View source for USS Cochino

{{Short description|Attack submarine}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Cochino (SS-345) leaving Portsmouth, Hampshire (UK), circa in July 1949 (NH 95925).jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''Cochino'' (SS-345), leaving [[Portsmouth]], England, for the [[Barents Sea]], c. July 1949.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1949}}
|Ship name=''Cochino''
|Ship namesake= The Cuban name of triggerfish ''[[Balistes vetula]]''
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[General Dynamics Electric Boat|Electric Boat Company]], [[Groton, Connecticut|Groton]], Connecticut
|Ship laid down=13 April 1944
|Ship launched=20 April 1945
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=25 August 1945
| Ship identification=*[[Hull classification symbol#Submarine type|Hull symbol]]: SS-345
*[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]]: NJEG
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Echo}}{{ICS|Golf}}
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=
|Ship fate=Lost at sea, 26 August 1949
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(As built){{sfn|Bauer|Roberts|1991|pp=275–280}}{{sfn|Friedman|1995|pp=305-311}}
|Ship class={{sclass|Balao|submarine|0}} [[diesel-electric]] [[submarine]]
|Ship displacement=*{{cvt|1526|LT|lk=on}} surfaced
*{{cvt|2424|LT}} submerged
|Ship length={{cvt|311|ft|9|in}}
|Ship beam={{cvt|27|ft|3|in}}
|Ship draft={{cvt|16|ft|10|in}} maximum
|Ship propulsion={{Fleet-boat-propulsion-late-GM-4-GE}}
|Ship speed=*{{cvt|20.25|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{cvt|8.75|kn}} submerged
|Ship range={{cvt|11000|nmi|mi km|lk=in}} surfaced at {{cvt|10|kn}}
|Ship endurance=*48 hours at {{cvt|2|kn}} submerged
*75 days on patrol
|Ship test depth={{convert|400|ft}}
|Ship complement=10 officers, 70–71 enlisted
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament={{Fleet-boat-armament-4-inch}}
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(Guppy II){{sfn|Friedman|1994|pp=11-43, 242}}
|Ship class=
|Ship displacement=*{{cvt|1870|LT}} surfaced
*{{cvt|2440|LT}} submerged
|Ship length={{cvt|307|ft}}
|Ship beam={{cvt|27|ft|4|in}}
|Ship draft={{cvt|17|ft|}}
|Ship propulsion=*Batteries upgraded to [[Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program|GUPPY]] type, capacity expanded to 504&nbsp;cells (1 × 184&nbsp;cell, 1 × 68&nbsp;cell, and 2 × 126&nbsp;cell batteries)
*4 × high-speed electric motors replaced with 2 × low-speed direct drive electric motors
|Ship speed=*Surfaced:
*{{cvt|18|kn}} maximum
*{{cvt|13.5|kn}} cruising
*Submerged:
*{{cvt|16|kn}} for ½ hour
*{{cvt|9|kn}} snorkeling
*{{cvt|3.5|kn}} cruising
|Ship range={{cvt|15000|nmi|mi km}} surfaced at {{cvt|11|kn}}
|Ship endurance=48 hours at {{cvt|4|kn}} submerged
|Ship complement=*9–10 officers
*5 petty officers
*70 enlisted men
|Ship sensors=*WFA active sonar
*JT passive sonar
*Mk&nbsp;106 torpedo fire control system
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=10 × [[American 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s (six forward, four aft)
|Ship notes=[[Submarine snorkel|Snorkel]] added
}}
|}

'''USS ''Cochino'' (SS-345)''' was a {{sclass|Balao|submarine|0}} [[submarine]] in service with the [[United States Navy]] from 1945 to 1949. She sank after a battery explosion off [[Norway]], on 26 August 1949. ''Cochino'' was named for the [[Balistes vetula|cochino]], a [[triggerfish]] found in the Atlantic.

