About this Unit
USS Tinosa refers to two submarines in the United States Navy, the most notable being USS Tinosa (SS-283), a Gato-class submarine commissioned in 1943 during World War II. Tinosa (SS-283) earned distinction for her aggressive patrols in the Pacific, sinking several enemy vessels and surviving numerous depth charge attacks. One of her most famous actions occurred during her second war patrol, when she encountered a Japanese tanker and experienced repeated torpedo malfunctions, highlighting critical flaws in U.S. torpedo design. After the war, Tinosa was decommissioned in 1953, having earned nine battle stars for her wartime service.
Historical Facts
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Namesake and Class: USS Tinosa refers to two U.S. Navy submarines named after the tinosa, a species of fish. The more famous is USS Tinosa (SS-283), a Gato-class submarine commissioned in 1942.
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World War II Service: USS Tinosa (SS-283) completed 12 war patrols in the Pacific during World War II, earning nine battle stars for her service.
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The "Unsinkable" Tonan Maru No. 3 Incident: In July 1943, Tinosa fired 15 torpedoes at the Japanese tanker Tonan Maru No. 3, scoring 13 hits, but most failed to explode due to faulty torpedoes—a pivotal event that led to improvements in U.S. torpedo reliability.
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Commanded by a Future Admiral: Tinosa's first commanding officer was Lieutenant Commander Lawrence Randall Daspit, who later became a rear admiral.
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Survived Multiple Depth Charge Attacks: Tinosa endured numerous depth charge attacks, including a close call on her first patrol when she was hunted for hours by Japanese escorts.
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Successful Sinkings: Over her wartime service, Tinosa was credited with sinking over 60,000 tons of Japanese shipping.
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Rescue Operations: Tinosa participated in lifeguard duty, rescuing downed American aviators from the waters near enemy territory.
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Postwar Fate: Tinosa (SS-283) was decommissioned in 1953, struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1960, and sold for scrap in 1961.
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Second Tinosa: The name lived on with USS Tinosa (SSN-606), a Permit-class nuclear attack submarine commissioned in 1964 and serving until 1991.
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Legacy: The story of USS Tinosa’s torpedo troubles played a vital role in forcing the U.S. Navy to address and fix the Mark 14 torpedo’s many problems, directly impacting submarine warfare effectiveness.
