Lost near Matsuwa Island
Herring's eighth war patrol was to be both her most successful and her last. Topping off at Midway May 21, 1944, Herring headed for the Kurile Islands patrol area. Ten days later she rendezvoused with Barb, and was never heard from or seen again. However, Japanese records prove that she sank two ships, Ishigaki and Hokuyo Maru, the night of May 30-31. Herring's exact manner of loss can be determined from these records also. Two more merchant ships, Hiburi Maru and IWAKI MARU, were sunk while at anchor in Matsuwa Island, Kuriles, the morning of 1 June 1944. In a counter-attack, enemy shore batteries scored two direct hits on the submarine's conning tower and bubbles covered an area about 5 meters wide, and heavy oil covered an area of approximately 15 miles.
