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100th Anniversary Submarine Service - LA Class Submarine
The Cachet depicts a sailor resting in his bunk in the torpedo room of the USS Dorado (SS-248). The keel of the USS Dorado (SS-248) was laid down by the Electric Boat Company at Groton, Connecticut on August 27, 1942. The ship was sponsored by Mrs. Ezra G. Allen and launched on May 23, 1943. Dorado was commissioned on August 28, 1943 with Lieutenant commander Earl C. Schneider in command. The newly commissioned Dorado sailed from New London, Connecticut, on October 6, 2025 for Panama. She did not arrive at Panama nor was she heard from at any time after sailing. The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet in his comments concerning the Court of Inquiry covering the case, listed three possible causes for the loss of Dorado: Operational Casualty, Enemy Action and Attack by Friendly Forces. The standard practice of imposing bombing restrictions within an area fifteen miles on each side of the course of an unescorted submarine making passage in friendly waters and fifty miles ahead and one hundred miles astern of her scheduled position was carried out and all concerned were notified. A convoy was so routed as to pass through the bombing and attack restriction area surrounding Dorado on the evening of 12 October 12, 1943, assuming correct navigation and adherence to schedule by both. A patrol plane which was assigned by the Commandant, Naval Operating Base Guantanamo to furnish air coverage on the evening of October 12 received faulty instructions as to the location of the bombing and attack restriction area surrounding Dorado and at 2049 local time, the plane delivered a surprise attack of three depth charges on an unidentified submarine. About two hours later, the plane sighted another submarine with which it attempted to exchange recognition signals without success. This submarine fired upon the plane. A German submarine was known to be operating near the scene of these two contacts. Because of the lack of evidence, the Court of Inquiry was unable to reach definite conclusions as to the cause of the loss of Dorado, however it is most likely that Dorado was sunk by the Guantanamo patrol plane. USS Dorado and 76 Submariners rest on Eternal Patrol. Sources:
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was added on November 19, 2025 |