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THE SILENT SERVICE
Season 1 (First aired: 1957)

Title and Story Line (From Press Kit.)
Each episode approximately 30 minutes long.
Episode #
"THE JACK AT TOKYO"
When the USS JACK springs a leak while deep in Japanese waters, an heroic engineer risks his life to save the sub.
Enemy depth charges have badly damaged a main induction line and to surface for repairs would be fatal. The sub lies helpless deep under water until the chief petty officer puts his finger in the dike.
"The Jack at Tokyo" tells the story of the JACKS's first mission, commanded by skipper Thomas M. Dykers, who acts as narrator and host for the series.
5601
"THE TROUT AT RAINBOW’S END"
Sailors of the submarine USS TROUT substitute 20 tons of gold and silver for ballast in order to submerge.
To get desperately needed supplies to our forces on Corregidor, the TROUT jettisoned her lead ballast and took on ammunition. After a perilous journey through off-shore mine fields, she delivers her cargo, but unless the weight is made up she will be unable to dive.
5602
"THE END OF THE LINE"
Her crew hears scraping noises along the bow as a submarine gets hooked on a line and almost captured.
Relieved when the "thing" didn't explode, the USS THRESHER prepares to dive deeper to avoid depth charge attack. But the ship won't go down -- in fact, gauges show she is rising in the water. Full speed ahead and quick maneuvering are needed to escape the giant hook.
5603
"THE SCULPIN STORY"
Rather than fall into enemy hands with knowledge of vital military secrets, a submarine captain elects to go down with his ship.
In the fall of 1943, the USS SCULPIN was assigned to patrol the waters north of Truk Island to prevent the Japanese from reinforcing their position there. When she attacks a convoy, the sub is badly damaged and forced to surface. All hands except Captain John P. Cromwell, USN, abandon ship hoping to be picked up by nearby Jap ships. The commander goes quietly to his death, retaining his information to the end. Captain Cromwell was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
5604
"THE SPEARFISH DELIVERS"
Thirteen Army nurses and 12 Army officers are rescued from besieged Corregidor by the Navy submarine USS SPEARFISH.
Under orders to take an important group of people off the island, the SPEARFISH slips past enemy patrol boats and both Japanese and American mine fields, and finally keeps its rendezvous, in darkness, with the small bank of escaping Americans. How the young women weathered the exciting trip to Australia on the submarine is dramatized in the story.
5605
"THE BERGALL'S DILEMMA"
With a five-foot hole in her starboard side1 the USS BERGALL tries to make it to port through a screen of Japanese patrol craft.
After successfully torpedoing an enemy cruiser and destroyer, the submarine BERGALL is hit by a gun from one of the sinking ships. Unable to submerge she must make her way exposed to air and surface attack. How the BERGALL slipped past three patrol boats is a harrowing tale.
5606
"THE BATFISH SCORES"
With the Philippines almost entirely in American hands, the Japanese begin evacuating high ranking personnel by submarine. USS BATFISH is dispatched to intercept, and sets a record sinking three enemy subs in three days.
5607
"THE TIGRONE SETS A RECORD"
U. S. Army fliers get a surprise taste of the life of a submariner when the USS TIGRONE rescues 31 of them.
After the bombing of Tokyo, the TIGRONE, along with other subs, is stationed along the route the B-29s fly back to Guam. Mission: rescue downed fliers.
The crew wins the respect and awe of the airmen as the sub attempts a daring recovery with Japanese destroyers closing in.
5608
"FIVE RING CIRCUS"
Maneuvering to evade attacking escorts guarding an enemy convoy, the skipper of USS GATO is unable to go deeper for fear of setting off a 600-pound depth charge which is rolling around on the deck. Cool nerves and fast thinking pay off in a surprise climax to this spine-chilling story based on an actual happening.
5609
"THE PAMPANITO STORY"
American subs roaming the Western Pacific sight a Japanese convoy and attack -- unaware the convoy carries a human cargo of Allied prisoners of war.
The USS PAMPANITO, in the company of two other subs, does its work well and resumes its search for other game. Three days later she returns to the area where the men learn, with sinking hearts, what they have done.
5610
"TIRANTE PLAYS A HUNCH"
A daring submarine commander chooses to fight on the surface rather than lose his prey in the shallow waters of the Yellow Sea.
