- 5 months ago
Darter and Dace, a pair of intrepid U.S. submarines, wreaked havoc on the Japanese Navy in the Palawan Passage during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dyker's retired.
00:28The silent service now brings you the true story of the submarine's daughter in Dace,
00:34a wolf pack team which made history at the Battle of Lady Gulf.
00:39We call it the Two Davids and Goliath because a twist of fate
00:43pitted these two small ships against an entire Japanese fleet.
00:48And one of the two skippers was, in fact, named David.
00:58This is Commander David H. McClintock, skipper of the USS Dada and boss of the two submarine wolf pack.
01:08He hails from Marquette, Michigan.
01:10And this is his teammate, Commander B.D. Claggett, Baltimore, Maryland, skipper of the USS Dace.
01:17It is September, 1944.
01:24Tonight, these two close friends are keeping a prearranged rendezvous in the Celebes Sea, north of Barneo.
01:30I guess you remember Chief Turner?
01:37Oh, yeah. Yeah, sure do. New London, wasn't it?
01:40That's right, sir.
01:41How's everything been going, Chief?
01:43It's been going okay, sir.
01:45Our orders are to patrol the dangerous ground.
01:52Here, off the Palawan passage.
01:53Yeah.
01:54Is this a new chart?
01:56Captured fairly recently.
01:58Got an extra one for you.
02:00Thanks.
02:01I hope it's more accurate than the one I had last time I was up there.
02:04Lucky I didn't wind up on a reef.
02:06Of course, I guess if I did, you'd pull me off.
02:09I'm not so sure I wouldn't leave you there, is that?
02:12What?
02:13I thought I might leave you there.
02:14You mean that?
02:15I sure do.
02:17It meant the lives of hundreds of our other men a Japanese might cost us if we got away.
02:21And don't you forget it.
02:23All right.
02:25Okay, Dave.
02:26I'll do the same.
02:28Let's just hope it doesn't happen.
02:30Now, here's what I figure we're up against.
02:32MacArthur's due to land somewhere in the Philippines most any day now.
02:35Yeah.
02:36The enemy's bound to be expecting it.
02:37Their fleet's gonna have to go all out.
02:38Pull something really big.
02:40Yeah.
02:43Something big was building up all right.
02:46As the daughter and dates continued nodding towards their patrol area.
02:50The Japanese high command faced with certain defeat if MacArthur's forces recaptured the Philippines.
02:56But deciding to shoot the whole works to smash our amphibious landings.
03:00The show-go plan for all out defense in the Philippines was activated.
03:06Show is the Japanese word meaning conquer.
03:10The main body of the Japanese fleet under Admiral Kurita was ordered north from Singapore.
03:16The fast carriers under Admiral Ozawa were ordered south from Japan.
03:31The third naval force under Admiral Shima steamed from Formosa.
03:35All three enemy prongs were converging on the Philippines, prepared to strike any beachhead.
03:42Such large-scale movements did not pass unobserved by the underwater eyes of our fleet.
03:47The Pasugo under command of T.L. Wogan made the first contact on Ozawa's force as it speeded south from Japan.
03:54Other reports filtered into Admiral Limits on Guam.
03:58The enemy plan began to assume a predictable pattern.
04:02Carriers of the United States 3rd Fleet under Admiral Bull Halsey.
04:06And the 7th Fleet under Admiral Kincaid prepared to secure and defend the beachhead.
04:15This, then, was the big picture.
04:18But to the crews of the Daughter and the Dace scouting the treacherous waters off Palawan, cut off from the outside world,
04:26the picture was one of monotony.
04:29Endless days of constant scanning.
04:31Empty seas.
04:36Constant surface and periscope watch.
04:39Waiting.
04:41Waiting for the tip of a mast or a smudge of smoke on the horizon.
04:46A radar glimpse.
04:48Waiting.
04:50Killing time off-duty.
04:5285 men imprisoned in a steel cigar,
04:55counting the days till the return to home port and shore leave in Australia.
04:58At midnight before the morning of October 21st, the executive officer, the Dace, Lieutenant Commander Ben Benitez, hailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico, came up to the counting tower to relieve Commander Clagan.
05:13Morning, Captain.
05:14Morning, morning. Thanks.
05:16Any excitement?
05:18Oh, nothing.
05:20Gets a little tiresome.
05:23Glad it's almost over.