==Construction==
''Cochino'' was laid down by the [[Electric Boat Company]], of [[Groton, Connecticut|Groton]], Connecticut, on 13 April 1944. She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 20 April 1945, sponsored by Mrs. M.E. Serat, the wife of the Assistant to the President of Electric Boat Co., and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 25 August 1945.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

==Service history==
During her [[shakedown cruise]] out of [[New London, Connecticut|New London]], Connecticut, ''Cochino'' visited [[Newport, Rhode Island|Newport]], Rhode Island, 12–15 September 1945, then sailed for the [[Panama Canal]] Zone, on 3 October. Reaching her destination on October 9, the new fleet boat carried out training with the Operational Development Force, then visited [[Miami]], Florida, 24–30 October, to observe [[Navy Day]]. She then proceeded to [[Guantanamo Bay, Cuba]], where ''Cochino'' operated in until 27 November, when she shaped a course back to New London.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

''Cochino'' sailed from New London, on 8 January 1946, in company with {{USS|Irex|SS-482|2}}, bound for Guantanamo Bay. ''Cochino'' provided services out of Naval Operating Base, Guantanamo, for much of January, clearing those waters on 25 January' for her new home port of [[Key West]], Florida, arriving there on 27 January, after which time she returned to Guantanamo Bay, to resume providing services in that area from 24 February–7 March. In-port periods at Key West followed, 9 March–3 May and 7–10 May, punctuated by a call at [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]], Florida, 4–6 May, before she returned to Cuban waters 12–16 May. Then, following a visit to [[St. Thomas, Virgin Islands]], 18–20 May, ''Cochino'' sailed to conduct simulated attacks upon ships of the [[8th Fleet]], proceeding then to Key West, upon conclusion of those evolutions.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

Following a period of upkeep from 24 May–16 August 1946, ''Cochino'' operated briefly out of Guantanamo Bay, 18–24 August, before she returned to her home port. Then, sailing in company with {{USS|Corporal|SS-346|2}}, she visited [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]], Texas, from 2–7 September. Returning to Key West, upon completion of that port call, ''Cochino'' returned to Guantanamo Bay, for another stint of providing services for fleet units in those waters, from 6–10 October. The boat operated out of Key West, for the remainder of the year, punctuating that time with visits to [[Havana]], Cuba, from 18–21 October, and [[New Orleans]], from 25–29 October, and providing services for the fleet out of Guantanamo Bay, from 1–6 December.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

''Cochino'' departed her home port on 3 March 1947, and visited St. Thomas, from 7–9 March, before sailing in company with {{USS|Greenfish|SS-351|2}} to operate north of [[Culebra, Puerto Rico|Culebra]], Puerto Rico. Following another in port period at Key West, from 17–29 March, ''Cochino'' headed north for a period of repairs and alterations at the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]]. While there, she suffered slight damage when undocking from the [[marine railway]] on 20 May. Shifting to the Naval Ammunition Depot, at [[Fort Mifflin]], upon completion of that yard period, she conducted deep diving tests on 21 June, in the waters of the Baltimore Canyon, at {{coord|38|08|N|73|49|W}}, tended by the [[submarine rescue vessel]] {{USS|Tringa|ASR-16|2}}, after which time she returned to Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, remaining there until 3 July. ''Cochino'' then proceeded to [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], Virginia, from 6–12 July, reporting for duty to Commander, Aircraft, Atlantic Fleet, and then shifted to [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]], Maryland, from 12–25 July, reporting for duty to the Superintendent of the Naval Academy, upon arrival there. She then returned to her home port for upkeep from 28 July–29 August, after which time she visited Havana, from 29 August–1 September. She returned to Key West, on 1 October, where she remained for most of the month, heading out to sea on 11 October, to ride out a storm, returning the following day.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

After visiting Miami, from 25–28 October 1947, ''Cochino'' operated with the [[2nd Task Fleet]] near [[Bermuda]], through mid-November, after which time she returned to her homeport for upkeep through mid-January 1948. Work in the Key West operating area or upkeep in port involved the boat until 31 January, when she sailed for New Orleans, for [[Mardi Gras]] festivities, from 2–11 February. She then returned to Key West, and the local operating areas there, the fleet boat worked in those areas into the spring of 1948. Toward the end of that period, on 26 April 1948, while conducting a submerged exercise at a {{cvt|60|ft}} depth, ''Cochino'' collided with the [[fleet tug]] {{USS|Salinan|ATF-161|2}}. Attempts to go deep and swing the ship proved unsuccessful, and the boat suffered damage to the periscope shears, both periscopes, and her radar antenna.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

