- 4 months ago
Seashark (Fictitious Submarine) A photographer's mate sent along on a war patrol to photograph submariners in action learns what it means to "belong" to the tiny, steel-encased world of the men who fight under the sea. Ernest Cooms is plainly frightened by his assignment aboard the Seashark. The sub's crew adds to this discomfiture by making him aware that simply being aboard a submarine does not make one a submariner. When the sub undergoes a five-hour attack, Cooms bears up well and continues with his duties. After that, he enjoys the privilege of "belonging".
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Donk is retired.
00:29The story you're about to see was born of success, the hard-won success of United States submarines,
00:36which by 1945 had swept from the sea more than six million tons of Japanese shipping.
00:42But success cannot come without a solid basic reason. Our story is built on that reason.
00:48Appropriately enough, our story actually begins where the struggle itself had begun three years before. Pearl Harbor, one of the jumping off places for the vessels that did the gigantic job.
01:08These are some of them, the ones that fought and returned and fought again.
01:14And this is the man who lived the story, photographer's mate Ernest Coombs. Coombs was not a submariner, had never been in combat, had in fact just arrived from the States.
01:25And yet it is his story, and it is only fitting that he should tell it.
01:30Well, here it is.
01:32Come in.
01:34Ernest Coombs, sir. Photographer's mate third class, reporting his order.
01:41Welcome to Pearl. Did you have a good trip from the States, Coombs?
01:44Yes, sir. Sit down.
01:46Thank you, sir.
01:49You're a fine hand with a camera, Coombs.
01:52Had a lot of practice here.
01:53Had your own commercial studio in New York, didn't you?
01:56Five years.
01:58Makes your feel for this kind of thing all the more amazing.
02:02Wish I had you for a customer, sir.
02:04You have.
02:07How much were you told?
02:08Only that I should finish my last assignment fast and report here.
02:12Curious?
02:14Yes, sir.
02:15I don't believe in prolonging curiosity.
02:18Take a look.
02:23Submarines, Coombs.
02:25A remarkable fighting force. Incredible record.
02:28There's no way of telling how much they've contributed to shortening the war.
02:32Yes, sir.
02:33To the public, it's the least known branch of the service.
02:37We're going to change that.
02:39The project is a documentary film.
02:42Everything that happens to the submariner.
02:45It's life, it's routine, it's war.
02:48All of it.
02:49It's something that should be known by everyone.
02:52You'll be aboard a plane to Saipan within three hours.
02:57And a crew member of the USS Sea Shark when she goes out on the next war patrol.
03:02I won't tell you what to shoot.
03:05You're a much better judge of that than I am.
03:08I thought you'd be delighted.
03:10You're not what I call enthusiastic.
03:13Well, it's...
03:14It's just that I know so little about subs, sir.
03:17Never been aboard one.
03:19Know anything about aircraft carriers when you shot this?
03:23No, sir.
03:24Then so much for that excuse.
03:26Come on, Coombs.
03:28What is it?
03:29I thought you'd jump it at a chance like this.
03:33Well, those are my orders, sir.
03:34Coombs.
03:36I could order any photographer.
03:38But I want the work of an artist.
03:41I want crafts.
03:43If a man has to force himself, he's not going to give it to me.
03:51All right, Coombs.
03:52Forget it.
03:55Sir.
03:56No, your reasons are on your own.
03:58Let's keep it that way.
03:59Oh, sir.
04:00Sir, I'll go.
04:01I want to go.
04:02Look, Coombs.
04:04The job will be done right, sir.
04:06The way it should be done.
04:10Please, sir.
04:13Yes, sir.
04:23Less than an hour after sunrise next morning, there it was.
04:27Saipan.
04:29A little late to change one's mind.
04:32Much too late.
04:34I don't know what I expected myself to be like,
04:37but I can tell you the impression.
04:40Big, gray, and businesslike.
04:45It's a job, Coombs.
04:46What's so different about it?
04:49Go do the job, Coombs.
04:53Ernest Coombs reporting aboard, sir.
04:55Photographer's made third class.
