- 5 months ago
"The Silent Service" refers to the crucial, yet often unseen, role of U.S. Navy submariners in World War II, who fought primarily in the Pacific theater, sinking more Japanese ships than any other U.S. force but suffering a high 20% casualty rate.
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00:00The End
00:30The End
01:00The End
01:29With 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.
01:49Thus, 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 per 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 percent of the major vessels, that is the vessels, rather than destroyer,
03:09of the 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 of work. By the way, I noticed the Admiral didn't give any figures on their merchant marine.
03:46Well, that's understandable. It must be quite a painful subject to him. There just isn't any more Japanese merchant marine.
03:54Our submarines accounted for 63 percent of that important branch. Mr. Nomura probably could have told you that the 104 of his vitally needed tankers were victims of submarines.
04:09Their 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.
04:23Admiral, do you think in these articles we're writing, we could explain why, during the war, there was so little publicity given our subs,
04:30and the shellacking they were handing 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,
04:42about how American submarines didn't fear Japanese destroyers. They boasted that the nip-dep charges weren't big enough to hurt us,
04:50and weren't set deep enough to reach us. You can imagine how joyful the Japs see that move.
04:55They radically changed their tactics, and they lost, I should say, about 10 submarines with all on board,
05:02before we can improve our construction sufficiently to slow the Japs down.
05:07Is that when you became the silent service?
05:09Right 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.
05:18Just visualize the spot we were in, December 7th, 1941.
05:23There wasn't time to be bitter. It was up to us, the small ships. The big ones were out of the picture.
05:30Yesterday, December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy.
05:49The United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
06:02Yes, 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.
06:10Small and slow, but they gave a good account of themselves.
06:13On December 15th, eight days after Pearl Harbor, American subs drew their first blood.
06:19The swordfish was cruising off Hainan Island in the South China Sea.
06:23On the radio, they could hear the voice of a Japanese woman speaking faultless English.
06:27Later, she would become famous as Tokyo Rose.
06:32We know very well that American submarines have headed west from Pearl Harbor.
06:38If American submariners are wise, you will turn back.
06:42Certain death awaits you over here.
06:45And now I'll play for you unfortunate Americans a popular recording.
06:51One week after Pearl Harbor, the Atsutsutsan Maru, 8,663 tons, became the first victim of an American sub.
07:05A dubious honor.
07:15It wasn't long before she had plenty of company at the bottom of the ocean.
07:19On the 1st of January, the 5,384-ton Tainan Maru was sunk right off the very coast of Japan.
07:38But those early days were tough.
07:41Just look at the vast amount of territory the Japs overran in no time at all.
07:45Naturally, they wanted to consolidate, keep all that loot from the conquered territories pouring into Japan.
07:51Fuel, oil, rubber, coal, iron, rice.
07:54It was our job to see that most of that loot didn't get there.
07:57And for 18 months, our subs were the only ships that penetrated enemy-controlled sea lanes.
08:04It was rugged, but it paid off.
08:08Let the Japs tell you about it.
08:10American submarines in 1944 sank 134 Japanese merchant ships, totaling 580,000, or 390 tons, and 140,000 tons of men of war.
08:24But that was only beginning.
08:33Yes, only the beginning.
08:35Even newly commissioned subs got big scores.
08:37For instance, the trigger.
08:39Her story starts in Mare Island.
08:42That's the way she looked at me the first time I ever saw her.
08:46I was reporter's mess attendant.
08:49Got to be officer's cook first class time I was transferred.
08:52She didn't look like nothing much to me right then.
08:55Just a lot of pipe and steel.
08:57No life, no spirit.
09:00But I felt a little better when I saw the galley.
09:04Small, but clean.
09:06The latest in devices.
09:08A man sure could get a mess of cooking done in there.
09:11But all in all, I sure felt let down.
09:13I said to myself,
09:14Man, what possessed you to volunteer for the subservice anyhow?
09:18Next time you keep your big mouth shut.
09:21I began to feel a little better, though, about the trigger when we got underway.
09:25There was just something about it.
09:28Well, by the time we reached Pearl, the trigger and me was friends.
09:32She sure won me over.
09:34How'd you do it, well?
09:36Well, I tell you, shipping.
09:39Well, it's like our sex says.
09:41He says,
09:43I don't find it any easier than the steward to put into words what I feel about the trigger.
