- 7 weeks ago
A broken propeller and an internal explosion plague a submarine.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers, retired.
00:29This chapter of the Silent Service tells a true story which occurred during the first month of World War II,
00:35but all of the odds were against the American forces.
00:38S-38 was an outmoded old submarine,
00:42but a stubborn, courageous commander somehow urged her through one of the most remarkable undersea actions of the war.
00:50When Japan struck Pearl Harbor, S-38 was based at Manila, already outfitted for battle, the warheads aboard.
01:03The next day, on December 8, 1941, this World War I type S-boat proceeded to patrol activity.
01:11In early engagement, she suffered battle damage and was forced into Cayman's Cove on the western coast of Luzon for temporary repairs.
01:20S-38 was commanded by Lieutenant Rayford G. Chappell, known as Moon of Billings, Montana, and a Naval Academy graduate.
01:29The 18-year-old submarine was his first command.
01:33When she was launched, Moon Chappell was just a teenage kid.
01:37The 18-year-old submarine was the first command.
01:39The 19-year-old submarine is ordered to carry a weapon.
01:42The 18-year-old machine has been trading at the end of the war.
01:43Yes, sir.
01:44Paris, I want all officers to the ward room at once.
01:46Yes, sir.
01:47All officers, please report to the captain in the ward room.
01:51Well, what's up, Captain?
01:55Get a load of that.
01:58You need a guy in golf?
02:02Yeah.
02:03What's up, I?
02:06Forbes, you got that oil cooler fixed?
02:08Sort of, Captain. We stuck it together with a piece of wire.
02:11Every time anybody hiccups on this old bucket, something falls apart.
02:15Well, your wire better hold.
02:17We've just been ordered into Lingai and Gulf.
02:21According to intelligence, the Japanese have troop ships in there.
02:24Quite a lot of them.
02:26Must be building up from a solo Nuzan.
02:28Eh, probably.
02:29Anyway, we're going in there and shoot up some of them.
02:32This Gulf's full of transports.
02:35That entrance is going to be loaded with destroyers.
02:38I promise you.
02:39I think it would go around them across the close end of the reef.
02:42Across the reef?
02:44That won't be guarded.
02:46It's pretty shallow water.
02:49I'm sure you'll be able to find some way to navigate us in there, Bob.
03:05a great job, sir.
03:07You're the only one!
03:08That's a great job.
03:09Okay?
03:10Six fathoms.
03:11How many?
03:12Six fathoms, sir.
03:13Tell the captain, I suggest we reduce speed.
03:17It will reduce speed.
03:31Keep those soundings coming.
03:38Four fathoms.
03:42Come on, you old bucket. Floating light like a feather.
03:47Four fathoms. Five fathoms. Six fathoms.
03:53We're over it!
03:57Captain, we're over the reef. We're inside the Gulf.
04:01Well, it wasn't so bad, was it, Bob? Nice work.
04:06All ahead, full.
04:08We stayed on the surface a little longer than usual that morning.
04:19And just after dawn, they saw what they'd come for.
04:22Fire the brakes! Fire the brakes!
04:30Fire the brakes!
04:31Fire the brakes!
04:32Fire the brakes!
04:35Fish in a barrel, just like fish in a barrel.
05:01Fire all four tubes with different targets.
05:05If we're lucky, we can mess up four ships before they even know we're here.
05:13Coming on.
05:15We're coming on.
05:18Fire one.
05:20One fired.
05:27Fire two.
05:29Two fired.
05:35Fire three.
05:36Fire four.
05:37Four fired.
05:38That ought to startle them downfield.
05:41Commence to reload on all tubes.
05:47All tubes.
05:48Fire four.
05:54That ought to startle them downfield.
06:00Commence to reload on all tubes.
06:02Do you hear anything?
06:28No, sir.
06:29Better take a look.
06:32We never even touched him.
06:43What's wrong?
06:45I don't know, but we sure missed him.
06:48Wait a minute.
06:51Destroyer sent it this way.
06:52Down, Scoop.