05:25Still think we'll be heading home in a couple of days?
05:27Could be.
05:29Of course, the last word I got from Dave McClinick, he had a hunch they may change our orders.
05:33He is hoping he's wrong.
05:35Who, Dave?
05:37I wouldn't bet against him.
05:38For 11 years, he's never been wrong in my book, not on any count.
05:42Well, it's all yours, Ben.
05:43Scare up some action.
05:44If we don't beg something soon, we won't dare go home.
05:47Message from the daughter. It's urgent.
05:49Intercept fast enemy ships proceeding on northeasterly course.
05:59Notice it said fast ships. I could be a task force.
06:03All ahead full, course 325.
06:06After all ahead full, course 325.
06:09Meanwhile, the daughter, making her top speed of 19 knots, was trailing the enemy force, tracking its zigzag events.
06:18Falling slowly behind.
06:20But Dave McClinick was sending vital messages, up the head to the date, many miles to the northern.
06:28Here was a perfect Wolfpack double play, in which McClinick directed his teammate.
06:33Taught an interception point four and a half hours in advance to the Japanese force.
06:38In effect, it was a forward pass.
06:40How we doing, Ben?
06:43Right on schedule, Captain.
06:45We're at the intercept point for the dawn attack at 430.
06:47Right on the nose.
06:48You hope?
06:50Yes, sir. I admit I'd feel better about our position if I had some star sights.
06:53Well, you're not going to get any tonight either. Still overcast.
06:56Well, the daughter's falling further behind the Japanese, but she's feeding us all the dope we need.
07:00Just gave us the Japanese zigzag plan.
07:02Good, good.
07:03If we don't make interception, it won't be the darter's fault.
07:05Oh.
07:07That's a chance of a lifetime, all right.
07:12Dawn, 0430.
07:19The sea around the days was empty.
07:23The minutes passed.
07:25455.
07:28Nothing in sight.
07:29515.
07:32515.
07:40Still no sight of the enemy.
07:48Captain, radio, message from darter. Enemy change course to west, Miss Dawn.
07:53Very well, radio.
07:57Tell them we'll continue the search to the westward.
08:00Aye, aye, sir. Continuing search to westward.
08:03Well, there you are, Ben. They just out-maneuvered us with that last turn.
08:06I'm glad it wasn't me.
08:08Waited for a while there, I'd muffed it.
08:10No, no. You made good your point of interception.
08:12Didn't run into any reefs.
08:13Well, it's a wonder.
08:14Missed a couple of them by a very thin, blonde hair.
08:17Yeah.
08:20Glad we were lucky about something.
08:21Well, I think you better break out the charts for the trip home.
08:25I want to check on the oil, fuel, and provisions. We're pretty low.
08:28Aye, aye, sir.
08:30Too bad we have to miss the show.
08:32But at least the daughter's been able to report the contact to Warren Bull Halsey.
08:35Yeah, it's better than nothing.
08:36At least we know they're on the move.
08:38We'll give it another hour, then secure the search.
08:40Aye, aye, sir.
08:52That night, the daughter and Dace held a rendezvous to coordinate their plans for the return voyage.
08:58They might as well have saved themselves the trouble.
09:00Radar contact from Donner.
09:05Maximum range. They say it could be ships or rain.
09:07Probably a rain squall or no breeder operator.
09:10Let's take a look at the scope.
09:12I've identified the contact, Captain, and it isn't rain. It's ships. Lots of them.
09:22How many do you make it?
09:23At least 30.
09:25Beautiful. Beautiful picture.
09:26That could be the main body of the Japanese task force.
09:28Ben, get confirmation to Dardar and step on it.
09:30Aye, aye, sir.
09:31Over in the Dardar, Dave McLintock immediately set the wheels in motion.
09:38Including the waking up of his encoding officer who had just started to dream of home.
09:42Hey, I'll slam, will ya? I'm off watch.
09:44No, it's me, Harry. McLintock.
09:47Oh, yes, sir.
09:48Get your pencil.
09:51Encode this and send it to Halsey and Kincaid right away.
09:54Large force.
09:56Course 040.
09:58Speed 20 knots.
09:59Aye, aye, sir.
10:02Meanwhile, the dates stood by, eagerly awaiting instructions.
10:06They weren't long in coming.
10:08Radio message from Dardar.
10:09Close to the enemy.