On her maiden combat patrol, the USS TIRANTE chases a Japanese patrol vessel along coastal waters and is led into harbor. There, the TIRANTE sinks three ships at anchor in addition to the patrol ship before she speeds out to sea -- and safety.
Her skipper, LCDR George L. Street, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his role in this bold exploit.
5611
"TANG VS TRUK"
More than a score of flyers are rescued by a daring submarine patrol, operating under heavy enemy gunfire.
As U.S. planes hit the island of Truk, submarines are ordered close to the objective to save as many men as possible. USS TANG did its job and set a pattern to be followed by other submarines for the remainder of the war.
5612
"WAHOO'S FINAL REPORT"
This story tells the tragic end of the submarine, USS WAHOO.
On her early war patrols, the WAHOO ran up an enviable record, sinking 16 ships and damaging two more. Then her luck ran out; her torpedoes failed to go off, and she limped back to base. Refitted she put out again, eager for a killing. On an evening in early October, 1943, the WAHOO entered the Sea of Japan -- never to return.
5613
"TWO DAVIDS AND GOLIATH"
Two submarines engage some of Japan's heaviest fighting ships, challenging U.S. landings in the Philippines. The submarines USS DACE and USS DARTER, sink two Japanese cruisers. Then, in her eagerness to get a third cruiser, the DARTER goes aground on a reef. The DACE tries to save her sister ship by dislodging her. Unable to do this, she takes the DARTER's crew aboard just before a timed demolition charge destroys the sub.
5614
"THE ORDEAL OF THE S-38"
A broken propeller, an internal explosion and damaged instruments all plague the sub S-38 assigned to attack Japanese transports preparing for the invasion of the Philippines in December 1941.
The S-38, already outmoded when World War II began, is surrounded in Lingayen Gulf by Japanese troop transports within easy torpedo range. But four defective "fish" miss their targets, and the enemy, alerted to danger, strikes back. The S-38 and her weary crew limp home to safety in an exciting and surprising climax.
5615
"THE SEAHORSE STORY"
Deaf, dumb and blind, deep in enemy waters, USS SEAHORSE almost is blown out of existence by Japanese depth charges.
Returning to base with vital charts of enemy mine fields, the SEAHORSE is severely damaged, and her radio, radar and listening devices are knocked out. Helpless, she founders at the bottom of the sea until the exciting true climax.
5616
"SALMON SWIMS UPSTREAM"
A sharpshooting sailor saves his submarine, USS SALMON, in true Daniel Boone fashion.
Japanese depth charges damage the submarines diving gear and strip her of her gun sights. She is forced to surface and fight it out.
Gunner "Tennessee" Jordan mans his post on deck and, with a few well-placed shots, holds the enemy off long enough for the SALMON to withdraw.
5617
"CARGO FOR CREVALLE"
During a battle in the Pacific, a baby is born aboard the submarine USS CREVALLE. He is the son of a Filipino woman, being evacuated from the besieged islands.
Somewhere in the Philippines today a young man answers the name of Elmo Walker Crevalle Talcaban, and how he received his name provides an absorbing story of wartime heroism aboard a U.S. submarine.
5618
"BOOMERANG"
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.
5619
"THE SQUAILFISH"
On her test run, the submarine USS SQUALUS dives and then sinks to the bottom of the Atlantic. She is raised, re-commissioned and renamed, but the bad-luck omen stays with her.
The history of the SQUALUS, renamed SAILFISH and nicknamed SQUAILFISH, is traced from the day she slips out of control beneath the Atlantic to a night in December, 1943, when she sinks the Japanese escort carrier Chuyo. Even then her bad luck pursues her; among the victims aboard the Chuyo are 20 prisoners of war, survivors of the SAILFISH's sister ship, USS Sculpin.
5620
"THE GROUPER STORY"
After two years of Pacific combat, the submarine USS GROUPER is finally ordered home. But her orders show a slight detour - via Australia.
Helping pave the way to ultimate invasion of the Solomon Islands, the sub transports Aussie raiders and their native guides to a hidden cove at the edge of the jungle.
Understanding their Australian allies' Jargon and the pidgin English of the natives is one obstacle for the weary crew but, before the mission is completed, the enemy provides another.
