The first submarine launched in 1943 was the USS Capelin SS-289, she slid down the ways at the Portsmouth
Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine on January 20, 1943, reports say it was the coldest day for a launching that
anyone in the area could remember. She was launched 30 minuets early causing the official yard cameraman,
Walter C. Staples, to miss the launching. She commissioned on June 4, 1943 and sailed from New London,
Connecticut for Brisbane, Australia on Sept. 3, 1943.

She conducted her first war patrol leaving Brisbane on Oct. 30, her area was the Molucca, Flores, and Banda
Seas. She sank one ship, Kunitama Maru, on Nov. 11, the 3,127 ton freighter was her only victim. She returned to Darwin on Nov. 15.

When she pulled into Darwin her crew reported problems with the conning tower hatch, bow planes and radar tube, the necessary repairs were made and she put to sea for her second patrol Nov. 17, 1943 bound for the Molukka and Celebes Seas, she was never heard from again.

The last possible sighting of Capelin was made by USS Bonefish SS-223 on Dec. 2 in the area she was supposed to be in, but there was no confirmation that it was actually Capelin. The Japanese claimed to have attacked an American submarine on Nov. 23 at Kaoe Bay, Halamaera, but it was most likely an attack against a non-sub target. The Navy announced her loss and the loss of USS Sculpin SS-191 on Mar. 20, 1944.

Sixty-five years later we still don't know exactly what happened to her and when it happened. She may have hit a mine or had equipment trouble, but this is only speculation. She and her entire crew are resting silently somewhere on the bottom of the sea waiting to be found.