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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive

Patch on left contributed by Don McGrogan, BMCS, USN (ret.) on right by Mike Smolinski

Cobia (SS-245) (AGSS-245)

Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - Quebec - Victor

Gato Class Submarine: Laid down, 17 March 1943, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 28 November 1943; Commissioned USS Cobia (SS-245), 29 March 1944; Decommissioned, 22 May 1946, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; Recommissioned, 6 July 1951; Decommissioned, 19 March 1954, at New London, CT.; Laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet; She was placed in service in reserve at Milwaukee, WI, on 12 September 1959 and was used as a pierside training ship from 1959 to 1970; Redesignated Auxiliary Submarine, 1 December 1962; Struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1970; Final Disposition, she was towed to Manitowoc, WI, on 17 August 1970 and on permanent display as a museum ship at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI.
Partial data submitted by Yves Hubert.

Specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,424 t.; Length 311' 9"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Complement 6 Officers 54 Enlisted; Operating Depth, 300 ft; Submerged Endurance, 48 hrs at 2 kts; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10 kts; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 3"/50 deck gun, two .50 cal. machine guns, two .30 cal. machine guns; Propulsion, diesel electric reduction gear with four General Motors main generator engines, 5,400HP, Fuel Capacity, 97,140 gal., four General Electric main motors, 2,740HP, two 126-cell main storage batteries, twin screws.

Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
Polly's Inn insert courtesy of Joshua Blodgett.

