- 5 months ago
the American "Silent Service" of submarines played a decisive role, destroying Japan's merchant marine and crippling its supply lines, a key factor in the Allied victory. Initially hobbled by faulty torpedoes and inexperienced crews, US submarines became highly effective, sinking over half of Japan's merchant fleet. Beyond attacking ships, American submarines also conducted daring special missions, including rescuing downed pilots and delivering crucial supplies and operatives to resistance groups in the Philippines.
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00:00The
00:30The End
01:00The End
01:30With a wartime requirement of more than 5 million tons per year,
01:43it is apparent that the steel industry is directly dependent on the availability of merchant shipping.
01:53Thus, the state of health of steel production could be said to be directly dependent on the operation of United States submarines.
02:03Japan's chief supply war came from America in its years prior to the war.
02:20Therefore, since the war started, our wartime requirements, which amounted to about 5 million tons a year,
02:29had to be supplied mostly from the Dutch East Indies.
02:33One of the decisive factors in our defeat was the activities of American submarines which cut off the supply from that source and tarry.
02:47Our records show that about 36% of the major vessels, that is the vessels, rather than destroyer,
03:11well, just through the United States submarines.
03:17Actually, Admiral Nagano is pretty accurate in his estimates.
03:26The latest reports, and we've checked and double-checked them,
03:29show that one battleship, nine carriers, and 15 cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy were sunk by Allied submarines.
03:36He might have added, though, that 42 destroyers and 28 submarines were sunk in the same way.
03:44Not a bad few years of work.
03:46By the way, I noticed the Admiral didn't give any figures on their merchant marine.
03:50Well, that's understandable.
03:52It must be quite a painful subject to him.
03:54There just isn't any more Japanese merchant marines.
03:58Our submarines accounted for 63% of that important branch.
04:02Mr. Nomura probably could have told you that the 104 of his vitally needed tankers were victims of submarines.
04:12Their merchant marine was destroyed on the high seas, in the ports of the Japanese Empire,
04:17and even in the shallow waters off the China coast, where the submarines had to operate as PT boats since there was insufficient water for diving.
04:25Admiral, do you think in these articles we're writing we could explain why, during the war,
04:31there was so little publicity given our subs and the shellacking they were handing the Japs?
04:35I wish you would.
04:37It was just something that couldn't be helped.
04:40At the beginning of the war, some civilians visited the front and then broke into print and they got back
04:45about how American submarines didn't fear Japanese destroyers.
04:49They boasted that the nip-dip charges weren't big enough to hurt us and weren't set deep enough to reach us.
04:56You can imagine how joyful the Japs would see that noon.
04:59They radically changed their tactics and they lost, I should say, about 10 submarines with all on board
05:06before we can improve our construction sufficiently to slow the Japs down.
05:11Is that when you became a silent service?
05:13Right then and there.
05:15We buttoned up our lips and said it was torpedoes.
05:18Besides, there was too much work to do to permit talking about it.
05:22Just visualize the spot we were in, December 7th, 1941.
05:28There wasn't time to be bitter.
05:30It was up to us, the small ships.
05:33The big ones were out of the picture.
05:34Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy.
05:52The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
06:04Yes, it was up to the submarines.
06:08At that time, we had exactly 51 submarines in the Pacific and that included 12 of the old S-class.
06:14Small and slow, but they gave a good account of themselves.
06:18On December 15th, eight days after Pearl Harbor, American subs drew their first blood.
06:24The swordfish was cruising off Hainan Island in the South China Sea.
06:27On the radio, they could hear the voice of a Japanese woman speaking faultless English.
06:32Later, she would become famous as Tokyo Rose.
06:37We know very well that American submarines have headed west from Pearl Harbor.
06:42If American submariners are wise, you will turn back.
06:47Certain death awaits you over here.
06:49And now I'll play for you, unfortunate Americans, a popular recording.
06:59One week after Pearl Harbor, the Atsututsanmaru, 8,663 tons, became the first victim of an American subs.
07:09It wasn't long before she had plenty of company at the bottom of the ocean.
07:24On the 1st of January, the 5,384 ton Canaanmaru was sunk right off the very coast of Japan.
07:30But those early days were tough.
07:46Just look at the vast amount of territory the Japs overran in no time at all.
07:50Naturally, they wanted to consolidate.
07:52Keep all that loot from the conquered territories pouring into Japan.
07:56Fuel, oil, rubber, coal, iron, rice.
07:58It was our job to see that most of that loot didn't get there.
