- 7 weeks ago
The Silent Service (in color) - U.S. Navy WWII
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The End
00:30The End
01:00The End
01:30With a wartime requirement of more than 5 million tons per year, it is apparent that the steel industry became directly dependent on the availability of merchant shipping.
01:50Thus, the state of health of steel production could be said to be directly dependent on the operation of United States submarines.
02:01Japan's chief supply war came from America in the years prior to the war.
02:16Therefore, since the war started, our water requirements, which amounted to about 5 million tons a year, had to be supplied mostly from the Dutch East Indies.
02:30One of the decisive factors in our defeat was the activities of American submarines, which cut off the supply from that source entirely.
02:44Our records show that about 36% of the major vessels, that is the vessels, rather than destroyer,
03:09the United States submarines.
03:14Actually, Admiral Nagano is pretty accurate in his estimate.
03:23The latest reports, and we've checked and double-checked them, show that one battleship, nine carriers, and 15 cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy were sunk by Allied submarines.
03:33He might have added, though, that 42 destroyers and 28 submarines were sunk in the same way.
03:40Not a bad few years' work. By the way, I noticed the Admiral didn't give any figures on their merchant marine.
03:47Well, that's understandable. It must be quite a painful subject to him. There just isn't any more Japanese merchant marine.
03:55Our submarines accounted for 63% of that important branch.
03:59Mr. Nomura probably could have told you that the 104 of his vitally needed tankers were victims of submarines.
04:08Their merchant marine was destroyed on the high seas, in the ports of the Japanese Empire, and even in the shallow waters off the China coast,
04:17where the submarines had to operate as PT boats since there was insufficient water for diving.
04:22Admiral, do you think in these articles we're writing we could explain why, during the war, there was so little publicity given our subs and the shellacking they were handling the Japs?
04:32I wish you would. It was just something that couldn't be helped.
04:36At the beginning of the war, some civilians visited the front and then broke into print and they got back about how American submarines didn't fear Japanese destroyers.
04:46They boasted that the nip-depth charges weren't big enough to hurt us and weren't set deep enough to reach us.
04:53You can imagine how joyful the Japs received that move.
04:56They radically changed their tactics and we lost, I should say, about ten submarines with all on board before we could improve our construction sufficiently to slow the Japs down.
05:07Is that when you became the silent service?
05:10Right then and there. We buttoned up our lips and fed with torpedoes.
05:14Besides, there was too much work to do to permit talking about it.
05:19Just visualize the spot we were in, December 7th, 1941.
05:24There wasn't time to be bitter. It was up to us, the small ships. The big ones were out of the picture.
05:31Yesterday, December 7th, 1941. A date which will live in infamy. The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
05:49Yes, it was up to the submarines. At that time we had exactly 51 submarines in the Pacific and that included 12 of the old S-class. Small and slow but they gave a good account of themselves.
05:59On December 15th, eight days after Pearl Harbor, American subs drew their first blood. The swordfish was cruising off Hainan Island in the South China Sea.
06:09On the radio, they could hear the voice of a Japanese woman speaking faultless English. Later, she would become famous as Tokyo Rose.
06:16We know very well that American submarines have headed west from Pearl Harbor. If American submariners are wise, you will turn back.
06:23Certain death awaits you over here.
06:38And now I'll play for you, unfortunate Americans, a popular recording.
06:46And now I'll play for you unfortunate Americans a popular recording.
06:57One week after Pearl Harbor, the Atsututan Maru, 8,663 tons, became the first victim of an American sub.
07:06A dubious honor.
07:16It wasn't long before she had plenty of company at the bottom of the ocean.
07:20On the 1st of January, the 5,384 ton Tainan Maru was sunk right off the very coast of Japan.
07:40But those early days were tough.
07:42Just look at the vast amount of territory the Japs overran in no time at all.
07:47Naturally, they wanted to consolidate, keep all that loot from the conquered territories pouring into Japan.