06:54We missed them, but they sure spotted us.
06:57Secure that reload.
06:58Take her down to 100 feet.
06:59100 feet.
07:0010 degrees down, bubble.
07:01Four fat misses.
07:11Many torpedoes available in the early days of the war were defective, running as much as
07:1610 feet below the depth they were set for.
07:19Moonchapel's bold attack had passed harmlessly beneath the transports.
07:23All S-38 had accomplished so far was to lose the element of surprise.
07:27Right, full rudder.
07:31Right, full rudder.
07:44They've got a beat on us.
07:45Take it at 200 feet.
07:47200 feet.
07:48Not too deep, Captain.
07:49We're still in pretty shallow water.
07:50We can't stay up there and let them clobber us.
08:00Now what?
08:01We're on the bottom.
08:02We're on the bottom.
08:11Captain speaking.
08:11We've hit a submerged ledge or something.
08:14The port propeller's damaged.
08:16Is it out of action?
08:17No, but it's making an awful racket.
08:20Very well.
08:20Now they've got that prop to listen to.
08:37Port, stop.
08:38Port, stop.
08:43Just have to let her bounce along the bottom.
08:45We're rising.
08:53We're back up to 120 feet.
08:56Hold her down.
08:58She won't stay down.
09:01110 feet.
09:08We're sliding up a mud bank.
09:10That's what it is.
09:11It must be right about here.
09:13It's taking us right up to the surface.
09:15I certainly don't want to go way back.
09:19Left bull runner.
09:20Left bull runner.
09:23A5B, Captain.
09:36That one damaged the compass, Captain.
09:40Must be starting up enough mud to bring them right down on top of us.
09:45If they don't hit us, they'll shake us apart.
09:5065 feet.
09:51We're going to broach in a minute.
09:52Okay, I'll stop.
09:54All stop.
09:57Break for silent running.
10:00Break for silent running.
10:02Break for silent running.
10:0311 feet or so between our superstructure and the surface.
10:21Anybody want to go home, now's the time.
10:23A submarine trying to stay silent under the sea can become an uncomfortable place.
10:41Her fans can't clear the air, the cooling system can't relieve the heat, and worst of all, she can't fight back.
10:49But that's how the S-38 had to live for hours.
10:52The only American ship in Lengayan Gulf.
10:55The sole object of the Japanese search.
10:58The future.
11:22Turn.
11:22Turn.
11:23Turn.
11:24Turn.
11:25Turn.
11:56Excuse me, Captain.
12:02Captain, I heard this gyro compass was damaged.
12:07Yeah, this is one of the things that's damaged.
12:11Well, okay, if I take a crack at fixing it?
12:14Anytime, Bert.
12:21Sorry.
12:25Sorry.
12:26Let's go.
12:37The port screw's bad.
12:39The wiring's followed up, too.
12:42It's just too much of a pounding for this old tub to take.
12:45Oh, they're working this over, all right.
12:47I wish there was just something we could do about it.
12:50When the time comes, we will.
12:53Find some way to glue things back together again.
12:56Right now, I think the thing for us to do is play some cards.
13:03Cards?
13:05Settle right down, Bob.
13:07Get set for the licking I'm going to give you.
13:10Pick that up, will you?
13:11Yeah.
13:12Get up.
13:12There it is.
13:16All right.
13:21Throughout the seemingly eternal day,
13:24Boone Chapel's steady composure was a sure antidote to anxiety.
13:29And after nightfall, the Japanese gave up their probing.
13:32The captain called a meeting in the war room.
13:34Yeah, sir.
13:38Is that all the damage reports?
13:39That's right.
13:42All right, Harvin, what's a good mechanic's opinion?
13:45Oh, we can fix most of the damage.
13:46If we can stay on the surface long enough.
13:48I figure she'll still run, Captain, and I hope she'll still float.
13:53Even so, I'm wondering just what we're going to accomplish.
13:57Here we sit in water that's too shallow,
13:58in a boat that's too old,
13:59in an enemy that's too set on get-ins.
