- 5 months ago
Tinosa (Submarine, SS-283) Penetrating Tsushima Strait to get at shipping in the Sea of Japan was a job that fell to a few specially equipped submarines in the closing months of World War II. The USS Tinosa was sent into the Emperor's "private lake", the Tsushima Strait. The Strait was guarded by thick mine fields. However, with the help of "frequency modulated sonar," the Tinosa finally slipped by without damage and reaped her harvest, convoys of unprotected enemy ships.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Manifest Destiny
00:30I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykerz, retired.
00:34It is my pleasure to bring you another true story of the silent service.
00:39What you are about to see is an account of the 11th War Patrol of the USS Tenosa,
00:44one of nine submarines to penetrate the so-called impregnable Straits of Tsushima,
00:49gateway to the Sea of Japan.
00:50The overall mission was called Operation Barney,
00:54and it shook the complacency of the Japanese Empire.
01:00Compared to the all-out war effort, the action of one group of submarines might seem small,
01:05but special submarines equipped with frequency-modulated sonar, FMS,
01:10a device for underwater detection of enemy mines.
01:14They were called the Hellcats.
01:17On May 29, 1945, the USS Tenosa headed north from Guam
01:22towards the heavily mined Tsushima Straits.
01:26Her captain was Commander Richard C. Latham of Waterford, Connecticut.
01:30The diving officer was Lieutenant B. S. Weaver of Bottlesville, Oklahoma.
01:35The gunnery officer, Lieutenant Charles R. Sanders, Birmingham, Alabama.
01:41Captain Latham's executive officer was Lieutenant Commander H. J. Smith of Pottsville, Pennsylvania.
01:47Snuffy, if we can pull this one off, it might be the one that does it.
01:49Makes him give up.
01:50I've got to figure if.
01:51If the FMS doesn't work, we'll be going clear back to Guam.
01:55Admiral Lockwood gave it every test in the book.
01:57Do you remember what he said?
01:58Wouldn't lose one vote because of a failure with FMS.
02:01It's our underwater seeing eye dog.
02:03Blind man's bluff never was my game.
02:05Captain, mayday coming through.
02:07Zumi going down.
02:09Very well, radio.
02:10Be right there.
02:16Get the position.
02:17Not yet, sir.
02:18There was a big raid scheduled on the Japanese mainland.
02:22Yeah, we're going to get them coming and going.
02:24Got a ditch.
02:25Got a ditch.
02:27Position northeast corner area.
02:29Option four.
02:29I'll check it, Captain.
02:31Northeast corner area.
02:33Option four.
02:34Anybody radio for a dumb bolt?
02:36Yes, sir.
02:37Someone called a few minutes ago.
02:46Hope they made it.
02:49About 200 miles due north, right on our course.
02:52Keep tuned in on 500 kilocycles.
02:54There's a hand crank radio on those rafts.
02:56See if you can pick up an SOS.
02:58All right, sir.
03:03Helm.
03:04All ahead, flank.
03:05All ahead, flank.
03:06Aye, aye, sir.
03:13The radio message was intercepted by the Tenosa at 1300 on June the 1st.
03:18She sped towards the area of the downed plane at 19 knots.
03:23By 01, the Tenosa had reached the area and started a checkerboard search.
03:28Visibility was limited by a moonless night.
03:31Captain, if we make contact on a night like this, it'll be a miracle.
03:35Yeah, like looking for a needle in a haystack.
03:38We can't hang around much longer.
03:40We're liable to be late for rendezvous as it is.
03:43I'd hate to leave without giving the best try we can.
03:46I'm going to radio comms up back.
03:49See what they say.
03:55With the coming of dawn, visibility was still limited to 100 yards.
03:59This time by a thick fog.
04:01But the search was continued as ordered.
04:03They would have to gamble on being left behind by the rest of the Hellcats.
04:06This is our present position, but in this fog, we're almost sure to miss it.
04:12And that's Sofugan.
04:13Don't the Japanese have a lookout station there?
04:15Yeah, but we're far enough east.
04:17We're safe.
04:18Barney 3, Barney 3, this is Q-Ball.
04:21You read me.
04:22Over.
04:22It's the dumb boat.
04:24Q-Ball, this is Barney 3.
04:26We read you loud and clear.
04:27Over.
04:28Barney 3, this is Q-Ball.
04:30I have you spotted.
04:31Visibility is clear up here.
04:33The sun is burning the floor at all.
04:35If we spot the raft, we'll give you a new heading.
04:37Over.