07:53Fuel, oil, rubber, coal, iron, rice.
07:56It was our job to see that most of that loot didn't get there.
08:00And for 18 months, our subs were the only ships that penetrated enemy-controlled sea lanes.
08:07It was rugged, but it paid off.
08:09Let the Japs tell you about it.
08:13American submarines in 1942 sank 134 Japanese merchant ships, totaling 580,000 or 390 tons, and 140,000 tons of men of war.
08:27And that was only beginning.
08:28Yes, only the beginning.
08:29Even newly commissioned subs got big scores.
08:31For instance, the trigger.
08:32Her story starts in Mare Island.
08:33That's the way she looked at me the first time I ever saw her.
08:34I was reporter's nurse attendant.
08:35Got to be officer's cook first class time I was transferred.
08:36She didn't look like nothing much to me right then.
08:37Just a lot of pipe and steel.
08:38No life.
08:39No spirit.
08:40But I felt a little better when I saw the galley.
08:41Small, but clean.
08:42The latest in devices.
08:43I felt a little better when I saw the galley.
08:44Small, but clean.
08:45The latest in devices.
08:46A man sure could get a mess of cooking done in there.
08:47But all in all, I sure felt late.
08:48That's the way she looked at me the first time I ever saw her.
08:51I was reporter's nurse attendant.
08:52Got to be officer's cook first class time I was transferred.
08:55She didn't look like nothing much to me right then.
08:58Just a lot of pipe and steel.
09:01No life.
09:02No spirit.
09:03But I felt a little better when I saw the galley.
09:07Small, but clean.
09:09The latest in devices.
09:11A man sure could get a mess of cooking done in there.
09:14But all in all, I sure felt let down.
09:16I said to myself, man what possessed you to volunteer for the subservice anyhow.
09:21Next time you keep your big mouth shut.
09:24I began to feel a little better though about the trigger when we got underway.
09:28There was just something about it.
09:31Well by the time we reached Pearl, the trigger and me was friends.
09:35She sure won me over.
09:37How'd you do it?
09:38Well.
09:39Well I tell you, shipping.
09:42Well it's like our ex says.
09:45He says,
09:46I don't find it any easier than the steward to put into words what I feel about the trigger.
09:51I think it's that all ships have sold.
09:54And all sailors know it.
09:56But it takes a while to learn to commune with it.
09:59It took me quite some time.
10:02But when it happened, it was our first patrol.
10:07And our first kill.
10:09Off the east and coast of Cuyushu.
10:11A good sized freighter.
10:13Clear the bridge.
10:15Take her down before we're spotted.
10:18That baby might mount enough guns to blast us to kingdom come.
10:21Take her down.
10:23Now let's take a look to see if she spotted us.
10:46Everything looks normal from here.
10:52If it isn't a trap.
10:54She might be a cue ship carrying depth charges and sound gear.
10:58We can't hit her until we close the range.
11:01To close the range, we've got to watch out that she doesn't see or hear us.
11:06Or the killer will become the corpse.
11:09The minutes seem like hours until we get into position.
11:13Easy.
11:15Easy.
11:16Then...
11:17Estimated range.
11:181500 yards.
11:19Track 90 port.
11:20Star angle 5 left.
11:22Stand by.
11:23He's coming on.
11:24Coming on.
11:25Fire 1.
11:30Then...
11:318 seconds.
11:32Fire 2.
11:39The trigger had come of age.
11:54But she was soon to face her first ordeal.
11:58Depth of charge.
12:09The destroyer left the scene confident here at Saka's.
12:25Several nights later, we heard Tokyo Rose on our radio.
12:30I regret to inform all American submarines that one of their number has recently fallen victim
12:39to a destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
12:43You will hear an appropriate recording.
12:47Peterinity Spearman .
12:48Tom.
12:49Thanks, I'm sorry.
12:53That's a great one.
12:54Don't you hear this?
