- 4 months ago
We call this chapter the silent service the end of the line. It is a unique story unique because it had never happened before.
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00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Diker.
00:29He's retired. We call this chapter of the Silence Service the end of the line. It is a unique story. Unique because it had never happened before in the history of anti-submarine warfare, and because the methods employed were anything but orthodox. You will hear the captain of the USS Thresher say, those little buzzards would try anything.
00:51In July of 1942, the USS Thresher was assigned a patrol station off the entrance to Kwajalein Atoll in the Central Pacific.
01:05Those were the rugged days for the submarines.
01:10The war was still new, and our boys didn't know what the Japs had in the way of secret anti-submarine weapons and tactics.
01:17To add to their uncertainties, they weren't quite sure of what we ourselves had.
01:22Our torpedoes showed an annoying tendency not to explode when they hit the target, or going off before they got there, which was equally disturbing.
01:30Both would end up in no damage to the enemy, and a licking for the submarine.
01:36In those days, there was no radar to warn them of dangers in the darkness.
01:41With these uncertainties and deficiencies, it took brave men to sail their ship to within three miles of an enemy base.
01:49But they were looking for enemy ships, and that was the way to find them.
01:53The Thresher skipper was Lieutenant Commander William J. Milliken from Valley Stream, New York,
01:59a fine athlete at Annapolis and a veteran submarine.
02:02Lieutenant Robert M. Brinker from Park Ridge, Illinois, was her executive officer.
02:09The diving officer was Lieutenant James S. Bride of Pasadena, California.
02:15A torpedo officer, Lieutenant Lawrence V. Julin of Albuquerque, New Mexico,
02:20was off to the deck on the early morning of July 8, 1943,
02:24as the Thresher stealthily approached her diving point off the entrance to Quaduline.
02:30I've been hearing...
02:32Shh!
02:33I've been hearing something, Mr. Julin.
02:35Sounds like an engine run.
02:36Where? What direction?
02:38I can't make it out. It seems like it's all around us. Can't you hear it?
02:41Is that what you mean?
02:43Yeah, that's it. That's it.
02:45That's our own auxiliary engine.
02:47Every now and then, the sound seems to come up the ventilation piping from the engine room.
02:51You're right. I must be getting jumpy.
02:54Don't let it bother you. It had me worried for a long time when I first came on watch.
02:59Mr. Brinker says the enemy might even try to board us at night in here.
03:03Yeah, they would.
03:05If they got close enough before we saw them.
03:08Maybe we ought to bring the hand grenades and the Tommy gun up on the bridge where we can get at them.
03:13They'll be okay in the conning tower. Now, pipe down so we can listen.
03:19It's all clear, Mr. Brinker.
03:21I'll bet you get something to listen to before the night's out.
03:24Come on.
03:27Bridge?
03:28Yes, Bob?
03:29Still all clear on the sound gear.
03:31Thanks, Bob. Why don't you get some rest?
03:33I am. I'm going below now.
03:35The captain is resting here on the conning tower if you need him.
03:37Right.
03:38I don't see how the captain can take it.
03:47He's up all day making attacks and dodging patrol craft.
03:50And at night he sleeps on the deck of the conning tower.
03:52Things can happen mighty fast at night.
03:54He feels he has to be near the bridge.
03:56He owes it to the rest of us.
03:58Nobody can stand that for long.
04:00Well, don't worry. When he figures he's had it,
04:03we'll pull out and spend a couple of days just resting down about 200 feet.
04:08I could use that right now.
04:10And I'm not carrying his load.
04:19High-speed propellers bearing 105.
04:22Wait, flow runner!
04:29Can you see anything, Larry?
04:30No, sir. I'm turning to put the valve toward the sound.
04:32Good.
04:34Here he is, right in the beam. He's heading right at us.
04:46Collision imminent!
04:57He's trying to ram us.
04:58All back full!
05:10He's chickened out. He's turning away.
05:17Here, Mr. Jolin. Let him have it.
05:18They're gonna let us have it.
05:19Clear the bridge!
05:20Dive! Dive!
05:28Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive! Dive
05:58There's something caught under the lead.
06:12One of the lookout saddles.
06:14We can't stay submerged with this lead.
06:16Jeff!
06:17Yes, sir.
06:18We're going to have to open the conning tower hatch again.
06:21Line her up to the hatches two feet out of the water.
06:24Stand by to take her back down again.
06:26Aye, sir.
06:27Line her up.
06:28You men better go below.
06:35We'll have to take a shelf through here.
06:51Hold that hatch.
06:52The hatches out of the water.
07:14Take her down.
07:28200 feet.
07:30Take her down to 200 feet.
07:32Take her down.
07:33200 feet.
07:34Blood negative.
07:34Over from the lower hatch.
07:53Over from the lower hatch.
07:55低发 the key.
07:59$100.
08:01$100.
08:09Unter the О' s�ger.
08:13$100.
08:15$100.
08:17$10.
08:19He's coming in on a run.
08:35What do you suppose that is, Larry?
08:37I don't know.
08:38Something new, I guess.
