At the Battle of Coral Sea in May 1942 USS Hammann was a part of the carrier escort screen. She fought the Japanese aircraft (first torpedo then dive bombers) and took about 500 survivors from the sinking carrier USS Lexington that sank on 8 May.

At the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942 USS Hammann (Cdr. Arnold Ellsworth True, USN) was again screening a carrier, this time USS Yorktown and helped shoot down many of the attacking aircraft. The carrier took severe hits despite all efforts and USS Hammann again helped evacuate survivors, including its captain, Captain Elliott Buckmeister.

The day after that however attempts were made to rescue the great carrier and on the 5th USS Hammann returned to Yorktown bringing a damage-control party with her. She then lay next to the carrier providing assistance.

The salvage parties were doing a good job helping secure the carrier when the Japanese submarine I-168 (offsite link) penetrated the escort screen and fired 4 torpedoes on the overlapping target (USS Hammann and USS Yorktown behind her). Three torpedoes hit (one on Hammann and two on Yorktown).

USS Hammann suffered a massive explosion and sank in only 4 minutes in position 30º36'N, 176º34'W with the loss of 84 men and 72 wounded including the Commanding officer. The survivors were rescued by the USS Balch/Benham.