12:55Let me.
12:56Nice to meet you.
12:57Let's see you.
12:58Tom Krrich.
12:59Let's begin again.
13:01The filme begins,
13:07��들이ец.
13:08Theну of Param Is Collections
13:10and your cabin too.
13:11Is Your erfahrener.
13:12Porque you are 324-11 001.
13:14For seat cames.
13:45Down periscope.
13:55Up periscope.
14:07Down periscope.
14:09Look, man, this is a jackpot.
14:10We've got the biggest aircraft carrier I've ever seen up here,
14:12plus two destroyers.
14:13We're going to shoot our whole want in the carrier.
14:15Up periscope.
14:32Bearing, mark, D-29.
14:35Range, mark, down periscope.
14:39Angle on the bow, starboard 15.
14:41Right four rudder.
14:42Right four rudder.
14:43All ahead, two-thirds.
14:44All ahead, two-thirds.
14:45New course, two-four-zero.
14:47New course, two-four-zero.
14:48What's the distance to the track?
14:49One-seven double-out.
14:51Control, six-three feet.
14:52Control, six-three feet.
14:53Forward torpedo room.
14:54Make ready all tubes.
14:55Forward torpedo room.
14:56Make ready all tubes.
14:57Set depth, 12 feet.
14:58Set depth, 12 feet.
15:00Rig for silent running.
15:01Rig for silent running.
15:02Rig for depth charge.
15:03Rig for depth charge.
15:04Steady on 250.
15:05All ahead, one-third.
15:11All ahead, one-third.
15:12How much time have I got?
15:13None, sir.
15:14Torpedo run, one-one-double-o.
15:15Range to about one-six-double-o.
15:17Gyro, zero-zero-five.
15:18Increase.
15:19Shoot any time.
15:20Standby forward.
15:21Standby forward.
15:22On periscope.
15:23Check bearing and shoot.
15:28Bearing.
15:29Mark.
15:30D-4-5.
15:31Down periscope.
15:32Set.
15:32Fire.
15:33Fire, fire one.
15:35One fired, sir.
15:38Fire.
15:39Fire two.
15:41Two fired.
15:42Fire.
15:42Fire three.
15:45Three fired.
15:47Set.
15:48Fire.
15:48Fire four.
16:03Fire.
16:11The trigger, of course, was subjected to another terrific depth charge.
16:15There were moments when no one on board thought she'd come through, but she stood up and eventually
16:19got away.
16:20The carrier just managed to crawl back to Tokyo Bay, badly crippled.
16:24The trigger was lost in March 45 off the Ryugu's.
16:29At that time she was one of the highest ranking subs in tonnage and total number of ships sunk.
16:34The trigger will never be forgotten, nor will the work of all our other submarines.
16:41In 1943, 284 Japanese ships totaling 1,341,968 tons of warships were sunk by American submarines.
16:58Naturally, they got some of our subs too, but our losses weren't excessive when you consider what was accomplished.
17:04In fact, they were quite small compared to the losses of the Jap and German submarine services.
17:10But we felt deeply each individual loss.
17:14For instance, take the case of the Sculp.
17:21On 19 November 1943, we sighted a class convoy and made an attack.
17:40Their screen detected us and immediately subjected us to depth charging.
17:50Things were getting tough when we heard a rain fall.
18:04We headed forward and shook the Japs.
18:06At least we thought we did.
18:08But the moment we regained periscope depth, we found that Jap destroyer sitting right in our lap.
18:14We tried to duck, but he had heard as well as seen.
18:20But we had heard as well as seen.
18:22But we had heard as well as seen.
18:24The morningny of the passengers opened up to the PIC.
18:27Please take a look at it.
18:28The moon можешь to head up to the sea.
18:29But it's still heavy.
18:30The night to ice.
18:31They hosted the Boat.
18:32The sun was the red in the sea.
18:33But the sea will only be turned in the sea.
