- 7 weeks ago
A sub being hunted by Japanese ships is forced to settle on the bottom of the ocean to escape detection, but it has been badly damaged
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykerz, retired.
00:28Throughout the war, the Japanese were intent upon capturing one of our submarines
00:33to find out what new devices allowed our submariners to take such a heavy toll of their shipping.
00:39In May of 1943, the Japanese fleet was suddenly presented with just such an opportunity,
00:46and the Crevali was the submarine they had within their grasp.
00:50The story of the battle for this submarine begins back in Perth, West Australia,
00:55when the Admiral assigned the Crevali a new and dangerous patrol area.
01:03The story starts in early April 1944 in Darwin, Australia,
01:08with the USS Crevali resting against the pilings of her Darwin warp.
01:14Two veteran members of her crew had just been granted liberty ashore,
01:18torpedo man Edward Coates and torpedo man Frank Herndon.
01:23The officer of the deck was the Crevali's executive officer, Lieutenant William J. Rue,
01:28a fine officer and intelligent submariner.
01:31But he had no way of knowing what would happen before the day was out.
01:35Six thousand miles from the nearest hillbilly, what do they play? Western music. You figure.
01:48Kind of funny.
01:49That ain't all this funny, Eddie.
01:52Yeah, I know. Me.
01:54You, I can buy. I'm talking about your idea of relaxing.
01:58The facts of life, boy.
02:01Most guys, they finish a long patrol, they want to go out and howl a little, you know.
02:05Yeah.
02:06Well, I guess I'm just a wet blanket then.
02:09This does it for me.
02:11Just sitting?
02:13Sitting?
02:15Sometimes I don't read you, Dad.
02:17You're a lot of men in a torpedo room, but it sure you...
02:20Like I told you before, you're not my nurse.
02:23You want to go someplace, don't let me ruin it for you.
02:25No, no. You ain't ruining anything.
02:29Well, what I mean is take Karnofsky there.
02:34You think he knows anybody in a little place like Darwin?
02:37Not as so.
02:38But he don't just sit, he knows how to live it up.
02:41Four bits as he comes off with a date.
02:43No bet.
02:45Look, Frank.
02:46I like to sit around and take it easy.
02:49Let the other guys do the running around.
02:51Like in Fremantle, like in Brisbane.
02:53Like that.
02:54But that doesn't mean you have to.
02:57Well, the underwater Errol Flynn.
02:59He make out?
03:00You ever know me not to buy?
03:03Well, if we took your word for it, no.
03:05Funny.
03:06Well, just don't sit there.
03:08She could dig up a couple of friends.
03:12Come on, I don't hear anything.
03:15No, I guess we'll just stay put.
03:17Frank, you don't...
03:18Bye, Karnofsky.
03:19What are you waiting for?
03:22Well, I'd try to do a guy a favor.
03:28Frank, what do you want to do that for?
03:30Coffee's cold, I'll get some more.
03:32That gal's swamped.
03:33That gal's swamped.
03:43Well, you don't mind, do you, buddy?
03:45Six times in a row for the same tune gets a little rough.
03:48You don't like it to me, chum.
03:49Why don't you up it?
03:50No problem.
03:55My money's as good as yours.
03:56You don't like my taste in music, eh?
03:59Like to do something about it, would you?
04:01We're out of line, mister.
04:03Knock it off.
04:05No problem.
04:11Now try to tell me that was a nice thing.
04:12You know it was.
04:14You're a liar, Yanks.
04:15This is what happens to liars.
04:20Eddie, come on, help me!
04:29Eddie, come on, help me!
04:50We've got several versions of this fight.
04:59The bar owner claims Herndon started it.
05:03But Herndon and a couple of customers claim he didn't.
05:05And Coats here says he didn't.
05:07He was another eyewitness.
05:08At least at the beginning of it.
05:10That's right, sir.
05:11It wasn't Herndon's fault.
05:14Well, the bar owner's probably trying to protect his steady customers.
05:17I'm going to turn Herndon over to you.
05:29Your responsibility.
05:30Thanks.
05:36Let's go.
05:37Twenty-four hours later, the USS Crivalli had left the docks of Darwin well behind.
05:51Her destination?
05:53The coastal waters north of Barneo.
05:56The Crivalli skipper on this her third war patrol was Lieutenant Commander Frank D. Walker from Wyoming, Ohio.
06:01An extremely well-liked captain, his ability was second to none.
06:06Nor his concern for his men.
