- 5 months ago
about the submarine USS Perch on a mission during The Korean War to deliver British Royal Marines on a secret commando raid.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykes, retired.
00:29This chapter of the silent service deals with one of the most daring exploits of the United Nations forces in the Korean War.
00:36It concerns not only a submarine and its crew, but some passengers that were rough, tough, and...
00:43Well, I'll let you be the judge.
00:50The United States Navy submarine perch was a typical fleet submarine.
00:55Its rebirth began at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California,
00:59where certain modifications changed it into a special breed of ship.
01:06Hey, what are they doing on the perch?
01:08Beats me.
01:10Mr. Saunders?
01:15Murphy? Cox?
01:17Just get back from leave?
01:18Yes, sir.
01:19Oh, what's going on, sir?
01:21Minor overhauling.
01:23They took out two of her main engines.
01:25Well, with two of her engines gone, everybody will beat us back to port.
01:28Torpedo tubes have been removed, too.
01:30Well, without torpedoes, what good is she?
01:32They're making a troop carrier out of her.
01:34A what?
01:36Room for 110 troops and equipment.
01:40Well, it's a raw deal, Mr. Saunders.
01:42They can't do that to the best sub in a fleet.
01:44They've already done it, Murphy. Not much we can do about it.
01:46Well, maybe you can't, sir.
01:48But I can ask to transfer to a fighting ship.
01:50I didn't volunteer for submarine service to ride herd on a water taxi.
01:54Yeah.
01:55Yeah, what do we do in case of war?
01:57We shuttle a bunch of VIPs around?
01:59Well, there are other possible uses for a troop carrier in combat.
02:04For example, a landing of commandos behind enemy lines.
02:08Is that straight, sir?
02:10If it isn't, I'll ask for a transfer myself.
02:14Okay.
02:16After her conversion to an underwater transport,
02:19the perch was placed in a one-year evaluation status.
02:23Under the command of Lieutenant Commander Robert D. Quinn,
02:26landing exercises were held in the San Diego area.
02:29A specially picked company of the 1st Marine Division
02:32became very proficient in embarking and debarking
02:35under simulated combat conditions.
02:39The numerous drills and dives soon convinced the crew
02:42that the perch was no left-handed, dangerous freak,
02:45but had a definite role to play in any future warfare.
02:48The Korean War broke out during the final stages of her evaluation.
02:57The perch and her crew were ready.
03:01She was ordered to Japan.
03:03The word was that she would transport marine raiders into enemy waters.
03:07Excitement ran high as the crew anticipated the missions ahead.
03:11They were determined to prove the perch's efficiency.
03:14Skipper Quinn, Exec Flessner, and Bill Saunders engaged in thinking sessions.
03:20Was the perch really ready for combat?
03:22Could her performance be improved?
03:25Well, he's got to anticipate every emergency, whether it arises or not.
03:30What do you think will give us the most trouble, Captain?
03:32Shore batteries?
03:33Bill, I'm concerned about everything the enemy can throw at us.
03:35Shore batteries, patrol boats, planes, destroyers, subs,
03:39you name it, they probably have it.
03:42Say nothing of rocks and shoals.
03:44We can't stand too far offshore, sir.
03:46The climbing party has to paddle those rover boats.
03:48Exactly.
03:49Right now we can't estimate how close to the target area we dare go.
03:52In some cases it can be pretty bad.
03:54I'm afraid so.
03:56That's what worries me.
03:57Those marines would be sitting ducks during such a long trip to shore.
04:01Say nothing of being pretty tired by the time they hit the beach.
04:05They definitely require better and faster transportation than those rubber boats.
04:10They need something to tow them and drop them off closer in.
04:15A whale boat would be too big.
04:18A small skimmer.
04:22A rubber boat with an outboard.
04:25Yeah, that would do the job.
04:27That sounds like the answer, Captain.
04:28I'll bet it'll work.
