- 5 months ago
Grayling (SS-209) A US submarine was saved by a whale in October 1943. The USS Grayling was assigned to patrol duty off Corregidor. She found plenty of targets but plenty of opposition, too. When only two torpedoes remained in her tubes, she searched hopefully for a final objective. The one she picked turned out to be an enemy Q-ship, which escaped the torpedoes and proceeded to unload some well-placed depth charges. When a friendly whale ventured near the Grayling, the Japanese detection devices mistook it for the submarine and followed it while the Grayling escaped.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00Arroba! Arroba! Arroba!
00:30I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykes, retired, and this is a well-worn baseball cap I borrowed from its owner because, in a sense, it is a symbol.
00:39In fact, the men involved in the true story we will document for you would probably have preferred going into combat without ammunition than without this cap.
00:50In August 1943, the USS Grayling was concluding her fifth Pacific patrol. Her skipper was Lieutenant Commander John E. Lee of Rancho Santa Fe, California, a veteran of 14 consecutive months of combat duty.
01:09Lieutenant Robert Bonin was executive officer.
01:13Lieutenant Junior Grade, Edward Camel, gunnery officer.
01:17Radium and second class John C. Smith was radar operator.
01:22And Chief Torpedoman Joseph Day was chief of the boat.
01:26The Grayling was down to a last torpedo and had been waiting for just the kind of target he now had in her sights.
01:33Standby forward. Standby number one. Final observation and shoot.
01:38Bearing mark. 305. Range. Mark. 2500.
01:48Set. Shoot. Down scope.
01:52Fire one.
01:55Hold it. Top scope.
01:59This is what I'm going to watch.
02:04So far, so good.
02:08Ten seconds.
02:11Ten seconds.
02:19Five seconds.
02:28The bullseye. Take a look, Bob.
02:31She's slipping out of sight fast, Captain.
02:33Count a square on midships.
02:35Oh, boy, what a beautiful shot.
02:38The crew's been talking for days about making this last one count.
02:41Sort of a going away present for you.
02:43Well, they couldn't have given me a better one.
02:46Down scope.
02:49Well, let's say we head for home.
02:50There was a customary welcome awaiting the Grayling when she returned to base at Fremantle, Australia.
03:03But it was a special moment for Commander Lee.
03:06Not only had this last patrol been highly successful, but within the hour, he'd be getting his leave papers from Admiral Christie.
03:13Then a boat for home.
03:14What is it, Johnston?
03:15Commander Lee is here, sir.
03:16Oh, send him in.
03:17Hello, Jack.
03:18Morning, sir.
03:19Well, welcome home.
03:20It's wonderful to have you back.
03:21Thank you, sir.
03:22It's good to be back.
03:23You know, I'm sorry I couldn't get down to the dock to be a part of the welcoming committee.
03:27That's alright, I got your message.
03:28Ah, staff meetings every time I turn around.
03:34Oh, sit down, sit down.
03:36Well, I've read your stolen report.
03:37I know you have been sitting on your thumbs for the past sixty days.
03:41Well, we had a little luck and a good hot area.
03:43Well, I've got another one.
03:44One more time, sir.
03:45What?
03:46Well, I've read your stolen report.
03:48I know you have been sitting on your thumbs for the past sixty days.
03:51Well, we had a little luck and a good hot area.
03:54Well, I've got another one.
03:55I've got some good ones.
03:56Well, I've got another one just as hot for your next patrol.
04:00Next patrol, sir?
04:02There you're speeding around the bush, Jack.
04:04My leave's been canceled.
04:06I'm sorry, Jack.
04:08But you see, enemy shipping has tripled in the last three months.
04:11Experienced skippers and crews are a must.
04:14Well, I understand.
04:17What about the men, sir?
04:19Does this affect the 25% quota replacement?
04:22It affects all personnel.
04:23Now, Jack, we have the manpower.
04:26They're all green kids.
04:27I just can't take a chance in sending them out.
04:31Oh, excuse me.
04:33Yes, Johnson?
04:34Admiral Ricks is at the conference room, sir.
04:37Tell him I'll be right in.
04:39Well, another staff meeting.
04:42How are we going, sir?
04:43We can talk about this later, Jack.
04:45What about some tennis this afternoon?
04:47Fine.
04:47Four o'clock as usual?
04:48Four o'clock.
04:49It's really good to see you back.
04:51Thank you, sir.
04:52See you at four.
04:52Goodbye, Jack.
04:57It took only three weeks to refit the grayling,
05:00and on October 1st, 1943,
05:02she started on her six combat patrol.
05:06Well, the men didn't take the lead castling
05:07as hard as I thought they would.
05:09Well, you know why, don't you?
05:10No, why?
05:11Well, you got a loyal bunch here.
05:13I think the men will parade the grayling colors
05:14down the main street of Tokyo, if you ask them.