5621
"THE EYES OF THE SEAWOLF"
In the early tense days of World War II, American submarines in the Pacific were returning with a mysterious record of "misses." Why the torpedoes failed to go off is related in this episode of THE SILENT SERVICE.
When his ship's repeated attempts to sink Japanese shipping fail, a young seaman with an interest in photography produces conclusive evidence of faulty design.
5622
"THE SEA DRAGON"
Underseas in Japanese waters, the submarine captain's orders to his crew are, "Lie down, don't move, breathe as little as possible."
With all oxygen tanks exhausted after being submerged for more than 16 hours, one of the USS SEA DRAGON's last four torpedoes jams. Death by explosion, suffocation or enemy gun fire seems inevitable. Stoic heroism and precision teamplay by the crew turns fate.
5623
"NARWHAL'S PASSENGER FROM MINDDNAO"
Built in 1930, the USS NARWHAL was one of the oldest submarines in service. Her loyal crew was proud of her although she was bulkier and slower than her more modern sisters. A quirk in her diving mechanism had given the NARWHAL the reputation of being haunted.
Under attack by Japanese bombers while engaged in a rescue operation, her skipper defied her shortcomings and put the sub through some agonizing paces. It plunged straight for the bottom.
How the NARWHAL managed to escape disaster is told in this week's episode of "The Silent Service."
5624
"THE PERCH'S NEW ROLE"
"Without torpedoes what good is she?" The crew of the submarine PERCH was puzzled. She had been a fleet type sub, but overhauling had converted her into a troop carrier.
The dubious submariners began training. Drills and dives soon convinced them the PERCH was not a dangerous freak. They determined to prove their ship's efficiency.
After the outbreak of trouble in Korea, the PERCH was ordered to Japan to transport Marine raiders into enemy waters. This episode of "The Silent Service" reveals how the PERCH proved a worthy unit of the Pacific Submarine force.
5625
"THE FINAL WAR PATROL"
Blowing up an enemy train hardly seems like an assignment for a submarine crew. But sailors aboard the USS BARB were accustomed to offbeat tasks and this week's episode of "The Silent Service," actually reveals how they engaged in "torpedoing" a train.
At the end of her 12th war patrol the BARB, which had a record of 15 sinkings, had launched all of her torpedoes and fired all her ammunition. All that remained were three 55-pound scuttling charges. Commander Eugene B. Fluckey, the skipper, decided to use one of these in a last nose-thumbing at the enemy.
A beach party was organized and ordered to plant the explosives beneath the tracks of a coastwise railroad. Mission accomplished, the "Pirates of the China Sea," retired to their rubber boats to watch the demolition of the on-coming train. Fluckey was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
5626
"THE LAST DIVE"
Two of the Navy's latest snorkel-type subs, the USS COCHINO and the USS TUSK are ordered to Arctic waters for cold weather operations.
For days the COCHINO conducts submerged operations, her snorkel tube breathing oxygen for the diesel engines and men below.
Suddenly, unexpectedly the hydrogen gauges register rising pressure. This ship is shaken by a loud explosion. The COCHINO is jolted by blast after blast that tears at her midsections. Heavy smoke and flames envelope the ship. The crew works desperately to locate and•clear the danger area. Power is lost. The explosions continue. The TUSK is signaled for help, and stands ready to receive the men of the ill-fated COCHINO.
5627
"THE GAR STORY"
After the USS Seawolf was lost in an attempt to fulfill the same mission, the GAR put out for Australia in the fall of 1944 to ferry supplies to guerrillas in the Philippines. When it reached its destination, the GAR was virtually within sight of heavily armed Japanese troops, but went right ahead with their unloading. When the GAR put out to sea again, her crew had the gratifying experience of having made an important contribution to the assignment of the men who remained on the islands to gather information for the U.S. invaders later on.
5628
"THE FLIER STORY"
Narrowly escaping disaster from a barrage of depth charges, the USS FLIER emerges with honors from her maiden war patrol. Having tasted success, the FLIER's men promise to do even better as they head for Indochina on their second mission.
But the sub strikes a mine and the skipper and some of his men are swept off the bridge as the FLIER goes to the bottom. Their bravery and tenacity brings them through what some might consider an impossible situation.
