THE SILENT SERVICE "The Nautilus Story" 1957
This is the 32nd episode of the U.S. war series, "The Silent Service". The series was about the exploits of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Each episode is a stand-alone tale of the actions of a particular submarine. Most of the stories are about actions against the Japanese Navy and merchant fleet in the Pacific. There is also the odd tale from the Korean conflict. The series ran for 78 episodes during 1957 and 1958. The stories were all based on actual events. Some pretty good attention to detail here with the U.S Navy allowing filming on several WW 2 era Gato class subs.
Each episode started and ended with retired Real Admiral Thomas M. Dykers giving a breakdown of the action. Dykers became a writer, producer and technical adviser after leaving the service. He worked on films such as, TORPEDO ALLEY, FLAT TOP, THE FROGMEN, HELL AND HIGH WATER and SUBMARINE COMMAND.
This episode is about the U.S.S. "Nautilus". It is Nov 1943 and the "Nautilus" is patrolling off Tarawa. The submarine, one of the large V class subs built in the 1920's, is carrying about 50 US Marines. They are transporting the Marines to Abemama Atoll. The Marines are to land and secure the small atoll.
Before the "Nautilus" can complete its mission, it has a spot of trouble. Off of Tarawa, the American destroyer, USS "Ringgold" mistakes the submarine for one under the Japanese flag. The destroyer puts a round through the conning tower. The submarine crash dives and goes deep. They later surface and find that the round was a dud and is still on deck.
One of the gunner's mates disarms the shell and tosses it overboard. After some quick repairs, the "Nautilus" continues on to Abemama Atoll to disgorge the Marines. The Marines land and do battle with the small Japanese garrison. The Marines whistle up the submarine and ask for a few rounds to be delivered by the submarine's deck gun. The Japanese are quickly subdued and the Marines re-board the "Nautilus".
The cast includes, Ray Stricklyn, Ross Elliott, Simon Scott, Jimmy Hayes and Tom (Billy Jack) Laughlin.
The "Nautilus" performed 14 wartime combat patrols sinking at least 8 Japanese vessels and damaging several more. The submarine was at the Battle of Midway and fired four torpedoes at one of the Japanese carriers which all missed. The "Nautilus" was involved in the famous raid on Makin Island by the US Marine unit known as Carlson's Raiders. The submarine was decommissioned in June 1945 and sold for scrap in Nov of that year.
This is the 32nd episode of the U.S. war series, "The Silent Service". The series was about the exploits of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Each episode is a stand-alone tale of the actions of a particular submarine. Most of the stories are about actions against the Japanese Navy and merchant fleet in the Pacific. There is also the odd tale from the Korean conflict. The series ran for 78 episodes during 1957 and 1958. The stories were all based on actual events. Some pretty good attention to detail here with the U.S Navy allowing filming on several WW 2 era Gato class subs.
Each episode started and ended with retired Real Admiral Thomas M. Dykers giving a breakdown of the action. Dykers became a writer, producer and technical adviser after leaving the service. He worked on films such as, TORPEDO ALLEY, FLAT TOP, THE FROGMEN, HELL AND HIGH WATER and SUBMARINE COMMAND.
This episode is about the U.S.S. "Nautilus". It is Nov 1943 and the "Nautilus" is patrolling off Tarawa. The submarine, one of the large V class subs built in the 1920's, is carrying about 50 US Marines. They are transporting the Marines to Abemama Atoll. The Marines are to land and secure the small atoll.
Before the "Nautilus" can complete its mission, it has a spot of trouble. Off of Tarawa, the American destroyer, USS "Ringgold" mistakes the submarine for one under the Japanese flag. The destroyer puts a round through the conning tower. The submarine crash dives and goes deep. They later surface and find that the round was a dud and is still on deck.
One of the gunner's mates disarms the shell and tosses it overboard. After some quick repairs, the "Nautilus" continues on to Abemama Atoll to disgorge the Marines. The Marines land and do battle with the small Japanese garrison. The Marines whistle up the submarine and ask for a few rounds to be delivered by the submarine's deck gun. The Japanese are quickly subdued and the Marines re-board the "Nautilus".
The cast includes, Ray Stricklyn, Ross Elliott, Simon Scott, Jimmy Hayes and Tom (Billy Jack) Laughlin.
The "Nautilus" performed 14 wartime combat patrols sinking at least 8 Japanese vessels and damaging several more. The submarine was at the Battle of Midway and fired four torpedoes at one of the Japanese carriers which all missed. The "Nautilus" was involved in the famous raid on Makin Island by the US Marine unit known as Carlson's Raiders. The submarine was decommissioned in June 1945 and sold for scrap in Nov of that year.