09:48I think it's that all ships have sold.
09:51And all sailors know it.
09:53But it takes a while to learn to commune with it.
09:56It took me quite some time.
09:59But when it happened,
10:01it was our first patrol and our first kill.
10:06Off the east and coast of Cuyushu.
10:08A good-sized crater.
10:10Clear the bridge.
10:12Take her down before we're spotted.
10:15That baby might mount enough guns to blast us to kingdom come.
10:18Take her down.
10:19Let's take a look to see if she spotted us.
10:23Now, let's take a look to see if she's spotted us.
10:41Everything looks normal from here.
10:44It isn't a trap.
10:46She might be a cue ship carrying depth charges and sound gear.
10:50We can't hit her until we've closed the range.
10:54To close the range, we've got to watch out that she doesn't see or hear us,
10:59or the killer will become the corpse.
11:01The minutes seem like hours until we get into position.
11:05Easy.
11:06Easy.
11:07Then, estimated range, 1,500 yards.
11:10Track 90 port.
11:12Star angle 5 left.
11:13Stand by.
11:14He's coming on.
11:15Coming on.
11:16Fire away.
11:17Fire.
11:181.
11:19Then, 8 seconds.
11:20Fire.
11:212.
11:22Fire.
11:242.
11:25Fire.
11:26Fire.
11:272.
11:282.
11:321.
11:332.
11:362.
11:38Trigger had come of age, but she was soon to face her first ordeal, depth of charge.
12:08The destroyer left the scene confident here at Sakas.
12:20Several nights later, we heard Tokyo Rose on our radio.
12:24I regret to inform all American submarines that one of their number has recently fallen victim to a destroyer of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
12:37You will hear an appropriate recording.
13:07the
13:14the
13:19.
13:40Down periscope.
13:41Up periscope.
13:44Down periscope
13:47Up periscope
13:59Down periscope, look man, this is a jackpot. We've got the biggest aircraft carrier I've ever seen up here plus two destroyers
14:04We're gonna shoot our whole lot of the carrier
14:14Up periscope
14:23Bearing, mark 829
14:25Range, mark 6100
14:28Down periscope, angle on the bow starboard 15
14:31Right 4 rudder
14:33Right 4 rudder
14:34All ahead 2 thirds
14:35All ahead 2 thirds
14:36New course 240
14:37New course 240
14:38What's the distance to the track?
14:401700
14:41Control 63 feet
14:43Control 63 feet
14:44Forward torpedo room
14:45Make ready all tubes
14:46Forward torpedo room
14:47Make ready all tubes
14:48Set depth 12 feet
14:49Set depth 12 feet
14:50Rig for silent running
14:51Rig for silent running
14:52Rig for silent running
14:53Rig for depth charge
14:54Rig for depth charge
14:55Steady on 250
15:00All ahead 1 third
15:01All ahead 1 third
15:02How much time I got?
15:03None sir
15:04Torpedo run 1100
15:05Range about 1600
15:07Gyro 005 increasing
15:09Shoot anytime
15:10Standby forward
15:11Standby forward
15:12Down periscope
15:13Check bearing and shoot
15:18Bearing
15:19Mark
15:20345
15:21Down periscope
15:22Set
15:23Fire
15:24Fire 1
15:25One fired sir
15:28Fire
15:29Fire 2
15:30Two fired
15:31Fire
15:32Fire 3
15:35Three fired
15:36Set
15:37Fire
15:38Fire 1
15:39Fire
15:41Fire
15:42The trigger, of course, was subjected to another terrific death charge.
16:02There were moments when no one on board thought she'd come through, but she stood up and eventually
16:07got away.
16:09The trigger just managed to crawl back to Tokyo Bay, badly crippled.
16:13The trigger was lost in March 45 off the Ryukyus.
16:17At that time, she was one of the highest ranking subs in tonnage and total number of ships sunk.
16:23The trigger will never be forgotten, nor will the work of all our other submarines.
16:30In 1943, 284 Japanese ships totaling 1,341,968 tons brush, about 100,000 tons of warships were
16:44sunk by American submarines.
16:46Naturally, they got some of our subs too.
16:49But our losses weren't excessive when you consider what was accomplished.
16:52In fact, they were quite small compared to the losses of the Jap and German submarine services.
16:58But we felt deeply each individual loss.