18:35That's dead.
18:36The sea will ciao happy.
18:37All right.
18:38The sky will take you to the sea.
18:39The sea will crash on the sea.
18:40The sea will crash, the sea will be so big.
18:41The sea will be so big.
18:42Paul, when you see it.
18:43The sea will die since.
18:44They will meet me until the sea.
18:45The ocean will not be so big.
18:47The sea will be so big.
18:48The sea will be so big, it's clear.
18:49The sea will not be...
18:50After five hours, the batteries were almost flat and the men completely exhausted.
19:04We had a tough decision to make.
19:06The first concern of our skipper, Commander Conaway, was for the life of his men.
19:12We had on board the Wolfpack Commander Captain Cromwell, who had heard that the Japs used
19:17a special brand of torture to extract information from their captives.
19:22Suddenly, a decision was reached.
19:25We'd battle service and use our deck gun to fight it out with the destroyer.
19:47Commander Conaway and the next two-in-command, Lieutenant Al and Lieutenant Freed, were killed
19:57almost instantly.
19:58I succeeded in command.
20:03The situation was hopeless.
20:08I gave the order to scuttle ship.
20:14Captain Cromwell chose to go down with the boat because he knew too much.
20:21Ensign Max Fiedler also went down with the sculptor.
20:30The ship.
20:42The ship is was wrapped.
20:47The ship is swept of the ship.
20:51It is impossible for the lining of the ship.
20:56But now for a change.
21:26It was a very pleasant phase to our activities.
21:30Patrols were tough on bodies and nerves, so we arranged a program of relaxation and rehabilitation
21:35between runs that were the envy of every branch of service.
21:39With the approval and backing of Fleet Admiral Nimitz, our Commander-in-Chief,
21:43we took over the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, lock, stock, and barrel,
21:47and we said to the submarine men, it's all yours.
21:51Other operating forces also had quarters at the Royal,
21:54where it held about 150 officers and 1,000 men,
21:57but the majority were always submarine men and aviators from the carrier groups.
22:01.
22:04.
22:08.
22:13.
22:15.
22:17.
22:18.
22:19.
22:20.
22:21.
22:23.
22:24.
22:37.
22:39.
22:40.
22:41.
22:42.
22:43.
22:44.
22:45.
22:55.
22:56.
22:57.
22:58.
22:59.
23:00.
23:15.
23:16.
23:17.
23:18.
23:19.
23:20.
23:21.
23:22.
23:42.
23:43.
23:44.
23:45.
23:46.
23:47.
23:48.
23:54.
23:56.
23:57.
23:58.
23:59.
24:00.
24:01.
24:02.
24:03.
24:04.
24:14.
24:15coast and into the mine filled Yellow Sea. We gave them no rest. This was about
24:22the time of the big carrier strikes and the B-29 raids in the homeland which
24:26brings up another interesting phase of suffering work, lifeguard uses. That is the
24:31picking up of our downed aviators. We had quite an air-sea rescue system worked
24:35out. It didn't get much publicity because we didn't want the Japs to know about it.
24:42I'm an electrician's night second class. Of course, that means I don't get to see much
24:48topside action so the other day I says to the chief, I says, hey chief, how about me getting on the gun trip?
24:56He thought I was kind of crazy wanting to be topside with the others but he finally gave in and here I am.
25:12Hey, this is beginning to be more lightning.
25:16That's one load of fish that won't end up in Jap bellies.
25:37How about this? Prisoners. Welcome aboard, boys. You'll find conditions a little cramped but
25:51we'll treat you right, feed you well, even though you don't deserve it. I'd always
25:57heard that Japs would rather die than be taken prisoner but these guys don't
26:02seem to object to our rescue efforts. Wait a minute. We've got something. Our B-29 is in trouble.
26:10We've got them on radar but the lookouts haven't spotted them yet. Say, this lifeguard stuff is new to me but it has its exciting moments.
