Remembering CTC Harris Monroe “Red” Austin, First DIRSUP Submarine Operator (Part 2 of 5)

Arriving at USS COCHINO (Featured Image)After three days waiting for the submarine CT1 Austin finally saw the USS COCHINO (SS 345) arrive at the port of Londonderry, Northern Ireland. With orders in hand, he promptly delivered them to LCDR Rafael C. Benitez, the Commanding Officer of the COCHINO.

Austin’s orders were no surprise to him, but they were huge to the skipper! The orders read in part, “that whenever USS COCHINO was on station at any one of the three points of interest in the Barents Sea LCDR Benitez was to take orders from CT1 Austin as to course, speed, disposition and technique. Furthermore, to carry out the purposes of the mission, COCHINO was to proceed forthwith to Portsmouth Royal Naval Shipyard where CT1 Austin would supervise the installation of certain special antennas and transmission lines through the pressure hull.”