04:29What about the sound of the skimmer's engine?
04:31Wouldn't that alert the enemy?
04:32Well, not if we muffled the engine.
04:34Yeah.
04:35The only problem I see is where to store it.
04:37No strain.
04:38We store it with the other rubber boats.
04:40How about installing an antenna that can race above the surface?
04:42We'll need it for super-shore communication.
04:44That's a good idea.
04:45When we get to Japan, I'll ask the division commander for approval.
04:49Here's what I was thinking.
04:51Yokosuka Naval Base near Tokyo, August 1950.
04:56Skipper Quinn received permission to install a new radio antenna.
05:02The skimmer was housed in the hangar in place of the LVT.
05:05Cox, Murphy.
05:06Yes, sir.
05:07Yes, sir.
05:08How would you men like to live dangerously?
05:10Well, what have you got in mind, sir?
05:11A transfer to the Marines?
05:13Well, almost.
05:14I've been put in charge of the skimmer.
05:16I need a good coxswain and a machinist mate.
05:19All we have to do is tow the assault craft ashore, land explosives, pick up casualties.
05:23Might be fun.
05:25This is strictly on a volunteer basis.
05:28Well, you can count me in, sir.
05:30How about you, Joe?
05:31Well, I don't know.
05:32It's always been against my principles to volunteer for anything.
05:36Couldn't you just order me to do it, sir?
05:39I could.
05:40Aye, aye, sir.
05:41I'll do it.
05:46Captain Quinn trained his men in the tricky job of launching the skimmer.
05:50Time for either operation was cut down to two minutes flat.
05:54The perch was now ready to take Marines for a raid behind enemy lines in North Korea.
05:59But the Marines had already been flown to Korea and were in the thick of the fighting.
06:05The men of the perch shrugged off their disappointment
06:09and plunged into the work of training first underwater demolition teams,
06:13then Army Special Activities troops for that big mission.
06:17But somehow the orders never came.
06:19It seemed that the eager crew of the perch was destined to be always a bridesmaid,
06:23but never a bride.
06:25Morale was at its lowest ebb.
06:27I tell you it's a plot.
06:29Someone's deliberately keeping us out of combat.
06:31Maybe they're saving us for bigger things, like a USO tour.
06:34Well, let's face it, fellas.
06:36We're stuck in a training ship for the rest of the war.
06:38Well, I should have transferred when I had the chance.
06:41The other subs ain't seen any more action than us.
06:43Aye, but I could have been on a flat top or a tin can.
06:46They ain't sitting out the war.
06:48I knew it.
06:49Take the insides out and all you got left is a shell.
06:52They ought to rename this bucket the shellfish.
06:55Yeah, well, all the outfits we trained are over there fighting the war.
06:59Yeah, for all the good we're doing, we could have stayed in San Diego.
07:02Oh, come on, Joe.
07:03Maybe we can stir up some action at the Saddle Club.
07:05All righty.
07:06See you, Spike.
07:07Yeah.
07:08Oh, sorry, Eck, I didn't see you.
07:13Why don't you look where you're gone?
07:14What, do you think you stooped back in the London fog?
07:16Listen, you stepped right into my blooming way.
07:18What are you talking about?
07:19I stepped into your way.
07:20You fucking idiot!
07:21Hey!
07:22Hey, they're all the bullets.
07:32Look, Joe, you had no right to stop me.
07:34Could have taken him easy.
07:35Oh, come on, Murph.
07:36You're just jumpy, that's all.
07:37He couldn't help it.
07:38Big bolt.
07:39First, I can bear the junk.
07:41This will do you for the one I spilled.
07:43Thanks.
07:44Ogilby's my name.
07:45Stan Ogilby.
07:46This is Harry Craig.
07:47Craig?
07:48Murphy's the name.
07:49Phil Murphy.
07:50Cut.
07:51Have a seat.
07:52All right.
07:53Murphy, eh?
