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.

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.