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Sunfish (SS-281) One of the severest drubbings ever given a submarine was handed out to the USS Sunfish by Japanese surface craft in the Sea of Okhotsk in the summer of 1944. By the time the enemy ceased the attack, the USS Sunfish had survived 186 depth charges, 86 of them close. The drain on physical reserves that goes along with sustained enemy action is described in this episode of the Silent service.
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00:00Awa! Awa! Awa!
00:30I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykes, retired. The files of the submarine force are filled with true stories of our major under-seas battle with Japanese during World War II.
00:41The sinking of aircraft carriers, the duels between our submarines and enemy anti-submarine vessels.
00:47But very often the patrol that stands out in a submariner's mind has nothing to do with the amount of ships torpedoed or depth charges endured.
00:55This is the story of the patrol that, for a number of reasons, Commander Edward E. Shelby will never forget.
01:02The patrol of the USS Sunfish in the Sea of Ockhots.
01:11On 22 June 1944, the Sunfish departed Pearl Harbor after a major overhaul, which included repairs for battle damage incurred during her last patrol.
01:22This was number seven.
01:25Well, we've drawn the O-coat C this trip, gentlemen.
01:29My blood's a little thin for a place like that right now.
01:32That's supposed to be the coldest spot in the world, isn't it?
01:34Well, we'll see what we can do to fatten up that blood before we get there.
01:37No sympathy, Paul. You should have gone into carriers.
01:40Now, most of the traffic has been reported north of and coming through the Onikotan Strait.
01:45We'll make a run through it and see what we can pick up at the mouth of the strait.
01:49Oh, incidentally, and this is important, we'll be crossing lanes being used by the Russians.
01:55So before we attack anything, positive identification must be made. Clear?
01:59Yes. Yes, sir.
02:03Why don't you fire that tube?
02:06Now, if this area proves unproductive, we'll come through here.
02:12At Pearl Harbor, Sunfish had been assigned 28 new men, and now it was up to Captain Shelby to take these individuals and knit them into an efficient submarine crew.
02:21Constant drills were held, and no one but the captain and his executive officer, Lieutenant Paul Mansell, knew when an alarm would sound.
02:33Surfacing.
02:35Gun action.
02:38Target practice.
02:43Diving drills.
02:44Especially diving drills, the submarine's primary maneuver.
02:51Battle stations to ready their deadly weapons.
03:06For simulated torpedo approach and firing.
03:13It was a common sight to find Captain Shelby at any hour of the day or night on a tour of inspection.
03:18The big mistakes were obvious, easy to fix.
03:22It was the little things he looked for.
03:24The tiny errors that in combat might easily mean the difference between life and death for the Sunfish and her crew.
03:38The day finally came when the captain knew he had welded his crew into as efficient and combat ready a team as any in the submarine force.
03:44On July the 3rd, the Sunfish entered her assigned area, the Arctic Sea. She was ready for action.
04:00But in making her ready, the captain had driven himself harder than any of his crew.
04:06The men of the Sunfish, once their duties were over, could sleep.
04:10But the skipper was constantly on tap.
04:12As a result, the amount of sleep Captain Shelby had gotten since leaving Pearl Harbor could have been measured on a stopwatch.
04:17Why don't you get some sleep Captain, you'll look beat.
04:24Yes, I think I will, Paul. I can hardly keep my eyes open.
04:28Watch this door.
04:30Bridge, radar, contact bearing 014, range 7000 yards.
04:40Radar, what do you make it?
04:42It's a small pit, Captain.
04:44From the way he's tracking, I guess it was a patrol boat.
04:47Makes sense.
04:49Probably sitting right in the middle of the straight.
04:50Come to course 285. All ahead 1 3rd.
04:55Come to course 285. All ahead 1 3rd.
04:58Try to go around him. Stay close to the shoreline.
05:01Post extra lookouts.
05:03Aye aye, Captain.
05:04Looks like I won't get that nap after all.
05:08Hugging the coastline, Sunfish crept undetected past the enemy patrol boat.
05:15Radar, what have you got?
05:17Not a pit, Captain. That boat's out of range.
05:21Bring a right to 010. All ahead standard.
05:24Bring a right to 010. All ahead standard.
05:28Take the con, Paul.
05:30This may be sack time.
05:32Aye aye, Captain. Good luck.
05:33No, we can't do it.
05:34No, we can't do that.
05:36No, no.
05:39No.
05:40No, no.
05:46No.
05:47Oh, God.