17:02For instance, take the case of the Sculpin.
17:05On 19 November 1943, we sighted a fast convoy and made an attack.
17:18Their screen detected us and immediately subjected us to depth charging.
17:36Things were getting tough when we heard a rain fall.
17:51We headed forward and shook the Jap.
17:54At least we thought we did.
17:56But the moment we regained periscope depth, we found that Jap destroyer sitting right on our lap.
18:05We tried to duck, but he had heard as well as seen.
18:08We tried to duck, but he had heard as well as seen.
18:35After five hours, the batteries were almost flat and the men completely exhausted.
18:47We had a tough decision to make.
18:50The first concern of our skipper, Commander Conaway, was for the life of his men.
18:56We had on board the Wolfpack, Commander Captain Cromwell,
18:59who had heard that the Japs used a special brand of torture to extract information from their captives.
19:05Suddenly, a decision was reached.
19:08We'd battle service and use our deck gun to fight it out with the destroyer.
19:11Commander Conaway and the next two in command, Lieutenant Al and Lieutenant Tafreeze, were killed on board.
19:29Almost instantly.
19:30I succeeded in command.
19:31The situation was hopeless.
19:32I gave the order to scuttle ship.
19:36Captain Cromwell chose to go down with the boat because he knew too much.
19:43Ensign Max Biedler also went down with the scuttle.
19:44Captain Cromwell chose to go down with the boat because he knew too much.
20:03Ensign Max Biedler also went down with the scuttle.
20:08Captain foxes found a light of a car.
20:14Captain Cromwell chose to run in a shotgun with the
20:34The End
21:04But now for a change
21:10It was a very pleasant phase to our activities
21:12Patrols were tough on bodies and nerves
21:15So we arranged a program of relaxation and rehabilitation
21:18Between runs that were the envy of every branch of service
21:21With the approval and backing of Fleet Admiral Nimitz
21:25Our Commander-in-Chief
21:26We took over the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu
21:29Lock, stock and barrel
21:30And we said to the submarine men
21:32It's all yours
21:33Other operating forces also had quotas at the Royal
21:36Where it held about 150 officers and 1,000 men
21:39But the majority were always submarine men
21:42And aviators from the carrier groups
21:44And the 80s of geben
21:57And the 90s of the vessel
22:00The 90s of the�e arms New Tactics and the battery
22:03The Bodyguard
22:07¶¶
22:37I guess the Royal Hawaiian was one of the reasons there was a waiting list for sub-duty.
22:42It almost seems like the more rest and fun our men had, the more damage they did to the Jap fleet.
22:47And that's understandable too, for they went to sea mentally and physically fit and trained to meet any type of combat.
22:54Just take the figures for 44.
22:57In 1944, 429 merchant ships for totaling 2,387,708 tons were destroyed by yourself.
23:07In addition, about 500,000 tons of war ships were sunk.
23:12And these figures for merchant ships include only ships of 1,000 tons or larger.
23:18The smaller ships sunk by yourself, cheaply by gunfire, were two numbers to count.
23:27Yes, the Jap fleet was just about shot.
23:42In fact, by 1945, targets were getting awfully scarce and awfully small.
23:47What was left of Jap shipping tried desperately to crawl home, hugging the coasts.
23:51But our subs went right after them, right into the dangerous shallow water,
23:55right along the China coast and into the mine-filled Yellow Sea.
23:59We gave them no rest.
24:01This was about the time of the big carrier strikes and the B-29 raids in the homeland,
24:05which brings up another interesting phase of suffering work.
24:09Lifeguard duty.
24:10That is, the picking up of our downed aviators.
24:13We had quite an air-sea rescue system worked out.
24:16It didn't get much publicity because we didn't want the Japs to know about it.
24:20I'm an electrician's make second class.
24:25Of course, that means I don't get to see much topside action,
24:29so the other day I says to the chief, I says,
24:32um, hey chief, how about me getting on the gun trip?
24:35He thought I was kind of crazy wanting to be topside with the others,
24:39but he finally gave in and here I am.
24:42Hey, this is beginning to be more lightning.
24:55That's one load of fish that won't end up in Jap bellies.
25:16How about this? Prisoners.
25:25Welcome aboard, boys.
25:27You'll find conditions a little cramped, but we'll treat you right,
25:31treat you well, even though you don't deserve it.