08:41There's no worse than that, I guess we can take it.
08:44Two hundred feet, Captain.
08:45Very well.
08:47That's where life begins, Larry.
08:49Two hundred feet.
08:52No damage below, everybody's okay.
08:54Good.
08:54Should have seen it, Bob.
08:56He had us cold.
08:56All he had to do was keep coming, he'd cut us right in half.
08:59At the last second, he chickened out and he turned away.
09:01Then we ran along side by side looking at each other.
09:04Sorry, I missed it.
09:06I got the Tommy gun from Mr. Jilin, but he wouldn't take it.
09:09When I saw the guns he had, I figured it was best not to disturb the peace.
09:14Put us on a course for quaduling, Bob.
09:15We'll keep on running silent.
09:17My guess is we haven't shaken this joker yet.
09:22Yes, sir.
09:26The tenacious thresher continued to head for her hunting ground off the entrance to the atoll.
09:35Now, let's go.
09:36Battle stations!
09:37Battle stations, aye.
09:38Battle stations, aye.
09:39Battle stations, aye.
09:40I'm sorry.
09:41We'll keep on running.
09:42We'll keep on running.
09:43We'll keep on running.
09:44We'll keep on running.
09:45We'll keep on running.
09:46Good.
09:47We'll keep on running.
09:48What, Bob?
09:49What did we get, Bob?
09:50Big Merchamah just stood out of the atoll.
09:51She's right ahead.
09:52We'll be taking a look.
09:53Periscope.
09:54Stop the periscope.
10:06Stop the periscope.
10:07I don't see any escorts.
10:08I didn't either, but our friend from last year is still milling around astern.
10:14Make ready all torpedo tubes. Set depth at ten feet.
10:18Now let's all settle down and get this guy.
10:24Stop the periscope.
10:31Mark bearing.
10:323-4-2.
10:33Mark range.
10:341,900 yards.
10:35Stop the periscope.
10:38Angle at the valve, 50 port.
10:39All torpedo tubes ready.
10:41Stand by, Larry.
10:42Stop the periscope.
10:48Mark bearing.
10:493-4-0.
10:54Fire.
10:55Fire one.
11:03Fire.
11:14Take it out, emergency.
11:15Mike making a bomb run on us.
11:25That was a close one.
11:26Take it right down to 200 feet, Jim.
11:29Everything okay down there?
11:30Everything's operating okay.
11:32We sure nailed that guy.
11:33Two hits.
11:34Did he sink?
11:35I don't know.
11:36It's a lucky thing we didn't hang around waiting to see.
11:38How do we head?
11:39Steering due south.
11:40Bring around to the east.
11:41Steer zero nine zero.
11:42Left full rudder.
11:43Steer zero nine zero.
11:44Left full rudder.
11:45Steer zero nine zero.
11:46Left full rudder.
11:47Steer zero nine zero.
11:48Left full rudder.
11:49Steer zero nine zero.
11:50Left full rudder.
11:51Steer zero nine zero.
11:52Left full rudder.
11:53Steer zero nine zero.
11:54Left full rudder.
11:55Steer zero nine zero.
11:56Left full rudder.
11:58Steer zero nine zero.
12:00I ought to mix him up a little.
12:01The target's sinking, I can hear it breaking out.
12:05How about propellers?
12:11It's all quiet up there.
12:12I can't hear any props at all.
12:13You sure that thing is working?
12:14Yes, sir.
12:15It's working fine.
12:16Now, let's go.
12:17You sure that thing is working?
12:19Yes, sir, it's working fine.
12:27The bottle is on that nice turn, Bob. There's got to be a ship up there.
12:30There must be.
12:31I don't see how they can see us from the air at this depth.
12:34It seems to be safe. We'll take her down to 250 feet and change course again.
12:37Take her down to 250 feet!
12:39Steer 180.
12:41Steering new course 180.
12:47These charges are right on, Bob. It's got to be a ship.
12:53There must be something wrong with our listening gear.
12:56Rig for silent running.
12:58Rig for silent running.
13:00Rig for silent running.
13:01Ship to bow and stern planes to hand.
13:17We'll soon find out if they've been hearing us.
13:33All compartments are rigged for silent running.
13:36Rig for silent running.
13:46We must have found a fishnet.
13:48Maybe dragging it behind us, boys and all.
13:50The sentence you're marking our position.
13:52Have all compartments checked for oil or air leaks overboard.
13:55That first charge was a delay.
13:57If we ruptured an oil or an airline, we'd be leaving a nice trail.
14:00There's an air leak to the foul buoyancy tank. It's going overboard and we can't stop it.
14:18We'll keep trying.
14:19Aye, sir.
14:20Serious, Bob. No matter what we do, they can hang on till dark.
14:24What we do, they can hang on till dark.
14:54We've got nothing to worry about, boys.
14:59We'll even mark the spot for them if they can't hit us.
15:02Watch out for a wild pitch.
15:13High-speed propellers bearing 337.
15:16What does it sound like?
15:18Destroyer? Patrol boat?