04:38Roger, Q-Ball.
04:39We'll be standing by.
04:40Out.
04:43With contact established between the Tenosa and the Sech Plane, the rescue operation proceeded.
04:53Captain, we're getting mighty close to that lookout station.
04:56We can always dive.
04:57Barney 3, this is Q-Ball.
04:59Over.
05:00Q-Ball, Barney 3.
05:03Over.
05:04Barney 3, contact.
05:06Bearing, 3-3-0.
05:07Repeat, 3-3-0.
05:10About 20 miles from you.
05:12Q-Ball, Barney 3.
05:13Roger.
05:14We are proceeding to position.
05:16Over.
05:16Out.
05:19Come left to 3-3-0.
05:21All ahead, flank.
05:22Come left to 3-3-0.
05:24All ahead, flank.
05:25All ahead, flank.
05:2520 miles.
05:32That'll put us right on their front porch.
05:35Yeah.
05:35Know any prayers?
05:36The fog was beginning to clear away.
05:39It would be easier to see the tiny raft.
05:42And easier to be seen by the Japanese lookouts on Sofugan.
05:47Tenosa closed the Japanese Hell Island.
05:49So far, she hadn't been spotted.
05:51But how much longer could her luck hold out?
05:57Slavvy!
05:58They're off the starboard bow.
05:59Rescue party on deck.
06:07The one who feels better at a time like this.
06:09The rescue to the rescuer.
06:11I know one thing.
06:12I'll feel better when we clear that island over there.
06:14After the rescue and Sofugan lay many miles away, contact was made with the scabbard fish, which
06:25was returning home.
06:27A rendezvous was arranged and transfer made.
06:37I kind of wish we were going along.
06:38All ahead, one-third.
06:43Come to course 295.
06:45All ahead, one-third, sir.
06:46Come to course 295.
06:55All ahead, standard.
06:57All ahead, standard, sir.
07:00Tenosa plow towards the rendezvous point a few miles off Nagasaki.
07:05It was June the 4th, 1945.
07:07In exactly five days at sunset on June the 9th, they would be in the Sea of Japan, if
07:13they safely traversed the heavily mined entrance.
07:17According to intelligence, there are no mines deeper than 75 feet.
07:21They're all anchored using cables, according to intelligence.
07:25If they're right, we should be safe at a keel depth of 120 feet.
07:29We'll take soundings all the way through.
07:31Isn't this the place where some guy says this is it?
07:34Only in that western you're reading.
07:35Jim, take her down.
07:39Aye, aye, sir.
07:40Clear the bridge.
07:43Dive, dive.
07:46And now the moment was indeed at hand.
07:49From this point until she reached the Sea of Japan,
07:52Tenosa, running submerged, would be a silent, stealthy intruder.
07:55A battery-driven cruise drove Tenosa forward into the deadly straits of Tsushima.
08:08Contact bearing 085, range 350 yards.
08:14Steady on course.
08:16Steady on course, sir.
08:16Contact dead ahead.
08:29Range 275 yards.
08:31Left full runner.
08:32Left full runner, sir.
08:33Contact 015, range 175 yards.
08:48Very well.
08:49Contact bearing 310, range 200 yards.
08:55Meter.
08:56Steady as you go.
08:57Go.
08:57Go.
08:57Go.
08:57Go.
08:57Go.
08:57Go.
08:58Go.
08:59Go.
09:00Go.
09:01Go.
09:02Go.
09:03Go.
09:03Contact starboard bow, range 75 yards.
09:09Portback emergency.
09:10Starboard ahead blank.
09:11Left full runner.
09:13Contact port bow, 50 yards.
09:22We're between them.
09:23Halt stop.
09:24Halt stop.
09:25Contact 40 yards, 30, 20.
09:28Harper.
09:53Mimed cable.
09:54Mimed cable.
09:54That cable fouls on the superstructure
10:04will drag the mine down on top of us.
10:21She worked three.
10:22All I had, one third.
10:24All ahead, one third.
10:26Like her eight sister ships,
10:28Tenosa sweated out the harrowing hours
10:30during the traversal of the latticework of mines.
10:33Many times it appeared she would not live
10:35to reach the Sea of Japan.
10:36But the consummate skill of Commander Latham
10:39and his crew brought them through.
10:41All there on the screen.
10:42Right through the eye of the needle.
10:45Let's go up for a look.
10:46Periscope, Dad!
10:46It's nothing.
11:01Take a look.
11:02All right, this hurts.
11:15And almost 18 hours before we can start shooting.
