During the latter part of 1949, early in the Cold War Era, Benítez was given the command of the submarine USS Cochino.
On August 12, 1949, the Cochino, along with the USS Tusk, departed from the harbor of Portsmouth, England.
Both diesel submarines were reported to be on a cold-water training mission.
 However, according to Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage, the submarines – equipped with snorkels that allowed them to spend long periods underwater, largely invisible to an enemy, and with electronic gear designed to detect far-off radio signals – were part of an American intelligence operation.

The mission of the Cochino and Tusk was to eavesdrop on communications that revealed the testing of submarine-launched Soviet missiles that might soon carry nuclear warheads.
 This was the first American undersea spy mission of the cold war.

On August 25, one the Cochino's 4,000-pound batteries caught fire, emitting hydrogen gas and smoke.
Unable to receive any help from the Tusk, Commander Benítez directed the firefighting.
He ordered the Cochino to surface and had dozens of crew members lash themselves to the deck rails with ropes while others fought the blaze.
Benítez tried to save his ship and at the same time save his men from the toxic gases.
He realized that the winds were about to tear the ropes and ordered his men to form a pyramid on the ship's open bridge, which was designed to hold seven men.

The Cochino suffered two casualties, Lt.
Cmdr.
Richard M. Wright, who survived despite the fact that he was severely burned, and Robert Philo, a civilian sonar expert, who attempted to reach the Tusk on a raft to report on the conditions of the Cochino, but was knocked overboard along with 11 of the Tusk's crew members.
As a result, Philo and six of the Tusk's crew perished.

The ocean waters became calmer during the night and the Tusk was able to approach the Cochino.
 All of the crew, with the exception of Commander Benítez, boarded the Tusk.
 Finally, the crew members of the Tusk convinced Benítez to board the Tusk, which he did two minutes before the Cochino sank off the coast of Norway.
During the latter part of 1949, early in the Cold War Era, Benítez was given the command of the submarine USS Cochino. On August 12, 1949, the Cochino, along with the USS Tusk, departed from the harbor of Portsmouth, England. Both diesel submarines were reported to be on a cold-water training mission.  However, according to Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage, the submarines – equipped with snorkels that allowed them to spend long periods underwater, largely invisible to an enemy, and with electronic gear designed to detect far-off radio signals – were part of an American intelligence operation.
The mission of the Cochino and Tusk was to eavesdrop on communications that revealed the testing of submarine-launched Soviet missiles that might soon carry nuclear warheads.  This was the first American undersea spy mission of the cold war.
On August 25, one the Cochino's 4,000-pound batteries caught fire, emitting hydrogen gas and smoke. Unable to receive any help from the Tusk, Commander Benítez directed the firefighting. He ordered the Cochino to surface and had dozens of crew members lash themselves to the deck rails with ropes while others fought the blaze. Benítez tried to save his ship and at the same time save his men from the toxic gases. He realized that the winds were about to tear the ropes and ordered his men to form a pyramid on the ship's open bridge, which was designed to hold seven men.
The Cochino suffered two casualties, Lt. Cmdr. Richard M. Wright, who survived despite the fact that he was severely burned, and Robert Philo, a civilian sonar expert, who attempted to reach the Tusk on a raft to report on the conditions of the Cochino, but was knocked overboard along with 11 of the Tusk's crew members. As a result, Philo and six of the Tusk's crew perished.
The ocean waters became calmer during the night and the Tusk was able to approach the Cochino.  All of the crew, with the exception of Commander Benítez, boarded the Tusk.  Finally, the crew members of the Tusk convinced Benítez to board the Tusk, which he did two minutes before the Cochino sank off the coast of Norway.
Rafael Celestino Benítez