THE SILENT SERVICE "USS Tang vs Truk"1957
This is the 12th 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 "Tang". It is March 1944 and the "Tang" is patrolling of the large Japanese Naval base at Truk. They have been hunting for prey for 3 weeks with no luck. The U.S. Navy launches a large attack from several aircraft carriers against the Japanese base.
The "Tang" is called in to rescue downed airmen who ditched after the attack. They come up on a light Kingfisher float-plane off one of the American battleships escorting the carriers. The small two man float-plane is riding low in the surf. That is because besides the crew, there are 7 rescued fliers perched on the wings. The "Tang" pulls everyone on board and sinks the damaged float-plane.
Over the next couple of days the "Tang" pulls more fliers out of the drink before heading back to Pearl Harbor. The Captain and crew get a hardy well done from the Navy even though they did not sink any enemy vessels. The use of submarines to rescue downed pilots now became the norm.
The cast is made up by, Jerry Paris, Dan Barton, Otis Greene, Leon Tyler and Damian O'Flynn. Actor Paris would become a successful director of television movies and various series.
The "Tang" would become the most successful U.S. submarine of W.W.2 in terms of ships and tonnage sunk. She was credited with 33 ships totalling 116,454 tons during five patrols. On her fifth patrol, one of her own torpedoes circled back and hit the "Tang", sinking her. Only nine officers and crewmen survived the sinking to be rescued by a Japanese escort. They spent the rest of the conflict in a Japanese P.O.W. camp.
This is the 12th 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 "Tang". It is March 1944 and the "Tang" is patrolling of the large Japanese Naval base at Truk. They have been hunting for prey for 3 weeks with no luck. The U.S. Navy launches a large attack from several aircraft carriers against the Japanese base.
The "Tang" is called in to rescue downed airmen who ditched after the attack. They come up on a light Kingfisher float-plane off one of the American battleships escorting the carriers. The small two man float-plane is riding low in the surf. That is because besides the crew, there are 7 rescued fliers perched on the wings. The "Tang" pulls everyone on board and sinks the damaged float-plane.
Over the next couple of days the "Tang" pulls more fliers out of the drink before heading back to Pearl Harbor. The Captain and crew get a hardy well done from the Navy even though they did not sink any enemy vessels. The use of submarines to rescue downed pilots now became the norm.
The cast is made up by, Jerry Paris, Dan Barton, Otis Greene, Leon Tyler and Damian O'Flynn. Actor Paris would become a successful director of television movies and various series.
The "Tang" would become the most successful U.S. submarine of W.W.2 in terms of ships and tonnage sunk. She was credited with 33 ships totalling 116,454 tons during five patrols. On her fifth patrol, one of her own torpedoes circled back and hit the "Tang", sinking her. Only nine officers and crewmen survived the sinking to be rescued by a Japanese escort. They spent the rest of the conflict in a Japanese P.O.W. camp.