- 4 months ago
od (SS-224) In the final days of World War II, American submarines had difficulty finding merchant ship targets. But the enemy junks that plied the coastal waters with cargoes of food for the beleaguered home islands were legitimate prey. The junks weren't worth a torpedo. Generally unarmed and with small crews, they were easy victims for boarding parties from submarines. In August 1945, the USS Cod surfaced alongside a junk and dispatched a board party. Everything went well until an enemy plane forced the submarine to submerge while the boarders were still on the junk. The USS Cod's boarders kept the enemy crew at bay and navigated the junk through a Japanese convoy to a final rendezvous with the submarine.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00Oh-oh-oh! Oh-oh-oh! Oh-oh-oh!
00:12Let's go down and hop in line
00:16Through the deep blue and beneath the ocean
00:20We'll control the ocean wide
00:24From down, down, underneath the sea
00:30I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers, retired
00:34The story you're about to see is reminiscent of an earlier age in naval warfare
00:39The age of grappling hooks, boarding parties, and plundering of enemy ships
00:44These antiquated methods actually came into use again in World War II
00:49And our submariners in the Pacific encountered new danger and excitement
00:53Particularly the crew of the USS Cod
00:56Who learned that even the best laid plans of boarding parties can sometimes go astray
01:07By July 1945, much of our submarine effort off the Malay coast was devoted to blockading Singapore
01:14Forced to support its garrison there, the enemy came up with a bright scheme of using junks, sandpans, and fishing junks to carry out military supplies
01:23They knew the submarines would not bother with peaceful fishermen
01:29Our blockade was threatened
01:32The practice of search and seizure resulted
01:36When feasible, the cargo was jettisoned and the boat allowed to sail on
01:54Otherwise, the crew and passengers were safely removed before sinking the craft
01:59It was dangerous work and Lieutenant Commander Edwin L. Westbrook of Sacramento, California, skipper the Cod, took every precaution
02:09No one knew when a machine gun would suddenly appear from the hold of an innocent looking craft
02:24No one knew when a machine gun would suddenly appear from the hold of an innocent looking craft
02:28No one knew when a machine gun would suddenly appear from the hold of an innocent looking craft
02:29Or when enemy soldiers might spring from hiding and begin throwing grenades
02:33Lieutenant Junior Grade Franklin S. Kimball of Melrose, Massachusetts was in charge of the Raiders
02:39He had trained the group to do its work quickly and efficiently
02:51Chief electricians mate John Babick of Omaha, Nebraska, as Kimball's right-hand man
03:00Seaman first class Sam J. Renfro of Fayette, Alabama
03:04Motor machinist mate George J. McKnight of Charleston, Tennessee
03:07And a torpedo man made up the team
03:10Every man was a volunteer and an expert shot
03:15All right, let's go, move
03:16Well, good morning, Mr. Merchantell
03:18I remember you
03:19I think I remember you, too, last week, wasn't I?
03:21That's me, Tommy Sain
03:22I speak good American, yes?
03:24Yeah
03:25Look, tell those men to hurry into the boats, Tommy
03:27Why do you turn low?
03:28Why not you take me prisoner, mister?
03:30I helped you plenty
03:31I'm afraid not
03:32Now, come on, you're holding us up
03:33No pay, mister, no charge
03:34Your folks will be looking for you
03:35I'm missionary child, mister
03:37Now missionary gone
03:38Dive
03:39I helped you plenty
03:40Come on
03:42Tommy Sain
03:44With Captain Westbrook's approval
03:46Became the interpreter
03:47And the sixth member of the COD sporting party
03:49Stand by to surface
03:50Stand by to surface
03:51Stand by to surface
03:52Frank?
03:53All set, Captain
03:54All set, Captain
03:55Come up here, will ya?
03:56Stand by to surface
03:57Stand by to surface
03:58Frank?
03:59All set, Captain
04:00Come up here, will ya?
04:01All set, Captain
04:02Come up here, will ya?
04:03You know, this is the last day of our patrol
04:04Yes, sir
04:05What are we gonna do with Tommy?
04:06I was hoping we could take him to Australia
04:07Don't you think he'd be happier if we put him on this boat and let him go back to China?
04:09No, Captain, I don't
04:10I don't
04:11I don't
04:12Well, I'm afraid we don't have any choice
04:14Surface
04:15Surface
04:16Surface
04:17Surface
04:18Surface
04:47Commits firing
05:02Cease firing
05:15Closed Captioning
05:34Closed Captioning
05:35Get the bar.