04:56I'm Lieutenant Stewart, Coombs.
04:58We've been expecting you.
04:59I'll take your papers.
05:00You'll bunk in the forward torpedo room.
05:02Bates?
05:03Yes, sir?
05:04Let's get him a hand here.
05:05Yeah, right, sir.
05:06Welcome aboard, Coombs.
05:07Thank you, sir.
05:09Oh, thanks.
05:15You're gonna be a popular guy on this tub.
05:18Used to think it was me.
05:19It's really that camera in there.
05:21So there ain't any Santa Claus.
05:23With dames, I thought it was me.
05:25Found out it's this.
05:26Oh, they like it?
05:27Most of them.
05:28Still worried about one of them, though.
05:30The dame.
05:31Stateside.
05:32Still hasn't seen it.
05:33Say, you think the gray will show in the picture?
05:37I'll tell you what.
05:39Maybe we can retouch it.
05:44There was a pattern to it.
05:46There always was.
05:48This was the first part.
05:49The unpacking.
05:50The getting acquainted.
05:53I remember a phrase that kept running through my head
05:55over and over again.
05:59My home away from home.
06:02I couldn't get rid of it.
06:04Do the job, Coombs.
06:06That's what you're here for.
06:10Two hours later, we'd shoved off.
06:13And an hour after that, there was...
06:15What?
06:17A huge open sea and a small steel fish.
06:20But that was on the outside.
06:23On the inside, there was normalcy.
06:25Routine.
06:26Men and work.
06:27And cards.
06:29And this card game was no different from a hundred others I'd watched.
06:33I'll up you.
06:36How do you figure it?
06:37Him, stick.
06:38Used to be a stick man in Vegas.
06:40Slowest player we got and ate one a game yet.
06:42How does it figure?
06:43I told you.
06:44It's a thing with me.
06:46Dice bounce, they got life.
06:47Cards.
06:48Just lay there, no message, no life.
06:51So it's a fetish, sue me.
06:52Did you ever...
06:56I'll call you.
06:58Oh boy, you'll never learn.
07:01Three bolts.
07:03All blue.
07:06It's the first time.
07:09You brought me luck, Ernie. Don't get off the boat, huh?
07:11Yeah.
07:13Don't look like I got much choice.
07:16Oh, don't get me wrong.
07:17I don't mean I don't like subs.
07:19Oh, sure, it's all new.
07:20But it's no problem.
07:21It'll grow on you.
07:22Say, you met the old man yet?
07:24No.
07:25You will.
07:26Being a guest and all.
07:30Captain Branca, huh?
07:31What's he like?
07:32Well, let's put it this way.
07:33I'm glad he's on our side.
07:35Oh, he's got a couple of navy crosses,
07:37a few silver stars,
07:39and a unit citation.
07:41You know you don't get them sitting at a desk.
07:43Photographer's mate, Coombs.
07:44Report to the wardrobe, please.
07:46Well, it sounds like you got to meet them real quick.
07:47Oh, you know where it is, Ernie?
07:48You want me to show you?
07:49Uh, I'll find it.
07:50I better start learning right now.
07:52Thanks, anyway.
07:55Oh, excuse me.
07:58And I want you to keep working around the clock if you have to,
08:00until that gun's operating perfectly.
08:02Oh, yes, sir.
08:03Excuse me.
08:04Oh, come on in, Coombs.
08:06Just wanted to welcome you aboard.
08:07Sorry I didn't get the chance early.
08:08Thank you, sir.
08:09Lieutenant Raines, our exec.
08:11All right.
08:12Lieutenant Bill Stewart, you've already met.
08:14Behind him is Chief of Boatbird Swinson.
08:16All right, how are you?
08:17Well, we'll get on that right away, sir.
08:18Fine.
08:20Well, Coombs, I just want to get things understood.
08:22We know what you're after,
08:23and we'll be of all the help we possibly can.
08:25Thank you, sir.
08:26But the boat and the job come first, you understand?
08:30Completely, sir.
08:31I'll stay out of the way as much as possible, I assure you.