5629
"THE STARFISH CAME HOME"
Lt. Steve Rand never knew the difference between true and foolhardy courage until he learned the meaning of fear. In this week's episode of "The Silent Service," he learns that a wife can make a lot of difference in the way a man thinks.
When his sub is attacked by Japanese bombers, a hatch cover sticks when the ship attempts to submerge. Unable to halt its dive, the sub is certain to sink from the tons of water pouring down the open hatch. Rand voluntarily goes topside alone, releases the cover and is swept away by the sea.
5630
"THE SEALION STORY"
The Kongo, only Japanese battleship sunk by a submarine during World War II, was sent to the bottom of the China Sea by the submarine SEALION II.
SEALION II was assigned a dangerous patrol in enemy water September, 1944. After a number of mishaps aboard, including an explosion in her torpedo room, she arrived in the patrol area, damaged but eager for action.
Despite a screen of destroyers protecting the heavier ships, her skipper decided to attack on the surface. SEALION II scored three hits on the lead battleship. She pursued the injured craft and, minutes later, it blew up.
5631
"THE NAUTILUS STORY"
USS NAUTILUS is brought in for close observation duty along the Tarawa shoreline, between the guns of the American attack force and the Japanese•shore batteries.
The NAUTILUS is hit by a shell from an American destroyer. The shell fails to explode and must be removed. Two brothers from rival services show courage and new-found understanding when they are forced to work together to prevent the shell from exploding.
5632
"HIT 'EM AGAIN, HARDER"
Assigned to keep a close watch on the enemy's mobile fleet anchored at Tawi Tawi, USS HARDER sank five destroyers in six days, leading the Japanese admiral to believe his anchorage was surrounded by a whole fleet of submarines. When he moved his ships out to sea, 24 hours ahead of his operational plan, the U. S. Fifth Fleet struck and, in the battle of the Philippine Sea, the Japanese Navy was dealt one of the most crippling blows of the war.
The HARDER's Captain, Samuel D. Dealey, was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for this action.
5633
"THE SEASHARK STORY"
A photographer's mate sent along on a war patrol to photograph submariners in action learns what it means to "belong" to the tiny steel-encased world of the men who fight under the sea.
Ernest Cooms is plainly frightened by his assignment aboard the SEASHARK. The boat's crew adds to this discomfiture by making him aware that simply being aboard a submarine does not make one a submariner. When the boat undergoes a five-hour attack, Cooms bears up well and continues with his duties. After that, he enjoys the privilege of "belonging."
5634
"THE TSHUSHIMA STRAITS STORY"
At the urging of Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, civilian scientists developed an electronic device that enabled submarines to detect floating and submerged mines. With this apparatus, a wolf-pack of nine subs entered the Sea of Japan in June, 1945, and wreaked havoc with enemy shipping, contributing materially to the end of the war.
5635
"THE SEARAVEN STORY"
On her second war patrol, USS SEARAVEN becomes a sitting duck to save a group of 33 Australian soldiers and aviators trapped on Timor after fighting the Japanese in a retreat action for eighty days.
5636
"THE TANG'S LAST SHOT"
The Japanese could "never lay a glove" on the USS TANG. The TANG was lost, a victim of her own torpedo.
After sinking one entire convoy and inflicting tremendous damage on another, the TANG moved into position to fire her last torpedo before heading home from her fifth war patrol.
The torpedo began an erratic course and ended by completing a circle and striking the TANG. Escape was impossible. She sank, leaving nine survivors and a record of 24 enemy ships sunk. It was the second highest number sent to the bottom by any American submarine during World War II.
This episode is a tribute to the heroism and devotion to duty of the TANG's crew and officers. Her skipper, Richard H. O'Kane, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
5637
"THE LOSS OF THE PERCH"
In the entire history of underseas warfare, there is probably no more famous "hard luck" ship than the USS PERCH. The story of this ship and the heroism of the crew that fought in vain to save her is related in this episode of "The Silent Service."
5638
"THE GUARDFISH STORY"
In the summer of 1942, the USS GUARDFISH made 77 enemy contacts in half that number of days, without the benefit of search radar. With incredible accuracy she made an outstanding record of 11 hits and eight sinkings.
This week's episode of "The Silent Service" brings to television the patrol for which the GUARDFISH was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, and set the record for number of enemy ships destroyed on a single patrol.
5639
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