- 7 weeks ago
The USS Sea Dragon's oxygen tanks are exhausted. Death by suffocation or enemy gun fire seems inevitable.The USS Sea Dragon's oxygen tanks are exhausted.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dyke, as retired.
00:29In the submarine service, dangerous situations are commonplace.
00:33But in this story, we will watch Sea Dragon as she struggles with two of the most deadly and dreaded emergencies that can befall an undersea boat.
00:49December 1942. America had been at war one full year, a year of few triumphs and many bitter frustrations.
00:58Sea Dragon went to war on the day it started, and by the end of the war, she had a proud record.
01:04On the evening of December 19, 1942, Sea Dragon found herself under the lash of Japanese destroyers.
01:11For 16 hours, she had been viciously attacked with depth charges, relentlessly held below the surface.
01:18The men in our submarines didn't expect to get away scot-free.
01:21They expected to hear the depth charges exploding around them. It was part of the game.
01:26But this attack on Sea Dragon had been going on too long. 16 hours now.
01:32Commander Pete Farrell of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a skipper of Sea Dragon.
01:36A skipper of Sea Dragon.
01:52Should be on their way.
01:53Do you think about them coming down through the water?
01:58Yeah. Innocent little black barrels full of tea and tea.
02:02With our name on them.
02:04I don't mind those so much.
02:06The ones I don't like are the to whom it may concern jobs.
02:23That one sounded closer.
02:27Boy, they really have us nailed to the stake.
02:30What's the skipper going to do?
02:32I don't know. If we surface, the destroyers will kick our teeth in.
02:35We can't stay down here much longer.
02:38Boy, would I give her a breath of Pennsylvania air.
02:42Pennsylvania air?
02:44Any air. We've about had it.
02:45What do you hear?
02:54Destroyer propellers.
02:56Fading.
03:00He's shifting back to long scales, sir.
03:03Do you think?
03:04Could be.
03:06I think we're on the outside of that pattern, Jack.
03:08Not far outside, but outside.
03:11Do you think he's lost us?
03:12Maybe.
03:14Let's wait and see.
03:16Ask Mr. Rue to test atmosphere for CO2, please.
03:20Tell Mr. Rue the captain wants a test for CO2.
03:30CO2 test 6%.
03:396%.
03:41Rising fast.
03:4310% were woozy.
03:4615% were dead.
03:48All the CO2 absorbent spread?
03:50Yes, sir.
03:52Any oxygen bottles left?
03:55Yes, sir.
03:57Any oxygen bottles left?
03:59Yes, sir.
04:13Yes, sir.
04:14This is the captain.
04:16Atmosphere now tests 6%.
04:18I want all hands to use as little air as possible.
04:21No unnecessary exertion.
04:23Don't move if you can help it.
04:25All who can, please lie down.
04:27When it hits 8%, I'm taking her up no matter what's waiting for us.
04:31If we're going to get it, let's do it shooting, not lying down here.
04:34What do you hear?
04:44Propellers.
04:46Fading.
04:48Slowing.
04:50Can you get me a count?
05:01150 RPM.
05:04They're going away too, sir.
05:06I think.
05:08Jack, what would you do if you were a Japanese canskipper looking for a sub?
05:12Well, after dropping depth charges for 16 hours without hitting anything, I'd go home and claim I'd sunk the whole US fleet.
05:20I heard depth charges going off.
05:23Very far away.
05:25There you go.
05:26It's taking the whole US fleet.
05:28Let's go up.
05:30Propellers.
05:31Heading towards us.
05:32What does it sound like to you?
05:34I don't know, sir.
05:36So slow.
05:40Three, maybe four knots.
05:43Listen to it, Jack.
05:50Yeah, I think so too.
05:51There's a Japanese sub down here with us.
05:53The question is, does he know where we are?
05:55We've got to find out.
05:57I'm going to make a 90 degree turn to the right.
05:59Let me know if the sub turns right too.
