USS Cisco, James W. Coe and the infamous toiler paper req.

Bubblehead1980 · 07-22-11, 02:21 PM

I recently started a career in TMO RSRD in July 1943 with a Balao.I was assigned the USS Cisco.Knowing the tragic story of the Cisco and her Skipper James W. Coe thanks to a book by his daughter(who was born after he was lost) authored in the early 2000's which I read about a year ago, was not sure if wanted to keep the sub but I decided to.

James W. Coe was one of the top skippers early in war.Starting the war in a S boat, he sank two ships at the onset of war in his broken down old sub.After taking command of Skipjack, he went on to sink several more ships despite faulty torpedos etc.

Coe was assigned to command the Balao class sub Cisco in January 1943, then under construction at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.Cisco had problems with an unruly crew and was completed in record time(55 days!) she had various problems such as leaks etc but was declared ready for service and sent to war in late July 1943.Cisco reported into Darwin Australia and headed for her patrol area in the South China Sea and that was the last anyone ever heard of her.

Japanese records show that a submarine was attacked and destroyed in the Sulu Sea.A vessell escorting a tanker spotted an oil slick and assumed it was a submerged submarine so dropped depth charges but continued on with the target.Later aircraft were dispatched , they bombed the slick repeatedly which was now on sultana shoals southwest of Panay, which brougth up a large amount of gushing oil.The waters were clear and the planes could see the submarine.A few days later, ASW craft arrived and bombed the site of the still gushing oil to ensure a kill.This was the Cisco.

Theory is the crew was not aware they were leaking oil and were caught by surprise and badly damage in the first attack by the escort.Then went to rest on the shoals to conduct repairs but were then attacked and suffered mortal damage while on the shoals.

The book is called "Full Fathom Five:A Daughter's Search" by Mary Lee Coe Fowler. A great read that gives a unique perspective as it details Jim's exploits as CO of S-39, Skipjack and Cisco but also the effect of his loss on his family. Great read, check it out.

A funny bit, James Coe was author of the infamous toiler paper requisition.This incident was taken from RL and put into the sub movie "Operation Petticoat"

USS SKIPJACK SS184/LS/SS36-1June 11, 1942
From: Commanding Officer
To: Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California
Subject: Toilet Paper
Ref: (a) (4608) USS Holland (5148) USS SKIPJACK req 70-42 of 30 July 1941
(b) SO NYMI cancelled invoice No. 272836
Encl: (1) Sample of cancelled invoice
(2) Sample of material required.
1. This vessel submitted a requisition for 150 rolls of toilet paper on July 30, 1941, to USS HOLLAND. The material was ordered by HOLLAND from the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, for delivery to USS SKIPJACK.
2. The Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, on November 26, 1941, canceled Mare Island Invoice No. 272836 with the stamped notation "Cancelled ***8212; cannot identify." This cancelled invoice was received by SKIPJACK on June 10, 1942.
3. During the 11-3/4 months elapsing from the time of ordering the toilet paper and the present date, USS SKIPJACK personnel, despite their best efforts to await delivery of the subject material, have been unable to wait on numerous occasions, and the situation is now quite acute, particularly during depth-charge attacks by the "back stabbers."
4. Enclosure (2) is a sample of the desired materials provided for the information of the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island. The Commanding Officer, USS SKIPJACK, cannot help but wonder what is being used at Mare Island in place of this unidentifiable material, once well known to this command.
5. SKIPJACK personnel during this period have become accustomed to the use of "crests," i.e., the vast amount of incoming non-essential paper work, and in so doing feel that the wish of the Bureau of Ships for reduction of paper work is being complied with, thus killing two birds with one stone.
6. It is believed by this command that the stamped notation "cannot identify" was possible error, and that this is simply a case of shortage of strategic war material, the SKIPJACK probably being low on the priority list.
7. In order to cooperate in the war effort at a small local sacrifice, the SKIPJACK desires no further action be taken until the end of the current war, which has created a situation aptly described as "War is hell."
J. W. Coe

Sailor Steve · 07-22-11, 02:55 PM

Old news, but I'm sure some of the newer members haven't heard it yet. Thanks for sharing.

Daniel Prates · 07-22-11, 02:57 PM

Rushing in ships hastly constructed would continue to happen onwards. Nowadays, this is regarded as a probable cause to the loss of the Uss Thresher in 1963, in the midst of cold-war pressures, as it appears to be the case with the USS Cisco.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Thresher_(SSN-593)

BTW, for those who do not know this story, what is this "toilet paper" anecdote?

