- 2 months ago
The USS Bergall, which has been badly damaged, is trying to get to port but three Japanese patrol boats are making it difficult.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykes, retired.
00:28The story you're about to see in this chapter of the silent service deals with two of the best traditions of the sea.
00:35The concern of a captain for his crew and the love of a crew for their ship.
00:41It is one of the most daring exploits of the war. I'm sure you'll like it.
00:50The exotic island of Valley has held a lot of attraction for tourists.
00:54It is one of the lovely chains stretching east and west from Javada, New Guinea.
01:01Its nearest neighbor to the east is Lombok Island, only five miles away.
01:08And between them lies Lombok Strait. The tourists would find it ideally.
01:14But the USS Burgall, heading north from a base in Australia in November 1943, found it less inviting.
01:23The Strait was loaded with Japanese men on denying passage through this bottleneck.
01:29The Burgall skipper was Commander John M. Hyde, a veteran submariner from Flushing, New York.
01:44Lieutenant Commander Benjamin C. Jarvis from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was not regularly attached to the Burgall.
01:51He was slated to command another submarine and was making this patrol to understudy the captain.
01:57Our executive officer was Lieutenant Robert L. Isen from Atlanta, Georgia.
02:02Bob had been an all-American end at Georgia Tech.
02:06Lieutenant Edward G. Welch from Mendham, New Jersey was the torpedo officer.
02:11Lieutenant H. E. Drew, Jr., from Orange, Connecticut, was the diving officer.
02:17Down scope.
02:19They're there all right. Usual welcoming committee, I guess.
02:23How many?
02:24I can see two of them.
02:25There's usually three. Shake, rattle and roll.
02:28They're all must be up at the north end this time.
02:30That's par for the course.
02:32Come on, Skipper. Let's knock these guys off.
02:35They're too small. The torpedoes might pass right under them.
02:38Yeah, but they pack a lot of gun power for their size, though.
02:41I know how Ed feels. Hate to have to keep sneaking through here.
02:45When we get through laying our minds in the Gulf of Siam, we'll need every torpedo we get on board.
02:50We're after a lot bigger game than patrol boats.
02:53I guess you're right, Captain. But somebody ought to clean this place out.
02:57It's not so bad when we're going north, because we're always in good shape.
03:00But if one of the subs gets hit, it's going to have a rough time getting through on the way back home.
03:04It'd be a nice job for the air boys, if they could keep it open.
03:07All right, let's dispense with the ifs and get out with the job.
03:10Up, Skipper.
03:12Now, let's go.
03:29I don't think he knows where you're here. Down scope.
03:31We'll hug the coast of valleys as we go north.
03:37You got the charts?
03:39Yes, sir.
03:40How far off the beach do you want to run, Captain?
03:42About a mile.
03:43That's awful close.
03:49Hugging close to the Balinese coast,
03:51the USS Burgall took advantage of the noise
03:54of the breakers pounding on the rocks.
03:56It prevented the Japanese patrol boats from hearing her
04:00as she worked her way through.
04:02By nightfall, she was in the open ocean,
04:04where she surfaced.
04:07And headed towards the Gulf of Siam and her mine plant.
04:21It seemed almost peaceful in those southern waters.
04:24A light, warm breeze and just enough sea to keep it interesting.
04:29Burgall was running along on all four of her powerful engines.
04:34Watch officers and lookouts were probing the horizon
04:40while they tried to keep thoughts of home from clouding their vision.
04:44A moment's lapse in the wool gathering would be fatal.
04:48She threaded her way through the narrow waters of Karamata Strait,
04:54which was held in strength by the enemy.
04:56And into the open stretches of the South China Sea.
05:02Here at last was open water, and the boys of the Burgall breathed a big sigh of relief.
05:18They set a course directly for the Gulf of Siam, where they were to plant their mines.
05:34When they got into the shallow waters of the Gulf, something happened.
05:42Contact on the radar, bearing 342.
05:46surface contact bearing 342.
05:56surface contact bearing 342.
05:58342.
06:00What is it, Drew?
06:02I don't know yet. We can just see your tops in the periscope.
06:04All ahead, foe, station tracking party.
06:16All ahead, foe.
06:18Using the advantage of being able to see with a powerful glass from a very high point,
06:24the Burgall was able to stay out of sight during the remainder of the day,
06:28while they made sure of the enemy's course and speed.
06:32When it got dark, they moored in to make the attack on the surface.
06:38By this time, they knew their target.
06:41It was two warships.
06:44The new one looks like a light cruiser.
06:46The poor one's probably a destroyer.
06:48Could be. I can't see him well enough yet.
06:51What speed do you get, Ed?
06:53Sixteen knots.
06:55Target speed still checks at sixteen knots.
