THE SILENT SERVICE "The Tshushima Straits Story" 1957
This is the 35th 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 not about any particular submarine. It is the story US Navy Admiral Charles A. Lockwood. Lockwood was in charge of a group of civilian scientists out to develop an electronic means to detect floating and submerged mines. This would allow US Navy submarines a chance to enter protected harbours and bases.
The work goes on for 2 years before a working example can be tested. The sea trails of the device do not go well, with more failures than successes. At the last minute some faulty wires are discovered to be the cause of the failed tests.
In June 1945, a wolf pack of 9 US submarines is assembled and sent to the dangerous waters of the Tshusima Straits. The wolf pack successfully infiltrates the dense minefields and wreaks havoc on the Japanese merchant fleet. The device is declared a winner.
This is the 35th 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 not about any particular submarine. It is the story US Navy Admiral Charles A. Lockwood. Lockwood was in charge of a group of civilian scientists out to develop an electronic means to detect floating and submerged mines. This would allow US Navy submarines a chance to enter protected harbours and bases.
The work goes on for 2 years before a working example can be tested. The sea trails of the device do not go well, with more failures than successes. At the last minute some faulty wires are discovered to be the cause of the failed tests.
In June 1945, a wolf pack of 9 US submarines is assembled and sent to the dangerous waters of the Tshusima Straits. The wolf pack successfully infiltrates the dense minefields and wreaks havoc on the Japanese merchant fleet. The device is declared a winner.