THE NAUTILUS STORY

[Music] I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M diapers retired I think the story you're about to see is important because of the point it makes concerning America's fighting man certainly the basic ingredients of courage intelligence and equipment play vital roles in combat but the one factor too often overlooked is understanding a mutual appreciation of each other's problems even though the natural fighting sphere of each may be totally different the case in point is exemplified by the events on a patrol of the USS Nautilus this is our story starting place hawaiian out Pearl Harbor in the fall of 1943 home base of the submarine force Pacific Fleet which was quickly proving its worth against a formidable enemy the USS Nautilus one of the ships of that fleet was in for refitting after hazardous mission hardly anything new for the Nautilus a good refit captain not bad almost as good as new art a good happy I know that tom has asked no questions the Captain Commander William Diehr of in a Philadelphia Pennsylvania and his executive officer Lieutenant Commander RB Lynch of Citronelle Alabama were two very good reasons for the impressive record of the Norris and that record was about to become even more impressive [Music] come on already let it go don't rattle me yep softly men Jonny Landon Gunners made of the knowledge of shooting that ain't no deck gun Pappy knock it off Lenny did I needle you when you were shooting I can still win a dachshund like that because I'm two bits a head paint the money I know Johnny if there's a better guy around I never saw him but you got a thing about winning it throws me absolutely fractures me everybody likes to win well I like you with you it's a mania who's making the production now come on you know what I'm talking about everything you do you gotta win gotta be the best like this any other guy would just be killing time relaxing but not you stinkin pinball game that's all it is and yet you've gotta beat me ain't gonna talk me out of winning [Music] 800 you still lose I'm tired of playing anyway let's go back to the ship look Johnny you lost the game came in second best big deal did it hurt change anything okay stop with the curbstone analysis it's illegal without a doctor's license let's go back to the ship I'll play your game of acey-deucey I know I can take you come on now about three out of five that were you know is the best player hey look how about that for a weird sight Marines what are they doing on the Nautilus I wonder what company oh they're getting settled below I can tell you're handling answer it'll be crowded but we'll manage it'll be just as colorful amazi and we got a long way to go and a lot of work you two shove off as soon as everyone's aboard hi Isaac that's not gonna help you on the sub mr. Johnny Johnny what are you doctor are you on this tub you kiddin captain don't make a move without me Oh Lenny grab my brother Lou hi how are you well what do you know about this my own little brother it's been a long time sure though much great to see you just great what's all this about who knows they told us to pack up and here we are looks like you guys are gonna give us a lift someplace great maybe you'll see how a real outfit works now you haven't changed a bit Johnny go on give me a hand with this gear with it less than one hour later the USS Nautilus moves quietly away from the docks of Pearl Harbor heading south west across the Pacific addition to a full complement of a hundred and two officers and men she carried 78 guests they were officers and men of the fifth Corps every man aboard shed one thought in particular but the Nautilus was headed into something important something big but only one man really knew knew the full size of the job to come and the risks involved though that's the deal sounds big captain hardly be any bigger full-scale attack entero combined land sea and air operation we're just one part of it a big job is to land those Marines on fo mama you mean there's more Marines are just the last part of it there's a strike at bay chill first we draw observation duty there if somebody's got to do it yeah but there's a hook this time just take a close look at that operation water and chart it's gonna be a lot of ships in the bay Cho area our orders prevent us from firing but we won't be immune to attack sitting duck the black term is observation duty the novelist was indeed only one part of the attack being read it against tower at all component parts the operation moves steadily to their sign parts of the battle area but no matter how varied the equipment or how plentiful in the last analysis it is always a man upon whom the battle depends and his fighting men know one of the worst parts of battle is often the waiting aboard the Nautilus there was plenty of that you're gonna play it or not sorry guess it's this heat ten days is a long time to be cooped up get him you've never had it so good taxi ride all the way to ringside weren't fresh you'd be walking oh look what's bugging you journey me he said all he said was that it's hot it is now why do you have to go making a great big my father can lick your father thing out of it oh the heat makes everyone edgy let's play huh dude you're playing guess my Luck's working you sure got