About this Unit
USS **Cubera (SS-347)** was a Balao-class submarine commissioned by the United States Navy in December 1945, shortly after the end of World War II. Although she did not see combat during the war, Cubera served extensively during the early Cold War era, participating in training exercises, anti-submarine warfare operations, and fleet maneuvers in the Atlantic and Caribbean. In 1949, she was fitted with a snorkel and underwent a GUPPY II modernization to enhance her underwater capabilities. After nearly two decades of U.S. service, Cubera was transferred to the Venezuelan Navy in 1972, where she was renamed ARV Tiburon (S-12).
Historical Facts
•
Namesake: USS Cubera (SS-347) was named after the cubera, a large species of snapper fish found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
•
Class and Construction: She was a Balao-class submarine, one of the most successful and numerous US submarine classes of World War II, built at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut.
•
Launch and Commissioning: The submarine was launched on June 17, 1945, and commissioned on December 19, 1945, just after the end of World War II, so she did not see wartime action.
•
Postwar Role: USS Cubera served primarily in the Atlantic Fleet, engaged in training exercises, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) drills, and fleet maneuvers during the early Cold War period.
•
GUPPY II Modernization: In 1947, she underwent extensive modifications under the GUPPY II (Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program) conversion, which improved her underwater speed, endurance, and habitability, adding a snorkel and new battery systems.
•
Home Port: Her home port was Key West, Florida, a hub for Atlantic submarine operations and training during the postwar years.
•
Rescue Operations: In 1947, Cubera participated in the rescue and salvage operations after the explosion of the USS Cochino (SS-345) in the Barents Sea, demonstrating the dangers of Cold War submarine operations.
•
Cuban Missile Crisis: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, USS Cubera was placed on alert and played a role in US naval readiness during this tense period.
•
Transfer to Venezuela: On May 1, 1972, Cubera was decommissioned and transferred to the Venezuelan Navy, where she served as ARV Tiburon (S-12) until 1989.
•
Legacy: USS Cubera earned a Navy Unit Commendation and contributed to the evolution of submarine tactics and technology during her nearly three decades of service in two navies.