08:03And for 18 months, our subs were the only ships that penetrated enemy-controlled sea lanes.
08:10It was rugged, but it paid off.
08:13Let the Japs tell you about it.
08:16American submarines in 1942 sank 134 Japanese merchant ships,
08:21totaling 580,000 or 390 tons and 140,000 tons of men of war.
08:30And that was only beginning.
08:38Yes, only the beginning.
08:40Even newly commissioned subs got big scores.
08:43For instance, the trigger.
08:45Her story starts in Mayer Island.
08:47That's the way she looked at me the first time I ever saw her.
08:52I was reporter's mess attendant.
08:55Got to be officer's cook first class time I was transferred.
08:58She didn't look like nothing much to me right then.
09:01Just a lot of pipe and steel.
09:04No life, no spirit.
09:07But I felt it better when I saw the galley.
09:10Small, but clean.
09:11The latest in devices.
09:14A man sure could get a mess of cooking done in there.
09:17But all in all, I sure felt let down.
09:19I said to myself,
09:20Man, what possessed you to volunteer for the subservice anyhow?
09:24Next time you keep your big mouth shut.
09:27I began to feel a little better, though, about the trigger when we got underway.
09:31There was just something about it.
09:34Well, by the time we reached Pearl, the trigger and me was friends.
09:37She sure won me over.
09:39How'd you do it, well?
09:43Well, I'll tell you, ship it.
09:45Well, it's like Ox X says.
09:48He says,
09:49I don't find it any easier than the steward to put into words what I feel about the trigger.
09:54I think it's that all ships have sold.
09:57And all sailors know it.
09:59But it takes a while to learn to commune with it.
10:03It took me quite some time.
10:04But when it happened,
10:08it was our first patrol and our first kill.
10:12Off the eastern coast of Kayushu.
10:15A good-sized freighter.
10:17Clear the bridge!
10:19Take her down before we're spotted.
10:21That baby might mount enough guns to blast us.
10:24The kingdom come.
10:26Take her down!
10:32That's the girl's turn.
10:33Now let's take a look to see if she's spotted us.
10:49Everything looks normal from here.
10:55If it isn't a trap.
10:57She might be a cue ship carrying depth charges and sound gear.
11:00We can't hit her until we've closed the range.
11:05To close the range, we've got to watch out that she doesn't see or hear us.
11:10Or the killer will become the corpse.
11:13The minutes seem like hours until we get into position.
11:16Easy.
11:18Easy.
11:19Then.
11:20Estimated range, 1,500 yards.
11:22Track 90 port.
11:24Tower angle 5 left.
11:25Stand by.
11:26It's coming on.
11:27Coming on.
11:27Fire 1!
11:30Then, 8 seconds.
11:35Fire 2!
11:55Trigger had come of age.
11:57But she was soon to face her first ordeal.
12:01That one charging.
12:02Destroyer left the scene confident he had suckered.
12:27For several nights later, we heard Tokyo Rose on our radio.
12:34I regret to inform all American submarines that one of their number has recently fallen victim
12:41to a destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
12:45You will hear an appropriate recording.
12:49All the horror fighting into sail Aggro on our radio.
12:51That one, that one, that one was yet to drink.
12:56Cut out all interns.
12:56The karli.
13:58Up the periscope.
14:10Down the periscope.
14:11Look, ma'am, this is a jackpot.
14:13We've got the biggest aircraft carrier I've ever seen up here, plus two destroyers.
14:16We're going to shoot our whole one at the carrier.
14:18Up the periscope.
14:29Up the periscope.
14:34Bearing, mark.
14:36B-2-9.
14:38Range, mark.
14:396-1-0.
14:40Down periscope.
14:41Angle on the bow, starboard 15.
14:44Right fore rudder.
14:45Right fore rudder.
14:46All ahead, two-thirds.
14:47All ahead, two-thirds.
14:48New course, 2-4-0.
14:49New course, 2-4-0.
14:51What's the distance to the track?
14:521-7-0.
14:53Control, 6-3 feet.
14:55Control, 6-3 feet.
14:56Forward torpedo room, make ready all tubes.
14:57Forward torpedo room, make ready all tubes.
15:00Set depth, 12 feet.
15:01Set depth, 12 feet.
15:02Rig for silent running.
15:03Rig for silent running.
15:05Rig for depth charge.
15:06Rig for depth charge.
15:07Steady on 250.
15:12All ahead, one-third.
15:14All ahead, one-third.
15:14How much time I got?
15:15None, sir.
15:16Torpedo run, 1-1-0-0.