05:52Captain, to the bridge. Torpedo, mate.
05:54Right full runner?
05:55Right full runner.
05:56Right full runner.
05:57No, no, no.
05:58No, no, no.
05:59Right full rudder.
06:01Right full rudder.
06:03Wake out of nowhere, Captain.
06:05I'll take the con, Paul.
06:07Torpedo wake off starboard bow.
06:09Crossing ahead.
06:11All back emergency.
06:13All back emergency.
06:15Wake off fort bow.
06:21Left full rudder. All ahead full.
06:27Wake off the fort B.
06:29Starboard back full.
06:33Board ahead flank.
06:35Wake dead ahead.
06:37Board back full.
06:39Starboard.
06:43Delay this.
06:45All ahead two thirds.
06:53Take the con, Paul.
06:55I'm going to bed.
06:57Captain.
07:01Seals.
07:07For a while it looked as though the skipper might make it.
07:09But Sleep and Captain Shelby were going to be strangers for some time to come.
07:13Captain of the toning tower.
07:15Clear.
07:17Full contact.
07:19All right.
07:29What do you got, Paul?
07:30Just mast and smoke.
07:31Two ships.
07:32Looks like they're pretty close to the beach.
07:33Have you tracked him?
07:35No, they stopped or anchored.
07:37Hmm.
07:38How do you head?
07:39Zero three six.
07:41Come right to zero nine six.
07:43We'll close and identify him.
07:45All ahead two thirds.
07:47Come right to zero nine six.
07:49Zero nine six.
07:50We'll close and identify him.
07:51All ahead two thirds.
07:52Come right to zero nine six.
07:53All ahead two thirds.
07:54Water's pretty shallow in there, Captain.
07:55We'll go in on the surface.
07:56Sound battle stations.
07:57I'll be on the bridge.
07:58Aye, aye, sir.
07:59Battle stations, torpedo.
08:01Make him out yet, Captain?
08:13Not yet.
08:14I'm steering between them so we can swing to either side if we have to.
08:18Fathometer set up yet?
08:19Yes, sir.
08:20When we get into fifteen fathoms, the operator will give us any change of a fathom or more.
08:24Any while.
08:26Make ready all tubes forward.
08:28Set depth ten feet.
08:30Make her.
08:31Keep the range is coming.
08:32Aye, aye.
08:33They're running up a flag.
08:34It's Russian.
08:35Range five thousand yards.
08:36Come right to one zero zero.
08:37Come right to one zero zero.
08:38No sign yet.
08:39Water, Master.
08:40Man the searchlight.
08:41Aye, aye, sir.
08:42Fifteen fathoms.
08:43Fifteen fathoms.
08:44Fifteen fathoms.
08:45Fifteen fathoms.
08:46Very well.
08:47Make this the target dead ahead.
08:48Aye, aye, sir.
08:49Make this the target dead ahead.
08:50Aye, aye, sir.
08:51Target dead ahead.
08:52Aye, aye, sir.
08:53Range four two double O.
08:54Nothing yet.
08:55She hasn't answered the searchlight.
08:56No sign yet.
08:57No sign yet.
08:58Water, Master.
08:59Man the searchlight.
09:00Aye, aye, sir.
09:01Fifteen fathoms.
09:02Fifteen fathoms.
09:03Very well.
09:04Make this the target dead ahead.
09:06Aye, aye, sir.
09:07Range four two double O.
09:08Nothing yet.
09:09She hasn't answered the challenge.
09:10Can't shoot till we make sure.
09:12Unwilling to fire until positive identification had been made, Captain Shelby closed the target.
09:17As the water grew shallow and down the ground and down the ground.
09:20She hasn't answered the challenge.
09:26Can't shoot till we make sure.
09:29Unwilling to fire until positive identification had been made, Captain Shelby closed the target.
09:35As the water grew shallower and nerves grew tighter.
09:41Something's going on!
09:42Fourteen fathoms. Fourteen fathoms. Range one five double O.
09:51Now the other ship's running up a flag.
09:55It's Japanese.
09:57Fire one.
10:03Fast under. Set torpedo depth six feet.
10:08Range one one double O.
10:10Torpedo depth set six feet.
10:13Fire two.
10:15Thirteen fathoms. Thirteen fathoms.
10:19Left full rudder.
10:21Left full rudder.
10:26Under again.
10:28Keeper coming around.
10:29Keeper coming around. Aye, aye, sir.
10:31Rudder is left full.
10:33The sunfish made a complete circle and headed again for the still untouched target.
