At the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942 USS Hammann (Cmdr Arnold Ellsworth True) 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  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.