the touch marine you're beating our brains out with your brother Lu did I say anything no that's bothering him Lissette a long time okay yes that makes two of us you can't sleep you know you don't have to be a mind reader to spot a guy who's got something bugging him you know one time I took a correspondence course and how to be a private detective it was great for to do some things you know went something like this you're Johnny's buddy presto you're worried about Johnny pretty good course what makes him do it Lou great guy except he competes makes a career you like oatmeal he likes cornflakes you like bowling he's got a push billiards I'm a marine so he's got a break his back trying to prove that subs got it all over the Marines with him nobody rest just competes even when there's no competition just the way is is why I don't know I guess maybe I got some of the blame coming for that I'm his older brother things been pretty easy Johnny's always figured that he's had to top me he's never stopped trying I guess tomorrow we go up and see some daylight huh now let's go hit the sack I'd like to be ready [Music] Paige you should be sitting out there level off at periscope depth I have props up there pretty far away Jill there plenty of them 60 feet up scope [Music] captain hey chairs out there all right now boys are pounding it good but we've got us a problem we've got it wait let's over to make our observations but the attack goes on too long I'd stir up we'd be later dabba mama upset the time schedule coming in lately might just walk into the fire the guns of our own fleet nice choice what are we doing no choice the assault force tomorrow needs those observations we wait through the long day the Nautilus lay off shore waiting for the attacking force to complete its work every passing moment added to the test facing captain urban and daylight was fading when the assault was finally over all surface craft have pulled out we're going with him any daylight left captain not much but it'll have to do salt floor still needs that information steady a new course one eight zero steady one eight zero it's gonna take time but it's got to be done and while submerged this will be some flight left on that island it did take time cruising slowly at periscope depth approximately 800 yards off the beach line captain Irvin gathered his information and the only way left open to it what he saw was anything but reassuring the damage done by the attacking force not nearly as extensive as hoped for obstructions such as traps and nets were still in place and formidable a steel observation tower was still standing many pillboxes appeared to be completely undamaged and ready to give a good account of themselves when the next assault came it was indeed important information it's a rough island still a problem yeah we had to get this but it really put us in a bind we've got to get out of here and get this report off of look he's us to the west carriers cruisers and destroyers to the east 50 to 60 assault ships keyed up for tomorrow's landings and trigger-happy Tarawa boxes is off to the north and there's a tall to the south stop it all off a running way behind it's getting real dark captain no that's the point our own ships will think we're enemy now we'll run submerge still we get out arrange of the short guns batteries are low we could use a charge we could use a lot of things but we need most is luck they knew that the destroyer probing with her sound such gear above them was one of ours and it had them worried how destroyers the less liable to miss in an attack fortunately she failed to detect them and steamed away [Music] poly since we've gotta have a battery charge Nasser better go on up then what's the identification signal for ten o'clock I just looked it up it's a green star I want telly and that signal gun up on the bridge with me and tell him to be sure to check the car by Isaac [Music] [Music] until we need it I'm sense disposing our position before we have to go see you sure you check the color just it sir it's green and the other color and it's goodbye ball game I'd like the local footy it's green sir got the observation report officer well that's one job done make out anything not even Whitecaps I'm here any so nice it would help me of that reef and we've got trouble it's red it was Green [Music] so dad here up to the Hulk at the same Conner's the voice too get a damage of four small compartments by Isaac all right look damaged water coming through cracks in the pressure hull Kevin bad it's worse in the motor room it's all waterline broken motor room bill just flooding rapidly we're very heavy after well off the pumps can handle it you better get a bucket brigade working caisson are you coming Anderson rack you're building up start but uses Chuck Connors help check so you and your ideas what you're doing in the book either you're still here uh I just want to tell you the gyro comes as acting erratic so you really want to worry start thinking about that she'll Lots in the superstructure that's a dud cap antha there's no way of telling how long it's gonna stay one funny bit they keep changing to fit players but the star don't even get a rest what are you trying to do push me into this got the leak in the motor room stop sir I'm scoring full