Submarine Warfare Continues

FRI 28 MAY 1943
Pacific
Submarine S-41 (SS-146) sinks Japanese merchant barkentine/cargo ship Asuka Maru off Paramushiro, Kuriles, 50°38'N, 155°15'E.

Submarine Saury (SS-189) torpedoes and sinks Japanese fleet tanker Akatsuki Maru about 90 miles northwest of Okinawa, 27°32'N, 126°08'E. Although early in the battle Akatsuki Maru responds to the submarine's attack with depth charges and gunfire, and later claims to have sunk her assailant, her efforts at self-defense prove unavailing and Saury emerges the victor in the encounter.

Submarine Trigger (SS-237) damages Japanese merchant tanker Koshin Maru off Irosaki, Japan, 34°33'N, 138°50'E.

Atlantic
German submarine U-177 attacks convoy CD 20 and torpedoes and sinks U.S. freighter Agwimonte, 34°57'S, 19°33'E; there are no casualties among the 46-man merchant complement or 23-man Armed Guard, and South African Navy whaler Vereeniging rescues most of Agwimonte's crew. An army crash boat rescues the remainder of the men the next day.