USS Cobia (SS-245)

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum is home to USS Cobia (SS-245) and for any enthusiast of ships, World War II, or the Silent Service, it is a real treat. It is very well restored with few modifications. Our tour guide told us the forward deck gun isn’t quite right, and the after deck has a covered stairwell to keep us tourists from killing ourselves going up and down ladders. Cobia was not built at Manitowoc, she was built at Groton CT., but 20 some odd GATO Class submarines very much like her were built at Manitowoc during the war. Manitowoc submarines were taken southwards on Lake Michigan, through the Cal-Sag channel into the Mississippi, and thence to New Orleans and the Gulf. Cobia earned 4 Battle Stars during the war in actions from Java to the Bonin Islands. She sank 16,835 tons of Japanese shipping during 6 war patrols. She also rescued 7 airmen. Most notably she sank 7,700 ton Nishu Maru with a cargo of tanks for the Japanese garrison on Iwo Jima. All Gato class submarines were named for sea creatures. Most of the famous US Subs from the Pacific bear names of these fish, such as Cobia, Tang, Archerfish, Tautog, Wahoo etc. A visit to this museum is a lot of fun. Along with touring Cobia, you can view the exhibits on the history of Great Lakes Maritime commerce and shipping. Turn your cap backward like Carey Grant did in "Destination Tokyo" and take a look out of the periscope from USS Rasher toward the harbor and Lake Michigan. (Rasher herself once sank a Japanese Aircraft Carrier, the Taiyo, off the Island of Formosa). 55% of Japanese shipping sunk during the war was sent to the bottom by our submarines. They made up only 2% of the US Navy, and sub duty was an all volunteer service. 52 US Submarines were lost, or 1 out of 5, most with all hands. Sources: DANFS Online: http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/submar/ss245.htm Kimmet, Larry and Regis, Martha. US Submarines in World War II : An Illustrated History.