14:02Maybe the smartest thing to do is get out of this gulf while we still can.
14:06Make it kind of a wasted trip, wouldn't it, Don?
14:08I'd sure hate to leave without getting something in the bag.
14:11So would I.
14:14What I thought we'd do is hole up somewhere over here
14:16among these hundred islands
14:17and surface during the night and make our repairs.
14:19Try to look like one more little island.
14:23I want to stay here a little longer.
14:26Strike one blow for freedom.
14:29A little better aim next time, I hope.
14:34Let's take her up.
14:41It took the next two nights to make the repairs,
14:47with the intervening daylights bent on the bottom,
14:50providing badly needed rest for the crew.
14:53There were a few anxious moments,
14:55but the prowling Japanese never quite located S-38's hiding place.
14:59The repairs taxed the ingenuity of all departments,
15:03but on the morning of December 24th,
15:05the old submarine was more or less ready for further action.
15:09Battery cells all tight, George?
15:10Yes, sir.
15:11All right, secure the charge.
15:13Aye, aye, sir.
15:16Everything all right in the old apartment, Domingo?
15:18Yes, sir, Captain.
15:19We're preparing a very delicious ham for the celebration.
15:23What celebration is that?
15:24Christmas coming tomorrow, sir.
15:26Forgot about Christmas.
15:28And maybe we celebrate the sinking of a ship.
15:31Nearby to Lingayen Gulf is my home, Captain.
15:35Go ahead and get your celebration ready.
15:37Finish, Berg?
15:47Yes, sir.
15:48Looks like you've given us all we're going to get for a Christmas tree.
15:52I think everything will hold together for a while.
15:54Good.
15:55We'll tour the Gulf of Paris, go to death and see what we can find.
15:57Good.
16:11Down school.
16:12Final stations.
16:13Sound general alarm.
16:15Final stations.
16:16Sound general alarm.
16:17But S-38 was in for still more frustration.
16:28Now what?
16:30That was no death charge.
16:32Everybody all right?
16:33There's probably a plane.
16:35Those destroyers will be around again.
16:36Right, full runner.
16:37Right, full runner.
16:38Take her down to 100 feet.
16:40The death gauges are knocked out.
16:41We'll dive to where you think 100 feet ought to be and get them fixed.
16:57Guys are beginning to get me mad.
16:58That one was underneath us.
17:00Yeah.
17:01Level her up.
17:02I can't stop her.
17:03I can't stop her.
17:07We're on the bottom again.
17:12Yeah.
17:13You've been pretty good at that.
17:15All stopped.
17:16All stopped.
17:19Now we'll just hold on here and wait for the opposition to make the next move.
17:33Captain, they stopped their pinging.
17:35Good.
17:37Well, they think they've sunk us.
17:39But maybe our tactics are a little bit more than they're accustomed to.
17:43A little more than I'm accustomed to.
17:47Let's pull out of the mud and go back up again.
17:49All back, full.
17:51All back, full.
18:07All right.
18:12There's a transport lying at anchor ahead.
18:18Bearing 350 and she's waiting for us.
18:24Let's set those fish to run a little higher this time.
18:27I may have misjudged the draft on those other ships, Fletch.
18:32Forward 250, sir.
18:34Okay.
18:35Here we go.
18:35All right.
18:35Here we go.
18:44I'm a coming honor.
18:47Stand by.
18:50Fire one.
18:52One fire.
18:52Fire two.
18:58Two fire.
18:59No miss this time.
19:23Get a load of this, Fletch.
19:23All right.
19:31Boy, that ship's done for.
19:34All that's left now is the easy part.
19:36Getting out of here.
19:37Right back to 100 islands and recharge.
19:40And tell Domingo we celebrate.
19:46Domingo.
19:47Put that ham on!
19:54Don't you think you'd better get some sleep till we reach 100 islands?
19:57You haven't had much rest lately.
19:59Knocking off that ship was just as good as a night's sleep.
20:03What's the plan for tomorrow?
20:05Cruise around up there, see what else there is to shoot at.