06:58Okay, Bob.
06:59Let's close and shoot now as fast as we can.
07:02Give me a sounding.
07:03Sounding?
07:06Seven fathoms.
07:07Seven fathoms.
07:08Very well.
07:09They detect us we're going to be in bad shape.
07:14No kidding.
07:15We sure can't dive in 42 feet of water and we can't outrun them.
07:18This is going to be smart only if it works.
07:20The near one.
07:21It's a heavy cruiser.
07:23Bioko class.
07:24They've ziged toward us.
07:25Radar and block.
07:26Both show the target has ziged toward us.
07:27Make ready all torpedo tubes on the double.
07:28Make ready all torpedo tubes on the double.
07:29We've hit it across our bow.
07:30Has the target speeded up?
07:31No, it still checks at sixteen knots.
07:33All ahead one third.
07:34All ahead one third.
07:35They don't see us yet, Ben.
07:36They're becoming a lot faster.
07:37If we just hold this course a couple of more minutes, we've got them.
07:38All torpedo tubes ready.
07:39All torpedo tubes on the double.
07:40Make ready all torpedo tubes on the double.
07:41Make ready all torpedo tubes on the double.
07:42We've hit it across our bow.
07:45Has the target speeded up?
07:47No, it still checks at sixteen knots.
07:50All ahead one third.
07:52All ahead one third.
07:53They don't see us yet, Ben.
07:54They're becoming a lot faster.
07:56If we just hold this course a couple of more minutes, we've got them.
08:00All torpedo tubes ready.
08:09Mark Barry, set, fire!
08:39Left full runner.
08:40Left full runner.
08:41Left full runner.
08:42Stand by the stern tubes.
08:43Hold it in, Captain.
08:44She's broken in half.
08:45Where's that destroyer?
08:46She's on the other side of the cruiser.
08:47Let's get moving.
08:48All ahead, flank.
08:49All ahead, flank.
08:50All ahead, flank.
08:51Radar shows both ships are ready.
08:53All ahead, flank.
08:54Radar shows both ships are stopped.
08:55I think you've got both of them.
08:56One of the fish must have hit the second ship.
08:57I'll work around behind them and finish them off on the other side.
08:59Right full runner.
09:00Right full runner.
09:01Right full runner.
09:02Right full runner.
09:03Their ammunition is exploding.
09:04That looks like gunfire to me, Captain.
09:05That looks like gunfire to me, Captain.
09:06That looks like gunfire to me.
09:07That looks like gunfire to me, Captain.
09:08Radar shows both ships are stopped.
09:10I think you've got both of them.
09:11One of the fish must have hit the second ship.
09:13I'll work around behind them and finish them off on the other side.
09:16Right full runner.
09:18Right full runner.
09:25Their ammunition is exploding.
09:27That looks like gunfire to me, Captain.
09:29Hit and forward torpedo room.
09:36Fire and forward torpedo room.
09:38I repeat.
09:39Hit and forward torpedo room.
09:42Fire and forward torpedo room.
09:52Well, let's get these matches.
09:53Let's step up for a close spot.
09:54Get in there.
09:55Cover those holes now.
09:59Let's get out of here.
10:00Let's get out of here.
10:01Let's get out of here.
10:02Let's get out of here.
10:03Let's get out of here.
10:04Let's get out of here.
10:08No.
10:09No one's hurt.
10:10No casualties.
10:11Are we taking any water?
10:13No, sir.
10:14There's an eight-inch hole on the port side.
10:16The shell broke up going out.
10:18Took a four-by-five-foot section with it.
10:20The bottom of the hole.
10:21How far above the water line?
10:22About two feet.
10:23Thank God for a smooth sea.
10:24Head stuffing mattresses in the hole now.
10:26Good.
10:27Radio report to the force commander.
10:28Now let's get out of here.
10:30Left full runner.
10:31All ahead, full.
10:32Left full runner.
10:33All ahead, full.
10:34They couldn't possibly dive with that hole in the hole.
10:41The nearest place that they could put in for repairs was Darwin, Australia, which was
10:461,800 miles away.
10:471,200 of that, controlled by the enemy.
10:50Before they could get in the clear, they had to pass through two narrow straits.
10:56Karamata was not so bad.
10:58But Lombok was always a tough one.
11:00They'll be looking for us at daylight for sure.
11:05There's nothing we can do to hide when the aircraft come over.
11:09I don't want to seem pessimistic.
11:11But the chances of getting this ship home are 50 to 1 against.
11:14Might as well face the facts.
11:16Now, there's some small islands off the coast of Borneo that are unoccupied.
11:20We could head over there and scuttle the ship.
11:23Or we could put some of the crew ashore and the rest of us try to get her back.