10:11Call ahead, fool.
10:12Call ahead, fool.
10:13Station the tracking party.
10:14Station the tracking party.
10:15Station the tracking party.
10:19Oh, no, not now.
10:20What is this, a game?
10:22I'm afraid not, sir. She's cocked out on me again.
10:24Well, how serious is it?
10:26It's a major repair. It may take quite a while.
10:29Well, fix it somehow. Every minute counts.
10:32This is fine. Just fine.
10:34This patrol.
10:36I guess we should have stood in port.
10:38No.
10:43While the radar operator worked frantically, the dates continued at full speed, checking with the data for changes in Japanese course and speed, running the calculated risk of branding one of those uncharted reefs or shoals in abundance throughout the dangerous ground.
10:57Well, I'm about ready to try her. A five-hour job done in an hour and a half. I hope it works.
11:09Boy, oh, boy, we're set.
11:15Good work. Well done. Good work.
11:17They look like big ships. Maybe battleships or large cruisers.
11:2325, 30, 32 ships.
11:2632 ships.
11:27Good. Ben, blow the ballast tanks dry. Get her just as high on the water as you can. Tell the engine room one every fraction of speed they can give me.
11:32Aye, aye, sir.
11:34Throw the low pressure blow on all main ballast tanks.
11:36Aye, aye, sir.
11:38The data was gaining attack position.
11:43Well, men, here's Stitch.
11:45In half an hour, at dawn, we're going to attack the whole doggone Japanese fleet.
11:52The enemy force is steaming in two columns.
11:55We're deployed well ahead of them and laying for them.
11:57The dates will hit them from one side, and we'll wallop them from the other.
12:00Between us, we can't miss.
12:01Zero out.
12:08The data and the dates drop below the surface to periscope depth
12:14and lay in wait for the fattest submarine target of all time.
12:24Final sessions.
12:31Turner, I have a hunch that auto was wasted.
12:37Every man's been in battle stations for 10 minutes, Captain.
12:43Aboard the date, as in the darter, tension mounted unbearably as the minutes passed.
12:56Death's charges. Death's charges.
13:01My eye. Those are darters' torpedoes.
13:04She's getting her licks into the Japanese fleet.
13:06Bam!
13:07Just like the Fourth of July.
13:09A cruiser's burning.
13:10The Japanese are milling around in circles, firing all over the place.
13:12What a show. What a show.
13:14All right.
13:16Here they come.
13:18Stand by for a set-up.
13:20The Japanese are milling around in circles, firing all over the place.
13:22What a show. What a show.
13:24All right.
13:26Here they come.
13:28Stand by for a set-up.
13:29Stand by for set-up.
13:32Bang.
13:33Mark.
13:35286.
13:37Range.
13:38Cruiser.
13:39Mark.
13:412300 yards.
13:43Down scope.
13:45Angle on the bow. 10-4.
13:46Now the success or failure of the Dacia's torpedoes rested largely on the power control party.
14:02Ranges, bearings, and angles on the bow had to be converted quickly and accurately into enemy courses and speeds.
14:07They grade the forward torpedo tubes.
14:09They fire six torpedoes. Let the first two ships go by. The third one looks like a heavy cruiser.
14:14All right, Captain.
14:16Screw noises are getting louder, Captain.
14:18All right, Captain.
14:22Final bearing.
14:24Mark.
14:25Zero, three, one.
14:29Set.
14:30Fire!
14:31Fire one.
14:33Fire two.
14:39One.
14:40Two.
14:41Three.
14:42Four.
14:43Down scope.
14:44Take her down.
14:45All ahead, full.
14:46All ahead, full.
14:47Four hits out of six fired. That's not bad.
14:49I think we'd better get out of here.
14:53Down, scope!
14:55Take her down!
14:57All ahead, pull!
14:59All ahead, pull!
15:05Four hits out of six fired, that's not bad.
15:07I think we better get out of here.
15:15Later that day, having been successful
15:17in shaking off the destroyers,
15:19the two Davids came up to the surface for a breather.
15:33The executive of the Darder,
15:35Lieutenant Commander Ernest L. Suave
15:37of Brooklyn, New York,
15:39is joined by McLintock on the bridge.
15:41Commence reload!
15:46About time you got some sleep, is it?
15:48Sleep? What sleep?
15:50I've forgotten.
15:52You had some, let me see.