05:18Well, the best piece of luck I've had
05:19is to get a crew like this.
05:20As long as we're underway,
05:22I think I'll cut them in on some of our orders.
05:28Captain speaking.
05:29Our orders are to proceed to the coast of Borneo
05:31for a five-day patrol of enemy shipping lanes.
05:35Then proceed to the Philippines.
05:37Lie and wait off Corregidor
05:38for anything going in or out of Manila Bay.
05:40I needn't tell you this will be no Sunday picnic.
05:44Good luck.
05:47En route to their destination,
05:49every mile of the ocean was considered enemy water.
05:52Three days out of Fremantle,
05:53on October 4th, 1943,
05:56the routine of shipboard life settled down on the grayling,
05:59and a traditional playoff
06:00for the patrol checker championship started.
06:05Any words, Jack?
06:05They're just starting the summer finals.
06:09What's the first game?
06:11Skipper's playing Beaver Rankin.
06:13Hey, that should be pretty good.
06:14They've each held the championship once.
06:16Hey, my money's on cheap day.
06:25Okay, Rankin, your move.
06:27Hold it.
06:27Captain, to the conning tower.
06:41Captain, to the conning tower.
06:43Remember, it's my move.
06:53Where's he got?
06:55Radar contacted about 10,000 yards,
06:57Captain, bearing 350, closing in.
07:00Take her down, Bob.
07:02Clear the bridge.
07:03Time.
07:04Time.
07:11Battlestation, Torquino.
07:18Act secure, sir.
07:20Very well.
07:21Beaking up anything?
07:23I have a contact, sir, bearing 350.
07:27Okay, stay with it, upscope.
07:36Can't see anything but weather.
07:39And none of it good.
07:44Oh, pea soup.
07:46Uh-huh.
07:46Anything more?
07:49Nothing more than a guess, sir.
07:50I'd say it's twin screws, maybe a tanker.
07:52Closing in fast, though.
07:54This might be a good chance, Captain,
07:55to see how good or bad radar is.
07:57Not on your life.
07:58They send us out with a full load of fish,
07:59then we can experiment.
08:01Besides, we'd have to surfish,
08:02you know what this fog is like.
08:03We might run right out in the open.
08:04Here, let me take it.
08:05What have you got against radar, Captain?
08:07Oh, nothing really.
08:09Can't say much for it, either.
08:11Check when they perfect it.
08:14Can't see a thing.
08:16No, hold it.
08:17Wait a minute.
08:18We're out in the open.
08:18Just barely make him out.
08:21If he doesn't start zigging,
08:22we've got ourselves a sitting duck.
08:24We'll have to work fast.
08:25It's too hazy to make him out there.
08:30Yeah, we're going to get one crack at him
08:31before that fog closes in again.
08:33Come on, let's go.
08:36Angle on the bow.
08:37Sixty starboard.
08:39Final observation.
08:40And shoot.
08:41Burying mark.
08:43Three, five, two.
08:44Range mark.
08:45One, five, double, oh.
08:47Set.
08:48Shoot.
08:49Fire one.
08:53Fire two.
08:55Number one's a clean miss.
09:05Fifty yards, four to the bow.
09:07Number two.
09:09Direct hit.
09:10Is she sinking?
09:12I can't tell you.
09:13You're spritin' the fog.
09:15You mean we won't get credit for her sinking?
09:17It doesn't look that way.
09:19Wait a minute.
09:19I've got an idea.
09:21Let's take her up, Bob,
09:22and try out that radar of yours, huh?
09:25That's it.
09:36Now you've got it.
09:37Looks to me as if he's got a double image in the screen.
09:39Double image?
09:40Nothing.
09:41Caught a rider midships.
09:43She's breaking in, too.
09:43That's the second half, you see.
09:45Got the contact, sir.
09:475,000 yards, closing in fast.
09:49Must be the escort.
09:51Aerial contact, Captain.
09:52Plane's overhead at 270.
09:55Clear the bridge.
09:56Dive, dive!
09:57Did you make them out yet?
10:12Yeah, bombers.
10:13Four, maybe more.
10:15Service contact closing in fast, Captain.
10:17Well, they've got us coming and going.
10:19Should we rig for silent running, Captain?
10:22No, I want that destroyer to find us.
10:25As long as we can keep a surface vessel on our tail,
10:28we've got a perfect umbrella.
10:30Those bombers won't dare drop anything
10:31for fear of hitting their own ship.
10:34Of course so.
10:36The trick is to stay clear of the destroyer's depth charges.
10:38Captain Lee's strategy worked.
10:49Using the enemy destroyer's umbrella,
10:51the attacking bombers were unable to drop their bombs.
10:55Their fuel low, they finally left the area.
10:57Captain Lee then rigged the silent running
10:59and lost the surface vessel.