07:54Well, that accounts for the quick temper, anyway.
07:56Look, our nations are allies.
07:58Why shouldn't we be two?
08:00Why fight amongst ourselves?
08:01We've got so much of it to do in Korea.
08:03I'll drink to that.
08:04All right.
08:08We've only got here two days ago.
08:10What's those ruddy fish for?
08:12Twin dolphins.
08:13Meaning what?
08:14Submarine service.
08:16What I'd fit you with.
08:18Royal Marines.
08:1941st Independent Commandos.
08:22You blokes have been in the thick of it, haven't you?
08:24How many ships you've sunk?
08:26Well, uh, uh, four transports and an aircraft carrier.
08:30What do you know?
08:31It's not bad going.
08:32It's seen as how the North Koreans got no aircraft carriers.
08:36Well, it was one of our own.
08:38I see you got the wit of the Irish to go with a spleen.
08:43Where in Ireland were you born, Murphy?
08:45Dublin?
08:46South Dublin?
08:47Really, no.
08:48My own father spent time in the city for your birthday.
08:50He was with the army during the revolution.
08:52With the black and tans?
08:53Well, of course.
08:54Don't tell me your father was in the rebel army.
08:56Well, sure he was.
08:57A remarkable coincidence.
08:59You know, your father and mine might have traded bullets on some dark Dublin street 30 years ago.
09:03It's amazing.
09:04It's a small world.
09:06And next time I write the governor, I'll have to tell him about this.
09:08He won't believe it.
09:09What ship are you on?
09:13Uh, the perch.
09:14Oh, we've heard of her.
09:15That's the one without the torpedoes, isn't it?
09:18Hey, that's classified information.
09:20Murphy, how do you sink them four transports?
09:23With a pea shooter.
09:25Murphy, Murphy, I've got a sneaking suspicion you're nothing but a blow-eye.
09:30Whale of a boaster.
09:32You want to step in the alley?
09:34A submarine without torpedoes.
09:37It's like going to war without a gun.
09:40Come on, Joe.
09:41This guy don't want to fight, he just wants to talk us to death.
09:47See you later.
09:48Right, huh?
09:49Goodbye.
09:57Hey!
09:58Hey, Murph.
09:59Look at those uniforms.
10:02Another outfit to train.
10:04Oh.
10:10Hi, you, chaps.
10:11I hear you run a ruddy rough training outfit.
10:13Did you know last night you were assigned to the perch?
10:15Of course, old man.
10:17Well, stereo, chaps.
10:18We must have tea together.
10:20Why, Sky?
10:21What are you laughing at?
10:23The 41st Royal Commando Unit attacked their training exercises with such vigor that the entire crew of the perch, including Murphy, was impressed.
10:35In that one intensive week, the Commandos became a fast-moving, hard-hitting, well-coordinated submarine raiding team.
10:42Their appetites were enormous.
10:52The ship's cook figured they averaged six eggs a man at breakfast.
11:02September 25, 1950.
11:04Orders from headquarters.
11:06United Nations Command.
11:07Land raiding party in North Korea.
11:10The waiting and the training were over.
11:13An innovation in modern warfare was about to be tested.
11:27We're approaching target area.
11:28Very well.
11:29All ahead, one third.
11:30All ahead, one third.
11:31The Commandos were briefed on their objective.
11:40That's pretty stuffy down there with all those passengers.
11:49Oxygen content low.
11:51Commence snorkeling on one engine and it'll freshen things up.
11:54All right, sir.
11:57See any lights?
11:58Nothing, Captain.
11:59I'm gonna surface in about an hour.
12:01I'll take over.
12:02Aye, aye, sir.
12:03Nineteen-hundred.
12:04Tenseness gripped every man.
12:05Commando and sailor alike.
12:06The perch slid quietly to a point offshore.
12:20The sea was calm.
12:21Now let's go.
12:22Have a troop of boat details.
12:23Take the station.