06:11Permission to come on the bridge, Captain?
06:12Granted.
06:14I'm ready to take over the watch again, sir.
06:20Check those Barneo coastal charts.
06:22It's a rough area.
06:24An important area.
06:26The Japanese have been taking a lot of oil out of Barneo.
06:28There'll be plenty of hunting.
06:31The hard way, Captain.
06:33Those tankers will be hugging a coastline where it's real shallow.
06:36That's the point.
06:38The Admiral wants those tankers forced away from the shoreline into deep water,
06:41so our ships can get a crack at them.
06:44I know it sounds like the hard way, but it'll pay off with interest.
06:47We'll be working in less than 150 feet of water just to get that shot at them.
06:50Just so we get that shot.
06:52I'll relieve you now, sir.
06:53Bill!
06:57Yes, sir?
06:59Is there some kind of beef going on below?
07:01What makes you think that, sir?
07:03A reaction, a feeling?
07:05Nothing serious, just a little disagreement between a couple of torpedoes.
07:08Good.
07:09It's going to be rough enough outside the ship.
07:10Yes, sir.
07:11What's your play?
07:21You in a rush?
07:23Look, Herndon, what goes with you and Coates?
07:27What's the beef all about?
07:28Still your play.
07:30Okay, so you brush me off.
07:32Do you think you can hide a thing like that?
07:35The whole ship knows by now.
07:37Karnowski.
07:38How could they miss it?
07:39Two guys are buddy-buddy for over a year.
07:42Now they don't even speak.
07:44Why?
07:46Are you going to play or not?
07:50I...
07:53Well, I've had enough.
07:54I'm going to get some air.
08:08I'm going to get some air.
08:13I want to talk to you.
08:14Yes, sir.
08:16This thing between you and Coates, it's gone far enough.
08:21Well?
08:23We're just not speaking, sir.
08:25Every man aboard ship knows a beef when he sees one.
08:27From the captain on down.
08:29I want a happy ship, Herndon.
08:31This sort of thing doesn't help.
08:33Yes, sir.
08:35Herndon, did you ever stop to think how much guts it took for Coates to tell me he ran out on you that day in Darwin?
08:43Did you?
08:46But he did run, sir.
08:48Didn't he?
08:50You don't have to worry about it, sir.
08:52No one will ever know what happened.
08:54Not for me, sir.
09:05The Crivali had by now reached its assigned area of patrol off the Barneo coast.
09:11In the control room, Captain Frank Walker went over charts of the dangerous waters with his executive officer.
09:17And in the sick bay, pharmacist mate Leon Cully attended to a matter on a smaller scale.
09:23I don't think you ever made pharmacist mate.
09:26Boy, you got a touch like a blackjack, Cully.
09:28So learn to use a wrench right. You're more dangerous than the Japanese.
09:33Hey, what's the latest with the happiness boys?
09:36Herndon and Coates?
09:38Still the same.
09:40You know, I never quit, Stan.
09:42I didn't give a month's pay to know what's behind all of this.
09:45You know, I...
09:48What?
09:50Wait a minute.
09:53They were buddy-buddy when I left the cafe.
09:55Then I heard there was a fight in the joint and Herndon comes back all banged up.
09:59Coates, he don't even have a scratch.
10:02I just wonder.
10:04Stow it, Karnofsky. The war's outside the ship.
10:08I told you.
10:10I can't stand mysteries.
10:18There's a long shelf here, about 15 miles out to sea.
10:22Probably have to go in over it.
10:26Come on, Herndon.
10:28You can trust me.
10:30Get away from me, Karnofsky.
10:32Was that how it was?
10:34Coates take a powder when the fight started?
10:36You can tell me, Herndon.
10:38It's none of your business.
10:39Now forget it!
10:43So it was that way.
10:46Who would have figured it?
10:49Coates.
10:51Yellow.
10:53There won't be much of a chance slipping back into deep waters if we get boxed in by anti-submarine vessels.
10:59We'll worry about that when we get...
11:00Captain, to the bridge.
11:01Captain, to the bridge.
11:05What's up, Walt?
11:06Smoke on the horizon, Captain.
11:10Air the bridge!
11:11Dive!
11:13Dive!
11:15Dive!
11:17Dive!
11:18Dive!
11:19Dive!
11:27Bye!
11:30Go East!
11:31Think about it.
11:33Take it out in sixty feet.
12:01Level off at sixty feet.
12:03Let's go.
12:11Sixty feet.
12:12Let's go.
