Cisco's keel was laid down by the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine.

She sailed from Panama on 7 August 1943 for Brisbane, Australia, arriving 1 September to assume local patrol duties, until 18 September, when she docked at Darwin, Australia.

Japanese records state this submarine was sunk by bombs and depth charges.

Japanese records state that the submarine was attacked by Nakajima B5N (Allied reporting name "Kate") attack bombers of the 954 Naval Air Squadron and the gunboat Karatsu (originally the U.S. Navy gunboat USS Luzon, captured by Japanese forces and put to work against her former owners).

The only survivor from the crew was taken sick in Darwin and sent ashore to the Navy hospital prior to Cisco's final voyage.