Task Force

Duration: 18 min

Year Published: 1944

Format: 16mm

Color: Color

Description:

Released in 1944 by Warner Brothers in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, "Task Force" is a Technicolor short film narrated by Jackson Beck. The film focuses around Coast Guard "Task Force" duty. Besides operational glimpses, the viewer is treated to a snapshot of the life of a Coast Guardsman on and off duty. While the film contains much documentary-style footage, some sections of the film are re-enactments and the scenario presented (in which the USCG battles a German U-boat and then lands troops on a Pacific Island) seems somewhat fanciful.

A review of the film when it was released stated that the movie "acquaints the public with the very important role being played by the fourth of Uncle Sam's services. It is the story of an American invasion fleet going into action on an unnamed battlefront. The first attack comes after the Coast Guard cutters have sighted the enemy. All hands are ordered to battle stations. The U-boats position is fixed, depth bombs are loosened, and the submarine surfaces, the big guns go into action and the U-boat sinks. Later the Navy sends out reconnaissance planes to meet twenty on-coming enemy aircraft. Now the ack-ack of the cutter roars defiance. The destination is reached and the Navy's big guns shell the enemy's fortifications through the day and through the night. Then comes the landing of the troops…"

00:00 A large task force, including ships and Coast Guard cutters, is spread out over the ocean, preparing for an invasion.

1:12-1:35: Coast Guard planes fly ahead to ensure the seas are clear of enemy submarines and surface raiders.

1:38-1:57: The convoy includes many ships, with troop transports being the most crucial, carrying irreplaceable cargo.

2:12-2:20: Soldiers relax and trust the Coast Guard and Navy to get them to their destination.

2:28-2:36: The Merchant Marine mans cargo ships carrying essential equipment.

2:44-2:51: Navy warships are ready for action, surrounding the convoy.

3:19-3:39: The cutter takes its escort position, and the crew begins their routine, including standing watch and listening for submarines.

4:09-4:17: Rough weather is preferred by the Coast Guard and Navy as it keeps submarines submerged.

4:47-5:04: The convoy is held together by blinker lights, with the constant threat of engine trouble.

5:08-5:21: Fog increases the risk of ships colliding, but the convoy maintains its speed.

5:27-5:34: Clear weather invites enemy submarines to surface and attack.

5:42-6:03: The convoy approaches "torpedo alley," increasing tension as they listen for submarines.

6:05-6:14: The crew prepares for action as they detect a submarine.

6:14-7:10: The cutter tracks and engages the submarine in a battle of wits.

7:10-7:50: The cutter prepares to attack the submarine with depth charges.

8:09-8:51: The submarine is forced to surface, and the cutter's deck guns open fire.

8:51-9:12: The crew feels relieved after sinking the submarine, knowing the danger they faced.

9:12-9:36: The convoy returns to routine, with a chance for normal living.

9:36-9:57: Some jobs in the Coast Guard are never finished, and the crew tries to relax when off duty.

10:04-10:25: Soldiers on troop transports adapt to seafaring life, sometimes feeling like they're on a pleasure cruise.

10:50-11:15: As the invasion day approaches, officers finalize landing plans, knowing success depends on precise timing.

11:17-11:24: Navy reconnaissance planes signal the invasion is imminent.

11:30-11:50: Troops prepare for the invasion, trying to act normal despite the tension.

11:50-12:21: Enemy aircraft approach, and the convoy's aircraft carrier prepares for action.

12:37-13:31: The Navy guns are ready to soften up the shore for the invasion.

13:31-14:21: The Navy bombards enemy shore batteries to weaken resistance.

14:21-14:50: The Coast Guard landing crews prepare to shuttle troops to the beach.

14:50-15:09: Coast Guard crews shuttle troops from ships to the beach in armored watercraft.

15:09-16:39: Troops wait anxiously for the landing, anticipating enemy attacks.

16:39-17:03: After securing the beach, the Coast Guard ferries in supplies to support the troops.

17:03-17:32: Once a port is secured, troop transports unload their cargo quickly.

17:32-17:49: The Coast Guard's job is done, but they are ready for future missions.

