- 4 months ago
Crevalle (SS-291) During one of its war patrols, the submarine USS Crevalle is forced to the bottom by depth charges. Seriously damaged, it lies quietly on the ocean floor, hoping to avoid detection. During the nerve-wracking hours of waiting, one man's true personality is revealed to his shipmates. Instead of the cringing cowardice with which some of the crew members had tagged him, he displays a kind of self-sacrificing heroism which is the true mark of a U.S. submariner.
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykerz, retired.
00:28Throughout the war, the Japanese were intent upon capturing one of our submarines
00:33to find out what new devices allowed our submariners to take such a heavy toll of their shipping.
00:39In May of 1943, the Japanese fleet was suddenly presented with just such an opportunity,
00:46and the Crevali was the submarine they had within their grasp.
00:50The story of the battle for this submarine begins back in Perth, West Australia,
00:55when the Admiral assigned the Crevali a new and dangerous patrol area.
01:03The story starts in early April 1944 in Darwin, Australia,
01:08with the USS Crevali resting against the pilings of her Darwin warp.
01:14Two veteran members of her crew had just been granted liberty ashore,
01:18torpedo man Edward Coates and torpedo man Frank Herndon.
01:23The officer of the deck was the Crevali's executive officer, Lieutenant William J. Rue,
01:28a fine officer and intelligent submariner.
01:31But he had no way of knowing what would happen before the day was out.
01:35Six thousand miles from the nearest hillbilly, what do they play? Western music. You figure.
01:48Kind of funny.
01:49That ain't all this funny, Eddie.
01:52Yeah, I know. Me.
01:54You, I can buy. I'm talking about your idea of relaxing.
01:58The facts of life, boy.
02:01Most guys, they finish a long patrol, they want to go out and howl a little, you know.
02:05Yeah.
02:06Well, I guess I'm just a wet blanket then.
02:09This does it for me.
02:11Just sitting?
02:13Sitting?
02:15Sometimes I don't read you, Dad.
02:17You're a lot of men in a torpedo room, but it sure you...
02:20Like I told you before, you're not my nurse.
02:23You want to go someplace, don't let me ruin it for you.
02:25No, no. You ain't ruining anything.
02:29Well, what I mean is take Karnofsky there.
02:34You think he knows anybody in a little place like Darwin?
02:37Not as so.
02:38But he don't just sit, he knows how to live it up.
02:41Four bits as he comes off with a date.
02:43No bet.
02:45Look, Frank.
02:46I like to sit around and take it easy.
02:49Let the other guys do the running around.
02:51Like in Fremantle, like in Brisbane.
02:53Like that.
02:54But that doesn't mean you have to.
02:57Well, the underwater Errol Flynn.
02:59He make out?
03:00You ever know me not to buy?
03:03Well, if we took your word for it, no.
03:05Funny.
03:06Well, just don't sit there.
03:08She could dig up a couple of friends.
03:12Come on, I don't hear anything.
03:15No, I guess we'll just stay put.
03:17Frank, you don't...
03:18Bye, Karnofsky.
03:19What are you waiting for?
03:22Well, I'd try to do a guy a favor.
03:28Frank, what do you want to do that for?
03:30Coffee's cold, I'll get some more.
03:32That gal's swamped.
03:33That gal's swamped.
03:43Well, you don't mind, do you, buddy?
03:45Six times in a row for the same tune gets a little rough.
03:48You don't like it to me, chum.
03:49Why don't you up it?
03:50No problem.
03:55My money's as good as yours.
03:56You don't like my taste in music, eh?
03:59Like to do something about it, would you?
04:01We're out of line, mister.
04:03Knock it off.
04:05No problem.
04:11Now try to tell me that was a nice thing.
04:12You know it was.
04:14You're a liar, Yanks.
04:15This is what happens to liars.
04:20Eddie, come on, help me!
04:29Eddie, come on, help me!
04:50We've got several versions of this fight.
04:59The bar owner claims Herndon started it.
05:03But Herndon and a couple of customers claim he didn't.
05:05And Coats here says he didn't.
05:07He was another eyewitness.
05:08At least at the beginning of it.
05:10That's right, sir.
05:11It wasn't Herndon's fault.
05:14Well, the bar owner's probably trying to protect his steady customers.
05:17I'm going to turn Herndon over to you.
05:29Your responsibility.
05:30Thanks.
05:36Let's go.
05:37Twenty-four hours later, the USS Crivalli had left the docks of Darwin well behind.
