1942: June 19th. The submarine USS S-27 (SS-132) is on the surface charging batteries in a deep fog off St. Makarius Point on Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands. Because of a deep fog, the crew does not realize that she was carried about 5 miles (8.0 km) from her estimated (DR) position. The fog prevented knowledge of the drift. At 0000 hours local, she got underway, slowly, on one engine and continued to charge on the other. Soon after 0043 hours local, breakers were sighted about 25 yards (23 meters) forward of the bow. "Back emergency" orders were given but seconds later, she grounded on rocks. Waves bumped her violently against the rocks, rolling her 10 to 15 degrees on each side. Her motors were continued at "back emergency," but she was held firm by a submerged rock. Fuel was blown. Efforts to back off were continued, but the lightened ship swung harder against the rocks. Her starboard screw struck a rock and was disabled. Efforts were made to force the ship ahead to clear the stern; but, she could move only about 20 feet (6.1 meters) forward before she was again held fast. The immediate area was sounded. No passage was found. The seas continued to pound her. By 0330 hours, the pounding had increased and plans were made to move the greater part of the crew off. Dispatches of her plight, sent first at 0115 hours, were continued. Six were sent in all. One, giving no position, was received at Dutch Harbor. A ferry system, using a rubber boat and lines rigged between the ship and the beach, was set up. Men, provisions, clothing, guns, and medical supplies were transferred safely. By 1100 hours, all but six men, the commanding officer and five others, were ashore. All equipment was destroyed. Classified material was burned. At 1530 hours, three of the remaining men went ashore. The side plating was now loose, the torpedo room was flooding. At 1550 hours, the radioman, executive officer, and commanding officer left the submarine.
June 20th. The crew of the submarine USS S-27 (SS-132) that sank yesterday off St. Makarius Point, Amchitka Island, Aleuitan Islands, spend the night of 19/20 June in an unsheltered cove. During the day, a camp is set up at Constantine Harbor, using the buildings and heating equipment which had survived a Japanese bombing.
Meanwhile the submarine USS S-34 (SS-139) sighted an enemy destroyer patrolling off
Sarana Bay, Attu Island, Aleutian Islands. Between 0700 and 1000 hours, she sighted and
lost the target twice as it moved in and out of the fog. At 1155 hours, she sighted a
large tanker inside the bay. Fifty minutes later, she slipped past a destroyer guarding
the entrance and began maneuvering into the bay. Her target was engaged in refueling
another destroyer. At 1350 hours, S-34 grounded at a depth of 48 feet (14.6 meters). Run
up to 25 feet (7.6 meters), she came out of the water to the waterline; then backed off
into deep water. Within 5 minutes, she was operating at periscope depth. The fueling
destroyer had gotten underway from alongside the tanker and was racing across the
intervening waters. S-34 fired two torpedoes at the destroyer, forcing the enemy to swerve
and pass down the submarine's port side. Unable then to bring her tubes to bear on the
tanker, the S-boat swung right to avoid depth charges. At 1403 hours, she bottomed in 164
feet (50.0 meters), just inside the entrance to the bay, where she remained until 2330
hours. During that time, only one destroyer was heard searching for her, the other, which
had conducted the high speed attack, was heard pinging from the same spot for 9 hours. She
had presumably grounded after the attack, but, by 2300 hours, the tide had risen and she
had moved to join in the search for the submarine. At 2330 hours, S-34 began to make her
way out of the bay. Twenty minutes later, one of the destroyers located her. The pace of
the hunt was stepped up, but the quarry evaded attempts to destroy her.
June 21st. In the Aleutian Islands, the submarine USS S-34 (SS-139) which attacked a Japanese destroyer in Sarana Bay, Attu Island yesterday maneuvers out of the bay at 0230 hours and escaptes. Meanwhile, the survivors of the submarine USS S-27 (SS-132) that ran aground on the 19th, have the camp on Constantine Bay, Amchitka Island, fully organized and routines, including sentries and lookouts, have been established. Trips to and from the cove to recover supplies from the submarine continue.
June 23rd. The crew of the submarine USS S-27 (SS-132) begin their fourth day in the buildings on Constantine Harbor, Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands. As they have done on the previous two days, the sailors board the submarine using rafts however, they find that the presence of chlorine gas prohibits further visits to take off more supplies. (In Diesel-Electric submarines the electricity come from wet-cell batteries which contain hydrochloric acid. The product of combining this acid with salt water is chlorine gas.)
June 24th. The crew of the submarine USS S-27 (SS-132) begin their
fifth day on Amchitka Island, Aleutian Island. During the day, a Consolidated PBY Catalina
on routine patrol spots the crew, lands and takes off with 15 men.
June 25th. Three U.S. Navy Consolidated PBY Catalinas are dispatched to pickup the crewmen of the submarine USS S-27 (SS-132) on Amchitka Island, Aleutian Islands. All guns salvaged from S-27 were destroyed. Nothing was left except the submarine's hulk and canned provisions, blankets, and winter clothing. Thus ends the sage of the crew of the USS S-27.