USS Cobia facts for kids
USS Cobia (SS-245)
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 United States |
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| Namesake | Cobia |
| Ordered | 9 September 1940 |
| Builder | Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut |
| Laid down | 17 March 1943 |
| Launched | 28 November 1943 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. C. W. Magruder |
| Commissioned | 29 March 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 22 May 1946 |
| Recommissioned | 6 July 1951 |
| Decommissioned | 19 March 1954 |
| Stricken | 1 July 1970 |
| Status | Memorial at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 17 August 1970 |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Gato-class diesel-electric submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 311 ft 9 in (95.02 m) |
| Beam | 27 ft 3 in (8.31 m) |
| Draft | 17 ft (5.2 m) maximum |
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| Speed |
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| Range | 11,000 nmi (20,000 km) surfaced at 10 kn (19 km/h) |
| Endurance |
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| Test depth | 300 ft (90 m) |
| Complement | 10 officers, 70 enlisted |
| Armament |
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USS Cobia (submarine)
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | Manitowoc, Wisconsin |
| Built | 1943 |
| Architect | Electric Boat Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 86000087 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 14 January 1986 |
| Designated NHL | 14 January 1986 |
The USS Cobia (SS/AGSS-245) is a famous Gato-class submarine that once served in the United States Navy. It was named after the cobia, a type of fish.
This submarine is special because it was named a National Historic Landmark for its important service during World War II. It fought bravely in the Pacific Ocean and earned four battle stars. Today, the Cobia is a museum ship at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where people can visit and learn about its history.
Contents
Building the Cobia
The Cobia was built by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut. Its construction began on March 17, 1943. It was launched into the water on November 28, 1943. Mrs. C. W. Magruder was its sponsor, which is like a godmother for a ship. The Cobia officially joined the Navy on March 29, 1944, with Lieutenant Commander Albert L. Becker as its first captain.
Cobia's World War II Adventures
The Cobia arrived at Pearl Harbor on June 3, 1944, ready for action. It soon began its first war patrol.
First Patrol: July-August 1944
On June 26, 1944, the Cobia set out for its first mission near the Bonin Islands.
- In July, it successfully sank three Japanese cargo ships.
- One of these was the Nisshu Maru, a ship carrying Japanese tanks and soldiers to Iwo Jima. All 28 tanks on board were lost, which was a big blow to the enemy.
- On July 20, the Cobia fought and sank three small armed ships. One of them even rammed the Cobia, but the submarine kept going!
- On August 5, it sank a large converted yacht. The Cobia rescued a survivor from the yacht, who became its first prisoner of war.
Second and Third Patrols: September 1944 - January 1945
After getting supplies, the Cobia went on its second patrol in the Luzon Strait. During this time, Japanese planes often attacked it.
- On October 22, the submarine rescued two Japanese survivors from a ship that another American submarine had sunk.
- Its third patrol took it to the South China Sea. On January 14, 1945, it sank the Japanese minelayer Yurishima.
- The next day, the Cobia rescued two Japanese sailors who had been floating on a raft for 40 days.
Fourth Patrol: February-April 1945
The Cobia's fourth patrol was in the Java Sea.
- On February 26, it attacked two small "sea trucks." One of them fired back, damaging the Cobia's radar and sadly killing Ralph Clark Huston Jr., a 20mm gun loader. He was the only Cobia crew member lost during the war.
- After sinking both sea trucks, the Cobia had to get repairs.
- Later, on April 8, it rescued seven crew members from a downed Army bomber. One of the rescued airmen, Jean Vandruff, later wrote about this amazing rescue in his book.
Fifth and Sixth Patrols: May-August 1945
The Cobia's fifth patrol was in the Gulf of Siam.
- On May 14, it attacked a cargo ship but was forced to dive deep by depth charges from a Japanese minelayer.
- On June 8, its luck changed! The Cobia found a group of enemy ships and sank both a tanker and a landing craft.
- Its sixth and final war patrol involved dropping off intelligence teams along the coast of Java.
- Then, it acted as a "lifeguard" submarine, ready to rescue pilots during air attacks on Formosa until the war ended.
- The Cobia returned to Saipan on August 22, 1945.
The Cobia had four "successful" war patrols and earned four battle stars. It was credited with sinking a total of 16,835 tons of enemy ships.
After the War: A New Mission
After World War II, the Cobia returned to the United States.
- It was taken out of service on May 22, 1946, and kept in reserve.
- On July 6, 1951, the Cobia was put back into service. It helped train Navy reservists and students at the Submarine School.
- By 1959, the Navy decided the Cobia was too old for combat. It was sent to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to be a training ship for the next eleven years.
- On July 1, 1970, the Navy officially removed the Cobia from its list of active ships.
A Museum Ship and Historic Landmark
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The Cobia was then towed to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. There, it became a special memorial for all submariners around the world.
- In 1986, the Cobia became part of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.
- It was also named a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- Today, the Cobia is permanently docked at the mouth of the Manitowoc River on Lake Michigan.
- Visitors can take tours of the submarine every day. Groups or individuals can even stay overnight on the ship!
The Cobia is kept in amazing condition thanks to ongoing restoration efforts. Many of its original systems still work, including:
- Two of its main diesel engines.
- The radio room.
- The SJ-1 radar, which is thought to be the oldest working radar set in the world!
