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NavSource Online: Submarine Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Cochino (SS-345)

Radio Call Sign: November - Juliet - Echo - Golf
Balao Class Submarine: Laid down, 13 April 1944, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT.; Launched, 20 April 1945; Commissioned USS Cochino (SS-345), 25 August 1945; Lost by sinking, 26 August 1949, at 71°35' N., 23°35' E.

As built to the specifications: Displacement, Surfaced: 1,526 t., Submerged: 2,242 t.; Length 311' 9"; Beam 27' 3"; Draft 15' 3"; Speed, Surfaced 20.25 kts, Submerged 8.75 kts; Cruising Range, 11,000 miles surfaced at 10kts; Submerged Endurance, 48 hours at 2kts; Operating Depth, 400 ft; Complement 6 Officers, 60 Enlisted; Armament, ten 21" torpedo tubes, six forward, four aft, 24 torpedoes, one 5"/25 deck gun, one 40mm gun, one 20mm gun, two .50 cal. machine guns; Patrol Endurance 75 days; Propulsion, diesel-electric reduction gear with four main generator engines., General Motors diesel engines, HP 5400, Fuel Capacity 118,000, four General Electric motors, HP 2,740, two 126-cell main storage batteries, two propellers.
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For Full Size		Size Image Description Source
Cochino 302k Gallo cochino. Courtesy of farm4.staticflickr.com.
Blenny & Cochino 552k Looks like the start of another work day as E.B. employees climb up the stairwell past the "No Swimming at this site" sign near the new North Yard. An officer on deck of the soon to be launched Blenny (SS-324) looks across the opposite ways at the construction of a prefabricated section of the Cochino (SS-345).
The pace of construction progresses quickly as a worker tightens the bolts on part of her hull. The Cochino's keel would officially be laid 13 April. Construction of the boat will be moved over to the soon to be vacated way that the Blenny now occupies.
By early 1944, most of the building yards were forced to adopt some measure of pre-fabrication in order to expedite the building process. Manitowoc was the acknowledged master of this art and it allowed them to complete boats quickly in a limited amount of building space (Manitowoc built their boats to EB plans). While EB did not go to the same extent as Manitowoc, even they pre-fabricated some sections and attached them to the keel once it was laid.
The date of the photo is probably around the first week of April 1944. The Blenny would be launched on the 9th.
Note the Blenny's open outer torpedo door shutters still need to be affixed. 		NARA FILE #: 80-G-468517, photographed by Lt. Comdr. Charles Fenno Jacobs, USNR. Photo # HD-SN-99-02479, courtesy of dodmedia.osd.mil, Defense Visual Information Center.
Photo i.d. courtesy of John Hummel, Ric Hedman & David Johnston.
Partial text courtesy of David Johnston
Cochino 18k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Cochino's (SS-345) keel laying, 13 April 1944, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Cochino 20k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of Cochino's (SS-345) keel laying, 13 April 1944, at the Electric Boat Co., Groton, CT. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Cochino 524k Cochino (SS-345) at Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut, 20 April 1945. Shown: Mrs. M.E. Serat, christening the ship. USN photo # 80-G-409422 courtesy of National Museum of the U.S. Navy.
Cochino 865k Launching of the Cochino (SS-345), 20 April 1945.Photo courtesy of Ron Reeves (of blessed memory).
Cochino NR SUBMARINE LOST IN ARCTIC—The snorkel-equipped submarine Cochino (SS-345), which was destroyed by two explosions yesterday while on a training cruise in Arctic waters. The picture was made at the ship’s launching in Groton, Conn., in 1945. Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 27 August 1949, Image 4, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Cochino 18k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the launching of the Cochino (SS-345), 20 April 1945. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Cochino 20k Commemorative postal cover on the occasion of the commissioning of the Cochino (SS-345), 25 August 1945. Courtesy of Jack Treutle (of blessed memory).
Cochino 108k Cochino (SS-345) anchored, circa 1946. Courtesy of s368328723.online.de.