06:01Aye, aye, sir.
06:02Port ahead, one third.
06:04Come right to 277.
06:06Port ahead, one third.
06:07Come right to 277.
06:19He's turning, Captain.
06:30He's right with us.
06:32Okay, so he knows where we are.
06:35We can't shoot him this far down.
06:37He can't shoot us.
06:39Sir, atmosphere test 8%.
06:43Jack, we've got a surface.
06:45Then it'll be dog eat dog.
06:47What's the phase of the moon?
06:49What's the phase of the moon?
06:57Couldn't be worse, Captain.
06:59Full moon, now rising.
07:02Put us down moon from them.
07:04Give me a course.
07:07There's going to be any silhouettes in the lovely Pacific.
07:09It's going to be him, not us.
07:12Course 187 will do it, sir.
07:15Come left to 187.
07:17All ahead, one third.
07:19Come left to 187.
07:20All ahead, one third.
07:31Sam, keep the bearings coming.
07:33All ahead.
07:34All ahead, Captain.
07:39This is the Captain.
07:41I think the destroyers have lost us.
07:43But there's a Japanese submarine trailing us.
07:45There's almost no air left in the boat, so we haven't got much choice.
07:50We've got to go up.
07:51So as soon as we get in position, we're coming up shooting.
07:54Stand by in the after torpedo room.
07:56Open the outer doors at 50 feet.
08:02Well, here we go.
08:03I don't mind taking on a carrier or even a battle wagon.
08:09But slugging it out with another submarine.
08:12Give me the creeps.
08:19Take her up to the periscope depth.
08:22Sound. Keep me posted.
08:24He's dead as stern of us, sir.
08:33Up, Scope.
08:47Down, Scope.
08:49Lovely, lovely.
08:51Moonlight all over the place.
08:53Why does the moon have to be so doggone bright out here
08:55when you can't do anything about it?
08:59Okay, we'll surface.
09:01But let's make sure we're the first to shoot.
09:04And tell Mr. Miller as soon as the main induction opens,
09:06I want those engines on fast.
09:08And a head flank speed.
09:14A head flank.
09:15What's he trying to do? Run away?
09:19It looks like it.
09:20Why not stick around and fight? It's an even match.
09:23I'm not the skipper.
09:26Stand by to jam air.
09:28We might have to go right back down again,
09:29so pump in every pound you can get.
09:40Fire one.
09:43Fire two.
09:44Fire two.
09:46Both torpedoes fired electrically, sir.
09:48Both running hot and true.
09:50Very well.
09:51Look out.
09:52Be alert for torpedo wakes coming this way.
09:55If he's headed straight toward us,
09:56our chances are hitting her about zero.
09:58All I want to do is shake them a little.
09:59Nothing like torpedoes coming at you
10:01to make you spoil your aim.
10:03Sure hope.
10:04Sound reports high-speed propellers coming toward us.
10:07Torpedoes.
10:09Look out.
10:10Can you see any wakes?
10:12Nothing yet, sir.
10:14Yes, here they come.
10:17One.
10:18Two.
10:19Three.
10:20There are four of them, sir.
10:21Here they are.
10:22Should we swing the captain?
10:23Hold it, Jack.
10:28He shot himself a beautiful spurt of fish.
10:30He's got us boxed in and there's no time to turn.
10:33I don't want to be pinned down there again.
10:39He's coming right up our back.
10:41Helm, come right to 187 and hold it.
10:44Sound collision alarm.
10:49What's going on, sir?
10:51I'm trying to give these fish the smallest target I can.
10:57Helm, he's right a half degree.
11:00Right half degree.
11:01Aye, aye, sir.
11:03That's right.
11:04Now hold it.
11:08How much longer, Skipper?
11:10None.
11:12Stand by.
11:21Close but no cigar.
11:22We're going to need a new paint job on the port side when we get home.
11:25Well, we got work to do.
11:28Now we're going to get them.