Sailor Steve · 07-22-11, 03:00 PM

Pretty much as Bubblehead reported it.

http://www.submarinesailor.com/history/toiletpaper.asp

07-22-11, 02:21 PM	#1
Bubblehead1980 Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida USA Posts: 7,103 Downloads: 605 Uploads: 44	USS Cisco, James W. Coe and the infamous toiler paper req. I recently started a career in TMO RSRD in July 1943 with a Balao.I was assigned the USS Cisco.Knowing the tragic story of the Cisco and her Skipper James W. Coe thanks to a book by his daughter(who was born after he was lost) authored in the early 2000's which I read about a year ago, was not sure if wanted to keep the sub but I decided to. James W. Coe was one of the top skippers early in war.Starting the war in a S boat, he sank two ships at the onset of war in his broken down old sub.After taking command of Skipjack, he went on to sink several more ships despite faulty torpedos etc. Coe was assigned to command the Balao class sub Cisco in January 1943, then under construction at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.Cisco had problems with an unruly crew and was completed in record time(55 days!) she had various problems such as leaks etc but was declared ready for service and sent to war in late July 1943.Cisco reported into Darwin Australia and headed for her patrol area in the South China Sea and that was the last anyone ever heard of her. Japanese records show that a submarine was attacked and destroyed in the Sulu Sea.A vessell escorting a tanker spotted an oil slick and assumed it was a submerged submarine so dropped depth charges but continued on with the target.Later aircraft were dispatched , they bombed the slick repeatedly which was now on sultana shoals southwest of Panay, which brougth up a large amount of gushing oil.The waters were clear and the planes could see the submarine.A few days later, ASW craft arrived and bombed the site of the still gushing oil to ensure a kill.This was the Cisco. Theory is the crew was not aware they were leaking oil and were caught by surprise and badly damage in the first attack by the escort.Then went to rest on the shoals to conduct repairs but were then attacked and suffered mortal damage while on the shoals. The book is called "Full Fathom Five:A Daughter's Search" by Mary Lee Coe Fowler. A great read that gives a unique perspective as it details Jim's exploits as CO of S-39, Skipjack and Cisco but also the effect of his loss on his family. Great read, check it out. A funny bit, James Coe was author of the infamous toiler paper requisition.This incident was taken from RL and put into the sub movie "Operation Petticoat" USS SKIPJACK SS184/LS/SS36-1June 11, 1942 From: Commanding Officer To: Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California Subject: Toilet Paper Ref: (a) (4608) USS Holland (5148) USS SKIPJACK req 70-42 of 30 July 1941 (b) SO NYMI cancelled invoice No. 272836 Encl: (1) Sample of cancelled invoice (2) Sample of material required. 1. This vessel submitted a requisition for 150 rolls of toilet paper on July 30, 1941, to USS HOLLAND. The material was ordered by HOLLAND from the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, for delivery to USS SKIPJACK. 2. The Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, on November 26, 1941, canceled Mare Island Invoice No. 272836 with the stamped notation "Cancelled ***8212; cannot identify." This cancelled invoice was received by SKIPJACK on June 10, 1942. 3. During the 11-3/4 months elapsing from the time of ordering the toilet paper and the present date, USS SKIPJACK personnel, despite their best efforts to await delivery of the subject material, have been unable to wait on numerous occasions, and the situation is now quite acute, particularly during depth-charge attacks by the "back stabbers." 4. Enclosure (2) is a sample of the desired materials provided for the information of the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island. The Commanding Officer, USS SKIPJACK, cannot help but wonder what is being used at Mare Island in place of this unidentifiable material, once well known to this command. 5. SKIPJACK personnel during this period have become accustomed to the use of "crests," i.e., the vast amount of incoming non-essential paper work, and in so doing feel that the wish of the Bureau of Ships for reduction of paper work is being complied with, thus killing two birds with one stone. 6. It is believed by this command that the stamped notation "cannot identify" was possible error, and that this is simply a case of shortage of strategic war material, the SKIPJACK probably being low on the priority list. 7. In order to cooperate in the war effort at a small local sacrifice, the SKIPJACK desires no further action be taken until the end of the current war, which has created a situation aptly described as "War is hell." J. W. Coe

07-22-11, 02:55 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Old news, but I'm sure some of the newer members haven't heard it yet. Thanks for sharing. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-22-11, 03:00 PM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Pretty much as Bubblehead reported it. http://www.submarinesailor.com/history/toiletpaper.asp __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-22-11, 02:57 PM	#3
Daniel Prates Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Curitiba, Brazil Posts: 938 Downloads: 65 Uploads: 0	Rushing in ships hastly constructed would continue to happen onwards. Nowadays, this is regarded as a probable cause to the loss of the Uss Thresher in 1963, in the midst of cold-war pressures, as it appears to be the case with the USS Cisco. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Thresher_(SSN-593) BTW, for those who do not know this story, what is this "toilet paper" anecdote?