Complete Record: Released in 1944 by Warner Brothers in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, "Task Force" is a Technicolor short film narrated by Jackson Beck. The film focuses around Coast Guard "Task Force" duty. Besides operational glimpses, the viewer is treated to a snapshot of the life of a Coast Guardsman on and off duty. While the film contains much documentary-style footage, some sections of the film are re-enactments and the scenario presented (in which the USCG battles a German U-boat and then lands troops on a Pacific Island) seems somewhat fanciful. A review of the film when it was released stated that the movie "acquaints the public with the very important role being played by the fourth of Uncle Sam's services. It is the story of an American invasion fleet going into action on an unnamed battlefront. The first attack comes after the Coast Guard cutters have sighted the enemy. All hands are ordered to battle stations. The U-boats position is fixed, depth bombs are loosened, and the submarine surfaces, the big guns go into action and the U-boat sinks. Later the Navy sends out reconnaissance planes to meet twenty on-coming enemy aircraft. Now the ack-ack of the cutter roars defiance. The destination is reached and the Navy's big guns shell the enemy's fortifications through the day and through the night. Then comes the landing of the troops…" 00:00 A large task force, including ships and Coast Guard cutters, is spread out over the ocean, preparing for an invasion. 1:12-1:35: Coast Guard planes fly ahead to ensure the seas are clear of enemy submarines and surface raiders. 1:38-1:57: The convoy includes many ships, with troop transports being the most crucial, carrying irreplaceable cargo. 2:12-2:20: Soldiers relax and trust the Coast Guard and Navy to get them to their destination. 2:28-2:36: The Merchant Marine mans cargo ships carrying essential equipment. 2:44-2:51: Navy warships are ready for action, surrounding the convoy. 3:19-3:39: The cutter takes its escort position, and the crew begins their routine, including standing watch and listening for submarines. 4:09-4:17: Rough weather is preferred by the Coast Guard and Navy as it keeps submarines submerged. 4:47-5:04: The convoy is held together by blinker lights, with the constant threat of engine trouble. 5:08-5:21: Fog increases the risk of ships colliding, but the convoy maintains its speed. 5:27-5:34: Clear weather invites enemy submarines to surface and attack. 5:42-6:03: The convoy approaches "torpedo alley," increasing tension as they listen for submarines. 6:05-6:14: The crew prepares for action as they detect a submarine. 6:14-7:10: The cutter tracks and engages the submarine in a battle of wits. 7:10-7:50: The cutter prepares to attack the submarine with depth charges. 8:09-8:51: The submarine is forced to surface, and the cutter's deck guns open fire. 8:51-9:12: The crew feels relieved after sinking the submarine, knowing the danger they faced. 9:12-9:36: The convoy returns to routine, with a chance for normal living. 9:36-9:57: Some jobs in the Coast Guard are never finished, and the crew tries to relax when off duty. 10:04-10:25: Soldiers on troop transports adapt to seafaring life, sometimes feeling like they're on a pleasure cruise. 10:50-11:15: As the invasion day approaches, officers finalize landing plans, knowing success depends on precise timing. 11:17-11:24: Navy reconnaissance planes signal the invasion is imminent. 11:30-11:50: Troops prepare for the invasion, trying to act normal despite the tension. 11:50-12:21: Enemy aircraft approach, and the convoy's aircraft carrier prepares for action. 12:37-13:31: The Navy guns are ready to soften up the shore for the invasion. 13:31-14:21: The Navy bombards enemy shore batteries to weaken resistance. 14:21-14:50: The Coast Guard landing crews prepare to shuttle troops to the beach. 14:50-15:09: Coast Guard crews shuttle troops from ships to the beach in armored watercraft. 15:09-16:39: Troops wait anxiously for the landing, anticipating enemy attacks. 16:39-17:03: After securing the beach, the Coast Guard ferries in supplies to support the troops. 17:03-17:32: Once a port is secured, troop transports unload their cargo quickly. 17:32-17:49: The Coast Guard's job is done, but they are ready for future missions.

