- 4 months ago
An engineer takes on the dangerous mission of repairing a submarine leak in Japanese waters.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykes, retired.
00:19In cooperation with the Department of Defense,
00:22we bring you another true and exciting submarine story.
00:25We call it the Jack at Tokyo.
00:28If it were fiction, we might well call it the tight squeeze.
00:32It is the story of a slender man with a stout heart,
00:35who played the key role in an agonizing dilemma.
00:43On June 5, 1943, the USS Jack departed from Pearl Harbor
00:47with orders to attack shipping in the Tokyo area.
00:50This is her crew.
00:52Not only was this the first submarine,
00:54but the first ship of any kind for most of them.
00:57Months of intensive training had welded them into a fighting unit.
01:00In addition to the officers,
01:02there was a small group of old submariners to rally around.
01:05Among these was chief motor machinist's mate, Earl Archer.
01:09You didn't have to worry about the engines with Archer in charge.
01:12Here at last was the forbidding coastline of Japan.
01:16Nearby lay the busiest port in the empire, Tokyo.
01:20The men of the Jack prepared to carry out their orders.
01:23Sticking their heads right into the lion's mouth, so to speak,
01:26they worked dangerously close to the coast of Honshu.
01:29And they got action.
01:32A convoy of merchant ships with escorts approached.
01:35The captain maneuvered his submarine into a position between the escorts and the convoy,
01:39and fired.
01:43No hits.
01:46Here come the escorts.
01:47Down, Periscope. Fall ahead, fall. Emergency, 200 feet.
01:50200 feet.
01:51Is that negative?
01:55Negative, bloody.
01:59The escort's speeding up.
02:01Turn on your speaker.
02:04Brick for depth charge.
02:05Brick for depth charge.
02:15He's passing overhead.
02:21What is the only noise.
02:35Lunch on air.
02:39That's it worth drowning.
02:45What's the noise.
02:48Captain, that string of chargers cracked something in drain.
03:10If they start pumping now, those japs will hear us for sure.
03:14See what you can do about it.
03:18200 feet, Captain.
03:22Rigged for silent running.
03:24Rigged for silent running.
03:25Rigged for silent running.
03:26Rigged for silent running.
03:39Another escort, a starter to run.
03:41Right full rudder, all ahead one third.
03:43Right full rudder, all ahead one third.
03:45Go maneuvering until further notice, we'll give speed changes on the telephone.
03:53Maneuvering until further notice.
03:55We will give speed changes on the telephone.
04:00Secure the steering motor ship to hand steering.
04:02Assemble all helmsmen in the control room ready to take turns at the wheel.
04:04They're not going to last long when the blow is off.
04:06Fire, sir.
04:07How about the gyro?
04:08Secure that too.
04:09We'll use magnetic compass for steering.
04:10Right full rudder.
04:30Right full rudder.
04:30Right full rudder.
04:33rudder.
05:03You too?
05:04Well, I know the Japs can't hear us walk, but if it makes anybody feel better, it's worth doing.
05:09They're coming in for another run.
05:13Left full rudder, left full rudder.
05:33Left full rudder, left full rudder.
05:52Left full rudder, left full rudder.
05:59Left full rudder.
06:10Left full rudder.
06:19Okay.
06:49Well, don't tell Archer I want to report on that leak.
07:05That should have brought the Japs, but it didn't.
07:08The depth charging got farther and farther away as the Jack headed slowly toward deep water.
07:19It's all clear. We've given them this lift.
07:23Secure from silent running. Start the pump.
07:25Take charge, Jim. I'll be in the engine room.
07:27Aye, aye, sir.
07:32They leak somewhere in this 18-inch piping where it runs outside the hull.
07:36It could be leaking in any of a dozen places.
07:39About 100 feet of piping from the Corning Tower to the engine room.
07:43It can hold more than four tons of water.
07:46Well, the leak's slow now, but another depth charge and she could let go all at once.
