Venturing into enemy waters for her first time, CORVINA (Cmdr. R.S. Rooney) departed from Pearl Harbor on 4 November 1943. After topping off with fuel at Johnston Island she proceeded to an area south of Truk, there to attack enemy naval forces during our surface operations in the Gilbert Islands. She was to patrol as close to Truk as enemy antisubmarine measures would permit. On 14 December, she was to pass to command of Commander Task Force Seventy-Two and proceed to an eastern Australian port for refit and duty in SubSoWestPac.
When the major surface force operations in the Gilberts were finished, CORVINA was directed by dispatch on 30 November to pass to command of Commander Task Force Seventy-Two, despite her failure to acknowledge. She was directed to proceed to Tulagi and rendezvous with a surface escort, but she did not appear. Again transmissions directing answer were repeatedly sent, but were not fruitful. Since she had not appeared or been heard from since her departure from Johnston Island on 6 November, CORVINA was reported as presumed lost on 23 December 1943.
Enemy records indicate that CORVINA met her doom on 16 November 1943, by enemy action. An enemy submarine reported having sighted a surfaced submarine and torpedoed her. Three torpedoes were fired and two were reported to have hit, causing “a great explosion sound.”
Allison, D. QM3
Asher, J. M. II MM3
Atwood, J. D. ENS
Baran, S. S1
Beaudette, L. W. CQMA
Britt, H. N. F1
Brooks, R. A. STM1
Busby, M. J. QM2
Busch, W. R. FC3
Chewning, W. M. LT
Clark, J. G., Jr. SC2
Curtiss, G. R. MM3
Dalton, E. A. SC1
Daugherty, G. W., Jr. AS
EK, J. R. S2
Emerick, J. W. EM1
Ennis, R. "E", Jr. MM1
Fahey, J. M. F1
Finske, R. W. RM3
Fiorot, E. B. TM3
Floyd, R. L. S1
Foster, E. L. CMOMM
Foster, N. B. RM3
Gabel, G. F. EM3
Ghent, C. C., Jr. MOMM1
Green, D. L., Jr. CRMA
Grisham, S. E. CTM
Hale, B. D. CMOMM
Hall, D. K. MOMM2
Halpin, J. E. EM3
Hasty, A. W. S1
Havrilecz, M. MOMM1
Hazel, L. P. S1
Hemphill, W. P., Jr. RM1
Hotz, F. D. SM2
Jackson, E. CK2
Jones, E. E. MM3
Jordan, C. F., Jr. EM3
Lense, L. N. ENS
Lloyd, R. D. TM2
Loken, W. E. MOMM2
Madison, G. O. MOMM2
Maier, M. I. F1
Maloney, T. J. TM3
Manning, J. R. S1
Mautner, M. PHM1
Meizlik, M. H. GM3
Micha, M. F. MOMM1
Miller, V. A. EM1
McHolland, F. O. MOMM2
Murphy, D. F., Jr. S2
Nesbitt, H. L. EM1
Ocumpaugh, E., IV LT
Oliver, P. C. TM3
Osburn, R. W. EM3
Pitarys, S. J. COX
Reardon, R. J. F2
Redman, J. L. MM3
Roak, J. B. LT
Robb, A. F. TM1
Roberts, M. H. Y1
Rooney, R. S. CDR
Rosta, J. TM3
Ryder, E.M. RT2
Schladensky, P. EM3
Schless, L. L. EM1
Schuldt, G. M. S1
Schulz, W. K. TM1
Simunaci, F. W. MOMM1
Slagle, W. R. S1
Sloan, D. K., Jr. LT
Smith, B. F. CEMA
Smith, J. D. LTJG
St. Aubin, R. J. GM2
Sumners, R. E. TM1
Thoben, F. A. SC3
Thomas, J. L. RM3
Toms, T. MOMM1
Trojan, C. A. TM2
Wade, L. R., Jr. MM3
Williams, B. E. MOMM2
Wood, E. E. CEMA