Cochino 773k Cochino (SS-345), in port, circa 1946. Photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Text courtesy of the U.S. Naval Historical Center, USNHC # 79771.
Cochino 49k Cochino (SS-345), circa 1949. USN photo courtesy of oneternalpatrol.com.
Cochino 995k Cochino (SS-345) makes the front cover of June 1949 Popular Science Magazine.Photo by Popular Science via Getty Images courtesy of gettyimages.com.
Cochino 767k Cochino (SS-345), leaving Portsmouth, England, for the Barents Sea, circa July 1949. Photo courtesy of Scott Koen & ussnewyork.com.
Text courtesy of U.S. Naval Historical Center, USNHC # 95925.
Cochino 74k Google Earth satellite photo of the site where the Cochino (SS-345) & the Tusk (SS-426) crewmen were lost, 71°35' N., 23°35' E. on 26 August 1949.View courtesy of Google Earth.
Cochino NR INJURED SUB SURVIVORS IN NORWAY—Wearing heavy bandages, three members of the American submarine Cochino (SS-345) discuss their experiences after their arrival at Tromsoe, Norway, aboard the submarine Tusk (SS-426), which rescued them. Left to right: Fireman Ralph T. Roseth, Edmore, N. Dak, Electricians Mate 1/c William H. Payne, jr., Oakville, Conn., and Electrician's Mate 3/c Charles M. Serio of Buffalo, N. Y. A. P. Wirephoto. via radio from London.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 30 August 1949, Image 14, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Cochino
0834514		 NR SUB SURVIVORS GREETED
Four survivors of the submarine Cochino (SS-345), which burned and sank in Arctic waters last week, received a happy welcome last night shortly after their arrival by air from England. Left to right: Engineer 3/c Charles M. Serio, Buffalo, N. Y.; Miss Mary West, Serio’s fiancee; Lt. (j. g.) and Mrs. Richard K. Bransom, Waterford, Conn.; Mrs. Payne and Engineman 1c William H. Payne of Groton and Fireman Apprentice Ralph T. Rose of Edmore, N. Dak.  		Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 02 September 1949, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Cochino
0834513		 NR COCHINO (SS-345) SURVIVOR IN REUNION
Commander Rafael C. Benitez, Groton, Conn., gathers his wife and children into his arms in a joyful reunion at the submarine base in Groton following arrival of submarine Tusk (SS-426) which brought survivors of submarine Cochino home. He was in command of the Cochino when she exploded and sank in Arctic waters recently. The youngsters are Peggy, 1 & 1/2, and Crissie, 3. Six of the crew of the rescue ship Tusk were swept overboard and drowned.
Comdr. Robert K. Worthington, jr„ of Philadelphia, skipper of the Tusk, which rescued the crew of the Cochino, was welcomed by his children, Robin, 4 (right), and Robert, 1. 		Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 09 September 1949, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Cochino 42k Commemorative photo in memory of the crew of the Tusk (SS-426) & Cochino (SS-345).
In Memorium:
In the Second Book of Shmuel (Samuel), 22nd chapter, 5th through the 20th verses, translated from the original in Hebrew and published by the Koren Publishers of Jerusalem, Israel, 1982, can perhaps aptly describe the fate of the crew and all other U.S. submariners who died defending their county:

"When the waves of death compassed me / the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; / the bonds of She'ol encircled me; / the snares of death took me by surprise; / in my distress I called upon the Lord, / and cried to my G-D: / and he heard my voice out of his temple, / and my cry entered into his ears. / Then the earth shook and trembled; /the foundations of heaven moved / and shook because of his anger /...the heavy mass of waters, and thick clouds of the skies /... And the channels of the sea appeared, / the foundations of the world were laid bare, / at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast at the breath of his nostrils. / He sent from above, he took me; / he drew me out of many waters; / he delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me. / They surprised me in the day of my calamity: / but the Lord was my stay / He brought me forth also into a large place: / he delivered me because he delighted in me./"		 Photo courtesy of Tom Kermen.
View the Cochino (SS-345)
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
Silent Service S01 E27: The Last Dive
On Eternal Patrol
Guppy Submarines
Ep-21 (1) - Victory At Sea ~ Full Fathom Five - HQ
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