12:24Still smoke, but a lot heavier.
12:26Give them time.
12:27Steady as you go.
12:28Steady as she goes.
12:29Let's go.
12:30Big convoy coming up to the south.
12:31Oil tankers?
12:32Big one's hugging the coastline.
12:33We'll have to go in the shallow water like we figured.
12:35Big patrolling escort.
12:36It looks like a convention.
12:37Make ready all torpedo tubes.
12:38Make ready all torpedo tubes.
12:39Make ready all torpedo tubes.
12:40Make ready all torpedo tubes.
12:41What's the look?
12:42Ain't you got enough to do?
12:43Just thinking.
12:44You know it might get a real rough real quick.
12:45So?
12:46Bad enough for everyone else.
12:47But I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:48I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:49You know it might get a real rough real quick.
12:50So?
12:51Bad enough for everyone else.
12:52But I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:53You know it might get a real rough real quick.
12:54So?
12:55Bad enough for everyone else.
12:56But I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:58I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:59I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
13:28How to say on the bench?
13:29Start.
13:31Very marked.
13:38Zero four two.
13:39Right?
13:40Mark.
13:411800 yards.
13:42Sound periscope.
13:43Angle on the bow, fifty starboard.
13:46Set.
13:47And all torpedo tubes ready.
13:50Standby.
13:51Bill.
13:54Bill, that's the second ship in the column, what's your guess?
14:01Like a floating dry dock to me.
14:03Sinking that in that shallow water is a waste.
14:06That tanker with her I want.
14:08It's the biggest tanker I've ever seen.
14:10Two stacks, she's tremendous.
14:12I'll periscope.
14:20Big, she's as big as an island.
14:23Like that, Skipper?
14:25That's her.
14:26Latona Maru, huh?
14:27Right.
14:2820,000 tons.
14:30Converted whaler.
14:31That's a lot of oil.
14:32And I want it.
14:37Cascope.
14:39Hang her down, emergency.
14:41Destroyer, hit right at us.
14:43Blood negative.
14:4515 degrees, down bubble.
14:54Level off at 100 feet.
14:56Turn on your speaker.
15:02Directly over, Skipper.
15:04Think she knows we're here?
15:05That's her problem.
15:06I want that tanker.
15:08100 feet.
15:09Take her up to 60 feet.
15:1160 feet.
15:12Up the periscope.
15:18Don't see.
15:19Keep coming.
15:20Range.
15:21Mark.
15:221,400 yards.
15:24Set.
15:26Fire.
15:27Fire.
15:32No, no, no...
15:33Keep coming.
15:34Range.
15:35How to do this?
15:361,400 yards.
15:38Set.
15:39Fire.
15:41Fire.
15:43Fire.
15:57Two planes died bombing our torpedoes.
16:00They know about us now.
16:04They really know about it now.
16:06Haven't hit them midships, middle of target.
16:11Haven't torn foul walls.
16:13Commence torpedo reload.
16:24Relay the reload.
16:26Let's go.
16:3239, 120 feet, emergency.
16:35120 feet, aye.
16:36Escort vessel.
16:37Coming fast.
16:38They're not guessing this time.
16:39Great for death, charge attack.
16:56The depth charges were dropping in pattern now.
17:05And the pinging of the sound gear told Captain Walker that many vessels were on the surface above.
17:11Too many for reasonable chance of escape to the open sea.
17:14The commanding officer considered his position.
17:17Lack of depth was a definite handicap.
17:20And the crevali was getting heavy from water leaking in.
17:24With no other possible choice, Captain Walker bottomed the crevali in the mud and coral at a depth of 174 feet.
17:31It was time for the most nerve-wracking period of all.
17:35The game of waiting.
17:37How long is the old man going to sit down here?
17:43Why don't you ask him?
17:44That's the trouble with the Navy.
17:46Everybody's a comic.
17:47Nobody's a straight man.
17:49You know, for a guy who's chickened out, your ex-buddy's taking a pretty-
17:52Why don't you shut up, Karnofsky?
18:03For more than an hour, the men waited in silence, hearing the pinging of the enemy vessels above,
18:08and hoping to sell the enemy the idea that the crevali had been sunk.
18:13The Japanese were taking no chances.
18:16They had located the crevali and wanted to move her before water seeping into all of her compartments
18:21made her too heavy.
18:23The first step was to attach a line, and they lost no time in getting started.
18:51It sounds like we sold them a bill of goods all right.
18:56Too well.