11:20When Nelson wanted to disregard his signal,
11:22he put his telescope up to his blind eye.
11:24What kind of a dodge can we work?
11:25Good reason for the orders.
11:27The rest of the boats have to get clear of the mines field
11:29before we can let them know we're here.
11:31I just wish I hadn't seen what I saw.
11:33Take her down to 120 feet.
11:35120 feet.
11:38Five degree down bubble.
11:46Calently, the Tenosa waited for the designated time.
11:51During the night, firing time was set for 2100.
12:05Downscope.
12:151700.
12:16Four hours to go.
12:18What's the matter, Captain?
12:20There's a sitting duck up there.
12:22Looks like an ammunition ship.
12:24The rest of the Hellcats must be through the mines by now.
12:27Over two hours ago if they made it.
12:29Thinking that ship will keep a lot of Japanese guns quiet.
12:33Yeah.
12:33A clean kill, and they couldn't alert other ships in the area.
12:37We can do it.
12:38Easy.
12:40Upscope.
12:52Battle station!
13:00That's torpedo depth, 12 feet.
13:02How do you do it, sir?
13:05Larry!
13:07Mark!
13:08Three, four, five.
13:13Range!
13:14Mark!
13:153,000 yards.
13:16Downscope.
13:18We're working a little closer.
13:20Sonar contact, set ahead.
13:21All back, emergency.
13:26What do you make of sonar?
13:27Can't tell, sir, but it sounds like breakers.
13:29It's a reef, Captain.
13:31Forty-five feet in depth.
13:32Very well.
13:33We'll try it from here.
13:34Upscope.
13:35Final observation and shoot.
13:39Hang on the bow.
13:41420.
13:43Bearing.
13:45Mark.
13:453, 3, 5.
13:47Range.
13:49Mark.
13:502, 2, 00.
13:52Set.
13:53Shoot!
13:53Fire one.
13:54Fire three.
13:59Fire three.
14:11The correct one's passing ahead.
14:21Chirac hit.
14:22Mid-chips.
14:22Hit him this.
14:24The last torpedo won't make any of the difference.
14:27Downscope.
14:29Take her down to 200 feet.
14:31Right full rudder.
14:32All ahead, one-third.
14:34All ahead, one-third.
14:36So quickly did the enemy ship sink,
14:38it was impossible for a message to have been transmitted.
14:43June 16, 1945.
14:45Operation Barney was in full swing.
14:48Tenozner and her sister ships were giving a good account of themselves.
14:51Japanese losses were in tens of thousands of tons.
14:56So confident had the Japanese admiralty been in their impregnability
14:59that they allowed their ships to sail unprotected by escorts.
15:03It was a fatal mistake.
15:04If we had more subs in here, we could clean out what's left of the Japanese merchant marine.
15:27The more time and more torpedoes, we could do it.
15:31Got eight left.
15:32I'd like to find targets for them.
15:35They're really scattered.
15:37Looks like we won't.
15:38Captain, radar has a contact.
15:40Bearing 315.
15:42Range, 10,000 yards.
15:44What about the batteries?
15:46Maneuvering room report.
15:47Almost full charge.
15:49Very well.
15:50Secure the charge.
15:51Bring her left to 315.
15:53All ahead, full.
15:54Bring her left.
15:55315.
15:56All ahead, full.
15:57Aye, aye, sir.
15:58Now, you were saying, Snuffy, looks like we won't what?
16:02Looks like we won't be going home with any fish.
16:06Under full power, Tenoza race starts our unknown target.
16:09Under full power, Tenoza race starts our unknown target.
16:39One of the torpedoes is changing bearing, sir.
16:46The second fish, sir, it's a circular run.
16:49It's heading back.
16:52Flood everything.
16:53All ahead, flank.
16:54Take her deep.
16:5515 degrees down, bubble.
16:5715 degrees down, bubble.
17:04Passing 250 feet, Captain.
17:07Level off at 300.
17:09300 feet.
17:09Aye, aye, sir.
17:15Sonar, how are the other two fish tracking?
17:17Still on course, sir.
17:25Missed.
17:26I've lost the other two fish, sir.
17:29No explosion.
17:30It must have been wide of the target.
17:32High-speed screws closing fast.
17:33She's coming in fast.
17:38Red for dust guard.
17:41Right full water.
17:44Passing overhead.
17:46Hang on.
17:47Hang on.
17:48Hang on.
17:48Wow.
17:48Back in.
17:49Hang on.
17:49Taken.