07:51We flew down like a rock.
07:55Any luck?
07:56We'll need luck to find this one, Captain.
07:59First time I've seen you stumped, don't you?
08:01It's a new one on me, Captain.
08:03Trouble is, on the surface, she won't leak. Submerged, we can't get at it.
08:07The same thing happened to me once in an ass boat.
08:09Took the Navy yard to find it.
08:12Well, we have two choices. They're both bad.
08:15We can go home and give the Japs a free run, or we can stay here and fight under a handicap until we find the leak.
08:21If we stay, we risk losing this ship.
08:24I'm afraid that'll have to be it.
08:26The Japs were aware that they had failed to destroy the intruding submarine.
08:40An all-out search was ordered, utilizing planes, surface ships, and even PT boats.
08:45Running with the current, the wounded Jack tried to put as much distance as possible between her and the point of attack.
08:52She had submerged at 4 o'clock that morning.
08:55It wouldn't be dark until 9.30.
08:58Each hour grew more critical.
09:00Captain, the battery's getting pretty low.
09:09Hmm.
09:10It'll be dark enough to service in about an hour.
09:12Lasts that long?
09:13Just about. Certainly not much longer.
09:16How's the leak?
09:17About the same. Maybe a little faster, if anything.
09:20Well, at least we haven't seen Tojo's boys for the past three hours.
09:25Our luck holds, we'll make it.
09:27After this morning, we've got a change of luck coming.
09:31Well, we can feel lucky about one thing. The air conditioning.
09:35If we were down in one of the old boats this long, we'd be swimming in our own sweat.
09:44Doesn't take the place of oxygen, though.
09:47Captain, we've picked up the sound of enemy search gear.
09:49I haven't been able to see them yet. The sound man says there's more than one ship. They're bearing no off.
10:00I'll have a look up there soon.
10:13I don't see anything.
10:14Could be submarines.
10:15Yeah, maybe.
10:16Have the diving officer take her up three feet.
10:19Plane her up three feet.
10:25Here's one of them.
10:27Looks like an anti-submarine vessel.
10:31Here's another.
10:34And another off the beam.
10:36It's a hunter-killer group. They're strung in a line and we're dead ahead of them.
10:39We can never run around them with what's left in the battery.
10:47All we can do is go deep and hope they pass over without detecting us.
10:51Take her down to 300 feet.
10:53Go below.
10:54Tell LeBron to shut down the air conditioning, the ventilation blowers, fans, unnecessary lights and anything else we don't have to have.
10:59They're telling how long this will last.
11:02The hunter-killer group came closer and closer, spaced equally each side of the position of the jack.
11:10She was perfectly bracketed. The setup was too good to be true.
11:15For the Japs.
11:16There's one on each side of us and one overhead. I can hear his propellers.
11:31The propellers are stopped.
11:35They've shifted to the sounding machine.
11:38The water's about a mile deep here. If they get a sounding at 300 feet, they'll know they're over a submarine.
11:41That lead's making it heavy, Captain. We'll either have to pump or speed up.
11:51Now boys, here we go. This way you'll lose them or bring them.
11:56Left full rudder, all ahead two-thirds.
11:59Left full rudder, all ahead two-thirds.
12:02The Captain knew that Jack's battery would take him only one more mile before he'd have to surface.
12:07He also knew he was no match for a hunter-killer group.
12:12There was no alternative.
12:14Take stations for gun action.
12:16Keep the guns crew below and ready until I see whether or not they spot us.
12:19Aye, sir.
12:21Service.
12:22Open the hatch.
12:40Open the hatch.
12:41Guns put on the hatch.
12:57Guns put on the hatch.
12:58Stop that!
13:08Hold your fire!
13:12He's turning around.
13:15This will see us.
13:17Guns crew is secure.
13:18The ship had been badly battered, but in the next few days and nights, everything was repaired.
13:32But the elusive leak.
13:34Day by day, it got worse.