11:03The battery's charged,
11:04the grayling was on her way at dawn the next day.
11:07And, again, the crew settled down
11:10to the routine of shipboard life.
11:12Now hear this.
11:13The game for the grayling 6th Patrol Checker Championship
11:16is scheduled for 1,400.
11:19Captain Lee versus Chief of the Boat, Joe Day.
11:23All right, gentlemen, no money showing your markers good.
11:26There is no gambling in the United States Navy.
11:28Just a friendly vote of confidence in your choice.
11:30All markers redeemed are collected
11:32before your first liberty.
11:33So step right up.
11:34Your credit's good with good old Honest John.
11:36Now, who else for Day?
11:38Who else for the champion, huh?
11:40Ah, here we got him in.
11:41Please, gentlemen, let the man through.
11:42Let the man through.
11:43And your name, sir, is...
11:48You ready, Captain?
11:52The challenger is first moved.
11:54Just about.
11:54I'm ready for Day, if you are.
12:03I'm ready for Day, if you are.
12:09The skipper's moved.
12:10Day just took his Black King.
12:13My money's on Day this time.
12:15I'll stick with the skipper.
12:16Well, he beat Herbie Hrwoskian,
12:18and Herbie was champ before Day.
12:19Hey, the skipper just took Day's Canyon.
12:24Bearing 010.
12:26Elevation 20.
12:30Clear the bridge.
12:37Did you arrange this, Lieutenant,
12:38after all your money is on Day?
12:40Keep going.
12:41Dive, dive!
12:42The date of the bomber's attack
13:01was October 14th.
13:05It was important to the Grayling,
13:07not only because it was a near-fatal encounter,
13:09but it marked the beginning
13:10of the most furious combat action
13:12the Grayling was ever to see.
13:28It was, as Captain Lee had told his men,
13:31no Sunday picnic,
13:32as the submarine fought her way
13:34to her assigned destination,
13:35the Philippines.
13:37Arriving off Corregidor on October 21st,
13:40Captain, to the bridge.
13:57What you got, Ed?
13:58Something along the shoreline.
14:01It's dark to tell,
14:02but I think it moved.
14:07Morning, Captain.
14:08Morning, Ed.
14:09What's it look like?
14:11I can't make it out, Captain.
14:16We're going to have to get out of sight pretty soon.
14:18Take her down, Bob.
14:19Yes, sir.
14:19All right, clear the bridge.
14:24Dive, dive!
14:32Hey, hold it!
14:35Hold it!
14:35Hey, hold it!
14:51Hey, you, you!
14:53Come, come, come, come!
15:00Oh, now!
15:00Come, come, come!
15:01Look, come, come!
15:01Go, come, come!
15:03You, come, come.
15:03Come, come, come!
15:04Captain, I want you to take the con while you have breakfast.
15:11Control room. Is the captain down there?
15:14No, I thought he was with you.
15:17We've left him in the bridge.
15:19Surface! Surface!
15:21Surface! Surface!
15:34I'm all right, I'm all right.
15:44Sorry, Captain. I just didn't see you.
15:47Forget it, Ed. It was my fault.
15:49If the Navy ever has a contest for the running broad jump into a hatch, I'll highly recommend you.
15:55Well, let's get rid of our last two pickles and go home, huh?
16:04Beats me. Take a look, Bob.
16:14Looks like inter-Ireland transport, probably a supply ship.
16:22Been sitting there for two hours.
16:27I'll send somebody down for it.
16:29Well, never mind. They probably left you down the bridge.
16:34She's either crippled and dropped out of a convoy, or she's waiting for an escort.
16:39Let's take her and go home.
16:46Up, scope.
16:47Bearing, mark, zero three zero. Range, mark, two five double O.
17:08Down, scope.
17:13I don't know. I've seen sitting ducks before, but this sure takes the cake.
17:18Up, scope.
17:20Take it, Bob.
17:22Tube's ready?
17:23Tube's ready, sir.
17:24Step set at 18 feet.
17:25Very well.
17:26Looks like a clean shot to me.
17:28Stand by.
17:30Final range and shoot.
17:31Range.
17:32Mark.
17:332,000 yards.
17:34Set.
17:35Shoot.
17:36Fire one.
17:38Fire two.
17:39Fire two.
17:40Fire one.
17:47Fire two.
17:57How much time to target?
17:58Twenty seconds for number one, Captain.
18:01Captain, the target just started turning his propellers.
18:03Oh, boy.
18:10How about that?
18:12It's a two-shipman. She's stepping for action.
18:14We sure walked into this one.
18:15Down, scope.
18:17All ahead, full.
18:18Left, full rudder.
18:19All ahead, full.
18:20Left, full rudder.
18:21Take her down to 180 feet.
18:22Aye, aye. 180 feet.
18:23Rig for depth, charge. Rig for sort of running.
