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WASHINGTON – Naval History and Heritage Command confirmed the identity of the wreck site of USS Herring (SS-233), World War II submarine, lost off the coast of Matsuwa Island, Japan, on June 1, 2026.
Using data collected and provided by the Russian Geographic Society (RGS) and analyzed by two U.S. volunteer researchers and one Japanese researcher, 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. Resting at a depth of over 300 feet, the vessel sits upright on its keel and maintains a high degree of integrity. The submarine displays battle damage around the conning tower and evidence of grounding at her bow, correlating with the historical record.
Herring was launched on Jan. 15, 1942, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and commissioned on May 4, 1942. Before her loss in 1944, she completed eight war patrols in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres during World War II and is credited with sinking seven enemy ships, including four Japanese cargo ships during her final patrol. She was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two battle stars, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Herring was last seen during the evening of May 31, 1944 by USS Barb (SS-220) when the submarines met to delineate patrol areas off the Kurile Islands. In the early morning hours of June 1, 1944, Barb’s crew recorded the sound of distant depth charges exploding and took it as evidence of an attack associated with Herring. During this time, Herring attacked and sank Ishigaki Maru and Hokuyo Maru. Later, Japanese shore batteries reported sighting and firing upon a submarine that had grounded near the site of the two sinkings. Records indicate the batteries scored two direct hits on the conning tower as the submarine backed away into the fog. Evidence of both the grounding and the conning tower hits are visible on the Herring’s surviving wreckage. Herring was presumed lost when she failed to report to Midway on July 13, 1944.
A joint expedition between RGS and the Russian Military in 2017 reported the discovery of a submarine wreck in the area and initially reported it as Herring based upon its location and appearance. In 2022, a subsequent joint expedition returned to the wreck to document its status and honor the lost crew. A commemorative plaque was placed on site during this expedition.
The wreck of USS Herring (SS-233) is a U.S. sunken military craft protected by U.S. law and under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy. While non-intrusive activities, such as remote sensing documentation, conducted on U.S. Navy sunken military craft are allowed, any activity that may disturb a sunken military craft must be coordinated with NHHC and, if appropriate, authorized through the relevant permitting program.
Most importantly, the wreck represents the final resting place of Sailors who gave their lives in defense of the nation and should be respected by all parties as a war grave.
For more information on USS Herring (SS-233), visit: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/h/herring.html.
For more information on the Sunken Military Craft Act, visit: https://www.history.navy.mil/research/underwater-archaeology/policy-and-resource-management/sunken-military-craft-act.html.
NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy's unique and enduring contributions through our nation's history and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, ten museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus. For more news from NHHC, visit http://www.history.navy.mil
| Date Taken: | 05.29.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.01.2026 11:47 |
| Story ID: | 566415 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 112 |
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