blast bucket brigade working anyway 200 feet theoretically enough to crush the hull I never did like theory 210 feet gonna be alright she's inching back up still stern heavies are one miracle at a time we're gonna take a look at the men together taking do anything for you captain just wanted the men to know there's nothing to be concerned about we'll be up on the surface soon nothing it ought to be upset about you're not upset are you sir well putting it this way captain I'm not upset but this is the wildest place to try and dig a foxhole China is definitely okay captain pumps are getting better control things are looking up who's kidding who are they shelling the superstructure may never go or go any minute I can't gamble with someone he meant aboard it's got to be disarmed maybe the Marines carry an Elmo expression hope I checked how about our Co I checked too probably says this is a kid named Landon Johnny Landon Gunner's Mate knows the stuff I can't order this it's a volunteer job it spoil volunteer all you have to say is someone can do it better minutes after the Nautilus broke surface the delicate job of disarming the shell in the superstructure was begun there was only one way to reach it just as there was but a single way to disarm it all captain Irvin could lend now as encouragement enormous and every life of order were in the hands of a young boy [Music] right yes [Music] [Music] sorry take your time kill me [Music] moving side steady ready [Music] [Music] good fortune captain I don't even want this for a souvenir like a guy who's got problems instead of a hero thinking look at that thing with a shelf I wasn't a guy aboard who didn't seem proud of me who didn't make a fuss somebody else had done it instead of me I'd have been jealous what's wrong with me Laura took more guts admit that than it did to disarm that shelf there's nothing wrong with you Johnny just take some guys a little longer to grow up that self I think you just took the keys out of that problem - less than 24 hours later the Nautilus lay off its destination the island of Uffa mana but even now a job was not over she was to remain in the area should the Marines need additional food ammunition or any other kind of help [Music] we're on the boat's captain they're good men they've got some very good men - I had to refuse a - wanted to go ashore and fight alongside the Marines for two days those aboard the Nautilus waited two anxious days without word from the Marines and then contact was made in a request the Nautilus could be of inestimable help upon barding with a deck guns would she help she helped and the accuracy of the fire cream to pin down Marines and allowed them to move ahead to get on with the job that come so far to do that night two wounded men were brought back to the Nautilus blue Landon was one of them stop worrying we sure trying to stay with it hunger I've even come this far for nothing I'm gonna make it no I know I'm trying to look at me things will work out Johnny how's it coming Landon I was just telling him I'll make it they want to make sure of it located a hospital ship in the area and we're heading for it it'll really take care of it Thanks stay with him Johnny that's an order I said see Jenna things will work out it's just a matter of letting but the real end of the Nautilus story came later after the Nautilus had returned to a base at Pearl Harbor the scene was the Royal Hawaiian hotel we're fighting sub marinas were given two-week rest periods before being sent back to battle this time the procedure was slightly varied hi I think Kevin heard we had a slight fuss in the hotel last night what happened well he got us quite a crew I think of those Marines went the whole patrol with us or just as in title of luxury as they are I got to admit I go along with him so they tried to check a third of Menace crewmen how'd they do that we only had so many room get this a third of the crew went out the Marine Barracks to live in their place Ellie like that what do you know they deserve a rest captain can't we do something I just did spoke to Admiral Lockwood he's having the whole crew moved into the hotel and all the Marines what is it I was just thinking about the poor enemy for sure that's still worried I haven't got a chance not against men like that [Music] I'll be back in a moment with our special guest you've just seen the story of the Nautilus most unusual war patrol now I'd like to introduce the man who is actually her executive officer captain RB Lynch United States Navy wonderful to see you on Zee an amazing story they were pretty amazing men all of them you know at dinner last night you said something about the American fighting man that really impressed me mind repeating it well simply the few of them ever bothered to assess their own value but they sure recognized it fast in the next fellow understanding covers better than anything else I guess sure makes them work together that's about as well as I've ever heard it put and you're certainly not going to get any argument out of me didn't think I would I think I want to thank you for providing us this exciting story and for taking the time to come over in person little pleasure be with us again next week when the silent service brings you another exciting submarine story [Music]