26:20Brother, am I glad I'm not on that plane. Well, here's a couple that were lucky enough to jump. We're going over to pick them up and then survey the wreckage to see if there are others we can rescue. Maybe we'll find some still alive. This job of dragging tires and half-ground pilots aboard a sub looks easy but
26:27it takes careful handling and a certain amount of risk on the part of our own boys. Climbing up the side of our slippery ice
26:39and we're going to find some still alive. This job of dragging tires and half-ground pilots aboard a sub looks easy but it takes careful handling and a certain amount of risk on the part of our own boys.
26:46Climbing up the side of a slippery outer hall and super stretcher in a choppy sea isn't easy even for one of our own men. So, it gets a bit complicated when these zoomies drop in on us.
27:07Say, these guys look like they're badly shot up. Doc is up here now and first aid is being given to those who need it right away. There isn't time for treating for shock and exposure on deck because
27:22we're in enemy waters and subject to attack at any moment so skipper says to get them below as soon as possible. Here we are now down in the chief's quarter. Doc has made this compartment into a first-class operating room.
27:36Looks like we're going to have more coffee in a few minutes.
27:51You know, this picking up of fliers is getting to be quite a habit with us. Of course, most of the guys here in the south would rather be firing the fish or the jet guns but it's a great feeling to be able to rescue a small bunch of fellas like these and
28:05and it's a relief to have somebody new to swap yarns with after being out here for so long.
28:16Sometimes the kid you and I used to know back home isn't so lucky. We're doing all we can. No sign yet but we're not given up.
28:27Well, we tried. But he didn't make it. But we'll make it up to him. We'll save as many of his buddies as we can.
28:38Yes, many of that boy's buddies were saved. At one time we had 22 submarines on station whose primary duty was lifeguarding. All in all, we rescued more than 500 Army, Navy and Marine aviators.
28:55The submarines were proud of that work and eager for the assignment. But in the last months of the war, it didn't supply enough action to satisfy them.
29:03So, as you'll see, they figured out some special assignments for themselves. And very interesting, too.
29:09During the summer of 45, Ceranti was in the same fix as all the other subs. No targets really worth wasting the taxpayers' torpedoes on.
29:20Or we managed to amuse ourselves. Shot up a few picket boats and other small craft. Knocked off a sea truck or two.
29:30Raised some mild hell in a general way. We played pirate and boarded some junks. Scared the crews half out of their yellow skins and gave the deep six to a lot of dried peas bound for Japan.
29:51We took a few prisoners.
30:00Exploded some mines.
30:05But there was nothing to write home about. Even if we could have written home.
30:10Then one morning, we sighted a ship in the distance.
30:13It looked like it was tied to a dock alongside a colliery.
30:17We kept it under observation for about an hour.
30:20It looked like a two or three thousand ton freighter taking on coal by conveyor.
30:40We held a war council.
30:41It would be risky.
30:47Entering a harbor full of rocks and shoals.
30:50Should we try it?
30:51Well, we didn't come out here to sit on our duffs.
30:57We changed course.
30:58Then the skipper, as he always did, spoke to the crew.
31:02Fellas, I think you might like to know what we're up to.
31:05There's a two or three thousand ton freighter in the harbor tied to a colliery dock, taking on coal.
31:10That's the biggest ship we've seen so far.
31:13And targets are too scarce these days to let any pass.
31:15On the good side of the ledger, I can mention these two items.
31:18One, there seems to be a lack of patrol craft in this spot.
31:21And two, I don't think there are any mines because there's an awful lot of small craft around.
31:26Now, on the bad side of the ledger, the harbor's full of rocks and shoals.
31:30Navigation's going to be tough.
31:32We'll make a submerged attack.
31:34But then we'll have to service and have ordered out.
31:36If we're caught in here, submerged, it'll be just too bad.
31:39However, we have the best navigator in the business.
31:43So what are we waiting for?
31:44Let's go.