25:34I'd always heard that Japs would rather die than be taken prisoner,
25:38but these guys don't seem to object to our rescue efforts.
25:42Wait a minute.
25:45We've got something.
25:47A bit 29 is in trouble.
25:49We've got them on radar, but the lookouts haven't spotted them yet.
25:53Say, this lifeguard stuff is new to me,
25:56but it has its exciting moments.
26:04Brother, am I glad I'm not on that plane?
26:08Well, here's a couple that were lucky enough to jump.
26:14We're going over to pick them up and then survey the wreckage to see if there are others we can rescue.
26:19Maybe we'll find some still alive.
26:21This job of dragging tired and half drowned parts aboard a sub looks easy,
26:26but it takes careful handling and a certain amount of risk on the part of our own boys.
26:32Climbing up the side of a slippery outer hull and super stretcher in a choppy sea isn't easy, even for one of our own men.
26:39So it gets a bit complicated when these zoomies drop in on it.
26:45Say, these guys look like they're badly shot up.
26:49Doc is up here now and first aid is being given to those who need it right away.
26:55There isn't time for treating for shock and exposure on deck because we're in enemy waters and subject to attack at any moment,
27:03so skipper says to get them below as soon as possible.
27:07Here we are now down in the chief's quarter.
27:10Doc has made this compartment into a first class operating room.
27:16Looks like we're going to have more company in a few minutes.
27:25You know, this picking up of fliers is getting to be quite a habit with us.
27:33Of course, most of the guys here in the south would rather be firing fish or the jet guns,
27:38but it's a great feeling to be able to rescue a small bunch of fellows like these,
27:42and it's a relief to have somebody new to swap yarns with after being out here for so long.
27:48Sometimes a kid you and I used to know back home isn't so lucky.
27:58We're doing all we can.
28:00No sign yet, but we're not giving up.
28:06Well, we tried, but he didn't make it.
28:10But we'll make it up to him.
28:12We'll save as many of his buddies as we can.
28:18Yes, many of that boy's buddies were saved.
28:22At one time, we had 22 submarines on station whose primary duty was lifeguarding.
28:27All in all, we rescued more than 500 Army, Navy, and Marine aviators.
28:32The submarines were proud of that work and eager for the assignment.
28:36But in the last months of the war, it didn't supply enough action to satisfy them.
28:40So, as you'll see, they figured out some special assignments for themselves.
28:44And very interesting, too.
28:48During the summer of 45, Ceranti was in the same fix as all the other subs.
28:53No targets really worth wasting the taxpayers' torpedoes on.
28:56Or we managed to amuse ourselves.
28:59Shot up a few picket boats and other small craft.
29:03Knocked off a sea truck or two.
29:05Raised some mild hail in a general way.
29:08We played pirate and boarded some junks.
29:11Scared the crews half out of their yellow skins and gave the deep six to a lot of dried peas bound for Japan.
29:17We took a few prisoners.
29:27Exploded some mines.
29:29But there was nothing to write home about, even if we could have written home.
29:34Then one morning, we sighted a ship in the distance.
29:50It looked like it was tied to a dock alongside a colliery.
29:53We kept it under observation for about an hour.
29:57It looked like a 2,000 or 3,000 ton freighter taking on coal by conveyor.
30:15We held a war council.
30:18It would be risky.
30:23Entering a harbor full of rocks and shoals.
30:25Should we try it?
30:27Well, we didn't come out here to sit on our duffs.
30:32We changed course.
30:34Then the skipper, as he always did, spoke to the crew.
30:38Fellas, I think you might like to know what we're up to.
30:41There's a 2,000 or 3,000 ton freighter in the harbor tied to a colliery dock, taking on coal.
30:46That's the biggest ship we've seen so far.
30:48And targets are too scarce these days to let any pass.
30:51On the good side of the ledger, I can mention these two items.
30:54One, there seems to be a lack of patrol craft in this spot.
30:57And two, I don't think there are any mines because there's an awful lot of small craft around.
31:01Now, on the bad side of the ledger, the harbor's full of rocks and shoals.
31:05Navigation's going to be tough.
31:07We'll make a submerged attack, but then we'll have to serve us and have all it out.
31:11If we're caught in here, submerged, it'll be just too bad.
31:14Harbor, we have the best navigator in the business.
31:17So what are we waiting for?