13:36On June 26, 1943, the Jack was faced with her severest test.
13:41Another submarine reported by radio that a heavily escorted convoy was headed their way.
13:47We should be here about daylight.
13:49This is the kind of spot we've always wanted to be in.
13:52They don't know we're here, and we know they're coming.
13:54I'd be happy about it myself except for one thing.
13:57That blasted leak.
13:59If you're playing around with escort vessels, you need your full three strikes, and we'll be starting the game with two against us.
14:04One strike's all you need against these guys?
14:06Who knows? We'll be working against a new pitcher tomorrow.
14:09Captain.
14:11We're pretty busy, Archer. Can it wait?
14:12It's about the leak, sir.
14:13What about the leak?
14:14I think I know how to find it.
14:15Shoot?
14:17I believe I'm small enough to get inside that pipe.
14:19We can open the big valve in the engine room, and I'll crawl through it with a flashlight until I spot the leak.
14:23I don't know, Archer. That's pretty risky.
14:25You'll have to make your way through a hundred feet of pipe with water pouring in all the time.
14:28You get hung up in there, nobody can help you.
14:30I'll take my chances.
14:32Suppose your body blocks the pipe and the water builds up around you.
14:35You'll drown.
14:36I'll figure that, Captain.
14:38But it's the only way to do it. We all know that.
14:40Okay, Archer.
14:42If we're gonna make those repairs tonight, you better get started right away.
14:45You ready?
14:46I'm ready.
14:52Well, lucky it's Archer.
14:54How's that, Captain?
14:55If he does get hung up in that pipe, I don't think he'll lose his head.
14:59People panic, they swell up.
15:00I don't think they swell up.
15:10Can I have a shirt on, Archer?
15:11I'm sure I get scratched up in that pipe.
15:14No.
15:15It's like catch on something and hold me back.
15:17Maybe you ought to grease your shoulders.
15:19It'll make you slide through easy.
15:20It might make me lose traction in case I got hung up.
15:23Thanks anyway.
15:24You can spit in my eye any time.
15:33Are you all set?
15:34Yes, sir.
15:36That flashlight might get flooded in there. How about a spare?
15:38I didn't think I could handle it, so I take this one up to keep the water out.
15:41I guess you're right.
15:43Archer, good luck, sir.
15:46Thank you, sir.
15:47Open the hall, Clapper.
15:49Open the hall, Clapper.
16:18How you doing, Archer?
16:20You gonna make it?
16:22I hope so.
16:31You okay, Archer?
16:33No more, Archer.
16:35I don't see how I have room to move.
16:38Captain, I've picked up a man.
16:41Fine time with Archer and that pipe.
16:47He'll run or run up by Archer and then пис out the bar.
16:52I'm probably going to make it a lot better.
16:54I hope so.
16:56I'll kick it off.
16:58I need to try to find the car.
17:01I'll take a moment.
17:04I'll take my breath.
17:07I'll move one more.
17:10I'll be right back.
17:11I'll be right back.
17:14Have a look every couple of minutes, Jim.
17:33Let me know if he heads this way.
17:34Aye, aye, sir.
17:44How's Archer doing?
17:45Don't know if he heard you.
17:46You okay, Archer?
17:50Archer, you okay?
17:55Archer!
17:56You okay?
18:04Go in after him.
18:05I'll tell you where you are.
18:06You may be stuck in there, Mr. Roach.
18:08We know that, but we can't risk another man.
18:10Go keep an eye on him, and destroy him.
18:14I think I hear him.
18:28Yeah, I do.
18:30I see his feet.
18:44I see his feet.
18:58Take inspection, please, Captain.
19:18Yes, it's blown out.
19:20Good work, Archie.
19:21I think I can fix it.
19:23We'll do it tonight.
19:24Now when we tackle that convoy, we'll have our full three strikes.
19:28Close the platter.
19:38Go ahead, Arch.
19:39Spit in my eye.
19:41I haven't got the strike.