20:09Something on your mind, Don? Let's hear it.
20:12All right.
20:13In another boat, I'd say we could stay in here till the Gulf freezes over.
20:16But in this old bucket, I just think we're pressing our luck too far.
20:19You have to fight with the boat you've got.
20:21How much more can she take?
20:23And the crew, they'll do anything that's asked of them, but...
20:25Well, they've been through quite a bit already.
20:26I say we've had all the bad luck we might expect.
20:29Yes, sir.
20:32Captain, don't get me wrong.
20:35I'm with you all the way.
20:41But the captain was wrong about their luck
20:43and the torment of the S-38 was far from over.
20:47of over.
20:48No.
20:54Listen.
20:56Look out for us.
20:58The bridge.
20:58Ventilate the hull off-board.
20:59Ring for battery charge.
21:01Ventilate the hull-off board, rigged for battery charge.
21:12Stay on the bridge, I'm going below.
21:15If you sight anything, take us down.
21:19Explosion in the battery well. Bad. I couldn't see for the smoke.
21:23Get out of your gloves and let's go.
21:25Damage control party on the double.
21:31It's Harbin, he's hurt bad.
21:35Don't try to move him.
21:38Too much hydrogen.
21:41It started blowers too fast.
21:44Take it easy, Harbin. Don't try to talk.
21:48That fire's not too bad, but get to work in here and get the smoke out.
21:52Aye, aye, sir.
21:54Take it easy, Harbin.
21:58Get the pharmacist, mate.
22:00Tell him to bring the morphine.
22:02Aye, sir.
22:08It started blowers too fast.
22:12Captain...
22:14Hydrogen.
22:16Just lie still, Harbin.
22:17Don't.
22:20Old Bucket.
22:22Trying to blow herself...
22:24Out of the water.
22:34How is he?
22:36I'm afraid his back is broken.
22:40Nobody has to tell me to get out of here now.
22:42We've had enough.
22:44I'm getting real homesick.
22:48See that somebody stays with him.
22:49Yes, sir.
22:53A head blooded but unbowed, the indomitable old S-38 race for home.
22:58No.
23:06Look at the number one commissary officer found.
23:09Mmm, that smells good.
23:11Merry Christmas, Captain.
23:13Well, thanks, Bob.
23:15Merry Christmas, fellas.
23:19Merry Christmas to you, sir.
23:21Merry Christmas.
23:25Merry Christmas to you, you old Bucket.
23:27I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
23:43Captain W. G. Chappell, United States Navy, is with us.
23:47And I take great pleasure in introducing him to you.
23:51Moon, how are you?
23:52Fine, Tom.
23:56Moon, I wonder if anything else could have happened to one submarine on one patrol.
24:00I don't see how.
24:02By the time you've been through depth-charge attacks,
24:05groundings, broken instruments, mechanical damage, and a battery explosion,
24:09you sort of run out of ideas how to get in trouble.
24:12I was thinking that transport was a fine accomplishment.
24:15It was the second ship sunk by our submarines in World War II.
24:18Yes, Tom, that's what they told us.
24:19They say it was a Haya Maru, a 5,445-ton freighter.
24:25It took tremendous courage and skill to go in there alone and make a kill like that.
24:30Tom, that's something you ought to know about from your own experiences.
24:33It did take a lot of luck, too.
24:35But we had as fine a crew in the S-38 as you'd ever hope to see.
24:39And the old boat still had a lot of stamina and fight left in it.
24:42To say nothing of an outstanding skipper, Moon, it's been a real honor to have had you with us.
24:48Thank you, Tom.
24:50Good to see you.
24:52Nice to see you, thank you.
24:57Please be with us again for another true and exciting story of the silent service.
25:10Thanks.
25:12Thank you, Tom.
25:19They can post the past of work in the future's gentle breeze
25:28That will stay as long as there's a submarine that's underneath the sea
25:36So wait for dive and take a dive
25:41Go down, down underneath the ocean
25:45There was man who will find me down
25:49In the deep blue underneath the sea
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