15:20Sounds like the same guy as last night.
15:22He's sending right for us. His bearing hasn't changed.
15:30It's the same noise again.
15:40Well, it didn't hurt anything before. It shouldn't now.
15:44I'm just allergic to the loud noises underwater.
15:47Aren't we all?
15:49Sounds like he's turning around. He's starting back.
15:52Left full rudder.
15:53Left full rudder.
15:54Left full rudder.
16:22Left full rudder.
16:25What's that, Mr. Brinker?
16:27I don't know. But I don't like it.
16:30The former torpedo room says it sounds like a diver on deck.
16:33It's no diver.
16:35I guess it's some kind of a hook.
16:37A hook? What for?
16:39Some new trick.
16:40So that's why they haven't depth charges.
16:42Those buzzards will try anything.
16:44Take her down to 300 feet.
16:46Take her down to 300 feet.
17:14And pretty early.
17:18I'll take her down to her age.
17:20That he's getting deep.
17:22You turn up, Mr. Brown and solve it.
17:24WWE história will get out a hurry.
17:26Give her a full dive.
17:56I'll have to have more speed, Captain.
18:05She won't go down.
18:06In fact, she's coming up on me.
18:11All ahead, two thirds.
18:12Left full rudder.
18:13All ahead, two thirds.
18:14Left full rudder.
18:26Left full rudder.
18:37Left full rudder.
18:44I can't hold her down.
19:07They've got us hooked all right.
19:09Yeah, I was hoping it would bounce off.
19:10It must have caught on to something.
19:11The playing is just like a fish.
19:13Well, we'll have to break it loose.
19:15All ahead, full. Left full rudder.
19:17All ahead, full speed. Left full rudder.
19:22My guess is they'll try to hang on to us
19:24until we use up our battery and have to surface.
19:26Well, maybe this turn will snap it loose.
19:43What speed are we making?
19:50Four knots.
19:52Four knots? We ought to be making twice that much.
19:55Keep your planes on full dive.
19:57She's still coming up.
20:20Permission to flood negative?
20:21Flood up.
20:22Flood negative.
20:23One. One negative.
20:39She's up to 165 feet.
20:41She's still rising.
20:41I can't hold her.
20:43Bob, go below until the communications officer
20:48to burn the code books
20:49in all secret matter right away.
20:51Yes, sir.
20:52Shift your rudder to right full.
20:54Shift the rudder to right full.
21:02Blood number one auxiliary from C.
21:03I've flooded auxiliary, but we're still
21:23being pulled out of the water.
21:24Ships are coming in from all around us, sir.
21:40Tell maneuvering to give us all the speed they've got.
21:42Maneuvering, give us all the speed you've got.
21:44He's wearing his stuff now.
21:46Good.
21:47We're kicking ahead at full power.
21:48That's ought to break something.
21:54We're still rising.
22:05Didn't work.
22:07Stand by, Larry.
22:09When he pulls us up high enough to see,
22:10we'll fill the ocean with torpedoes.
22:12Make ready all torpedo tubes.
22:14Make ready all torpedo tubes.
22:16Watch it, Jim.
22:17I'm going to back.
22:18All back, emergency.
22:19All back, emergency.
22:24All back, emergency.
22:54We've broken loose.
23:01We've broken loose.
23:02We've broken loose.
23:03We're going down.
23:04All ahead, full.
23:05All ahead, full.
23:19Now that it's all over,
23:20I'm a little weak in the knees.
23:22Give me a cigarette, Larry.
23:24All right.
23:25All right.
23:28Boy, he almost got us.
23:30Yeah, his luck ran out just the right time.
23:34He's still a pretty lucky guy.
23:38How's that, Captain?
23:39Oh, when he sits around telling about the big one that got away,
23:43he won't be lying.
23:43I'm very pleased to introduce to you Captain Lawrence V. Julin,
23:55who was the torpedo and gunnery officer of the USS Thresher
23:58on that memorable day off Kwajalein.
24:00Larry, it's good to see you.
24:03Larry, it's good to see you.
24:03Tommy, nice to be here.
24:06Larry, do you do any fishing?
24:08Yes, actually.
24:09It's one of my favorite sports.
24:10Well, I'll bet you're one of the few fishermen
24:12who have any sympathy for the one who got away.
24:14Well, Tom, they go with my blessing,
24:16and it seems like a lot of them do, too.
24:18Perhaps subconsciously, you hate to drag them in.
24:21How does it feel to be on the end of a fish line?
24:24Well, I made 13 submarine war patrols,
24:27and the Ramones, of course, when the issue seemed in doubt.
24:31But this one had an eerie, unreal quality about it
24:33that topped them all.
24:36With a patrol averaging around 50 days,
24:38you were actually at sea in a submarine
24:40for almost two solid years under war conditions.
24:44As I remember, it seemed like more than 10.
24:47You were one of the real ball carriers of the submarine war.
24:50And it's an honor to have you with us.
24:59I hope you will be with us again
25:00when we reenact another true submarine story.
25:03The End of the Boundary
25:05The End of the Boundary
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