15:18Rating to by 1-6-0.
15:19Gyro, 0-0-5 increasing.
15:21Shoot any time.
15:23Stand by forward.
15:23Stand by forward.
15:24Out periscope.
15:25Check bearing and shoot.
15:31Bearing.
15:31Mark.
15:323-4-5.
15:33Down periscope.
15:34Set.
15:35Fire.
15:35Fire one.
15:38One fire, sir.
15:41Fire.
15:42Fire two.
15:43Two fires.
15:44Fire.
15:45Fire three.
15:46Three fires.
15:49Set.
15:50Fire.
15:51Fire four.
16:13The trigger, of course,
16:15was subjected to another
16:16terrific death charge.
16:17There were moments
16:18when no one on board
16:18thought she'd come through,
16:20but she stood up
16:21and eventually got away.
16:23Carrier just managed
16:24to crawl back to Tokyo Bay,
16:26badly crippled.
16:28The trigger was lost
16:29in March 45
16:30off the Ryukyu.
16:32At that time,
16:33she was one of the highest
16:34ranking subs in tonnage
16:35and total number
16:36of ships sunk.
16:37The trigger will never
16:38be forgotten.
16:40Nor will the work
16:41of all our other submarines.
16:46In 1943,
16:48284 Japanese ships
16:49totaling 1,341,968 tons
16:54plus about 100,000 tons
16:57of warships
16:58were sunk
16:59by American submarines.
17:01Naturally,
17:02they got some
17:02of our subs, too.
17:04But our losses
17:04weren't excessive
17:05when you consider
17:06what was accomplished.
17:07In fact,
17:08they were quite small
17:10compared to the losses
17:11of the Jap and Germans
17:12of Marine Services.
17:13But we felt deeply
17:15each individual loss.
17:17For instance,
17:18take the case
17:19of the Sculpin.
17:20On 19 November 1943,
17:27we sighted a fast convoy
17:29and made an attack.
17:46Their screen detected us
17:48and immediately subjected us
17:50to depth charging.
18:01Things were getting tough
18:02when we heard a rain fall.
18:07We headed forward
18:08and shook the Japs.
18:10At least,
18:10we thought we did.
18:12But the moment
18:13we regained Periscope depth,
18:14we found that Japs destroyer
18:16sitting right on our lap.
18:18We tried to duck,
18:23but he has heard
18:24as well as Seaman.
18:24the Japs destroyer
18:26and the Japs destroyer
18:27and the Japs destroyer
18:27and the Japs destroyer
18:28and the Japs destroyer
18:29and the Japs destroyer
18:30and the Japs destroyer
18:30and the Japs destroyer
18:31and the Japs destroyer
18:32and the Japs destroyer
18:33and the Japs destroyer
18:34and the Japs destroyer
18:35and the Japs destroyer
18:36and the Japs destroyer
18:37and the Japs destroyer
18:38and the Japs destroyer
18:39and the Japs destroyer
18:40and the Japs destroyer
18:41and the Japs destroyer
18:42and the Japs destroyer
18:43and the Japs destroyer
18:44and the Japs destroyer
18:45and the Japs destroyer
18:46and the Japs destroyer
18:47and the Japs destroyer
18:48and the Japs destroyer
18:49and the Japs destroyer
18:50After five hours, the batteries were almost flat and the men completely exhausted.
19:06We had a tough decision to make.
19:09The first concern of our skipper, Commander Conaway, was for the life of his men.
19:14We had on board the Wolfpack commander, Captain Cromwell, who had heard that the Japs used a special brand of torture to extract information from their captives.
19:24Suddenly, a decision was reached.
19:27We battled service and used our deck gun to fight it out with the destroyer.
19:44Commander Conaway and the next two in command, Lieutenant Al and Lieutenant Debreed, were killed almost instantly.
20:01I succeeded to command.
20:08The situation was hopeless.
20:11I gave the order to scuttle ship.
20:14Captain Cromwell chose to go down with the boat because he knew too much.
20:24Ensign Max Biedler also went down with the sculpin.
20:27The End
23:55Yes, the Jap fleet was just about shot.
24:03In fact, by 1945, targets were getting awfully scarce and awfully small.
24:08What was left of Jap shipping tried desperately to crawl home, hugging the coast.
24:13But our subs went right after them, right into the dangerous shallow water,
24:17right along the China coast and into the mine-filled Yellow Sea.
24:21We gave them no risk.
24:23This was about the time of the big carrier strikes and the B-29 raids in the homeland,
24:28which brings up another interesting phase of submarine work.