12:24Troop of boat details.
12:25Take the station.
12:26Troop of boat details.
12:27Take the station.
12:28Surface.
12:29Take the station.
12:30Surface.
12:59She's flooded up, Mr. Sarners.
13:09Take out the plums.
13:10Wipe it down.
13:11All right.
13:24Captain, I think there's a patrol boat off the bar.
13:28Wait a minute.
13:29Those lights on shore.
13:32They're going out.
13:33Must be a trap.
13:34Probably picked us up on radar.
13:36Recover the skimmer.
13:38Recover the proper boats.
13:53Control, there's a plane overhead.
13:55Check IFF.
13:56See if it's ours.
13:58Bear a hand on Jack.
13:59Bear a hand on Jack.
14:07We're all attached for the moon to come out.
14:08Rich, no signal on IFF.
14:09Oh, it must be a Meg.
14:19Can I ask the Sevis?
14:20Sure.
14:21How are you doing, Bill?
14:2230 seconds more.
14:23Secure all guns.
14:26All right.
14:27All right.
14:28All right.
14:29I'm sorry.
14:30I'm sorry.
14:31All right.
14:35How are you doing, Bill?
14:3630 seconds more!
14:43Secure all guns!
14:56Put it on the bridge!
15:01Dive! Dive!
15:06Dive!
15:22The Perch and the Commandos had almost fallen into a trap on their first target.
15:27They had a secondary target, an ammunition dump ten miles to the north.
15:31Major Collins, the Marine Commander, was ready to go ahead, but Skipper Quinn was undecided.
15:37Major, the whole coast might be alerted to us by now.
15:40Now, let's check with the task group, Commander, and see what diversionary action we can scare up.
15:44Now, here are two possibilities.
15:47A destroyer could shell target one.
15:50Now, meanwhile, the Air Force could stage a nuisance raid here to the north.
15:55That would confuse them completely.
15:57I think you can brief your men on target, too, Major.
16:01Might as well make this trip necessary, huh?
16:03Let's go.
16:07Say, Stan, is it true about that rum business?
16:10It's an old British custom.
16:11Every sailor or Marine gets a drink of rum daily.
16:14Or thruppets, instead.
16:15Thruppets?
16:16How much is that in America money?
16:18Oh, about six cents, I think.
16:20They can keep the money.
16:22Keep the whole blinking Navy and the submarines.
16:24For a man to do a good job of fighting, he needs God's green earth under him and fresh air to breathe.
16:29Well, that depends on how you look at it.
16:31You know, that was a close call tonight.
16:33You guys would have been clobbered if we'd have taken you in.
16:36There'll be proper fireworks when we blow up that ammo dump tomorrow night.
16:39Ain't you scared of nothing?
16:41Not for you to see, anyway.
16:43After all, I am an Englishman.
16:45Yeah, you gotta live up to that stiff upper lip routine, huh?
16:48Hey, I got news for you.
16:49I wasn't born in Ireland.
16:50Neither was my old man.
16:51I just happened to see some movies of the Irish Revolution.
16:56You don't surprise me.
16:57It was a gag.
16:58That's what I like about all you youngs.
17:00You're all a lot of jokers.
17:04The following morning, the perch made rendezvous with the destroyer Maddox.
17:08A discussion of events with the task group commander resulted in agreement that diversionary attacks be made
17:14in conjunction with the commando raid on target two.
17:21October 1st at 7 in the evening.
17:24The diversionary attacks had commenced.
17:26Would they work?
17:28The radar man reported the two patrol boats in front of the target area had both moved off.
17:33One to the south, the other to the north.
17:36The target area was clear.
17:37Clear.
17:38Clear.
17:39Clear.
17:40Clear.
17:41Clear.
17:42Clear.
17:43Clear.
17:44Clear.
17:45Clear.
17:46Clear.
17:47Clear.
17:48Clear.
17:49Clear.