Transcription

e [Music] here it is spread out all over the ocean hundreds of ships standing out to sea Raiders tankers troop transports and their Naval escort this is a task force an invasion task force and with this escort go Cutters of the United States Coast Guard in time of War a part of the US [Music] Navy it's easy at First Coast Guard planes are above flying ahead of the Convoy to make certain that the seas are clear of any lurking enemy U boats or Surface r but you know that these planes will leave you after a while then you will be on your own there are more ships on every side of you now more ships than you ever saw together before in your whole life but the most important ships in this Convoy are the troop transports many of them manned by Coast Guardsmen loaded with cargos that can never be replaced troop transports are not expendable [Music] so the soldiers take it easy now and Trust the men of the Coast Guard and navy to get them to their destination now they're just killing time while they still have time to kill then there are the men of the tough Merchant Marine they're out there with you Manning the cargo ships that carry the guns Munitions and supplies all the equipment necessary for the job [Music] ahead and always the warships of the Navy are on every side their decks cleared and ready for action [Music] [Applause] the cutter yora board has taken its escort position now and the daily routine starts you stand your 4-Hour watch then you're off 4 hours and you put on the Feed Bag whenever you can because soon the sea will be tossing your cutter around like a matchbox then food won't interest you top side men are watching always watching and all the time the soundman is listening hour after hour for a Telltale sound that will reveal the presence of a prowling submarine [Music] rough weather now and it's going to get rougher but the Coast Guard and navy like this kind of weather because they know that Subs stay below when the Going's as tough as this [Music] there isn't much that holds a convoy together in a sea like this just some blinker lights and always there's the Everlasting threat of engine trouble aboard the merchant ships if they do break down you have to leave them behind a convoy has a schedule to [Music] keep let a PE soup fog come down and everybody sweats blood for fear the ships will start bumping each other around out there but the Convoy maintains the same speed fog or no [Music] fog post Guardsman no that when the weather clears it's an invitation to pigboats to up periscopes and have a look around so you move along day to day and each hour you're getting closer to torpedo alley you've been through it before and you all know what to expect so you tighten up now and listen for the voice of the soundman anything that moves in the depths below is is audible in his earphones and then it comes this is what you've been waiting for all these days then things start happening all at [Music] once General quarters All Hands ban your Battle Stations All Hands ban your Battle Stations ban your battle station range 302 scale 27 right for Rudder now the cutter is tracking down the submarine tracing its path following its every turn it's a battle of wits now between your cutter and the sub and you're ready for it ready to keep up the chase until you blast the sub from the sea now the plotting officer is tracing the path of the sub plotting its position and gauging its [Music] speed it takes time to fix the ot's position but once you do you're ready to move in on him let's go St charge a [Music] once you force him to the surface your deck guns open [Music] up nobody cheers when the sub goes down because you know that the line between sinking a sub and getting sunk by one is too too slim you just watch and feel relieved that you've won this time the ships are back proper formation once again and you're back to the monotony of Convoy routine for a while the tension is relaxed there's a chance to get in some normal living [Music] but there are some jobs in the Coast Guard that are never [Music] finished when you're offat you try to take it easy while you can because you know Grim business lies ahead of you [Music] sometimes you get together with the boys for a bull session and talk about the girlfriend back home or just home but when you want to be alone and you feel like doing a little daydreaming you get off by yourself and forget all about the Coast Guard Convoy Duty and the [Music] war aboard the troop transports while the Coast Guard do their part to push on to the goal the soldier passengers try to adapt themselves to seaf fairing life as best they can sometimes it almost seems like a pleasure Cruise [Music] almost and finally you run out of days the time for the the officers of every combat division are working out the final details of their Landing problems together they know that the success or failure of this operation depends on split-second [Music] timing when the Navy starts sending out reconnaissance planes to take a look around you know it won't be long now [Music] everyone tightens up especially the troops tomorrow is the day the day they've been preparing for and the more they tighten up the more they try to act as if tomorrow were just another [Music] day flight a reconnaissance flight a a Roger formation of 20 enemy aircraft coming in from the southwest distance 18 miles flight a off to Roger Roger is the code name for the aircraft carrier in your convoy and Roger has been waiting for this action ever since the Convoy got within bombing range of landbased enemy [Music] they're coming in now and you're ready for them [Music] the navy guns are in position ready to soften up the shore for the Invaders [Music] [Music] it takes time to knock out the enemy's Shore batteries so the guns keep pounding hour after [Music] hour by Dawn the enemy's resistance has been weakened then before you know it it's time for The Landing part Crews to do their [Music] job nobody hears much about these Coast Guard boys whose job it is to shuttle the troops from the ships to the beach in their armored water buggies [Music] the troops are waiting now just waiting for the Coast Guard coxen to get their barge to the beach you've only got a mile to go to the beach now but it seems like a 100 at all the time you're waiting for the enemy planes or guns to open up and start pounding [Music] once the beach has been taken you've got to ferry in enough equipment to keep the troops supplied until they're reinforced when finally a port is taken the troop transports move into whatever dock are left standing and unload their caros without wasting any time and once The Last Ship is unloaded your part of the job is done you've delivered the goods your part in this operation is done you've escorted the Convoy you've gotten the troop transports across and you have landed the Invaders but there are other jobs ahead and wherever or whatever those jobs may be the men of the United States Coast Guard will be in there fighting

Metadata Source:3434 U.S. Government Films

1 user has this film:
Periscope Film

Related films:

Original permalink · Record added: 2025-07-03 17:23:05