11:27Third alternative, keep the crew intact, run the gauntlet.
11:33What do you think?
11:35Well, putting the crew ashore and scuttling would be the sure thing to do.
11:39We'd all be saved.
11:41But I don't think we'd like it that way.
11:43We'll always figure that maybe we could have brought her in.
11:47Most of the crew put this ship in permission, Captain.
11:51I don't think they want to give her up if there's any chance of bringing her through.
11:54I'll go along with Bob.
11:56Thanks, boys.
11:58I'm glad to know you would have done the same thing at my place.
12:03Message from the Force Commander.
12:06Rendezvous with Angler. Latitude to degrees 11 minutes north.
12:09Longitude to 107 degrees 21 minutes east.
12:12Transfer personnel and scuttle ship at your discretion.
12:16Hey, there's a break. I didn't know she was anywhere around.
12:20We'll transfer all but a skeleton crew.
12:23The rest of us will try to get her back.
12:25So that's it, men. We'll make the transfer daylight.
12:29I just want to remind you there's very little chance of getting her through.
12:32Any of you want to volunteer to stay with the ship?
12:35Turn your names in to the executive officer.
12:38Before we transfer the crew, I want you to rig all the machine guns topside.
12:44Plenty of ammo at each gun.
12:46Aye, aye, sir.
12:47Another thing. Break out the demolition charges.
12:49Strap them to the mines in each torpedo room.
12:51If they take us, they won't get much.
12:53Captain, every officer and man of the ship's company has volunteered to stay.
12:58Bob, you designate those men we'll need.
13:01Three helmsmen, three electricians.
13:14Hello, Johnny.
13:17Howie.
13:19Ben, you know Howie Bizzle, the angler skipper.
13:21Yes, sir.
13:22But I don't remember he ever looked this good before.
13:24You got trouble, huh, Johnny?
13:25Yeah, they really winged us.
13:27We not only can't dive, but we might lose her in a rough sea.
13:30I want to send over 60 men and one officer.
13:33Right. Now, how do you see the trip back?
13:35We'll go ahead as fast as we can. You follow a stern.
13:38If the planes come over, you dive, we'll fight them off with our guns.
13:41If they get us, maybe you can fish some of us out of the drink.
13:45How about surface ships?
13:46We'll try to outrun them.
13:48If we can't, you dive, we'll lead them past you for a torpedo shot.
13:51Sounds good, Johnny. We'll do it that way.
13:53Can you do 18 knots?
13:56Well, if the sea stays flat, we can.
13:59Let's try it.
14:00That'll put us off Lombok Strait three nights from now.
14:04Well, I better get back.
14:06No telling when those zoomies will pay us a visit.
14:08Johnny, if you change your mind,
14:10and decide to scuttle her,
14:13you'll let me know.
14:15Uh, Howie,
14:17when we get to Lombok,
14:19don't hang around.
14:21If we get caught, there's nothing you can do.
14:23And, uh,
14:25you might lose the anger.
14:27We'll see, Johnny.
14:29You'll see, Johnny.
14:38Guard was watching over Burgall and Angler.
14:41in an area teaming with enemy activity.
14:53They steamed boldly through the Caramata Strait.
15:07And arrived off Lombok without being seen.
15:10Lombok, only five miles wide and heavily patrolled.
15:15This was the big hurdle.
15:26A message from the Angler, Captain.
15:30It just says,
15:31Go, Johnny, go!
15:33I guess that means we're on our own.
15:35All ahead, Flank.
15:37All ahead, Flank.
15:38All ahead, Flank.
15:39All ahead, Flank.
15:40All ahead, Flank.
15:57I kind of like this, Mr. Isson.
15:59Mr. Ison, chow on board for 85 people and only 24 of us to eat it.
16:03Well, you can have anything you want. You took it yourself.
16:06I say I made some of them South Georgia biscuits you like.
16:09Thanks, but I'm not hungry.
16:11Right now, I'm looking for that guy they call Roald.
16:14Okay. Well, I'll set him down. Maybe you'd like some later.
16:21There he is. Contact on radar!
16:24Burry! 3-4-0!
16:273-4-0!
16:39Lady Luck, don't leave us now.
16:48Men have signed demolition charges. Take your stations.
16:51I can't pick him up.
16:55Pretty dark night.
16:57The patrol boat appears to be stopped.
17:00Very well.
17:02Bring the right course, 1-7-0.
17:05We'll give him a wide berth and try to slip by.
17:10Yes, it's definite.
17:14He's on a course across our bow.
17:16He's moving across our bow.
17:22He's moving across our bow.
17:25Must have us on radar. He sure can't see us.
17:28There he is. Stand ahead.
17:33Left full runner.
17:34Left full runner.
17:35Left full runner.
