Hull Number: SS-345
Last Captain: CDR Rafael Benitez
Date Lost: 26 August, 1949
Location: Off the coast of northern Norway
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0. One civilian contractor on Cochino was lost. All 76 men from the Cochino’s crew were rescued. However, six sailors from the Tusk were lost during the rescue.
Cause: Battery explosion and fire
Construction
Cochino was a Balao class submarine completed in August of 1945 by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, CT.
Loss Narrative
Cochino sailed from Portsmouth, England on 12 August 1949, accompanied by the USS Tusk (SS-426), for operations in the Barents Sea above the Arctic Circle. The plan was to return home in late August. The boats sailed on a Cold War patrol along the Kola Peninsula in order to determine if the Soviet Union had detonated a nuclear weapon and to test new equipment in arctic weather.
On 25 August, Cochino ran into a violent polar storm. She secured charging batteries at 05:00. She ran submerged and then commenced snorkeling at about 10:30. Depth control was difficult. After a few minutes, the forward engine room reported water coming through the air induction system. At about 10:46, the engines shut down due to a high vacuum in the boat. Right after that, a series of muffled explosions occurred in the after battery compartment.
The explosions released hydrogen gas from the battery. Engines were restarted to clear the smoke. Fuel was then shut off although one engine continued to accelerate for some time due to the hydrogen. An explosion then occurred in the after battery compartment. Two chief petty officers managed to put out the small fires in the adjoining forward engine room.
At about 11:45, the captain ordered all excess personnel topside through the conning tower. At 12:15, another explosion occurred in the after battery. The captain then requested that Tusk come alongside with medical supplies and to evacuate some personnel. They were only able to transfer the supplies.
At 14:20, one officer and the civilian technician attempted to transfer to Tusk by rubber boat. The boat overturned, dumping them both into the water. While Tusk was hauling them aboard, the technician received a severe head injury. As Tusk personnel were administering artificial respiration, two huge waves washed the technician and 11 of the Tusk sailors over the side. Only five of the Tusk sailors could be found and brought back aboard. The other six sailors and the technician were lost.
At 16:10, Cochino’s engines stopped because the clean fuel tank ran dry. At about 18:00, power was restored and Cochino was able to get underway for the nearest land. At 23:06, another explosion occurred, this time probably in the forward engine room. Around midnight, all remaining personnel were ordered topside. Tusk managed to come alongside and began taking personnel from Cochino aboard. At 00:43 on 26 August, the captain transferred to Tusk. He was last to leave the Cochino. Three minutes later, after a 14-hour battle, Cochino sank.
On 25 August, Cochino ran into a violent polar storm. She secured charging batteries at 05:00. She ran submerged and then commenced snorkeling at about 10:30. Depth control was difficult. After a few minutes, the forward engine room reported water coming through the air induction system. At about 10:46, the engines shut down due to a high vacuum in the boat. Right after that, a series of muffled explosions occurred in the after battery compartment.
The explosions released hydrogen gas from the battery. Engines were restarted to clear the smoke. Fuel was then shut off although one engine continued to accelerate for some time due to the hydrogen. An explosion then occurred in the after battery compartment. Two chief petty officers managed to put out the small fires in the adjoining forward engine room.
At about 11:45, the captain ordered all excess personnel topside through the conning tower. At 12:15, another explosion occurred in the after battery. The captain then requested that Tusk come alongside with medical supplies and to evacuate some personnel. They were only able to transfer the supplies.
At 14:20, one officer and the civilian technician attempted to transfer to Tusk by rubber boat. The boat overturned, dumping them both into the water. While Tusk was hauling them aboard, the technician received a severe head injury. As Tusk personnel were administering artificial respiration, two huge waves washed the technician and 11 of the Tusk sailors over the side. Only five of the Tusk sailors could be found and brought back aboard. The other six sailors and the technician were lost.
At 16:10, Cochino’s engines stopped because the clean fuel tank ran dry. At about 18:00, power was restored and Cochino was able to get underway for the nearest land. At 23:06, another explosion occurred, this time probably in the forward engine room. Around midnight, all remaining personnel were ordered topside. Tusk managed to come alongside and began taking personnel from Cochino aboard. At 00:43 on 26 August, the captain transferred to Tusk. He was last to leave the Cochino. Three minutes later, after a 14-hour battle, Cochino sank.
Prior History
Cochino did not complete initial sea trials until after WW2 had ended. She then operated out of Key West, FL providing training services with the Operational Development Force. On 26 April 1948, while submerged, she collided with the fleet tug USS Salinan (ATF-161). She suffered damage to her periscopes, periscope shears and radar mast. She returned to the Electric Boat Company for repairs and, while there, for conversion to a GUPPY 2 boat. That was completed on 4 February 1949.
Cochino then visited Boston and New London before returning to her home port at Key West. She returned to New London, CT on 16 July 1949 and proceeded to Argentia, Newfoundland. She arrived there on 22 July and then went on to Derry, Northern Ireland and Portsmouth England. She would begin her last patrol from Portsmouth.
Cochino then visited Boston and New London before returning to her home port at Key West. She returned to New London, CT on 16 July 1949 and proceeded to Argentia, Newfoundland. She arrived there on 22 July and then went on to Derry, Northern Ireland and Portsmouth England. She would begin her last patrol from Portsmouth.
Submarine Photo
Captain Photo
CDR Rafael Benitez