11:29Sub, sync, sub.
11:30Where do they hear that back in Pearl?
11:31I don't know.
11:32We only have four fish left.
11:34And they're in the forward torpedo tubes.
11:38I guess we're going to swing around and try to get a broadside shot at her.
11:42I wonder why the Skipper doesn't change course.
11:44This way we're just getting further away from the target.
11:46Rollo, go back to maneuvering and find out why we can't get more speed.
11:53I'll go bend the throttle, Skipper.
11:57He isn't going to fight at all.
11:59No.
12:00He's just going to run away, Bill.
12:17Evening, Captain.
12:18Two engines on battery charge, sir.
12:23Two on propulsion, a head standard.
12:26Very well.
12:27Evening, Captain.
12:29Low pressure blowers are back in business, sir.
12:32Good.
12:36Bridge?
12:37Bridge, aye, aye, sir.
12:38How's the weather now?
12:39Not a cloud in the sky, sir.
12:41But the air does feel a little wetter than dead.
12:43Very well.
12:44Very well.
13:05What's eating the Skipper?
13:07I don't know.
13:08Maybe he's wishing now he stayed and fought it out with that sub.
13:14Bridge?
13:15Bridge, aye.
13:17How long before dawn?
13:19It's breaking now.
13:20Daylight in another five minutes.
13:22What are we going to do?
13:26I'm going in and talk to the Captain.
13:27I'll go with you.
13:33Captain?
13:34Yes?
13:35The bridge reports only a minute before dawn, sir.
13:37You want to take it down?
13:38No.
13:40You mean you want to stay on the surface during daylight, sir?
13:44Yes.
13:46Have the officer of the deck change course to 090 and ring up full speed.
13:50Aye, aye, sir.
13:52Let me know when the batteries have a full charge, and I mean full.
13:55Aye, sir.
13:56May I ask where we're going, sir?
13:59Revol Harbor.
14:04Revol, sir?
14:06That's right.
14:07Isn't that where the Japanese are facing their subs for this area?
14:09Yes, sir.
14:10But Revol-
14:11Would you expect to find a Japanese sub in Pearl Harbor?
14:13No, sir.
14:14They won't be expecting us either.
14:18That bird that took a shot at us last night is going to get it right where he lives.
14:23You mean you're going into the harbor at Revol?
14:26We might even tie up at the dock.
14:28I couldn't stick around last night because he would have pulled those destroyers back on us.
14:34But no doggone Japanese sub is going to shoot at my boat and get away with it.
14:39Yes, sir.
14:40Yes, sir.
14:50Did we get a full battery charge, Rollo?
14:52Every amp, Captain.
14:53Okay.
14:57Take her down.
15:10Take her down.
15:16He ought to be here by now, but I can't see him yet.
15:19I can see the five and dime on RuPaul's main street.
15:23I didn't realize there was such a big base.
15:25Wait a minute.
15:27Here he comes.
15:31What do you know?
15:32This guy is coming home on the surface.
15:34Guess he wants to hear band music.
15:36Well, he's going to hear music.
15:37A little thing called fish tune from Sea Dragon.
15:42Stand by for a set up.
15:46Barrick.
15:48Mark.
15:49058.
15:51Range.
15:53Mark.
15:542,000 yards.
15:55Down, Scope.
15:57Steady as you go.
15:59Steady as you go, aye, aye, sir.
16:01It's going to be a straight bow shot.
16:03Up, Scope.
16:07Up, Scope.
16:11What's the matter?
16:13It's a bomber coming out from RuPaul.
16:15Looks like a berry.
16:17We've been a high-tailed out of here.
16:18Forget about that sub.
16:20Not yet.
16:21He's probably escorting Sonny Boy back home.
16:23He hasn't seen us yet.
16:25He'll sure look when he sees four torpedoes coming out of us.
16:28Up, Scope.
16:29Up and down real fast.
16:30I just want a flash.