17:39We'll dodge a stern of her.
17:42Steady on 1-4-0.
17:44Steady on 1-4-0.
17:45Steady on 1-4-0.
17:47He's still going away.
17:52Tell them maneuvering to give us all the speed they've got.
17:55I can't see them anymore.
18:08Bring her back to course 1-7-0.
18:12Bring her back to 1-7-0.
18:14If I ever bump into the guy who designed our camouflage, the drinks will be all me.
18:22Captain, he's turned to follow us.
18:25He's up to 16 knots.
18:27The book says that's top speed for his type.
18:29He was tough like a fox.
18:31Now they've mousetrapped us between him and shake and rattle.
18:44Let's go.
18:48Cut it.
19:00We've lost number two engine.
19:02No oil pressure.
19:04How long will it be out?
19:06We've still got almost as much speed as they have been.
19:09If they're being directed from radar ashore, they'll be slow in detecting our changes in course.
19:12Maybe shake and rattle won't even be on station tonight.
19:16Two contacts on the radar.
19:18One at 20 degrees on the port bow.
19:20The other at 20 on the starboard bow.
19:22Both 6,000 yards.
19:24Both at 6,000 yards?
19:26Yes, sir.
19:27And the ship astern has closed the range of 3,500 yards.
19:30They're bringing them up together.
19:32The Burgall was here.
19:34Roll was astern, but gaining on him.
19:39Shake and rattle were moving in abreast of each other.
19:43Johnny Hyde and his boys were neatly boxed in.
19:46How about that engine?
19:48They're still working on it.
19:50It's not the oil load pump.
19:52I'll check the main supply valve.
19:53Ben, I'm going to head right for this fellow on the port bow.
20:09When the range gets to 2,000 yards, I'm going to cut right back and run for the hole between them.
20:13Left full rudder. Steady on 1, 4, 0.
20:17Left full rudder. Steady on 1, 4, 0.
20:22If you're right about the radar ashore, we may slip between them before they know what's coming off.
20:26If you're not, we're going to be whipsawed by them both.
20:28We'll see in pretty short order.
20:32Captain, that fellow astern is still gaining.
20:35What's the range dead ahead?
20:382,500 yards.
20:40Keep those ranges coming on the ship ahead.
20:432,400 yards.
20:48Range, 2,100.
20:50I got it, Ben.
20:54Dead ahead.
20:58Yeah. I see a spell wave.
21:01Range, 2,000 yards.
21:06Right full rudder. Steady on 1, 8, 0.
21:09Right full rudder. Steady on 1, 8, 0.
21:15Keep an eye on them, Ben.
21:20I'll try to find the other one.
21:27Try it now.
21:31Number two engine is on the line.
21:50There he is.
22:05He's gone by.
22:07This one, too.
22:11Turning in.
22:14So is this one.
22:20Gunfire.
22:22We're both firing.
22:24They've jumped their own ship.
22:26The one that's been chasing us.
22:28Who will let him have it?
22:30Radar shows the enemy has stopped.
22:33They're shooting up their own ship.
22:36They're shooting up their own ship.
22:37They're shooting up their own ship.
22:50They're shooting up their own ship.
22:52They're shooting up their own ship.
23:02Range is opening fast.
23:154,500 yards.
23:20I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
23:41One thing is dead certain.
23:43As long as they live, no one can ever accuse these boys of taking the easy way out.
23:48Now I want to introduce to you the Burgall Skipper, Captain John M. Hyde, United States Navy,
23:59and her executive officer, Commander Robert L. Eisen, U.S. Naval Reserve.
24:03Admiral?
24:04Gentlemen, you certainly did a fine job bringing that ship in. Would you like to do it over again?
24:08Every now and then I catch myself thinking it was fun, but it's only because it was a long time ago.
24:14I know better.
24:15If I had known I was going to come out with my Hyde, no puns, Lieutenant Captain, I wouldn't have found it.
24:21But we didn't expect to. It makes a big difference.
24:25It's almost a miracle they didn't sight you from the air.
24:27Yes. The Japs were pretty strong there in those days. Our luck held out when we needed it.
24:33It took more than luck, and that's obvious.
24:36Well, Johnny and Bob, we greatly appreciate your being here with us.
24:39I know I speak for everyone looking in when I say congratulations on a fine piece of submarining.
24:46We are all very proud of you and the great crew of the Burgall.
24:50I hope you will be with us again for another true and thrilling chapter of the silent service.
24:55And I hope you will be with us.
Recommended
26:02
|
Up next
26:06
26:06
26:05
26:08
25:51
26:06
26:09
26:02
26:02
26:00
26:04
26:05
26:03
25:53
37:49
25:39
26:02
25:59
26:03
26:01
26:06
26:04
Be the first to comment