31:18Let's go.
31:19Battle stage is submerged.
31:21We got into position.
31:22Went through the preliminaries.
31:28Let me tell you, right here and now, when the real thing comes up, it's like nothing you ever went through in your life.
31:34When that scope goes up in this harbor, you're playing for keeps.
31:40Your blood pressure tells you that.
31:47The sweat on your hands and the butterfly on your chest.
31:50Keep reminding you that when you get within a thousand yards of your target, you're going to let go with everything you've got.
31:56Then get, if you can.
32:07The exact slut confirms it.
32:09We're dead on.
32:11I'm coming closer.
32:13Closer.
32:14Cousins are small crat criss-crossing overhead.
32:23If one of them sights our scope while the skipper's taking cuts to keep us off the rocks, you can make like the song and kiss the boys goodbye.
32:32Now, coming on a thousand yards, twenty to go.
32:38Ten.
32:40Five.
32:44Fire one.
33:02Look at him scramble.
33:04Nuts.
33:06She's listening to port and down by the bar but still afloat.
33:10Hey, wait a minute.
33:12They manned that deck gun there on the right.
33:14Looks like they think a plane got him.
33:16But we can't surface while that gun's still in business.
33:19All right then, let her have another fish.
33:22Just ahead of the stack.
33:23Polish off ship and gun crew both with one blow.
33:30Fire two.
33:34Swing left again.
33:36Sonar reports fish ran true but suddenly stopped.
33:41No explosion.
33:42Must have buried itself in a mud bank or a torpedo net.
33:45But there's not time to speculate.
33:47The NIP gun crew spotted our periscope.
33:49They're taking pot shots at us.
33:51Better slip another fish and quick.
33:54Steady on two eight zero.
33:56Torpedo run, seven five oh.
33:58Depth set, two feet.
34:00Gyro angle, zero three eight.
34:06Fire three.
34:07Fire three.
34:17Bullseye.
34:26And now, as Shakespeare said, let's not stand upon the order of our going.
34:30But let's go.
34:31They've got a nerve shooting at us.
34:39What kind of hospitality do they call that?
34:41All right.
34:42Now let's show some speed.
34:43Wait a minute.
34:44We must have surfaced too fast.
34:46The bow plane should have folded up like a fighter plane's wings.
34:47Start like that, they'll drag our speed down until the Japs can catch us with a rowboat.
34:48And that's not all that can catch us.
34:49Calm up, calm up.
34:50There.
34:51Steady as you go, sweethearts.
34:52Stay down.
34:53Hold on.
34:54Slow down.
34:55Come in.
34:56Stay down.
34:57He was flying.
34:58You're flying.
34:59I was flying.
35:00I was flying.
35:01All right.
35:02I'll be with you.
35:03So you're running.
35:04You're not quite aballing.
35:05Don't do jack.
35:06You're flying.
35:07I'm out.
35:08Japs can catch us with a rowboat.
35:10And that's not all that can catch us.
35:12Come up, come up.
35:16There.
35:18Steady as you go, sweethearts.
35:22Now we can highball for deep water.
35:24But the Jap fire's getting closer.
35:26I'm beginning to sweat again.
35:28Well, here we are getting the decoration.
35:38So I guess we made it all right.
35:40But believe me, it was close.
35:42That was months ago, but I've just about now stopped sweating.
35:46The Power and Light Company is going to seem awfully beautiful in a few weeks when they hand me that ruptured duck.
35:52But brother, how I'm going to miss this boat.
35:54And the boys.
35:58Yes, we rewarded our men in the submarines.
36:02Tried to honor them for the heroic things they had done.
36:05But nothing we can do, nothing we can say can properly express our gratitude to these men of the silent service.
36:14And of the men who did not come back.
36:17The men who went down with their ships.
36:19What can we say?
36:21How can we repay them?
36:23Shall we not echo their prayer?
36:26May God grant that there be no next war.
36:30But they know and we know that if there is.
36:33And whether it be fought with weapons we now know or with weapons of whose nature we can only guess.
36:38You will find submarines in the thick of the combat.
36:41Fighting with skill, determination and matchless theory.
36:44Doing their utmost for all of us.
36:47alguna combination of soldiers,
37:00and for our island of America.
37:04For our nation.
37:05FOR OUR UNITED STATES.
37:06For the United States of America.
37:14You
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