16:31The minute he sees torpedoes,
16:32he's going to fly over and plaster us.
16:34Up, Scope.
16:38Down, Scope.
16:40I know.
16:41And if water is clear,
16:42he can see the fillings in my teeth.
16:44But look,
16:45all he's got in the racks
16:46is an ordinary surface bomb.
16:48I got a good, clear look at it.
16:49It's not a depth charge.
16:50It'll explode when it hits the surface.
16:52Most of the force will be dissipated in the air.
16:54It'll only shake us up.
16:56Only shake us up?
16:58Well, maybe rattle us around some.
17:00But I think we can take it with no damage.
17:02And I want that sub.
17:04This is a shooting observation.
17:06Open the outer doors forward.
17:09He's getting set to shoot.
17:11Stand by.
17:13Fire one.
17:17Two, fire noise.
17:18Two, fire an electric plane.
17:30Fire three.
17:42What's that?
17:44Number three torpedo jams in the tube
17:45and he's running hot.
17:46All stopped.
17:47Jack,
17:48stop everything in this boat that vibrates.
17:50Everything.
17:51You take charge.
17:52Come Mr. Rue, I'm on the way.
17:53There's another.
17:56He's breaking up.
18:08Over speed control link finally cut and stopped her.
18:11Where is she in the tube?
18:12I figure she jammed about halfway out, sir.
18:14Did you try to close the outer door?
18:15Yes, sir, she wouldn't close.
18:16That's why I think she's about halfway up that tube.
18:18That bomb we took probably jared her out.
18:21You want me to try to close it again?
18:22No.
18:23I don't want to do anything to jar that fish.
18:25It must be fully armed.
18:26The slightest movement will set her off now.
18:28Well, maybe we could suck her down the tube with the pump.
18:31We might.
18:32But if she broke away from whatever is jamming her
18:34and came back too hard against the rear end of the tube,
18:37blew it.
18:39Well, maybe we could surface.
18:40A diver could.
18:41We can't surface.
18:42Everything the Japanese gun in Rue Ball
18:44is probably on its way to murderers now.
18:47Let's get a little water over our heads, Bill.
18:50Control.
18:51Drop her down to 150 feet and hold her there.
18:55Aye, aye, sir.
19:07Let's break this thing up.
19:08A. We can't surface.
19:09They'll be all over us like a tent.
19:11B. We can't run for it.
19:13The vibration might explode that fish while it's still in the tube.
19:16Any concussion will set it off.
19:18And that includes anything they drop on us,
19:20and we can expect plenty pretty soon.
19:22So, A. We can't stay and we can't go.
19:25B. We can't stay down and we can't come up.
19:28In fact, Bill, we haven't got any submarine at all.
19:31All we got is an extension of a torpedo and an armed one at that.
19:36Captain, there must be some way out of this.
19:39There is.
19:40If it works.
19:41She's a well-built boat.
19:43We know that from the beating she's taken.
19:45Now, she's stronger right here in the bow than anywhere else.
19:48Now, what breaks up submarines is concussion.
19:51With the Sea Dragon's sharp bow splitting that concussion wave in half,
19:54I think she'll live.
19:56With that torpedo in the tube?
19:59She's not going to be in the tube.
20:00I'm going to shoot it out.
20:02Chief, I want 600 pounds of air behind that fish
20:05and I want the biggest blast you can get.
20:07Aye, aye, sir.
20:09Conning tower, start backing very slowly.
20:12As soon as we begin to move, increase speed gradually.
20:16And keep on increasing until we're going astern at emergency speed.
20:20Aye, aye, sir.
20:21This is our only chance, Bill.
20:23We'll be going backwards at full speed when we fire that fish.
20:26Now, if that warhead will just delay a couple of seconds when she blows,
20:30the fish will be far enough away to give us another chance.
20:34Of course, if it goes off the instant the air bangs against her.
20:40Captain, let me handle the firing key.
20:45And all the rest of you get out of here and dog the doors behind you.