05:51Please, Captain, it's my boat.
05:58It's all I got.
05:59Please not sing boat.
06:01The Japanese make me do it.
06:03If you sing boat, they not sing me, Captain.
06:06Let's see what you've got.
06:10What's the merchandise, Johnny?
06:12Well, sir, there's some unfriendly army blankets.
06:15Yeah.
06:16Some sugar, and some more.
06:20Invasion sugar.
06:22Planes off the fort bow.
06:33Get out!
06:34We're diving.
06:35If you can't make it, we'll pick you up later.
06:40Come on, left, jump!
06:44Come on, left, jump!
07:13you all right sam i made it but i didn't think i could i could jump yourself in half boy so low
07:20i can see the color of his eyes hold him back you know we're here it'll come after
07:25i could have got him sir
07:28he's taking off mr kimball johnny i'm okay did they come back for us mr kimball all right sure
07:36tommy let's run up the crew oh go go your boy morales head out to sea i want everything to
07:44look normal you understand understand captain you figure the skipper took her out a little
07:50ways i asked her it's only 60 feet out here he had an awful sharp dive angle for one of
07:54this shallow mr kimball yeah i know mac you take the stern sam go forward keep your eyes
08:00out for the periscope just our luck the last day of our patrol the skipper won't leave us
08:05up here long not if he can help it any damage outside of the sound gear no sir periscope depth
08:17periscope depth
08:18up scope
08:31and it's gone looks like it nope he's coming back with his friends about ten of them
08:51those planes can see us we gotta get to deep water right 15 degrees runner right 15 degrees
09:00runner
09:01hey you're some lookout boy nice dog what's the matter with you huh i'm not gonna hurt you
09:22i don't get it mr kimball something's wrong it's pretty choppy you just can't see the periscope
09:32it's all gang of take cover
09:37sam come here johnny you and rent keep an eye on the crew from the carton
09:44they're not working tell me go out and tell them business as usual wave at those planes
09:59hey where's that one going the flag he's going for the flag of the army
10:06you're going for the flag of the army
10:08you're not thinking you're so old
10:12hey
10:13hey
10:14hey
10:15hey
10:16hey
10:17hey
10:18hey
10:19hey
10:20hey
10:21hey
10:22hey
10:23hey
10:24hey
10:25hey
10:26hey
10:27hey
10:28hey
10:31they're carrying bombs i hope the skipper got out of here
10:43hundred and fifty feet captain
10:44don't want to get too far away it'll be hard enough to find them as it is
10:48kimball's smart enough to come out a ways isolate himself
10:51yeah if he can
10:52captain sonar contact six surface ships at eight to ten thousand yards off the stern
10:57and
11:02head back to shore borales keep away from those gun bumps
11:04yes captain
11:06the wind captain i can't help it
11:07okay everybody spread out i'll keep an eye on the crew
11:13i'll keep an eye on the crew
11:14anybody does anything wrong i shoot see
11:20see
11:21i'll keep an eye on the crew
11:22i'll keep an eye on the crew
11:23i'll keep an eye on the crew
11:27i'll keep an eye on the crew
11:28i'll keep an eye on the crew
11:34i'll keep an eye on the crew
11:38anybody does anything wrong i shoot see
11:41Let's shoot, see?
11:54Here I got to stop.
12:04Let's die!
12:08Hey, I didn't see that destroyer!
12:12He probably picked up the cot in the sunar.
12:18Well, he's rolling them off.
12:19Get out of here, Skipper! Get out of here!
12:22If they don't make it, we won't, that's for sure!
12:29For three hours, the cot was tracked in depth charge by two enemy gunboats and a destroyer.
12:41It's evasive action sent it miles from the jump, containing its boarding party.
12:47What do you think, boy?
12:54Water, water, everywhere water.
12:57You made yourself a friend, huh?
13:00Ah, he hates me.
13:02Oh, let me touch him!
13:03Oh, yeah?
13:06Man, this stuff is terrible!
13:08It's the only water they got. We had to boil it.
13:10What's the chow? I'm starving.
13:12There's a guy cooking up some rice back there.
13:14Is that all?
13:17Next time, bring your own lunch, huh?
13:19If there is a next time, I will.
13:22This about where we picked you up?
13:24Yes, Captain.
13:25We'll anchor here.
13:26John, Mr. Kimball?
13:29Oh, thanks, Tommy.
13:34What's the matter, Johnny?
13:35Have you tasted it yet?