15:54About 60 hours ago?
15:56Then we're about even.
15:58I hope we can find that damaged cruiser.
16:01Well, she was lying dead in the water.
16:03Probably just where we left her.
16:05Too good to pass up.
16:07Let's go back and see if we can finish her off before dark.
16:09Order days to join up.
16:11Aye, aye, sir.
16:13The weary crews and the two Davids
16:15returned to the area of the morning's action and submerged.
16:26They found what they were hoping for.
16:28And something they weren't hoping for.
16:30Two aggressive acting destroyers.
16:32It happened.
16:34She's in a takeout-class cruiser, alright.
16:36She's definitely stopped and there's not much chance of getting away.
16:38Yeah.
16:39It'll be hard to get at her in daylight with the company she's keeping.
16:41You're afraid that's out, Ernie?
16:43We'll get on a partial battery charge this afternoon
16:45and try a submerged night attack.
16:46Advise the days.
16:47Aye, aye, sir.
16:48As the Wolfpack stalked its prey trying to evade the destroyers,
17:02the enemy cruiser suddenly got underway,
17:04flipping from the scene at six knots.
17:09She's not gonna get away from me now.
17:11I'm gonna try and end around to the west.
17:13All ahead, Polk.
17:14Captain, we'll be going through the worst part of the shores at full speed.
17:17It's gonna be murder.
17:18You just give us the best navigation you can.
17:20This is a calculated risk.
17:21Left full runner.
17:23Advise the days and tell her to attack when ready.
17:25Right.
17:30The daughter and days, ignoring the hazards of running aground,
17:34maneuvered in headlong chase to elude the destroyers
17:38and close on their target.
17:43At seven minutes past midnight,
17:45Commander Claggett was finally closing into attack position
17:48when there came a dispatch from the daughter pregnant with Meany.
17:52The daughter's aground.
17:53She's what?
17:54That's all it said.
17:55Just three words.
17:56We are aground.
17:57Then they radio a quick middle of message.
17:58Take this egg.
18:03That's a tough one, all right.
18:04Yeah.
18:05Either way, I'm wrong.
18:08If I leave Dave McLintock parked on that reef,
18:10the Japanese will spot him as soon as it's daylight
18:12and blow him to pieces.
18:14If I stop to help him,
18:15the Japanese heavy cruiser gets clear away.
18:17That's the bind, all right.
18:20But one torpedo will probably finish it, too.
18:22According to the book,
18:23my job's to go after the cruiser.
18:25That's the only reason we're out here.
18:26What do you think McLintock would do in our place?
18:28Think? I don't think.
18:29I know darn well what he'd do.
18:30He'd go after the cruiser.
18:31What makes you so sure?
18:33We talked about it once.
18:36Anyway, his radio's out.
18:37We can't reach him.
18:41Captain speaking.
18:42The cruiser's picked up to seven minutes, Captain.
18:46Okay, okay.
18:47Keep tracking her.
18:48No further orders.
18:49One thing is sure.
18:52We've got to do one thing or the other.
18:54Fast.
18:56You don't make this kind of decision fast.
18:59Sorry, Captain.
19:01If Dave wasn't such a close personal friend of mine,
19:03it'd be a lot easier.
19:04I'd know then my judgment wasn't being swayed.
19:06There just isn't any right answer.
19:09Unless we forget about the cruiser.
19:11Chances are she's out for the rest of the war anyway.
19:13No, no.
19:14How can you be sure?
19:15We'll just have to keep after him.
19:18Let's go back to the bridge.
19:30Blasted escorts, they sure know their business.
19:33Can't get close enough for a shot.
19:35Well, try a different approach.
19:39Battle stations.
19:40Battle stations.
19:41Just in case we get them open.
19:45Hey, wait a minute. Hold everything.
19:46That moon coming out.
19:48Maybe get a little light on her.
19:51Hey.
19:56I can see the cruiser.
20:01I can see her real good.
20:03Ben.
20:04She's damaged.
20:05Hopelessly damaged.
20:06I think we can call the whole thing off.
20:08Suppose maybe we can get in one torpedo before we pull out.
20:12This wasted torpedo.
20:13She's too far out of range.
20:15Besides, there's no question about it, Ben.
20:18She's out for the rest of the war.
20:23It's time we did something about our own guys.
20:25Give me a course back to the darter.