24:31Lifeguard duty.
24:33That is, the picking up of our downed aviators.
24:36We had quite an air-sea rescue system worked out.
24:39It didn't get much publicity because we didn't want the Japs to know about it.
24:45I'm an electrician who's made second class.
24:48Of course, that means I don't get to see much topside action, so...
24:52The other day, I says to the chief, I says, um...
24:55Hey, chief, how about me getting on the gun crew?
24:59She thought I was kind of crazy wanting to be topside with the others,
25:02but she finally gave in, and here I am.
25:05Hey, this is beginning to be more likely.
25:19That's one load of fish that won't end up in Jap bellies.
25:40How about this?
25:45Prisoners.
25:49Welcome aboard, boys.
25:51You'll find conditions a little cramped, but we'll treat you right,
25:55feed you well, even though you don't deserve it.
25:58I'd always heard that Japs would rather die than be taken prisoner,
26:03but these guys don't seem to object to our rescue efforts.
26:07Wait a minute.
26:10We've got something.
26:11Our B-29 is in trouble.
26:13We've got them on radar, but the lookouts haven't spotted them yet.
26:18Say, this lifeguard stuff is new to me,
26:21but it has its exciting moments.
26:22Brother, am I glad I'm not on that plane.
26:35Well, here's a couple that were lucky enough to jump.
26:39We're going over to pick them up and then survey the wreckage
26:42to see if there are others we can rescue.
26:44Maybe we'll find some still alive.
26:47This job of dragging tires and half-drowned pilots aboard a sub looks easy,
26:51but it takes careful handling and a certain amount of risk
26:55on the part of our own boys.
26:58Climbing up the side of a slippery outer hull
27:00and super-stretcher in a choppy sea
27:02isn't easy, even for one of our own men.
27:05So it gets a bit complicated when these zoomies drop in on us.
27:11Say, these guys look like they're badly shot up.
27:16Doc is up here now,
27:18and first aid is being given to those who need it right away.
27:21There isn't time for treating for shock and exposure on deck
27:24because we're in enemy waters
27:26and subject to attack at any moment,
27:29so Skipper says to get them below as soon as possible.
27:33Here we are now, down in the Chief's Quarter.
27:36Doc has made this compartment into a first-class operating room.
27:39Looks like we're going to have more company in a few minutes.
27:54You know, this picking up of fliers is getting to be quite a habit with that.
27:58Of course, most of the guys here in the sub would rather be firing fish or the deck guns,
28:04but it's a great feeling to be able to rescue a small bunch of fellas like these,
28:08and it's a relief to have somebody new to swap yarns with after being out here for so long.
28:13Sometimes the kid you and I used to know back home isn't so lucky.
28:24We're doing all we can.
28:26No sign yet, but we're not giving up.
28:31Well, we tried, but he didn't make it.
28:36But we'll make it up to him.
28:38We'll save as many of his buddies as we can.
28:40Yes, many of that boy's buddies were saved.
28:48At one time, we had 22 submarines on station whose primary duty was lifeguarding.
28:53All in all, we rescued more than 500 Army, Navy, and Marine aviators.
28:58The submarines were proud of that work and eager for the assignment.
29:02But in the last months of the war, it didn't supply enough action to satisfy them.
29:06So, as you'll see, they figured out some special assignments for themselves.
29:10And very interesting, too.
29:14During the summer of 45, Ceranti was in the same fix as all the other subs.
29:19No targets really worth wasting the taxpayers' torpedoes on.
29:23Or we managed to amuse ourselves.
29:25Shot up a few picket boats and other small craft.
29:29Knocked off a sea truck.
29:30We raised some mild hell in a general way.
29:36We played pirate and boarded some junks.
29:39Scared the crew's half out of their yellow skins and gave the deep six to a lot of dried peas bound for Japan.
29:44We took a few prisoners.
30:07Exploded some mines.
30:08Thought there was nothing to write home about.
30:11Even if we could have written home.
30:12Then one morning, we sighted a ship in the distance.
30:16It looked like it was tied to a dock alongside a colliery.
30:20We kept it under observation for about an hour.
30:22It looked like a 2,000 or 3,000 ton freighter taking on coal by conveyor.
30:42We held a war council.
30:43It'd be risky.
30:50Entering a harbor full of rocks and shoals.
30:53Should we try it?
30:54Well, we didn't come out here to sit on our duffs.
30:59We changed course.
31:00Then the skipper, as he always did, spoke to the crew.
31:05Brothers, I think you might like to know what we're up to.