31:45Battle stage is submerged.
31:47We got into position.
31:48Went through the preliminaries.
31:50Let me tell you, right here and now, when the real thing comes up, it's like nothing you ever went through in your life.
32:02When that scope goes up in this harbor, you're playing for keeps.
32:06Your blood pressure tells you that.
32:13The sweat on your hands and the butterfly on your chest.
32:16Keep reminding you that when you get within a thousand yards of your target, you're going to let go with everything you've got.
32:22Then get, if you can.
32:33The exact slip confirms it.
32:35We're dead on.
32:36I'm coming closer.
32:38Closer.
32:46The cousin's a small crab criss-crossing overhead.
32:49If one of them sights our scope while the skipper's taking cuts to keep us off the rocks,
32:53you can make like the song and kiss the boys goodbye.
32:57Now, coming on a thousand yards.
33:01Twenty to go.
33:03Ten.
33:05Five.
33:07Fire one.
33:12One.
33:29Look at them scrambled.
33:32Nuts.
33:33She's lifting the port and down by the bar but still afloat.
33:36Hey, wait a minute.
33:37They manned their deck gun.
33:38They're on the right.
33:39Looks like they think a plane got them.
33:42But we can't surface while that gun's still in business.
33:45All right, then.
33:46Let her have another fish.
33:47Just ahead of the stack.
33:49Hollish off ship and gun crew both with one blow.
33:55Fire two.
33:57Swing left again.
34:04Sonar reports.
34:05Fish ran true but suddenly stopped.
34:07No explosion.
34:08Must have buried itself in a mud bank or a torpedo net.
34:11But there's not time to speculate.
34:13The NIP gun crew spotted our periscope.
34:15They're taking pot shots at us.
34:17Better slip another fish and quick.
34:20Steady on two eight zero.
34:22Torpedo run.
34:24Seven five oh.
34:25Depth set.
34:26Two feet.
34:27Gyro angle.
34:28Zero three eight.
34:32Fire three.
34:44Bullseye.
34:45And now as Shakespeare said.
34:55Let's not stand upon the order of our going.
34:57But let's go.
35:15They've got a nerve shooting at us.
35:19What kind of hospitality do they call that?
35:22All right.
35:23Now let's show some speed.
35:25Wait a minute.
35:27We must have surfaced too fast.
35:29The bow plane should have folded up like a fighter plane's wings.
35:32Stuck out like that they'll drag our speed down till the Japs can catch us with a rowboat.
35:36That's not all that you can catch us.
35:38Come up.
35:39Come up.
35:40There.
35:41Steady as you go, sweethearts.
35:43Now we can highball for deep water.
35:46But the Japs fire is getting closer.
35:47I'm beginning to sweat again.
35:48Well here we are getting the decoration.
35:49So I guess we made it all right.
35:51But believe me, it was close.
35:52That was months ago but I've just about now stopped sweating.
36:04The power and light company is going to seem awfully beautiful in a few weeks when they
36:19in a few weeks when they hand me that ruptured duck but brother how I'm going
36:23to miss this boat and the boys yes we rewarded our men in the submarine try to
36:32honor them for the heroic things they have done but nothing we can do nothing
36:36we can say can properly express our gratitude to these men of the silent
36:40service and of the men who did not come back the men who went down with their
36:48ships what can we say how can we repay them so we not echo their prayer may God
36:56grant that there be no next war but they know and we know that if there is and
37:02whether it be fought with weapons we now know or with weapons of whose nature we
37:06can only guess you will find submarines in the thick of the combat fighting with
37:10skill determination and matchless theory doing their utmost for all of us for our
37:17the United States of America
Recommended
26:06
|
Up next
27:15
26:06
26:06
26:02
26:04
25:39
26:00
25:53
26:08
26:03
26:02
26:06
26:02
26:05
0:24
42:46
26:05
26:03
25:59
26:05
26:04
Be the first to comment