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USS Cisco (SS-290)
The keel of USS Cisco (SS-290) was laid down on October 29, 2025 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. Andrew g. Bennett and launched on December 24, 1942. Cisco was commissioned on May 10, 2025 with LCDR James W. Coe in command. Venturing out for her first war patrol of WWII, USS Cisco (SS-290), with LCDR J. W. Coe in command, left Port Darwin, Australia on September 18, 1943. That evening she returned to Darwin due to a derangement of the main hydraulic system which had occurred during the day's operation. The hydraulic system having been repaired to the satisfaction of the Commanding Officer, Cisco once more departed on September 19. Cisco's area was a large rectangular one in the South China Sea between Luzon and the coast of French Indo-China. In order to reach it, she was to pass through the Arafoera Sea area, the Banda Sea, Manipa Strait, Molukka Passage, the Celebes Sea, Sibutu Passage, the Sulu Sea and Mindoro Strait. On September 28 Cisco should have been due west of Mindanao in the center of the Sulu Sea. On that day a Japanese antisubmarine attack was made slightly north and east of Cisco's expected position. In reporting the attack the Japanese stated, "Found a sub tailing oil. Bombing. Ships cooperated with us. The oil continued to gush out even on tenth of October." The attack would seem to have been made by planes in cooperation with ships. No submarine which returned from patrol reported having been attacked at this time and position. Nothing had been seen of or heard from Cisco since her departure from Darwin , and on November 4 and 5, 1943, Headquarters Task Force Seventy-One was unable to make radio contact with her. At the time of her loss it was considered very unlikely that a recurrence of trouble with her main hydraulic system could explain her sinking, and the only other possible clue was the fact that a Japanese plane was reported over Darwin at twenty thousand feet on the morning of her second departure. The attack listed above is thought to probably explain this loss. No enemy minefields are known to have been in her area, or enroute to it. Coe had previously made three war patrols as Commanding Officer of USS S-39 (SS-144), and three as Commanding Officer of USS Skipjack (SS-184). He was considered a most able and successful Submarine Officer. Sources:
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