08:33We'll make sure of that.
08:35We'll make you part of the regular crew.
08:36You'll stand regular watches.
08:38In the event of any service action,
08:40I'll leave it up to your judgment
08:41to come topside for pictures.
08:42There's just one thing.
08:44When we dive, don't get left on that bridge.
08:46It's a big ocean to be swimming around in.
08:49I understand.
08:51Coombs, is your film any good at night?
08:53No, sir.
08:54Unless something goes up in flames.
08:56Well, I'd hate to be called uncooperative, wouldn't you, Frank?
08:59Yes, Captain.
09:00We'll try to accommodate you, Coombs.
09:03We'll try real hard.
09:04Thank you, sir.
09:05Thank you, sir.
09:12And now the mechanics of it.
09:14The putting together of the pieces.
09:16Slowly.
09:17Because there's so much to learn.
09:20Get it on film.
09:22Make it clear.
09:23The fabulous endless array of pieces that go to make the whole.
09:27There was more.
09:28Much more.
09:29And I got it all.
09:30Because that was the job.
09:31I'd done it before many times.
09:32In many places.
09:33Ships.
09:34Planes.
09:35Factories.
09:36Why was it so different this time?
09:49Why the constant feeling of waiting?
09:53And for what?
09:55Guess I don't have to ask you guys if you want any ice cream.
09:59How much of that film have you used up already, Ernie?
10:11Are you worried?
10:12Oh, ain't you gonna shoot the guys?
10:14The way you're going, the boat's got the big part.
10:17The boat's background.
10:18I want the guys in action.
10:20There'll be plenty of that.
10:22Just don't forget to aim your camera.
10:28What's that supposed to mean?
10:29He just means that it gets a little busy in here sometimes.
10:33Camera hog.
10:35Photographer to the bridge.
10:38Bring your gear.
10:42Well, maybe we got some business going.
10:47Right full rudder.
10:49Steady on course one nine zero.
10:54Coombs.
10:55Look out there.
10:59Exploding mine.
11:00We're going to explode it.
11:02Maybe not the action you're after, but it's a picture.
11:04Do you want it?
11:05Yes, sir.
11:06I sure do.
11:09All right, Clark.
11:10I'm in fire.
11:19That's 500 pounds of TNT.
11:24That isn't going to bother anybody.
11:26Thank you for the shot, Captain.
11:28We'll try and do better next time, Coombs.
11:31Plane, Baron 350.
11:37Dive, dive!
11:38Clear the bridge!
11:43I said clear the bridge!
11:44Clear the bridge!
12:02Level off at 190 feet.
12:03Sawhead!
12:16Well, he sure came out of nowhere.
12:19See you playing, Captain?
12:20I think so.
12:22Hope he didn't bring any friends along.
12:25I'll soon find out.
12:28Just like that.
12:30No talk of what a depth charge could do.
12:33How close it was.
12:35They might just as well have been businessmen.
12:38Planning a job, estimating a cost sheet.
12:41Quietly.
12:42Logically.
12:44All I could think of was the phrase, men at work.
12:48190 feet.
12:51Well, we'll sit it out here a while.
12:52Let him make his move.
13:02Half hour.
13:03Well, that should be enough.
13:05Let's see what he's decided.
13:0760 feet.
13:08Let's go.
13:13Let's go.
13:28Nice, empty horizon.
13:30Downscope.
13:31Let's get on up there.
13:33No matter why he didn't stick around.
13:35I don't know.
13:36That might have been his last DC.
13:38In any event, I'm not gonna miss it.
13:43Come on.
13:49You all right, Combs?
13:50Yes, sir.
13:52Sorry I got in the way topsides, sir.
13:54That's all right, Combs.
13:55First emergency dive can be pretty startling.
13:58Yes, sir.
13:59But out here, every situation is measured in seconds, sir.
14:02Yes, I understand, Captain.
14:04It won't happen again.
14:05I'll see to it.
14:13Let's go.
14:18Patrol stays this easy, Ernie.
14:19You ain't gonna have nothing to show for your trouble.