13:37No.
13:38I like rice with gravy or soy sauce.
13:41Even sugar and cinnamon, but not plain.
13:45Hey, sugar!
13:48Yeah, sugar!
13:57Mmm!
13:59Funny if sugar a man can eat anything!
14:01That's right!
14:10Force Commander grants permission to extend our patrol
14:12and continue the search, Captain.
14:15It's getting dark.
14:16We'll never find him tonight.
14:18We'll have help from the Blenny and Boarfish tomorrow.
14:20One of us ought to find him.
14:22The identification I'm thinking of, George,
14:24there was something strange about that boat.
14:29The dog.
14:31That's a white dog in the bow.
14:33That might help.
14:34I don't know.
14:40Fred, you and Sam take the first watch.
14:43Johnny and Mac the second.
14:45Tommy will stand third watch with me.
14:47Sam!
14:49I heard you, Mr. Kimball!
14:51Hey, did you know today was August 1st?
14:52So what?
14:53It's my father's birthday!
14:56I hope you're personally able to tell him all about this someday, Sam.
15:01Ah, they'll find us.
15:03Who got a cigarette?
15:04I'm out.
15:05May 2, didn't even bring any.
15:06I've got a couple.
15:07Have to make them last.
15:09Who the one in the morning will be eating French toast and bacon
15:11and washing it down with good hot coffee?
15:13The next morning, Lieutenant Kimball ordered the junk out to sea.
15:32In order not to lose sight of the coastline and to stay in the same area, they tacked back and forth.
15:39Hopefully, patiently.
15:40The cod was joined by the Plenty and Boarfish.
15:46Later by the Lizardfish.
15:49Captain W. H. Hazard of the Plenty, senior officer of the pack, directed the search.
15:54They'll be docking an hour.
16:12It'll be dark in an hour.
16:24Not a day, not a dollar.
16:26You and your French toast.
16:28Man, I'm hungry.
16:30That rice just doesn't stick to your ribs.
16:34There must be something else on this tub.
16:36We could eat.
16:38Why not?
16:39We wouldn't be the first.
16:40I saw the crew putting something that looked like shrimp in there, right?
16:45Oh, yeah?
16:45Maybe they're holding on to this.
16:47I'll check it with mommy.
16:50Holy cow!
16:52Maybe that's what he's smoking.
16:54He could have it.
16:55What I don't like about this is the way this wind blows.
16:59We must be 30 miles from where we were this morning.
17:02Well, Skipper will probably figure the wind,
17:03but I think we'd better make some plans tonight.
17:07Case.
17:09Look!
17:10A periscope!
17:13A periscope!
17:18Maybe next time, huh?
17:22Look at Red.
17:24Periscope or not, all the same to him.
17:26I wonder what he uses for nerves.
17:28Let's go.
17:46Ha ha ha ha ha!
18:03We're close enough, Elsie.
18:06Why don't you try to get some sleep, Captain? I'll take over.
18:10I can't make it. I tried this morning.
18:13Keep up the flares for another hour. I'm gonna go watch the radar screen.
18:16Oh, yes, Mr. Sam. Mixed with rice. Very good.
18:30How come you didn't grab all the stuff yesterday?
18:32They hide it, Mr. Mack.
18:33Hey, it's got a nice flavor.
18:35Yeah.
18:36There's holes in it. Don't they shell these things, Tommy?
18:39Oh, yes. Shrimp shell, Mr. Timble.
18:42Then what else is in it?
18:44What's this?
18:46Oh, thanks. Where's Popper?
18:47Very good.
18:51Where's Popper?
18:55You say you hungry enough to eat anything?
19:00Tell the cook to get some plain rice, Tommy.
19:03Right now, Mr. Timble?
19:08Red?
19:09Aye, aye, sir.
19:12All right, I think it's about time we stop hiding our heads in the sand.
19:15Hey, you're shooting star.
19:17That's the second one I saw tonight.
19:25We can sail just so long in this tub before somebody spots us and tells the Japanese.
19:30Well, maybe they'll take us prisoner of war.
19:31Maybe they won't.
19:33When we stay on here, we take our chances.
19:35What else can we do, Mr. Kimble?
19:38Well, the other thing is make it for sure.
19:41Now, with Tommy to help, there's a chance we can get to Burma.
19:44I'm not suggesting one or the other.
19:45I just want to let you know what the alternatives are.
19:47I'll think about it, and then we'll talk it over again tomorrow night.
19:51We still have the same choice.