19:43Anytime, boy.
19:44Anytime.
19:49They worked all night to make the repair and prayed it would hold.
19:58It was none too soon.
20:11The convoy they were expecting was right on time.
20:14Run to the deck.
20:16Where's the bridge?
20:17Die.
20:18Die.
20:18Die.
20:33That's secure.
20:33Double off at 60 feet.
20:51We've got five ships in column in that close.
20:52Let's make it good.
20:53Up Periscope.
20:55Ready all torpedo tubes on the double.
20:57Number two in column.
21:03Mark bearing.
21:04Three, two, zero.
21:06Angle on the bow, 60 starboard.
21:07Mark range.
21:08Eighteen hundred yards.
21:09Estimated speed, nine knots.
21:12Now in Periscope.
21:13I don't see any escorts.
21:16What about those tubes?
21:17All tubes ready, sir.
21:18Up Periscope.
21:19How should she bear you?
21:20Three, three, seven.
21:22Put her on for me, gentlemen.
21:25There she is.
21:26Mark bearing.
21:28Three, three, nine.
21:29Set.
21:32Fire.
21:32One's fired.
21:38Two's fired.
21:39In the melee that followed, the Jack sank the number two and number three ships in column
21:51and damaged the number four.
21:54The last ship stayed well astern of the action and ran in circles.
21:58The skipper left his Periscope up so that everyone could have a look at their kills as
22:02they went under.
22:09Soon, the last ship steadied on a course directly for the Jack's Periscope.
22:16The Jack was headed for her.
22:18Down the throat.
22:20Angle on the bow, zero.
22:22Mark the range.
22:23One thousand yards.
22:25Set.
22:25While concentrating on this emergency, they weren't aware that another player had sneaked
22:29into the game.
22:30Terescope's gone.
22:41Diving control's knocked out.
22:43What's the depth gauge read?
22:44Must be busted.
22:45Says we're on the surface.
22:47This one checks.
22:47We are on the surface.
22:49Take her down, Miles.
22:50She won't go under.
22:52We'll flood everything.
22:53Stop the collision alarm.
22:54Range to the ship.
23:02Two hundred yards.
23:06One seventy-five.
23:10One fifty.
23:11Only a miracle could prevent the ramming.
23:14But it happened.
23:16The submarine started down with a lurch.
23:18All back emergency.
23:20Blow up our buoyancy.
23:21Blow up our ballast tanks.
23:22It was five miles deep here.
23:26The Jack plunged out of control.
23:29Her crew finally stopped her descent far below the depth her designers intended.
23:34Any deeper, she would have collapsed like an eggshell.
23:37The post-war record shows that the Japanese claimed for those few sinking moments no one
23:43in the submarine would have argued the point.
23:46The men of the USS Jack didn't need to be told what might have been, or rather what would
23:51have been, except for the ingenuity and courage of a slender man with a stout heart, who was
23:58not afraid of a tight squeeze.
24:00It is now my privilege to introduce to you the man with a stout heart.
24:09He was a chief petty officer then, but he is now Lieutenant Commander, Earl M. Archer, United
24:13States Navy.
24:15Admiral?
24:16Mr. Archer, did the show bring back any memories to you?
24:18It sure did, Admiral.
24:19When you make a patrol like that one, you never forget it.
24:22Must have made you feel like you were there again.
24:24It did, but there's one big difference I'm sure of.
24:26What's that, Mr. Archer?
24:27I enjoyed it this time.
24:30You were decorated for that patrol, weren't you?
24:31Yes, sir.
24:32The bronze star medal.
24:33Well, congratulations to you again and continued good luck to you.
24:36Thank you, Admiral.
24:39I was especially proud to present Lieutenant Commander Archer to you, because if it had
24:44not been for his unselfish heroism, I wouldn't be here.
24:48You see, we were shipmates on this patrol of the Jack.
24:51I was his skipper.
25:21That's all what we did.
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