USS O'Brien (Cdr. Thomas Burrowes) was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-15 on 15 September 1942 north-west of Espiritu Santo in position 12º25'S, 164°08'E. O'Brien reached Espititu Santo under her own power the following day where the American seaplane tender USS Curtiss made temporary repairs. O'Brien sailed on 21 September for Noumea, New Caledonia to receive further repairs by USS Argonne. O'Brien departed on 10 October 1942 bound for San Francisco for permanent repairs. O'Brien called at Suva, Fiji Islands from 13 to 16 October. She sank on 19 October 1942 some 50 nautical miles north-northwest of Tutuila, Samoa in position 13°30'S, 171°18'W.