14:23What?
14:24Oh, the pictures.
14:26Well, I had some pretty good stuff this afternoon.
14:28Not bad for a starter, anyway.
14:29Are you kidding?
14:31You think I can come from a plane?
14:34Well, it's all it takes, from the way I hear it.
14:36Ah, the plane didn't have a chance.
14:38Old man's a fox.
14:39Knows what he's doing every second.
14:41Well, it gets really busy.
14:44Brad, how about some A.C. Ducey?
14:46Uh-uh, I'm gonna read.
14:47Why don't you take on Ernie?
14:51Ah, changed my mind.
14:53Guess I'll read, too.
14:59Hope you're gonna get that picture of me soon, Ernie.
15:02I hear the beard's the first thing to go gray.
15:06Brad.
15:07Hmm?
15:08Level with me.
15:09What?
15:10What do the guys got against me?
15:12Now, what kind of jazz is that?
15:14Name me one guy that don't like you.
15:16Go on, name him.
15:17Oh, come on, Red.
15:18I got eyes.
15:19It's the little things.
15:20Like the small portion of ice cream.
15:22The politeness of the guys, but only politeness.
15:26You know what I'm talking about.
15:27Ah, you're dreaming.
15:29Come on, I'll play A.C. Ducey myself and beat the pants off of you.
15:32I wish you'd tell me, Red.
15:35Look, Ernie, why don't you save your imagination for your pictures?
15:39I got a hunch that we're gonna find action real quick now.
15:42His hunch was good.
15:43It happened less than three hours later.
15:45Permission to come on, Bridge.
15:46Granted.
15:47Ready to take over the watch again, Captain.
15:48Captain, getting a pip on the radar between us and the beach.
15:49Bearing 250, range about 10,000 yards.
15:51By
15:52eny, 4,000 yards.
15:5331,000 yards.
15:54Minus to come on, Bridge.
15:56Granted.
15:56Ready to take over the watch again, Captain.
15:58Captain, getting a pip on the radar between us and the beach.
16:01Bearing 250, range about 10,000 yards.
16:08Station the tracking party.
16:10Right, full rudder.
16:13New course, 340...
16:15All ahead, Standard.
16:17Radar.
16:17Make a sweep, all around.
16:21All clear on the radar, Captain.
16:27Nothing but the original contact.
16:29Target seems to be making about 12 knots on course 350.
16:34Check your zigs.
16:38Gin.
16:41Man, I sure like to play you for a living.
16:44Where is your wandering mind tonight, Mother?
16:47Guess I'm just not with it, Red.
16:48I hear you good, friend.
16:51What do you think?
16:55He ain't just practicing.
16:56This is the Captain.
16:58We're tracking a sizable ship.
17:00We have been doing an end around.
17:02When we're in position, we'll make a submerged attack.
17:05Man, when I get a hunch, you could bet your rent money on it.
17:21No moonlight's too strong for a service attack.
17:32Bearing...
17:33Marked.
17:34Zero-six-two.
17:39Range...
17:39Marked.
17:42One-nine-double-oh.
17:43One-five-zero-zero.
17:44Down scope.
17:47Angle on the bow.
17:48Fifty points.
17:49Make ready to the forward tube.
17:50Set depth at ten feet.
17:55Forward tube ready.
17:57Depth set at ten feet.
17:58Bearing...
17:59Marked.
18:01Zero-two-eight.
18:05Range...
18:08Marked.
18:08One-five-zero-zero.
18:12Fire one.
18:14Fire two.
18:17Fire three.
18:18Fire.
18:32Photographer to the Connie Tower.
18:34Photographer to the Connie Tower.
18:36We sure showed it, didn't we?
18:38Looks like you've got your picture, Coombe.
18:48She's on fire from stem to stern.
18:50Thank you, sir.
19:02It was only a beginning.
19:04Less than 24 hours later, there was more.
19:07And the news was made known in the quiet tones.
19:11The calm, business-like tones.
19:14Picking up pips, sir.
19:15Four or five ships.
