSURA MARU No. 2 in the vicinity of the Kuriles during the seventh war patrol of USS S-28. This was the last Japanese ship sunk during the Aleutian campaign.

Commanding officer for War Patrols 1 thru 5 was J.D. Crowley; on patrols 6 & 7 was V.A. Sisler. J.G. Campbell was the Skipper for the final patrol of USS S-28.

November 1943 Arrived at Pearl Harbor in mid-month for overhaul and reassignment to training duties in the area.

4 July, 1944 USS S-28 is lost with all hands (50 men) in 1,400 fathoms of water during a training exercise off Oahu. Submerged and never resurfaced. Nature of casualty causing loss is unknown. She was the 33rd American submarine lost in World War II; the 6th S-Boat.

USS S-28 received one Battle Star during World War II.

DETAILS OF THE LOSS OF USS S-28 (SS 133)

On 20 June, 1944, LCDR J. G. Campbell assumed command of S-28, his first command. The ship had finished a normal upkeep period on 12 June, and had continued on her assigned duty of training enlisted personnel and engaging in normal sonar exercises with ships under control of ComDesPac.

On 3 July S-28, in accordance with orders from ComDesPac, got underway from the Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, to conduct a week's normal operations. During the day 3 July, S-28 acted as a target for antisubmarine warfare vessels until about 1700 local time. At that time, she made two practice torpedo approaches on the US Coast Guard cutter RELIANCE. On 4 July, S-28 again carried out sonar exercises as on the previous day, and at 1730 again undertook a practice approach on RELIANCE at 1730 S-28 dived about 4 miles distant from RELIANCE. At about 1805 RELIANCE made sound contact with S-28 at a range of 1,700 yards. The range decreased to about 1,500 yards and then steadily increased, as the bearing drifted aft. Although sound contact was temporarily lost by RELIANCE at 3,000 yards, she picked up the submarine again at 3,300 yards. At 1820, with range 4,700 yards, RELIANCE permanently lost sound on S-28. At no time during the approach or the ensuing sound search were distress signals from S-28 seen or heard, nor was any sound heard which indicated an explosion on S-28.

When, by 1830, S-28 had not surfaced or sent any signals, RELIANCE retraced her course and tried to establish communications with her. Although previous tests had shown that no difficulty would be experienced in exchanging messages by sound gear at ranges up to 2,000 yards, RELIANCE was unable to contact S-28. the Coast Guard vessel called in other vessels from Pearl Harbor at 2000 hours and a thorough search of the area was institutes, lasting until the afternoon of 6 July 1944. A slick, which was unmistakably made by diesel oil, was the only sign of S-28.

The Court of Inquiry which investigated the sinking determined that S-28 sank shortly after 1820 hours on 4 July 1944 in 21* 20'N x 158* 23'W in 1,400 fathoms of water. Because of the depth of the water, salvage operations were impossible. The Court recorded its opinion 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.'

The Court found further, that 'the material condition of S-28 was as good or better than that of other ships of her class performing similar duty' and that 'the officers and crew on board S-28 at the time of her loss were competent to operate the ship submerged in the performance of her assigned duties.'

It was stated that the loss of S-28 was not caused by negligence or inefficiency of any person or persons.