Click On Image For Full Size	Size	Image Description	Source
	19k	Commemorative postal cover marking the keel laying of the Cobia (SS-245), 17 March 1943, at Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
0824501	1.28k	Two cranes at the shipyard wear posters showing cartoons of Cobia (SS-245) nipping the pants of a Japanese admiral (at left) and swallowing him (at right). Photo taken in July 1943 while *Cobia* was under construction on one of the Yard's building ways.	Photo courtesy of history.navy.mil
	404k	Cobia's (SS-245) sponsors party on 28 November 1943: From Left: Mrs. Albert Becker (Marjorie), Captain Albert Becker with daughter Gail. Woman with flowers is boat sponsor Mrs. C.W. Magruder.	Photo & text courtesy of James P. Marion, III. The contributors' father was James P. Marion, Jr, who was an officer on the boat, as was his father-in-law, Sidney E. Henderson. Both of them were with the *Cobia* from the time of its commissioning in March of 1943 through all six of the her war patrols, the last of which ended on 22 August 1945.
	581k	Cobia (SS-245) slides down the ways on 28 November 1943.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	18k	Commemorative postal cover marking Cobia's (SS-245) launching, 28 November 1943.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
	550k	While Cobia (SS-245) was being fitted after launch, the crew used the S-14 (SS-119) all covered with snow at New London, CT, 1944. The *Cobia's* crew trained on her before going to war.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	547k	Commissioning Party at Polly's Inn, Norwich, CT, on 17 March 1944. Polly's Inn burned down (total loss) during the night of 5 March, 1947. See the attached newspaper article (Front page, bottom right under FLASHES!).
	535k	Officers & crew photo at the commissioning party at Polly's Inn, Norwich, CT, on 17 March 1944.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	307k	Cobia's (SS-245) officers & chiefs photo at the commissioning party at Polly's Inn, Norwich, CT, on 17 March 1944. The one who is marked "Me", is Lt Sidney E. Henderson.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	386k	The national ensign is saluted by Cobia's (SS-245) crew on 29 March 1944 during her commissioning.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	509k	Cobia's (SS-245) officers and crew on deck immediately prior to departing New London for Pacific theater, April, 1944.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	629k	Cobia's (SS-245) docking in New London after shake down cruise, circa April 1944.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	296k	Crew resting at Majuro, Marshall Islands after first war patrol, end of August, 1944.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	194k	Crew on deck at Majuro prior to second war patrol, September, 1944.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	622k	Cobia's (SS-245) officers on deck prior to second war patrol September, 1944. Notes on back of photo: Left to Right Top Row: Lt. Cdr. Joseph J. Sibley, USNR Lt. (JG) William S.C. Henry, USNR Lt. (JG) Lester Davis, USN Lt. Cdr. Montrose G. McCormick, USN Cdr. Albert L. Becker, USN Lieut. James P. Marion, USN Lt. (JG) Daniel C. Pelton, USNR Kneeling: Lt. (JG) Sidney E. Henderson, USNR & Lieut. John M. Tufts, USNR.	Text courtesy of Paul Petosky. Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	309k	Lt Sidney E. Henderson, Jr. on watch second war patrol.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	264k	Officers Lt Dan Pelton, Lt James P Marion, Lt Sidney Henderson on deck after second war patrol.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	626k	From left, Lt James P. Marion, Jr, Captain Albert Becker, Lt Dan Pelton taken on deck after second war patrol.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	52k	Burying of Ralph Clark Huston Jr. He was wounded in action on 26 February 1945 during a surface attack with 2 Japanese vessels. He died the following morning, and was then buried at sea.	Text courtesy of Karen Duvalle, Events Coordinator, Wisconsin Maritime Museum, www.wisconsinmaritime.org. USN photo courtesy of ussubvetsofwwii.org.
	310k	Damage to conning tower from Japanese cannon fire after attack where crew member Ralph Huston was killed by enemy fire.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	101k	Cobia's (SS-245) officers LT William Henry, Lt James P Marion, and Lt Joseph Sibley on deck during fifth war patrol. It was Henry who fortunately spotted the downed B-24 fliers rescued by the *Cobia*.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	1.19k	Five photo PDF taken during the rescue of the crew of a 13th Air Force B-24 Liberator bomber that was shot up over Saigon and ditched into the ocean on 8 April 1945. The Cobia (SS-245) happened to be on the scene by sheer good fortune and rescued seven crew members of the bomber. 1) Pulling B-24 crew member from life raft. 2) B-24 crew rescue. "Doc" Starmer is stepping over the rail in foreground. 3) Pulling in B-24 crew member Rocky Clift. 4) Pulling in B-24 crew member Jean Vandruff. 5) Photo of the rescue of B-24 pilot, Captain Richard Benson by Lt James P. Marion of the Cobia. Benson was hiding under the raft with a knife thinking that the *Cobia* was a Japanese sub. The *Cobia* crew were on the verge of sinking the raft with a machine gun, when Marion jumped in the water and swam to the raft to double check. He yelled something about the Brooklyn Dodgers at which point Benson realized it was an American sub.	Photos courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	310k	Crew on watch on conning tower.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	246k	Japanese mine photographed on fifth patrol. Souvenir hunters beware.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	225k	Personnel transfer from Boarfish (SS-325) to Cobia (SS-245) during fifth patrol.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	212k	Battle Flag of the submarine Cobia (SS-245) on deck during WWII. The flag shows the insignia of the ship at center, with flags and stripes indicating sunk Japanese transports and warships. Left to Right: Top Row: Lt. Cdr. Joseph J. Sibley, USNR; Lt. (JG) William S.C. Henry, USNR; Lt. (JG) Lester Davis, USN; Lt. Cdr. Montrose G. McCormick, USN; Cdr. Albert L. Becker, USN; Lieut. James P. Marion, USN; Lt. (JG) Daniel C. Pelton, USNR. Kneeling: Lt. (JG) Sidney E. Henderson, USNR; Lieut. John M. Tufts, USNR.	Photo courtesy of usnamemorialhall.org