18:25Good morning.
18:32Any change sound?
18:34No change, sir.
18:35Stay with it.
18:53She's passing overhead, Captain.
18:55Check and report all compartments.
18:59Where is he, Sal?
19:00Turning.
19:01Heading this way again, Captain.
19:02Mr.
19:16Check and report all compartments.
19:26Where is he, Sal?
19:27Turning.
19:28Cutting this way again, Captain.
19:30Right full rudder.
19:31All ahead, full.
19:37All compartments report no damage, Captain.
19:43Propeller speeding up.
19:45He's starting a run.
19:46He's right on us, sir.
19:58He's dropped the first one.
20:01There's two.
20:04Three.
20:10Here we come.
20:11Left full rudder.
20:24You can't shake him off our tail.
20:44What is it, Dave?
20:54One of the men passed your quarters and saw this hanging there, sir.
20:57I think we'd all feel a lot better if you wore it.
21:00Sure.
21:01Thanks, Dave.
21:02Underwater object approaching, sir.
21:04What?
21:05Whatever it is, it's moving directly toward us.
21:07You're sure it couldn't be something coming from the surface ship?
21:09No, sir.
21:10The surface ship's another bearing.
21:12You think they've got a new tracking device?
21:14Could be.
21:15Anything's possible.
21:17You think it's a one-man sub?
21:19No, sir.
21:20No sound of screws.
21:21Any change in bearing?
21:22No, sir.
21:23No change.
21:23It's coming directly toward us.
21:25Stand by to sound collision alarm.
21:27Wait a minute, sir.
21:28It stopped.
21:28Hold it, Bob.
21:29I think...
21:30Yes, sir.
21:31Holding steady.
21:32You know, it may sound crazy, Captain, but...
21:35Could it be a man-propelled torpedo?
21:36Sort of a...
21:37suicide depth charge?
21:39Frazier things than that would happen.
21:41Why would he stop?
21:43Maybe to take a new bearing.
21:45Objects moving again, sir.
21:46Coming toward us.
21:49Surface craft starting a run, too, sir.
21:51Whatever that is in the water is moving directly over us.
21:57They're in the port, now.
22:01That doesn't...
22:03Sir?
22:04Well, what is this, man?
22:05The surface craft's veering off the port, too.
22:09Following the underwater object?
22:11Yes, sir.
22:11They're both on the same course.
22:15Of course.
22:18It's what I think it is, gentlemen.
22:20It's just become the first submarine in naval history
22:22to be saved by the curiosity of a whale.
22:27I think it was your move, Captain.
22:53Mr. Merritt.
23:07I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
23:10And now I'd like you to meet the real-life skipper of tonight's story,
23:18Rear Admiral John E. Lee, retired.
23:21Now resident of Rancho Santa Fe, California.
23:24Since you're here in person, Jack,
23:25I'd like to return the lucky baseball cap we borrowed.
23:28Thank you, Tommy.
23:30Beat up as it is, is one of my prized possessions.
23:33I can understand that.
23:34The men aboard the Grayling had a lot of faith in its lucky properties, didn't they?
23:38So much so, in fact, that someone always brought it to me
23:41if we were going into action and I'd forgotten it.
23:44You left the Grayling after that sixth patrol, didn't you, Jack?
23:47Yes, I was relieved of command,
23:49and replacements were made for 25% of the crew.
23:52Unfortunately, the sixth was the last patrol the Grayling made.
23:56On Earth 7, she disappeared, and all hands were lost.
24:00That was certainly a great loss to the submarine force.
24:03It was not only a great loss to our submarine force,
24:05but it was a great personal loss to me.
24:08As you know from experience, Tommy,
24:10there's a rare comrade ship that exists between the skipper and his crew,
24:13and the Grayling crew was one of the finest I ever came in contact with.
24:17One more question, Jack.
24:19Do you recall how you felt when you were left on the bridge
24:21when the Grayling submerged?
24:22I was so busy reaching for anything higher than I was
24:26that I didn't do much thinking.
24:28At one point, I remember, I caught sight of land,
24:31and I wished I'd had more sleep.
24:32It looked like a long swim.
24:35We all joined your lovely wife, Gwen,
24:37in being very glad you didn't have to try it.
24:39Thanks, Jack, for being with us.
24:41Thank you, Tommy.
24:44For extraordinary heroism,
24:46Rear Admiral Lee was awarded the Navy Cross.
24:49Be with us again
24:50when we bring you another true and exciting story
24:53of the silent service.
25:18Safe and cold, and will work in the future's yet to be.
25:27That will say, that's all to say, a submarine that's underneath the sea.
25:35So wait for time, and wait for time.
25:39Now we go down, down, down beneath the ocean.
25:43We go down, down, down beneath the ocean.
25:48Underneath the sea.
Comments