USS S-44, a 1126-ton S-42 class submarine built at Quincy, Massachusetts, was commissioned in February 1925. Following initial operations off the New England coast, she was stationed at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone from mid-1925 until 1927, when she shifted her base to San Diego, California. In 1930, S-44 was transferred to Hawaii, remaining there until mid-decade, when she returned to San Diego. In 1937, her base was changed to Coco Solo again.

Overhauled in 1941, S-44 returned to the Panama Canal Zone early in 1942 to begin her active World War II service. In March and April, she crossed the Pacific to Brisbane, Australia, from which she made four war patrols to the Solomon Islands area between April and October. In the course of these, S-44 sank the Japanese salvage ship Shoei Maru on 12 May, the converted gunboat Keijo Maru on 21 June and the heavy cruiser Kako on 10 August. An intensive depth charge attack on 4 October, after she had attacked a Japanese destroyer, caused serious damage, and she was sent back to the United States in early 1943 for much-needed repairs.

In June 1943, her overhaul completed, S-44 left the Philadelphia Navy Yard en route to the Aleutians, where she arrived in mid-September. On the night of 7 October, during her fifth war patrol, she attacked a Japanese ship with her deck gun. Unfortunately, the enemy ship turned out to be a destroyer. Seriously outgunned and unable to submerge, S-44 was hit several times and sunk. Only two of her crew were rescued by the Japanese.