10:37Don't seek her if I have to send over a boarding party and scuttler.
10:44Set torpedo depth zero feet.
10:49Steady on course one zero zero. Range.
10:52Steady on one zero zero.
10:55Range one one double zero zero.
10:58Fire three.
10:59Fire three.
11:00Fire three.
11:01Fire three.
11:03Fire three.
11:04Fire three.
11:06All right.
11:28I hope you make it this time captain
11:39Captain Shelby finally made it. He was asleep the second his head hit the pillow
11:45It lasted for all of five minutes
11:58Yeah, then we run aground there's nothing up here
12:05What happened? I don't know unless we hit a reef or a mine all compartments check for damage
12:10Sound radar you got anything nothing on sound sir not a pimp captain
12:16Well, I might have dreamed the rest of you were awake that was no dream captain all compartments report no damage, sir
12:25Well, that's a relief whatever it was
12:28I
12:31Check all compartments for damage
12:34Well, I had flank whatever it is. Let's get away from it. Yes, sir
12:39At flank speed Sunfish raced from the area
12:49While a skipper and exec prowl the ship that you bar any damage that might have been caused by the mysterious beating they were taking
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16:00Throughout the rest of the night, Sunfish's antenna probed continuously for some sign
16:11of the enemy convoy.
16:13At 09.36, the search was still going on.
16:21Bridge, radar contact, bearing 310 through, range 16,000 yards.
16:28Farewell, come right to 310, all ahead, flank.
16:32Come right to 310, all ahead, flank.
16:35Station the tracking party.
16:37Station the tracking party.
16:38Aye, aye, sir.
16:43With all the power a four-diesel engine could provide, Sunfish closed the target.
16:49Getting five pits, range 11,000 yards.
16:52Very well.
16:54Base course 120, speed about 11 knots.
16:57Come right to 090.
16:59Right to 090, aye.
17:00We'll open our range, see if we can't get in a better position ahead of them.
17:16Paul.
17:18Yes, sir.
17:18Here.
17:19Take a look.
17:24Milton, take her down.
17:25Take her down.
17:26Aye, aye, sir.
17:27Clear the bridge.
17:28Dive.
17:29Dive.
17:30Dive.
17:33The ability's improving too fast.
17:34We'll have to take them now before they spot us.
17:36Aye, aye, sir.
17:41Green board.
17:42Pressure in the boat.
17:43Pressure in the boat.
17:44Pariscope jets.
17:45Battle station.
17:46Battle station.
17:47Pariscope jets.
17:48For the moment, Captain Shelby had no need for fleet.
17:57His hunter's faculties were sharpened by the set of action.
18:00Three good-sized freighters.
18:01They're loaded.
18:02They're really deep in the water.
18:03Destroy an escort out ahead.
18:04Set torpedo depth 12 feet.
18:05Set torpedo depth 12 feet.
18:06Set torpedo depth 12 feet.
18:07They're zigging to the left.
18:08If they stay to the same zig plan, they'll swing again right in just two minutes.
18:13They'll fire a spread of three at the first one.
18:14Then a second three at the end man.
18:15Right on schedule.
18:16Here they come.
18:17Down scope.
18:18Down scope.
18:19Down scope.
18:20Down scope.
18:21Yaro's man, sir.
18:22Stand by by.
18:23Tarot's man.
18:24Stand by by tubes.
18:25and they'll swing again right in just two minutes.
18:29The fire is spread a three at the first one,
18:31then a second three at the end man.
18:37Right on schedule.
18:40Here they come.
18:42Down scope!
18:48Charos, Mance, sir.
18:49Stand by the bow tubes.
18:51This is a shooting observation. Up scope.
18:53Stand by the bow tubes.
18:54A shooting observation.
19:02Shoot!
19:03Fire one.
19:04Fire three.
19:05Fire three.
19:06Fire three.
19:07Shoot target.
19:12Bearing.
19:15Mark.
19:16Zero, one, five.
19:18Range.
19:20Mark.
19:21Two, seven, double O.
19:22Set.
19:25Shoot!
19:26Fire four.
19:28Fire five.
19:30Fire six.
19:33Time to first target.
19:35Twelve seconds.
19:36One, two, three.
19:45No seat yet.
19:59They've spotted us.
20:00Take it on deep.
20:06Emergency.
20:07Rig for depth charge.
20:08Rig for sound running.
20:09Rig for deep.
20:10Emergency.
20:11Rig for depth charge.
20:12Rig for sound running.