05:51Her destination?
05:53The coastal waters north of Barneo.
05:56The Crivalli skipper on this her third war patrol was Lieutenant Commander Frank D. Walker from Wyoming, Ohio.
06:01An extremely well-liked captain, his ability was second to none.
06:06Nor his concern for his men.
06:11Permission to come on the bridge, Captain?
06:12Granted.
06:14I'm ready to take over the watch again, sir.
06:20Check those Barneo coastal charts.
06:22It's a rough area.
06:24An important area.
06:26The Japanese have been taking a lot of oil out of Barneo.
06:28There'll be plenty of hunting.
06:31The hard way, Captain.
06:33Those tankers will be hugging a coastline where it's real shallow.
06:36That's the point.
06:38The Admiral wants those tankers forced away from the shoreline into deep water,
06:41so our ships can get a crack at them.
06:44I know it sounds like the hard way, but it'll pay off with interest.
06:47We'll be working in less than 150 feet of water just to get that shot at them.
06:50Just so we get that shot.
06:52I'll relieve you now, sir.
06:53Bill!
06:57Yes, sir?
06:59Is there some kind of beef going on below?
07:01What makes you think that, sir?
07:03A reaction, a feeling?
07:05Nothing serious, just a little disagreement between a couple of torpedoes.
07:08Good.
07:09It's going to be rough enough outside the ship.
07:10Yes, sir.
07:11What's your play?
07:21You in a rush?
07:23Look, Herndon, what goes with you and Coates?
07:27What's the beef all about?
07:28Still your play.
07:30Okay, so you brush me off.
07:32Do you think you can hide a thing like that?
07:35The whole ship knows by now.
07:37Karnowski.
07:38How could they miss it?
07:39Two guys are buddy-buddy for over a year.
07:42Now they don't even speak.
07:44Why?
07:46Are you going to play or not?
07:50I...
07:53Well, I've had enough.
07:54I'm going to get some air.
08:08I'm going to get some air.
08:13I want to talk to you.
08:14Yes, sir.
08:16This thing between you and Coates, it's gone far enough.
08:21Well?
08:23We're just not speaking, sir.
08:25Every man aboard ship knows a beef when he sees one.
08:27From the captain on down.
08:29I want a happy ship, Herndon.
08:31This sort of thing doesn't help.
08:33Yes, sir.
08:35Herndon, did you ever stop to think how much guts it took for Coates to tell me he ran out on you that day in Darwin?
08:43Did you?
08:46But he did run, sir.
08:48Didn't he?
08:50You don't have to worry about it, sir.
08:52No one will ever know what happened.
08:54Not for me, sir.
09:05The Crivali had by now reached its assigned area of patrol off the Barneo coast.
09:11In the control room, Captain Frank Walker went over charts of the dangerous waters with his executive officer.
09:17And in the sick bay, pharmacist mate Leon Cully attended to a matter on a smaller scale.
09:23I don't think you ever made pharmacist mate.
09:26Boy, you got a touch like a blackjack, Cully.
09:28So learn to use a wrench right. You're more dangerous than the Japanese.
09:33Hey, what's the latest with the happiness boys?
09:36Herndon and Coates?
09:38Still the same.
09:40You know, I never quit, Stan.
09:42I didn't give a month's pay to know what's behind all of this.
09:45You know, I...
09:48What?
09:50Wait a minute.
09:53They were buddy-buddy when I left the cafe.
09:55Then I heard there was a fight in the joint and Herndon comes back all banged up.
09:59Coates, he don't even have a scratch.
10:02I just wonder.
10:04Stow it, Karnofsky. The war's outside the ship.
10:08I told you.
10:10I can't stand mysteries.
10:18There's a long shelf here, about 15 miles out to sea.
10:22Probably have to go in over it.
10:26Come on, Herndon.
10:28You can trust me.
10:30Get away from me, Karnofsky.
10:32Was that how it was?
10:34Coates take a powder when the fight started?
10:36You can tell me, Herndon.
10:38It's none of your business.
10:39Now forget it!
10:43So it was that way.
10:46Who would have figured it?
10:49Coates.
10:51Yellow.
10:53There won't be much of a chance slipping back into deep waters if we get boxed in by anti-submarine vessels.
10:59We'll worry about that when we get...
11:00Captain, to the bridge.
11:01Captain, to the bridge.
11:05What's up, Walt?
11:06Smoke on the horizon, Captain.
11:10Air the bridge!
11:11Dive!
11:13Dive!