19:17Convoy.
19:18About ten miles to the northeast.
19:20Bearing?
19:21About zero, three, zero.
19:25Well, it's always feast or famine.
19:27As long as we do the eating.
19:31And still more of it.
19:33Hours more.
19:34The smooth procedure of trained men working as but a single unit.
19:39Speaking their language of digits and symbols.
19:43Plying the magic they understood so well.
19:46And magic was needed now.
19:48For the sea had roughened.
19:50I can see the first ship in the convoy.
19:56I'd get my eye teeth for a smooth sea.
20:05Range.
20:062,000 yards.
20:08Stand by to fire.
20:11Fire one.
20:11Over and over, the deadly fish streaked out of their tubes.
20:17Sped on their way.
20:19But the hunter fought a double battle now.
20:22The angry sea was his enemy.
20:25It's murder to hit a target in a blow like this.
20:28We'll get them this time.
20:29Way better.
20:31Last of the fish.
20:32This cleans us.
20:34Fire three.
20:35Fire three.
20:35Fire three.
20:35Fire three.
20:37Fire three.
20:39Fire three.
20:40Fire three.
20:43Well, it took all of our fish, but it was worth it.
20:54Down's coast.
20:56Take her down to 120 feet.
20:58Emergency.
20:59Escort vessel.
21:00Coming fast.
21:01Rig for depth charge attack.
21:03Combs, go back to your station.
21:04Yes, sir.
21:10120 feet.
21:35Sure wish we had some real depth.
21:37There's none to be had.
21:39And they know it.
21:40It's going to be a long night.
21:45It was.
21:47Hour after hour.
21:49Just lying there.
21:51Taking it.
21:58You got enough in that thing for a double feature.
22:01Trying to make me feel good, Red?
22:02Ernie.
22:03All right, knock it off.
22:04You know I'm scared, Green.
22:05Oh, now look.
22:06I can't help it, Red.
22:07I can take it topside.
22:09But down here.
22:11I can't get it out of my head.
22:13All that water pushing at you every second.
22:15Like it wants in.
22:17Like it's waiting.
22:19It's just something I say, Red.
22:21It's always been.
22:22But you never stop shooting.
22:26Good job.
22:27So now you know about us, huh?
22:30Ernie, you think there's one guy aboard that isn't scared right now?
22:34The guys weren't fluffing you.
22:37They weren't cold.
22:38They were just waiting until you tasted this.
22:40Well, he's either gone or he's playing possum.
22:54Well, let's go up and find out, huh?
22:55He's giving up.
23:09It's all clear, topside.
23:11We're going to service and head for home on four engines.
23:18We made it once again.
23:20How about that?
23:24Five hours of that kind of waiting gives me an appetite.
23:27Let's show it up.
23:28Chow down in 20 minutes.
23:30How do you like that?
23:31How about the little cards while we're waiting?
23:33Come on, Ernie.
23:35I'll save you a place.
23:40You see what I mean?
23:42You belong now, Ernie.
23:44You've been there.
23:46You know?
23:47Yeah.
23:48Now I know.
23:50Thanks.
23:51Well, put that thing away and let's go get some of Stick's money.
23:59Hey, Submarina.
24:00I bet you a buck that nobody can tell you apart from the rest of the crew.
24:04Not now.
24:06No bets.
24:07Because there wasn't any sense throwing a dollar away.
24:11But you know something?
24:13A million of them couldn't have bought the way I felt.
24:24I'll be back in a moment.
24:25If you had to select a single reason for the efficiency, the ability, the great record of
24:37the submarinas, the lessons learned by Ernest Coombs would have come high on the list.
24:42Because the men of the silent service have to fight, hope, and live in a steel world all
24:48of their own, there is always a closeness, a pride in each other, and a fierce sense of
24:53belonging.
24:54It is never spoken of, but ever-present.
24:56It has made them great.
24:59Be with us again when next we bring you another true and exciting submarine story.
25:03We'll be back in the middle of the world.
25:05Take her down, and hop in line, through the deep blue underneath the ocean.
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