19:52How far is it to Burma?
19:56It's around 600 miles.
19:58Is that walking or riding?
20:00You kidding, man?
20:01That's by airplane.
20:05Two to one in the morning, we'll be eating ham and eggs and washing it down with good hot coffee.
20:08Way in life, Mr. Kimble.
20:09What time have you got, Johnny?
20:38It's a quarter after twelve.
20:39Well, Tommy gets a bite.
20:44Yeah.
20:45Fried fish.
20:48Wouldn't that be just lovely?
20:52Hey.
20:54Hey, look.
20:57It's a poroscope.
20:58A poroscope.
20:59Over there.
21:00It's no stick this time.
21:02I saw the sun quit off of it.
21:04Hey, sir.
21:05Sam, do you see him?
21:07See what?
21:08Get him here, Sam.
21:08There's one in the deckhouse.
21:09I see him.
21:10I see him.
21:10I see him.
21:11I see him.
21:23I got to see him.
21:24You all right?
21:25I saw him.
21:25Hold it.
21:28Hold it, fellas.
21:28Hold it.
21:29That's not ours.
21:30Ah, the super-scripts is there.
21:35My home, home.
21:37I want to find the bridge and some of the new ones could be one of them.
21:40Could be Japanese, too.
21:41Yeah.
21:42It's too late now.
21:43Whoever it is wants to find out what this mirror is all about.
21:46Sam, get the flags.
21:47Tell them who we are.
21:48Captain Bilbo, do you not think my fault?
22:03We are bloody.
22:07It's the bloody!
22:09I'll talk to the skipper for hours. Don't worry.
22:17Welcome aboard.
22:26You look like it's very close in August, sir.
22:29Well, Merry Christmas.
22:30We radioed the card.
22:32I will have you aboard in a few hours.
22:34Well, the way you approached us, sir, looked like you knew who we were all the time.
22:37I did.
22:38Commander Westbrook said to look for a boat with a white dog.
22:40And that made it easy.
22:43You mean that dog led you to what, sir?
22:45It certainly helped.
22:46Oh, boy.
22:47Am I glad we stayed hungry.
22:49Say, Captain, they've been very cooperative.
22:52Why don't we let them just take off?
22:53Everything off there that shouldn't be on there?
22:55Yeah, we've cleaned it off.
22:57Okay by me.
22:58Verilis, shove off!
23:00Oh, you sure had some experience.
23:01Oh, I want to tell you.
23:02I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
23:17The Cod's Lost Boarding Party sailed the South China Sea for 52 hours before it was rescued by Commander Hazard and the Blenny.
23:29Here with us to recall the events you've just seen is Captain E.M. Westbrook, Jr., who was the Cod Skipper.
23:36Well, Ed, 52 hours doesn't seem like a long time now, does it?
23:40No, Admiral, it doesn't.
23:42It's hard to believe that Frank Kimball and his men were on that boat so few hours.
23:47It seemed like an eternity at the time.
23:49I can well imagine.
23:50One thing is sure, though.
23:52If it felt like a long time to us, it must have felt like forever to them.
23:58They thought the Cod had been hit or sunk, didn't they?
24:00Yes.
24:01Frank told me later all of them were pretty sure we had.
24:05Though none of them said it out loud until after they were rescued.
24:09They were all secretly sure that at best they'd wind up in a prison camp.
24:13But they had courage and a sense of humor and it pulled them through.
24:17I presume that when the patrol ended, the Cod made a beeline for Australia.
24:21We did indeed.
24:22As a matter of fact, we were only two days out of Perth when word came that the Japanese had surrendered and the war was over.
24:29Do you know what happened to your volunteer prisoner, Tommy Sang?
24:32Not exactly, Admiral.
24:34If I'm any judge of character, Tommy's probably got a fishing junk making catches off the Malayan coast.
24:40Thank you, Ed, for helping us to tell this story.
24:43Be with us again when we bring you another true story of the silent service.
24:50Take her down, there's often light.
25:02Through the deep blue underneath the ocean, we'll control the ocean's wide.
25:10From down, down, down, underneath the sea.
25:15Safe and close, we'll pass the word.
25:19In the future's yet to be.
25:23That we'll say, as long as there's, a submarine are underneath the sea.
25:31So wait for a dive and take her down.
25:35Down, down, down, go down, down, come underneath the ocean.
25:40Fearless men will find me down.
25:44In the deep blue underneath the sea.
25:49The sea in the deep blue underneath the sea.
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