USS Cochino (SS-345)

USS Cochino (SS-345)
Public domain · source
Shipname	Cochino
Caption	USS Cochino (SS-345) underway
Namesake	Cochino (blenny)
Builder	Electric Boat Company
Laid down	26 February 1944
Launched	12 September 1944
Commissioned	4 February 1945
Decommissioned	30 September 1949
Fate	Lost 26 August 1949; hulk scuttled
Displacement	1,526 long tons surfaced
Length	311 ft 8 in (95.0 m)
Beam	27 ft 3 in (8.3 m)
Draft	15 ft 3 in (4.6 m)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric engines
Speed	20+ knots surfaced
Complement	Officers and enlisted
Armament	Torpedo tubes, deck gun (varied)

USS Cochino (SS-345) was a Balao-class submarine of the United States Navy commissioned at the end of World War II and lost during an Arctic patrol in 1949. Built by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut, Cochino conducted shakedown and postwar operations before deploying to the North Atlantic Ocean on a mission that culminated in fire, battery explosions, a high-risk rescue, and scuttling. The incident involved close cooperation with the Royal Navy and prompted United States Navy investigations and policy reviews concerning submarine safety, cold‑weather operations, and battery handling.

Construction and design

Laid down by the Electric Boat Company on 26 February 1944 and launched on 12 September 1944, Cochino was a Balao-class submarine sharing hull and machinery characteristics with contemporaries such as USS Torsk (SS-423), USS Pampanito (SS-383), and USS Clamagore (SS-343). The Balao class derived from the Gato-class submarine lineage, incorporating a thicker pressure hull and improved diesel-electric propulsion similar to installations on USS Archerfish (SS-311). Cochino’s design emphasized submerged endurance and torpedo armament compatible with Mark 14 torpedo doctrines then in transition. Dimensions and internal arrangements reflected standards used at Electric Boat and other builders, while battery plant composition followed postwar upgrades that later influenced safety assessments after the loss.

Commissioning and early service

Commissioned on 4 February 1945 under the command of a United States Navy officer, Cochino underwent trials and shakedown cruise operations along the Atlantic coast of the United States and in the Caribbean Sea, visiting ports connected with submarine training such as New London, Connecticut and Key West, Florida. With the end of World War II in August 1945, Cochino transitioned to peacetime patrols, participating in exercises with units from the Atlantic Fleet and contributing to anti-submarine warfare developments alongside surface units including Destroyer Division 181 and Submarine Squadron 4. Throughout 1946–1948, Cochino conducted training, fleet problems, and goodwill visits that reflected U.S. naval posture during the early Cold War.

1949 Arctic operations and loss

In August 1949 Cochino deployed to the Norwegian Sea and the Arctic region on a mission tied to Cold War signals intelligence and under-ice operations near the Barents Sea and the Norwegian coast, operating in proximity to Soviet Arctic patrol areas such as bases on the Kola Peninsula. On 26 August 1949, while surfaced in heavy seas off Norway near the Lofoten area, Cochino experienced a catastrophic battery fire and subsequent explosions in her forward battery compartment—events reminiscent of peacetime incidents involving lead-acid battery failures documented in other navies, including cases reported by Royal Navy submarine crews. The fire compromised electrical systems, rendered propulsion unreliable, and produced toxic gases that forced topside exposure in extreme weather.

Following the initial damage, Cochino signalled the nearby Royal Navy destroyer HMS Burghead Bay and the United States Navy submarine rescue vessel USS Tusk (SS-426), prompting a perilous at-sea transfer of crew and equipment in high seas and severe cold. During the operation, Cochino’s forward battery produced a series of violent discharges and one or more explosions; the decision was made to abandon and scuttle the hulk to eliminate hazard and prevent intelligence compromise. Cochino foundered and was scuttled after salvage attempts failed.

Crew and casualties

The Cochino complement included officers and enlisted sailors accustomed to submarine service in the Atlantic Fleet. The emergency resulted in the death of several crew members from exposure, thermal injuries, and mishaps during transfer operations; additionally, at least one Royal Navy or United States Navy rescue participant lost life during the rescue efforts. Survivors were taken aboard ships including USS Tusk (SS-426), HMS Burghead Bay, and destroyers operating in the area, then transported to bases such as Rosyth and Trondheim for debriefing, medical treatment, and repatriation. Official casualty lists were released by the United States Navy and prompted notifications to next of kin and public statements in Washington, D.C..

Investigation and aftermath

The loss of Cochino triggered an investigation by United States Navy boards of inquiry and technical examinations involving Bureau of Ships personnel, Naval Ordnance Laboratory, and battery specialists examining lead-acid cell design and ventilation practices. Findings highlighted hazards of battery charging and ventilation in cold, stormy conditions and raised concerns about tactical exposure during Arctic operations near Soviet waters, which implicated strategic considerations handled by offices in The Pentagon and discussed in Congress oversight hearings. Recommendations included revised battery handling procedures, enhanced damage-control training, improved ventilation and fire suppression systems in submarines, and operational constraints for arctic patrols. The incident contributed to revisions later reflected in GUPPY conversion programs and submarine safety measures affecting classes such as Tench-class submarine upgrades.

Legacy and memorials

Cochino’s loss received attention in naval histories, Arctic operational studies, and accounts of early Cold War submarine incidents, alongside narratives involving USS Thresher (SSN-593) and earlier wartime losses like USS Tang (SS-306). Memorials to Cochino’s crew exist at naval cemeteries and veterans’ monuments associated with Connecticut shipbuilding communities and New London submarine personnel. Remembrance ceremonies have involved United States Navy officials, veterans’ associations such as the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc., and families of the lost. The lessons derived from Cochino influenced later submarine design, training, and Arctic doctrine, contributing to safer under-ice operations by units including contemporary Los Angeles-class submarine crews and allied submarine forces.

Category:Balao-class submarines Category:Ships built in Groton, Connecticut Category:Maritime incidents in 1949