Cisco (SS 290)
[ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]Venturing out for her first war patrol, Cisco (Lt. Cdr. J. W. Coe), left Port Darwin, Australia on 18 September 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 19 September.
J. W. CoeCisco'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 28 September, Cisco should have been due west of Mindanao in the center of the Sulu Sea. On that day a Japanese antisubmarine attack was made at 9°-47'N, 121°-44'E slightly north and east of Cisco's expected position. In reporting the attack the Japanese state, "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 has been seen of or heard from Cisco since her departure from Darwin, and on 4 and 5 November 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 S-39, and three as Commanding Officer of Skipjack. He was considered a most able and successful Submarine Officer.
![]()
![]()
U.S.S. Cisco (SS-290) Name Rate Name Rate Abrams, Donald B.
Anderson, Donald F.
Anderson, John R. D.
Argersinger, Edgar E.
Baker, Walter M.
Berry, Howard B.
Besnot, Lucien R.
Briggs, Frederick M.
Bubp, Herbert K.
Buck, John E., Sr.
Buratte, Austin O.
Cannon, Patrick J.
Coe, J.W.
Coe, William F.
Cole, Lenard R.
Corkery, Charles R.
Diery, Rudolf M.
Dohlus, William F., Jr.
Dragich, Joseph
Edwards, Myrle J.
Fippen, James M.
Fisher, Richard K.
Genoozis, Anthony M.
Gondorchin, George
Gurganus, Arthur A.
Hagedorn, Robert J.
Halsten, Duane H.
Handrew, William J.
Hare, Edward N.
Hergold, Walter B.
Hoover, G.P.
Intscher, Michael, Jr.
Johnson, Donald W.
Jones, William F.
Keller, Alex
Kisbaugh, Sterling
Kovacs, Joseph
Kraus, Henry J.FC2
CMoMM
S2
S1
SC1
LT
S1
EM2
F1
F2
TM1
RM3
CDR-CO
RT1
S2
TM2
SC2
EM1
CMoMM
S1
EM3
MoMM1
F2
S2
CTM
MM1
F2
S1
F3
EM2
LTJG
MoMM1
F2
F
MoMM2
TM3
EM2Lacasse, David A.
La Rouche, Roger J.
Louney, Walter H.
Mairs, Clarence H.
Mazieka, Julian B.
McCarson, Frank B.
Menear, Lyle K.
Mewborn, Marion T.
Millard, Lawrence C.
Miller, John D.
Morrissey, Richard F.
Nelson, Samuel
Nicoll, Gordon L.
Noble, Charles F.
Peterson, C.I.
Pitman, Read
Rausch, Raymond J.
Ritzler, Adna T.
Satterwhite, Marshall
Sermini, Mario E.
Sweet, Walter W.
Teach, Lewis F.
Timm, Verner C.
Toebbe, Henry E.
Travis, William W.
Upson, Earl R.
Vilandre, Roland H.
Vitale, Rocco J.
Waltis, Vincent
Warren, George H.
Wehr, Howard
Weinel, August F.
Wetsky, Lawrence A.
Williams, Albert W.
Winter, John W.
Zar, Charles
Zeis, Matthew J.
Zywicki, Frank W.TM3
Cox
LT
S2
S2
EM1
TM3
MM1
SM2
LCDR
RM3
StM2
GM2
F1
ENS
TM2
MoMM1
SM1
TM2
F2
EM3
TM2
PhM2
CTM
F1
GM1
F1
MoMM1
EM1
EM3
EM3
LCDR-XO
MoMM2
StM1
TM2
SC3
MoMM1
QM1
Cisco (SS-290)
Table of Contents