20:13Hit.
20:13I'm getting breaking up noises, Captain.
20:22Time to second target.
20:24Five seconds.
20:25Four.
20:26Hit.
20:27Another one.
20:28Two out of three.
20:29Not bad.
20:30High-speed screws closing fast.
20:31Here we go.
20:32Screws passing overhead.
20:34Screws passing overhead.
20:36Screws passing overhead.
20:50Hawkins office report.
20:53Depth 400 feet.
20:55Can you hold her?
20:56I think so, Captain, but she's awful heavy.
20:58Well, do the best you can.
20:59If you need more speed, let me know.
21:01Aye, aye, sir.
21:02We're starting another run, shifting to short scale.
21:06They've really got a bead on us.
21:09You think they're mad, Captain?
21:10Screws passing overhead.
21:16For two solid hours, Sunfish took a sustained beating.
21:19By all odds, she should have been sunk.
21:22But she held together.
21:30Looks like they might have lost us.
21:32Come up to periscope depth and take a look around.
21:36Bring her up, two.
21:37The enemy sound detection was excellent.
21:50For the next two and a half hours, the murder speeding went on.
21:53It was one of the most severe of the war.
21:55The Sunfish taking 186 step charges.
21:59Eighty-six of them close aboard.
22:01Finally, at 15-15...
22:05What do you got, Sun?
22:07Not a thing, Captain.
22:10Well, we can't sit here forever.
22:12Bring her up to periscope depth.
22:14Bring her up to periscope depth.
22:27Full battery charge, Captain.
22:29The boat's pretty well cleaned up, too.
22:30We can start all over again.
22:32We can, Mr. Mansell.
22:34But I have a better idea.
22:36Sir?
22:38Where's the bridge?
22:39Dive, dive!
22:40Dive!
22:41Dive, dive!
22:42Dive, dive!
22:43Dive, dive!
22:44Dive, dive!
22:45Dive, dive!
22:47Dive, dive!
22:48Dive, dive!
22:50Dive, dive!
22:51I've got to get one good night sleeper.
22:53I'm going to come apart at the seams.
22:54Yes, sir.
22:55Hilton, take it at 250 feet.
22:57No, 150 feet.
22:58My eyes, sir.
23:01Look, don't call me.
23:04I'll call you.
23:08And so Captain Ed Shelby
23:10finally got a well-earned full night's sleep
23:12250 feet deep in the Arcott Sea.
23:15Like the sunfish, his batteries needed recharging
23:18in order for him to continue the war the next morning.
23:24I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
23:28Now I'd like you to meet Commander Paul Mansell,
23:34Executive Officer of the Sunfish during her seventh patrol.
23:38Paul, I suppose every submarine skipper's done
23:40what Ed Shelby finally did,
23:42taking his boat down into the quiet depths
23:44to get a little rest.
23:46How did he manage to go so long without sleep?
23:48For one thing, Admiral, we were all younger then.
23:51And for another, well, there wasn't much else he could do.
23:53I guess not.
23:54But I don't suppose either he or you
23:56will ever forget that patrol.
23:58Not a chance.
23:59That area is the most fantastic in the world.
24:02Sounds like never a dull moment.
24:04Never.
24:05Once we started rescue operations,
24:07we'd spotted a man in the water.
24:09Except that it turned out to be an octopus on a log.
24:12Then for a while we had a rash of enemy periscope sightings.
24:16They turned out to be sea parrots.
24:18With their red heads and yellow rings around their eyes,
24:21they do look like periscopes.
24:23And for really mixed emotions,
24:26wait till you have a lookout scream in your ear.
24:29Mine's right under the bow.
24:30What were they?
24:32Dragonettes.
24:33They're jellyfish about three or four feet in diameter
24:36and a nice rusty color.
24:37They look exactly like mines.
24:39Compared to what you went through,
24:41a straight shooting patrol was a restful vacation.
24:43This was a rough one, all right.
24:45Paul, thank you for being with us
24:47and helping us to tell this story.
24:49Thank you, Admiral.
24:52Be with us again
24:53when we bring you another true story
24:55of the silent service.
24:56The silent service of the silent service of the silent service.
25:26We chose yet to please
25:29and we'll stay
25:31what's on the set
25:34as we boom and we Stephanie
25:35underneath the sea.
25:38So race for nine
25:40and race for nine
25:42some more pneumonia
25:44underneath the ocean
25:46behind the trail
25:49the drag my street card
25:51in the sea
25:52underneath the sea.
25:56The End
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