20:27Aye, aye, sir.
20:28Commander Claggett hurried to the rescue of the darter.
20:38Faced with a job that had to be finished by daylight or else.
20:42There she was, fast aground.
20:44And with a high tide going out, it looked hopeless.
20:47The dace moved up warily to the reef, as close as she dared.
20:53A bow line was thrown and secured to the darter.
21:06Commander McLintock reluctantly decided to abandon ship.
21:08But first, code books and secret papers were assembled to be destroyed.
21:16Vital gear was demolished.
21:21Chief Turner performed the final rite,
21:23setting a timed demolition charge to prevent the darter from falling intact in enemy hands.
21:28The slow transfer of 85 men began.
21:58It was a tedious job, with only two six-man rubber lifeboats available.
22:13David McLintock was the last man to come aboard the dace at 4 a.m.
22:24What didn't you keep after the cruiser?
22:26Well, I saw the damage. She'll never fight again.
22:31I don't buy that. It's only an educated guess.
22:33Give me a better reason.
22:35The main reason, to my best judgment, is an attack was impossible.
22:40We tried, we tried repeatedly. We couldn't get past a destroyer's screen.
22:44I'll buy the second answer, but not the first.
22:47Got any coffee on this bucket of bolts?
22:52Well, Dave, the past two days we've accomplished a primary mission.
22:56To give timely warning, sunk two cruisers and knocked out a third in the process.
23:01The way I feel right now, I'd trade the whole thing to have my ship back.
23:04So, we lost a sub. But you saved the crew.
23:11No court-martial?
23:13I don't think they'll hang you.
23:14Well, I... I saved this much.
23:21Hey, that's...
23:23That's heavy enough to sink us along with the visiting firemen.
23:27Anyway, welcome aboard.
23:30It's gonna be a little cozy, though, with 160 of us.
23:32You won't hear me complaining, Clagg.
23:35Before we get to Australia, we'll be down to mushroom soup and peanut butter sandwich.
23:39Sounds delicious.
23:41Oh, uh, incidentally, our demolition charge is set for 445.
23:45Oh.
23:46Yeah, I think we'd better clear the immediate vicinity.
23:49Ben?
23:50Set a course for home.
23:51Aye, aye, sir.
23:52And so, on a note of disaster in the teeth of great triumph, this Wolfpack tea ended one of the unforgettable submarine patrols of World War II.
24:10I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
24:13Now I would like to introduce you to the two Davids in real life.
24:22Captain David H. McLintock and Captain Bladen D. Claggett.
24:27The two skippers, who, as you know, fired the first shots at the decisive battle of Lady Gull.
24:33Well, Dave, it must have been a satisfaction to learn you'd sunk the Jap Admiral's flagship right out from under him.
24:38Yes, I heard he floundered around in the water for quite a spell before they fished him out.
24:43It was Admiral Corita.
24:45And I hear it had a sort of reverse effect on his morale.
24:48I'm sure it didn't help any.
24:50And incidentally, Clagg, I agree with your exec.
24:53I think you made the right decision.
24:56Congratulations to you both.
24:59Be with us when the silent service reenacts another thrilling submarine story.
25:04Take her down and walk in line
25:10Through the deep blue and beneath the ocean
25:14We'll control the oceans wide
25:18From down, down, underneath the sea
25:21Safe and cold
25:23Safe and cold
25:24We'll pass the word
25:26In the future yet to be
25:30Safe and cold
25:31Safe and cold
25:32We'll pass the word
25:33In the future yet to be
25:34A submarine
25:36A submarine
25:37Underneath the sea
25:39So wait for dives
25:41And take her down
25:43Some go down, down, underneath the ocean
25:47There was a man who will find me now
25:52In the deep blue, underneath the sea
25:56Oh god
25:58Third thing
26:00To be aware of
26:05In the hundredtır
26:15I am tired and I know who you are
26:17That is too
26:19It makes me eat
26:21This does not being
26:24Oh, it's not yours!
26:45It probably works a lot better if it takes the lens cover.
26:48Yeah, it takes the lens cover off.
26:54Well, let's see here.
27:03Excuse me.
27:04Wait, what did you see around here?
27:10I don't want to spoil the camera.
27:16Where the hell are you?
27:18I don't want to spoil the camera.
27:22This is nice to use you.
27:24Excuse me, honey.
27:27Oh-oh.
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