20:49And if the bar of the ship blows off,
20:52perhaps you can save the boat.
20:55No, Bill.
20:56If she goes off in the tube,
20:57it won't make any difference where any of us are in this boat.
21:00But if she goes off outside the boat
21:02and blasts open something in here,
21:04we're going to need a damage control party right now to keep from sinking.
21:09610 pounds, sir. That's all I've got.
21:12That ought to do it.
21:14Conning tower, how are we doing?
21:16Mr. Miller doesn't think she can go any faster, sir.
21:19Very well.
21:24This is the captain.
21:26We're going to try to shoot this hot fish out of number three.
21:29I hope she clears the boat before she goes off.
21:32If she doesn't,
21:34it'll probably be the end of us.
21:36We have to take that chance.
21:38I just want you to know that we either do it this way or we surrender.
21:45And I don't think anyone of us want to surrender.
21:48Good luck to all of you.
21:52I guess we're all set.
21:54Who wants the honor of deciding our fate?
21:56Let me do it, Captain.
21:57It's my torpedo.
22:07Borrow everywhere.
22:27Anybody hurt?
22:28No, sir.
22:29Hit those emergency lights.
22:30That fish has opened us up somewhere.
22:33Get the honor door closed before we drown.
22:36All stuff.
22:37All compartments report damage.
22:39Control.
22:40Tell the diving officer we're taking water in up here.
22:42Evening, Captain.
22:43Want a hand?
22:44Sure.
22:45Deal me in.
22:46Maybe I can win two more matchsticks before we reach Pearl Harbor.
22:48How are you feeling, sir?
22:49Just fine.
22:50You really poured in the cold this afternoon, Ronald.
22:52Say, by the way,
22:53did we or did we not sink that submarine?
22:54We sank it without a doubt.
22:55We all heard two hits,
22:56and sound heard her break up and sink.
22:58You pushed me.
22:59American submarines.
23:01Why don't you stay at home?
23:02Tokyo Rose.
23:03I wonder what that doll's got for us, brother.
23:04Why do you dare to venture out where the Imperial Japanese Navy will surely sink all your boats and drown all of you in the Black-Black Sea?
23:21will surely sink all your boats and drown all of you in the black, black sea.
23:26For instance, just today, Japanese Air and Sea Forces sank your submarine sea dragon near a wall
23:32with the loss of all the men in her.
23:35The men who dare call themselves the Red Pirates of China Coast.
23:40So shed a tear for Lieutenant Commander Pete Farrell and all his crew.
24:02I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
24:10It is a pleasure to introduce to you Commander Charles K. Mello,
24:14who was torpedo and gunnery officer of the Sea Dragon.
24:18Rallo, an armed torpedo stuck in a tube fortunately doesn't happen every day.
24:23Just about everything happened to the Sea Dragon.
24:26The first thing, of course, was getting bombed in Manila Harbor the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
24:33That almost killed her, but she survived to make quite a record for herself.
24:39I hear a rumor that it got to be a thing on the Sea Dragon to wear earrings.
24:46Is there any truth in that?
24:49Well, after Tokyo Rose put that Red Pirates label on us,
24:55a lot of the men thought if we were pirates we might as well dress the part.
25:02Well, how about you? Did you start carrying a cutlass?
25:07No, I was a beard grower.
25:11Rallo, you had a fine bunch of shipmates in the Sea Dragon,
25:16and I'm glad you could be here to represent them.
25:20It's been a real pleasure.
25:22Thank you, Admiral.
25:24Please join us again for another true and exciting story of this silent service.
25:39I'm on service.
25:40Take a down, let's go to the line.
25:46Bye, bye.
25:49Bye, bye.
25:52Bye, bye.
25:55Bye, bye.
25:58Bye.
26:01Bye.
26:06Bye-bye.
26:36Bye-bye.
27:06Bye-bye.
27:36Bye-bye.
28:06Bye-bye.
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