19:03Captain, the torpedo room reports loud noises.
19:06They say it sounds like someone walking on deck.
19:09Captain, you don't think that...
19:11Better take a look through the boat, Bill.
19:13Let's just hope it is inside.
19:21It's not anybody aboard, Captain. They've heard it all over the ship.
19:28Then I guess we know what it is.
19:31Be easy for them to slide a depth charge down once they hook onto us.
19:34I think they'll want more than that.
19:36You mean drag us up?
19:37You big catch. U.S. sub, all that secret gear.
19:40Give them a lot of answers.
19:41Get ready to destroy all this secret matter, and an axe to smash sonar and radar.
19:45He's dragging us.
19:55I didn't have his way, at the time being.
20:03Sir, how heavy a cable he's got on us.
20:05We'll find out. Just as soon as he gives us the right moment.
20:09180 feet, at least he's pulling us into deep water.
20:12Let's hope he keeps doing it.
20:24Eddie! Eddie!
20:25I can't ask you to help me!
20:27I can't ask you to help me!
20:29No, you're all right.
20:30Fine.
20:31Fine.
20:32Fine.
20:33Fine.
20:34Fine.
20:35Fine.
20:36Fine.
20:37Fine.
20:38Fine.
20:39Fine.
20:40Good.
20:41Easy, Eddie.
20:42Easy.
20:44Re-Re-Re-Religious.
20:46Oh.
20:48Religion.
20:50Metal.
20:52Wallet?
20:56Please get it, we can use all the help.
21:03What's the depth now?
21:04195.
21:05Captain.
21:06Not yet.
21:07We'll only have one try, better be the right one.
21:10We'll still wait.
21:26Passed out, broken shoulder, caved in ribs, kind of pain to put an elephant out.
21:39I heard what he did for you.
21:41No guts, and you gotta be kidding.
21:45What's the clip?
21:47About a guy that court freed.
21:49A guy that got pushed into a bar fight, hit back and accidentally blinded a guy.
21:56What?
21:59Him?
22:02No wonder he wouldn't throw a punch.
22:04He would.
22:07I got a lot of apologizing to do when he comes out of this.
22:13Depth.
22:15200 feet.
22:16Let's see how good a hole he has.
22:18All ahead, flank.
22:19All ahead, flank.
22:26Let's get out of here before we can attach another cable.
22:29All ahead, full.
22:30I'd love to see that skipper's face when he sees the end of his cable.
22:32Yeah, that's his problem. Ours is to put distance between us.
22:3560 feet.
22:3660 feet.
22:37Let's get out of here before we can attach another cable.
22:45All ahead, full.
22:47I'd love to see that skipper's face when he sees the end of his cable.
22:50Yeah, that's his problem. Ours is to put distance between us.
22:59Sixty feet.
23:07Ah-ha! Real pretty sight.
23:15For some mass. Well-istered.
23:28What is it?
23:30I was just thinking about that Japanese skipper.
23:33He's going to be a real mad fellow about now.
23:35Wouldn't you love to see the look on his face?
23:38I was thinking about happy fellas.
23:40Seventy-two of them right here.
23:42Yes, sir.
23:54I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
23:56I'm very pleased to present to you the executive officer of the USS Cravali on this patrol,
24:08Commander W.J. Rue, United States Navy.
24:12Bill, it's good to see you.
24:16Did the Cravali succeed in driving the Japanese convoys back into deep water?
24:20Very effectively, Admiral.
24:22But there were other subs who helped.
24:24They did the same sort of shallow water patrols during that period.
24:28I imagine that the sinking of the Tonan Maru was the clincher.
24:31Must have been.
24:32From then on, the Japanese convoys plowed down the middle of the ocean.
24:35And that's when we shifted over to Wolfpack-style warfare.
24:39That's right.
24:40It was sure a nice, comfortable feeling on our next patrol,
24:42prowling the deepest part of the ocean in company with two other submarines.
24:46I don't remember it being comfortable, but it was profitable.
24:50And the Cravali gets a lot of credit for giving the Wolfpacks plenty of sea room.
24:54Thank you, Admiral.
24:55Awfully nice, Bill.
25:00Be with us again when the silent service brings you another exciting submarine story.
Recommended
25:59
|
Up next
26:03
25:53
26:05
26:06
26:08
26:06
26:00
25:39
26:03
25:57
26:02
25:52
26:02
25:56
26:09
28:28
26:04
25:48
26:06
25:42
26:05
26:02
Be the first to comment