31:09There's a 2,000 or 3,000 ton freighter in the harbor tied to a colliery dock, taking on coal.
31:13That's the biggest ship we've seen so far.
31:15And targets are too scarce these days to let any pass.
31:18On the good side of the ledger, I can mention these two items.
31:21One, there seems to be a lack of patrol craft in this spot.
31:24And two, I don't think there are any mines because there's an awful lot of small craft around.
31:29Now, on the bad side of the ledger, the harbor's full of rocks and shoals.
31:33Navigation's going to be tough.
31:35We'll make a submerged attack.
31:36But then we'll have to service and have all it out.
31:39If we're caught in here, submerged, it'll be just too bad.
31:42However, we have the best navigator in the business.
31:45So what are we waiting for?
31:46Let's go. Ballot stage is submerged.
31:49We got into position.
31:50Went through the preliminaries.
31:56Let me tell you, right here and now, when the real thing comes up, it's like nothing you ever went through in your life.
32:04When that scope goes up in this harbor, you're playing for keeps.
32:08Your blood pressure tells you that.
32:10The sweat on your hands and the butterfly on your chest keep reminding you that when you get within a thousand yards of your target,
32:22you're going to let go with everything you've got.
32:25Then get, if you can.
32:27The exacts look confirms it.
32:37We're dead on.
32:39And coming closer.
32:41Closer.
32:41Closer.
32:41Dozens of small craft, crisscrossing overhead.
32:51If one of them sights our scope while the skipper's taking cuts to keep us off the rocks,
32:56you can make like the song and kiss the boys goodbye.
33:00Now, coming on a thousand yards.
33:04Twenty to go.
33:05Ten.
33:09Five.
33:13Fire one.
33:30Look at them scramble.
33:34Nuts.
33:35She's lifting the port and down by the bow, but still afloat.
33:38Hey, wait a minute.
33:40They manned their deck gun there on the right.
33:42Looks like they think a plane got them.
33:45But we can't surface while that gun's still in business.
33:48All right, then.
33:49Let her have another fish.
33:50Just ahead of the stack.
33:51Polish off ship and gun crew both with one blow.
33:58Fire two.
34:02Swing left again.
34:05Sonar reports.
34:08Fish ran true, but suddenly stopped.
34:10No explosion.
34:11Must have buried itself in a mud bank or a torpedo net.
34:14But there's not time to speculate.
34:16The nip gun crew spotted our periscope.
34:18They're taking pot shots at us.
34:20Better slip in another fish.
34:21And quick.
34:23Steady on two-eight-zero.
34:26Torpedo run.
34:26Seven-five-oh.
34:28Depth set.
34:28Two feet.
34:29Gyro angle.
34:31Zero-three-eight.
34:34Fire three.
34:46Full-seye.
34:47And now, as Shakespeare said, let's not stand upon the order of our going.
34:59But let's go.
35:00They've got a nerve shooting at us.
35:22What kind of hospitality do they call that?
35:25All right.
35:26Now let's show some speed.
35:28Wait a minute.
35:29We must have surfaced too fast.
35:32The bow plane should have folded up like a fighter plane's wings.
35:35Stuck out like that, they'll drag our speed down until the Japs can catch us with a rowboat.
35:40That's not all that can catch us.
35:42Come up.
35:43Come up.
35:46There.
35:48Steady as you go, sweethearts.
35:50Now we can hive off for deep water.
35:55But the Japs fire is getting closer.
35:57I'm beginning to sweat again.
35:59Well, here we are, getting the decoration.
36:10So I guess we made it all right.
36:12But believe me, it was close.
36:14That was months ago.
36:15But I've just about now stopped sweating.
36:17The Power and Light Company is going to seem awfully beautiful in a few weeks when they hand me that ruptured duck.
36:23But brother, how I'm going to miss this boat and the boys.
36:27Yes, we rewarded our men in the submarines.
36:33Tried to honor them for the heroic things they had done.
36:36But nothing we can do, nothing we can say can properly express our gratitude to these men of the silent service.
36:45And of the men who did not come back.
36:48The men who went down with their ships.
36:50What can we say?
36:52How can we repay them?
36:53Shall we not echo their prayer?
36:57May God grant that there be no next war.
37:01But they know and we know that if there is,
37:04and whether it be fought with weapons we now know or with weapons at whose nature we can only guess,
37:09you'll find submarines in the thick of the combat,
37:12fighting with skill, determination, and matchless daring.
37:15Doing their utmost for all of us.
37:18For our United States of America.
37:23For our United States of America.
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