''Cochino'' then underwent repairs and major renovations at her builders' yard beginning on 11 May 1948. Converted to a [[Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program#GUPPY II program|GUPPY/Snorkel]] boat at Groton, she emerged from the yard on 4 February 1949. Departing New London, on 25 March, the newly modernized submarine visited [[Boston]], from 26–27 March, then returned to New London, from 28 March–2 May, after which time she headed south to return to her home port, arriving at Key West, on 8 May. She then again shaped a course for New London, where she remained from 19 May until 16 July, then proceeded to [[Argentia]], Newfoundland, where she arrived on 22 July, en route to the [[British Isles]] and her first deployment to European waters.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

She reached [[Derry]], Northern Ireland, on 29 July. She operated locally in those waters for a brief period, then put in to Derry, from 4–8 August, before visiting [[Portsmouth]], England, from 8–12 August. She then put to sea for operations above the [[Arctic Circle]] in the [[Barents Sea]] before turning for home in late August.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

In August 1949, ''Cochino'' and {{USS|Tusk|SS-426|2}} sailed along the [[Kola Peninsula]] to determine whether the [[Soviet Union]] had detonated an atomic bomb.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.areion24.news/2019/05/14/les-navires-espions-durant-la-guerre-froide/|title=Les navires espions durant la guerre froide}}</ref>

On 25 August 1949, ''Cochino'' ran into a violent polar storm off [[Norway]]. The huge waves slammed the submarine's snorkel so violently, and jolted the boat so severely, that the pounding caused an electrical fire and battery explosion, followed by the release of deadly [[hydrogen gas]]. In wretched weather conditions, men of ''Cochino'' and ''Tusk'' fought to save the submarine for 14 hours. A second battery explosion on 26 August prompted an "Abandon Ship" order, and after the crew made a dangerous rope transfer to ''Tusk'', the abandoned ''Cochino'' sank at {{coord|71|35|N|23|35|E|region:NO_type:waterbody_source:dewiki|display=inline}}. ''Cochino''{{'}}s only fatality was a civilian from the [[Bureau of Ships]], technician Robert W. Philo, swept overboard by an icy wave. ''Tusk'' lost six of her own men in the same manner.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

''Cochino'' was stricken from the List of Naval Vessels on 27 October 1949.{{sfn|Cressman|2016}}

''Cochino'' is one of four United States Navy submarines to be lost since the end of World War II. The others are {{USS|Stickleback|SS-415|6}}, {{USS|Thresher|SSN-593|6}} and {{USS|Scorpion|SSN-589|6}}.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
* {{cite web
  |last= Cressman
  |first= Robert J. 
  |url= https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/cochino.html
  |title= Cochino (SS-345)
  |publisher= [[Naval History and Heritage Command]]
  |date= 21 April 2016
  |access-date=3 August 2022
  }}{{PD-notice}}
* {{cite book
  |last = Friedman
  | first = Norman
  | title = U.S. Submarines Through 1945: An Illustrated Design History
  | publisher = [[United States Naval Institute]]
  | year = 1995
  | location = [[Annapolis, Maryland]]
  | isbn = 1-55750-263-3
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last = Friedman
  | first = Norman
  | title = U.S. Submarines Since 1945: An Illustrated Design History
  | publisher = United States Naval Institute
  | year = 1994
  | location = Annapolis, Maryland
  | isbn = 1-55750-260-9
  }}
* {{cite book
  | last1 = Bauer
  | first1 = K. Jack
  | last2= Roberts
  | first2 = Stephen S.
  | title = Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants
  | publisher = Greenwood Press
  | year = 1991
  | location = [[Westport, Connecticut]]
  | isbn = 0-313-26202-0
  }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Cochino (SS-345)}}
*{{navsource|08/08345|Cochino}}
*[http://www.oneternalpatrol.com/uss-cochino-345.htm On Eternal Patrol: USS ''Cochino'']
*[http://ussnautilus.org/blog/uss-cochino-ss-345-and-uss-tusk-ss-426/ USS COCHINO (SS-345) and USS TUSK (SS-426)]

{{Balao class submarine}}
{{1949 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cochino (SS-345)}}
[[Category:Explosions in 1949]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by non-combat internal explosions]]
[[Category:Balao-class submarines]]
[[Category:Cold War submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:United States submarine accidents]]
[[Category:Lost submarines of the United States]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1949]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Arctic Ocean]]
[[Category:Ships built in Groton, Connecticut]]
[[Category:1945 ships]]