17:50Clear.
17:51Clear.
17:52Clear.
17:53Clear.
17:54Clear.
17:55Clear.
17:56Clear.
17:57Clear.
17:58Clear.
17:59Clear.
18:00Clear.
18:01Clear.
18:02Clear.
18:03Clear.
18:04Clear.
18:05Clear.
18:36Good luck, Lonnie!
18:50Great bunch of guys.
18:53Man might have gone in in case they need us.
18:55Aye, aye, sir.
19:06Good luck, Lonnie!
19:35in i hope there ain't any guards around well getting to that ammo dump won't be too tough
19:41getting back is going to be murder boy they can have it that's what ogles be said about the
19:46submarine
20:16It's pretty quiet.
20:30That's the way the commandos like it.
20:33Without surprise, they're dead.
20:35I didn't see them load any explosives in the skimmer.
20:38They're using phosphorus grenades.
20:40Throw a few of those into an ammo dump and you've had it.
20:42I sure hope we don't have to leave those boys.
20:49It'll have to be awfully hot before we do.
21:09They're taking a long time.
21:12They're in no hurry.
21:13When they get back to the beach, why don't we go in so they don't have to paddle out so far?
21:17If it's safe, let us know.
21:19Call me up on top of that rock with a machine gun.
21:22Could get every one of them.
21:24Cops, I'm beginning to think you're a pessimist.
21:27Yes, sir. I was born that way.
21:41Did they break radio sounds?
21:52Just a minute.
21:55No, not yet.
21:56Oh, this is murder.
22:01Standing off like this, not being able to help.
22:05Looks like missions accomplished.
22:08At what cost?
22:10Skimmer to shore, repeat message.
22:19Right, coming in.
22:20We're going in, Murphy.
22:21A casualty.
22:22He's not mad, Murphy.
22:34Get him to the doctor.
22:36Don't you want us to tow you in at the same time?
22:38Nah, the Major said we make out okay.
22:41Get going.
22:41He needs help.
22:49Good show, Yank.
22:50Good show.
22:51Don't you worry about it, Sarge.
22:53We'll get you there in a few minutes.
22:54Skimmer hurried back toward the beach and took the boats in tow.
23:17Well, looks like we've made it.
23:27Control, Major Collins will want to know how a sergeant is.
23:30Check on it for me.
23:37I'm sorry to do that.
23:40Well, thanks.
23:44Sergeant Stanley Oglesby, Royal Marines,
23:4741st Independent Commandos,
23:50was buried at sea the following morning.
23:54The experience from constant training
23:56and the careful planning by the Marines and the perch's crew
23:59had much to do with the raid's success.
24:03This was only the beginning for the perch.
24:06It had fulfilled its destiny.
24:10I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
24:17I'd like you to meet the executive officer of the USS Perch
24:21on the raid you have just seen dramatized,
24:24Commander Conrad J. Flessner.
24:26You had a rough time getting a chance to put that landing party ashore.
24:30Yes, it looked for a while like we'd done a lot of training for nothing.
24:34Those Royal Marines evidently were a pretty tough bunch of commandos.
24:37I couldn't begin to express my admiration for them.
24:40They did the job they were sent to do and lost only one man.
24:43It sounds like a real workmanlike performance.
24:46It was.
24:47They were well trained and they had plenty of what it takes.
24:50I'd say the same applies to the ship's company or the perch.
24:54Congratulations to every one of you.
24:55Join us again for another true and exciting story of the silent service.
25:03Take her down as often lies
25:08Through the deep blue underneath the ocean
25:12We'll control the ocean's wind
25:17Come down, down underneath the sea
25:21They've been told to pass the word
25:25In the future's yet to be
25:29That we're saved as long as there's
25:34A submarine around the sea
25:37So wait for time, and take her down
25:42Let's go down, down underneath the ocean
25:46Fearless men will fight me down
25:51In the deep blue underneath the sea
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