11:15Dive!
11:17Dive!
11:18Dive!
11:19Dive!
11:20Dive!
11:21Dive!
11:22Dive!
11:23Dive!
11:24Dive!
11:25Dive!
11:26Dive!
11:27Dive!
11:28Dive!
11:29Dive!
11:30Dive!
11:31Dive!
11:32Dive!
11:33Take it out in sixty feet.
12:01Level off at sixty feet.
12:03Let's go.
12:11Sixty feet.
12:12Let's go.
12:24Still smoke, but a lot heavier.
12:26Give them time.
12:27Steady as you go.
12:28Steady as she goes.
12:29Let's go.
12:30Big convoy coming up to the south.
12:31Oil tankers?
12:32Big one's hugging the coastline.
12:33We'll have to go in the shallow water like we figured.
12:35Big patrolling escort.
12:36It looks like a convention.
12:37Make ready all torpedo tubes.
12:38Make ready all torpedo tubes.
12:39Make ready all torpedo tubes.
12:40Make ready all torpedo tubes.
12:41What's the look?
12:42Ain't you got enough to do?
12:43Just thinking.
12:44You know it might get a real rough real quick.
12:45So?
12:46Bad enough for everyone else.
12:47But I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:48I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:49You know it might get a real rough real quick.
12:50So?
12:51Bad enough for everyone else.
12:52But I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:53You know it might get a real rough real quick.
12:54So?
12:55Bad enough for everyone else.
12:56But I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:58I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
12:59I wonder what it's like for a guy who's yellow.
13:28Bearing.
13:29Mark.
13:30Zero, four, two.
13:33Brain.
13:34Mark.
13:35Eighteen hundred yards.
13:39Found Periscope.
13:42Angle on the bow.
13:4450 starboard.
13:47Set.
13:48All torpedo tubes ready.
13:50Stand by.
13:54Will.
13:58That's the second ship in the column.
14:00What's your guess?
14:01Like a floating dry dock to me.
14:04Sinking that in that shallow water is a waste.
14:06Yeah.
14:07It's that tanker with her I want.
14:09It's the biggest tanker I've ever seen.
14:10Two stacks, half. She's tremendous.
14:12Up there, let's go.
14:20Big. She's as big as an island.
14:23Like that, Skipper?
14:25That's her.
14:26The Tonamaru, huh?
14:28That's right.
14:2920,000 tons.
14:31Convert it, wait.
14:32That's a lot of oil.
14:33And I want it.
14:38Costco.
14:40Hang her down, emergency.
14:42Joyer, head right at us.
14:44Blood negative.
14:4615 degrees, down bubble.
14:54Level off at 100 feet.
14:57Turn on your speaker.
15:03Directly over, Skipper.
15:04Think she knows we're here?
15:05That's her problem.
15:06I want that tanker.
15:08100 feet.
15:10Take her up to 60 feet.
15:1960 feet.
15:2010 feet.
15:20Tough periscope.
15:32Don't see.
15:33Keep coming.
15:35Range.
15:36Mark.
15:371,400 yards.
15:39Sit.
15:44Fire.
15:44Two planes die bombing our torpedoes.
16:00They know about us now.
16:05They really know about us now.
16:07Haven't hit a midship.
16:08It's middle of target.
16:12Haven't torn foul balls.
16:14Commence torpedo reload.
16:25Relay the reload.
16:25All right, sir.
16:32Hang your down 120 feet.
16:34Emergency.
16:35120 feet high.
16:37Escort vessel.
16:37Coming fast.
16:38They're not guessing this time.
16:39Great for death.
16:40Charge attack.
16:55The death charges were dropping in pattern now, and the pinging of the sound gear told Captain
17:08Walker that many vessels were on the surface above, too many for a reasonable chance of escape
17:13to the open sea.
17:15The commanding officer considered his position.
17:18Lack of depth was a definite handicap, and the Crevalli was getting heavy from water leaking in.
17:23With no other possible choice, Captain Walker bottomed the Crevalli in the mud and carl, at a depth of 174 feet.
17:33It was time for the most nerve-wracking period of all, the game of waiting.
17:41How long is the old man going to sit down here?
17:43Why don't you ask him?
17:44Psh, that's the trouble with the Navy.
17:47Everybody's a comic.
17:48Nobody's a straight man.
17:49You know, for a guy who's chickened out, your ex-buddy's taking this pretty...
17:53Why don't you shut up, Kronoski?