17:49The End
18:19I never minded the man speaking his feet, but that loud mouth hasn't shut up once.
18:39Screw's going away.
18:41Sounds like his audience lost him.
18:45Let's go up for a look around. Periscope depth.
18:47Periscope depth, sir.
18:49Periscope depth.
19:03He's going away.
19:06Down scope.
19:08Headed for Bolton's territory.
19:09Let's see if we can slip under and ahead of him, then wait.
19:12Maybe we can teach him some manners.
19:14Come to course 295.
19:15Where's 295, sir?
19:16To guarantee maximum efficiency in the attack, the Sea of Japan was divided into areas, each submarine in Operation Barney having her own section.
19:27Taking periodic checks on the target through the periscope and tracking it on the radar screen, the Tenosa chased after her quarry.
19:35After several hours, she was on the extreme perimeter of her area and in position for attack.
19:42The destroyer had mysteriously disappeared, but a ship she was apparently escorting steamed on unaware of the danger that lay before her.
19:50While Tenosa lay still in the water, the target steered a steady course.
19:56Shoot!
19:56Fire three.
20:06Fire four.
20:07Fire four.
20:19Right on the nose.
20:21That one did it.
20:22We wasted two.
20:24A direct hit sent the enemy ship straight to the bottom.
20:27Nothing remained.
20:28Only an oil slick to show where she'd gone down.
20:34Twilight of June 20th, 1945.
20:37With Operation Barney drawing to a close, Tenosa eagerly searched for one last target.
20:42Don Scope!
20:58Looks like everybody's run to cover.
21:00You mean we gotta go home with two fish?
21:02There's still a few hours left before rendezvous time.
21:05Maybe something will turn up.
21:07Surface!
21:07With only three hours left, Tenosa had more than proven her worth to Operation Barney.
21:14All concerned would have preferred to return with empty torpedo tubes, but there was nothing to shoot at.
21:20Tenosa headed for the rendezvous and home.
21:24How we doing for time, Snubby?
21:26Should be there in half an hour.
21:28Wonder if everybody made it.
21:30Sound contact.
21:31Get ahead.
21:33Up scope!
21:34Up scope!
21:37Up scope!
21:43Probably one of our subs.
21:46Down scope!
21:48Up!
21:49Up!
21:50Customer?
21:51A nice fat one right in our lap.
21:53Keep your fingers crossed.
22:00Every few minutes.
22:02A quick sighting.
22:03Enough time to check.
22:07But not long enough to be spotted by a look-out.
22:29Down scope!
22:29Bingo, Snuff.
22:32Let's go home.
22:33Come left to 2-9-0.
22:35Left to 2-9-0.
22:37I-I-A, sir.
22:38Let's go home!
22:43Operation Barney was secured.
22:45Tenosa's contribution?
22:46Over 12,000 tons of enemy shipping destroyed.
22:49I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
22:58Soon 24th, 1945, with the loss of only one submarine, the Bonefish, Operation Barney was secured.
23:06It's bold daring as testimony to the crews and officers who manned the nine participating submarines.
23:11And now I'd like you to meet Ben Richard C. Latham, who was the skipper of the Tenosa.
23:18Dick, I want to personally thank you for your help in preparing this film.
23:22It was a pleasure.
23:23And all of us who were in the Tenosa appreciate your having chosen our ship and telling the story of Operation Barney.
23:30We all know that a mission like this one takes the combined efforts of hundreds of men.
23:36Tell us, is there any one thing about the mission that stands out in your mind above all others?
23:41Well, that would be a little difficult.
23:44There were many outstanding happenings.
23:46But there is one thing that has bothered me all these years.
23:50What's that?
23:51One day, just after we had submerged, we had been up to shoot the sun for our noon position,
23:57we heard a large plane fly overhead.
24:01Our radio picked up a message loud and clear in perfect English.
24:05The voice said,
24:06Hello, fellow. This is Flight 7. I have a message for you.
24:11Who was it?
24:12I never found out.
24:14None of our planes were supposed to be in the area, and I couldn't see any in the periscope.
24:19You didn't surface to find out what kind of a plane it was.
24:22I did not.
24:25Maybe that's why you're here to tell us about it.
24:28You're probably right.
24:29I want to congratulate you on the fine part NOSA played in an operation that helped a great deal
24:35to break the back of enemy resistance.
24:38Thank you, Tommy.
24:41Be with us again when we bring you another true story of the silent service.
24:46CHOTER CARE
24:59CHOIR SINGS
25:29CHOIR SINGS
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