	365k	This plaque was unveiled 20 March 1995 by His Excellency Major General P.M. Jeffery OA MC, Governor of Western Australia to commemorate the sacrifices made by Allied submarines that operated out of Fremantle, Western Australia during WW II.	Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
	25k	Battleflag of the Cobia (SS-245), at the end of WW II.	Photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
	181k	Cobia's (SS-245) crew members on deck, 1945. This photo was likely taken on the *Cobia's* return to New London at the end of the War.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	279k	Line up of decommissioned subs at Groton, CT., circa 1947. From left to right:Archerfish (SS-311), Flasher (SS-249), Cobia (SS-245), Croaker (SS-246), Drum (SS-228) & what looks like the Cavalla (SS-244).	USN photo courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory). Photo i.d. courtesy of Ric Hedman.
	1.03k	Eleven photo PDF of the Cobia (SS-245) shots of my days on the boat in 1952. There are six photos of a salvage exercise done off the coast near New London, CT about that time. We bottomed at 100' and had a diver attach hoses to blow us up to the surface. I had a shipmate aboard one of the ASRs take the pictures.	Photos courtesy of Albert Krause, Jr, SO2(SS)
	428k	Subs at Key West, FL., post late March 1952. From left to right: Clamagore (SS-343), Amberjack (SS-522), Cero (SS-225), unknown, Cobia (SS-245). The rest are too unclear to i.d.	Photo courtesy of Albert Krause, Jr, SO2(SS)
	81k	Lots of children dream of participating in the launching of a real submarine. Some times that wish becomes true. John Robison is the 10 year old that is standing third from the rear of the conning tower as the T-1 (SST-1) floats on the Thames River at Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp., Groton, CT., 17 July 1953. The fleet boat in the background is the Cobia (SS-245).	Official USN photo courtesy of Electric Boat Division, General Dynamics Corp. Photo submitted in memory of Clifford E. Robison, Electric Boat Co, by John Robison.
	263k	December 1953 photo of four boats, among them the Cobia (SS-245), outboard, unidentified boat, the Trout (SS-566) and another unidentified boat tied up alongside the submarine tender Fulton (AS-11) during her role as the tender for Submarine Squadron TEN at New London, Connecticut.	Photo courtesy of All Hands Magazine & submitted by Ric Hedman TN(SS). Text courtesy of cshore.com.
	740k	Cobia (SS-245) on her last voyage to Manitowoc, WI, on 17 August 1970.	Photo courtesy of John Krupka.
	676k	Cobia (SS-245) as she was towed to Manitowoc, WI, on 17 August 1970.	Photo courtesy of John Krupka.
	57k	The Cobia (SS-245), is shown very shortly after it arrived in Manitowoc in its original berth on the south side of the river upon its rearrivial in 1971 as a museum ship at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI.	Photo courtesy of Larry Bohn.
	448k	This is a picture taken at the 40th reunion of the Cobia in Manitowoc, WI in 1984. Pictured are: Front Row (L to R) : Bill Vallas, Bob Kutzleb, Jim McConnell, Jack Dwyer, Harry Flagg, Vance Combs, George Baker, Dick Mattie, Carl Spivey, Wally Press, Ernie Brown, Ken Netzel, Dave McNicholl. 2nd Row : Fritz Young, Jim Marion, Sid Henderson, LeRoy MacArthur, Albert Becker, Doc Starmer,Russell Donan, Tom Brotchie, Charles Stewart, Donald Ladd, Dave Durbahn, Walt Madden. 3rd Row : Bert Maginnis, Galen Trimbath, Phillip Brower, Earl "Frenchy" Remillard, Gene McGuire, Joe Campagna, Bob Gast. 4th Row : Dan Pelton, Sam Chiovoloni, Harry Donahue, Ernie Chandler, Leo VonBiela.	Photo courtesy of James P. Marion, III.
	122k	Cobia (SS-245), dockside, on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI., mid 90's.	Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
	158k	Forward torpedo room of the Cobia (SS-245), on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI, mid 90's.	Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
	194k	Galley of the Cobia (SS-245), on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI, mid 90's.	Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
	226k	Control room of the Cobia (SS-245), on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI, mid 90's.	Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
	226k	Forward engine room of the Cobia (SS-245), on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI, mid 90's.	Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
	169k	Crew's mess of the Cobia (SS-245), on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI, mid 90's.	Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
	224k	After torpedo room of the Cobia (SS-245), on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI, mid 90's.	Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
	219k	Maneuvering room (Control console for electric motors)of the Cobia (SS-245), on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI, mid 90's.	Photo courtesy of Lester Palifka.
	165k	It's alive! A certificate for working the museum ships on the air event aboard the Cobia (SS-245) in June 2009.	Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
	1.10k	Cobia (SS-245) on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI.	Photo courtesy of Bill Gonyo.
	88k	Nice shot of Cobia's (SS-245) after engine room.	Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
0824504	812k	Cobia (SS-245) radio room.	Photo courtesy of John Hummel, USN (Retired).
	2.58k	86 photo PDF of the Cobia (SS-245) on display at Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc, WI.	Photo courtesy of Robert Hall.

View the Cobia (SS-245)
DANFS history entry located on the Haze Gray & Underway Web Site.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
Fleet Reserve Association
Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
High-resolution panoramic virtual tour of the Cobia (SS-245)
Visitor's Guide to Historic Naval Ships - USS Cobia (SS-245)
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ

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