18:04For more than an hour, the men waited in silence, hearing the pinging of the enemy vessels above,
18:09and hoping to sell the enemy the idea that the Crevalli had been sunk.
18:12The Japanese were taking no chances.
18:16They had located Kronoski, and wanted to move her before water seeping into all of her compartments made her too heavy.
18:23The first step was to attach a line, and they lost no time in getting started.
18:42It sounds like we sold on a bill of goods, all right.
18:57Too well.
19:03Captain, the torpedo room reports loud noises.
19:07They say it sounds like someone walking on deck.
19:10Captain, you don't think that...
19:11Better take a look through the boat, Bill.
19:14Let's just hope it is inside.
19:26It's not anybody aboard, Captain.
19:27They've heard it all over the ship.
19:31Then I guess we know what it is.
19:32Be easy for them to slide a depth charge down once they hook on to us.
19:35I think they'll want more than that.
19:36You mean drag us up?
19:37They'll be a big catch.
19:39U.S. sub, all that secret gear.
19:41Give them a lot of answers.
19:42Get ready to destroy all this secret matter.
19:44And an axe to smash sonar and radar.
19:55He's dragging us.
19:57I didn't have his way, the time being.
19:59Sir, how heavy a cable he's got on us.
20:06We'll find out.
20:08Just as soon as he gives us the right moment.
20:10180 feet, at least he's pulling us into deep water.
20:13Let's hope he keeps doing it.
20:24Eddie!
20:25Eddie!
20:26Skarnansky, help me!
20:27Easy!
20:42Easy, Eddie.
20:43Easy.
20:46Religious.
20:50Religious.
20:52Metal.
20:54Wallet.
20:54Please.
20:57Get it.
20:58We can use all the help.
21:03What's the depth now?
21:05195.
21:06Captain.
21:07Not yet.
21:08We'll only have one try.
21:09Better be the right one.
21:11We'll still wait.
21:24We'll have one try.
21:26We'll have one try.
21:27We'll have one try.
21:28We'll have one try.
21:31Passed out.
21:32Broken shoulder.
21:33Caved in ribs.
21:35Kind of pain to put an elephant out.
21:40I heard what he did for you.
21:42No guts.
21:43Man, you've got to be kidding.
21:46What's the clipping?
21:47About a guy that the court freed.
21:50A guy that got pushed into a bar fight, hit back, and accidentally blinded a guy.
21:59Him?
22:02No wonder he wouldn't throw a punch.
22:04He would.
22:07I got a lot of apologizing to do when he comes out of this.
22:10Depth.
22:15200 feet.
22:17Let's see how good a hole he has.
22:18All ahead, flank.
22:19All ahead, flank.
22:28Right, full rudder.
22:30Right, full rudder.
22:40Let's get out of here, before we can attach another cable.
22:46All ahead, full.
22:47I'd love to see that skipper's face when he sees the end of his cable.
22:50Yeah, that's his problem.
22:51Ours is to put distance between us.
22:5960 feet.
23:10A-ha!
23:13A real pretty sight.
23:15A forest of mass.
23:17Well astern.
23:28What is it?
23:30I was just thinking about that Japanese skipper.
23:33He's going to be a real mad fellow about now.
23:36Wouldn't you love to see the look on his face?
23:38I was thinking about happy fellows.
23:4072 of them right here.
23:42Yes, sir.
23:54I'll be back in a moment with our special guest.
24:02I'm very pleased to present to you the executive officer of the USS Cravali on this patrol.
24:08Commander W. J. Roo, United States Navy.
24:12Bill, it's good to see you.
24:16Did the Cravali succeed in driving the Japanese convoys back into deep water?
24:20Very effectively, Admiral.
24:22But there were other subs who helped.
24:24They did the same sort of shallow water patrols during that period.
24:27I imagine that the sinking of the Tonan Maru was the clincher.
24:31Must have been.
24:31From then on, the Japanese convoys plowed down the middle of the ocean.
24:35And that's when we shifted over to Wolfpack-style warfare.
24:39That's right.
24:40It was sure a nice, comfortable feeling on our next patrol, prowling the deepest part of the ocean in company with two other submarines.
24:47I don't remember it being comfortable, but it was profitable.
24:50And the Cravali gets a lot of credit for giving the Wolfpacks plenty of sea room.
24:54Thank you, Admiral.
24:56Awfully nice, Bill.
24:57Be with us again when the silent service brings you another exciting submarine story.
25:04THE END
25:32Oh, my God.
26:02Oh, my God.
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