America's Sneakiest Sea Weapon That Totally Fooled the Enemy - Hit ‘Em Harder

Commander Samuel Dealey cautiously guides his Gato-class submarine USS Harder through the tropical night along the surface of the Sibutu Passage, the treacherous waters that separate Borneo from the Philippines. It is June 6, 1944, and the area is infamously rife with Japanese destroyers. But Harder isn’t deterred; on the contrary, that’s why she’s here. Along with several transport and cargo ships, she already has one destroyer under her belt, and she’s on the hunt for more.
Suddenly, a lookout's voice cuts through the salt-laden air to announce the presence of an enemy convoy on the horizon. On Dealey’s orders, Harder surges forward, but luck isn't on their side. As the moon bathes the sea in silver light, the submarine is exposed. One of the destroyers, alerted to the danger, wheels around, charging straight for them. Harder plunges beneath the waves, but the enemy ship continues bearing down on her position.
Through the periscope, Dealey watches the destroyer grow larger by the second. It’s now or never. Three torpedoes erupt from Harder's tubes, streaking through the water towards their target. Suddenly, two massive explosions rock the sea. Through the periscope, Dealey watches in awe as the destroyer, now identified as Minazuki, breaks in half and slips beneath the waves in mere minutes.
There’s no time to celebrate - the second destroyer is already moving in, hell-bent on avenging Minazuki. Harder has drawn first blood, but the battle is far from over…

[@AndrewTryon]

Ty, I've known about the Harder since I was a kid, she always seemed over-shadowed by other subs. It is nice to see her get the recognition she deserves

[@bradberntson3369]

My father's boyhood friend Niel Snyder was aboard the Harder. I grew up hearing about her exploits from a young age. Later I located a plaque with Niels name in Memory Grove a small park in Salt Lake City dedicated to veterans.

[@abcde_fz]

Excellent. Those sailors gave their all, but not until after they gave hell to the enemy.

[@rg20322]

Dang - this sub was a true hunter and especially going after the feared destroyers! Can't say enough about the men that fought in these subs and their bravery.

[@christophercook723]

@@rg20322 what does Dang mean in English?

[@freethinkingamerican80]

Another excellent video, much appreciated.

[@auggies]

Her remains had been found of late. She's still out there on eternal patrol. Rest in peace to all who sacrificed for humanity.

[@drmarkintexas-400]

🏆🎖️⭐💪🙏 Thank you for sharing

[@johndyson4109]

I've always liked the GATO class of subs.. The Americans always had the best subs in the world after WWI.... The Harder was one hell of a sub. and had one hell of a crew!

[@westpearson6759]

I’ve been thru the Cavalla, Gato Class sub, on Pelican Island at Galveston many times. Gives me a lot of respect for the men who sailed those boats!

[@nightsailor1]

Commander Samuel Dealey = Dealey Plaza in Dallas. Son of a Media mogul, he was a true hero on a ship full of heros.

[@Jbennyho]

Very good video. Thank you. This sub and crew was also covered by the TV series “Hell Below”. I think this video is more detailed.

[@jdsstegman]

This crew had an amazing war record. The whole time i kept thinking to myself that this sounds like a german u boat story from the beginning of the war. With all merchant vessels sunk.

[@jackwebb5917]

I absolutely LOVE your videos, very informative and interesting, but PLEASE for the love of God, please slow down when narrating

[@almirria6753]

Semper Fi to all those on Eternal Patrol

[@JamesBurris340]

Fair weather, and following sea's...

[@stevekay5486]

Very brave men.

[@FDR_progressive_liberal]

I've always been fascinated by the story of the USS Tang. It had a stellar record of sunk Japanese ships but ended its reign when it was sunk by its own errant torpedo. Insult to injury.

[@timothyatherton6324]

That was awesome, thank you

[@jdlives8992]

Elated with an electric ice cream maker. 😊

[@philgiglio7922]

5 gallons of ice cream Was the standard ransom paid for the return of rescued pilots to their carrier. Remember this was the south pacific and it gets bleeding hot. And the AC aboard was there primarily to cool all the electronics on board < vacuum tubes, not today's ICs>. The AC would be turned off for attack runs and silent running. Those boats got hot very quickly

[@LittleFarmer14]

Gotta keep the boys happy

[@MilitarySummaryChannel2024]

*If anyone is interested in the pivotal naval battles around Guadalcanal you should read Neptune's Inferno. It's written well, so it isn't just a blow by blow that has no narrative or context. Those were some of the most important and savage naval battles in the entire war.*

[@pj2123]

Like your video's but can you please either stop the music or cut it's volume? To me it's louder than the narration.

[@Youtubesux2200]

Agreed. To damn loud.

[@davidlaroche4537]

Kāto class. Grǒton, CT.

[@ristube3319]

0:11 June 6, 1944…. Seems familiar

[@grandaddyoe1434]

That "fighter escort" looked a lot like a Lysander . . .

[@neilgillespie7435]

Lose the music

[@safiremorningstar]

Gato class submarine is named for cats in Spanish and it's appropriate when you think about it because a cat can be very subtle and sleek and climb right up on you and that is pretty much what the submarines were supposed to do.

[@philgiglio7922]

IIRC Tawi Tawi was later used as an R&R base for submarines, the facility was named after Comander Dealy

[@goofyiest]

i've taken a submarine through Sibutu. Awesome.

[@billindreboe8630]

Again The music spoils the narration

[@clark7042]

Turn the music down.

[@BradHawthorn12]

Interesting video. Music is too loud.

[@greglux8317]

The launch video was from Manitowoc - they're the only yard that dumped them in sideways.

[@auro1986]

how many days can it stay underwater?

[@JodyMackin-w9g]

One day then it has to surface to charge the batteries

[@16gauge90]

48 hours max, but that would almost complete exhaust both air and batteries.

[@suzannakoizumi8605]

❤❤❤❤

[@henrygottnunne303]

GOD'S Blessings on all the Warriors who have Given All and Those who Sacrificed for us, as well as to All who are so dedicated to creating these historical and technical docs. The 'Darks' Series' are often Inspirational and always Interesting.. Many Thanks to All.

[@kennethhigdon1159]

In local vernacular of Connecticut, Groton isn’t pronounced Growton. It’s pronounced Grahtin.

[@dncarac]

A pink submarine!

[@davidconklin9552]

Music is too loud just when tour voice goes soft.

[@mohdrafimohdamin]

On eternal patrol...

[@donfisher8035]

We should note that these military items and upgrades came barely ten years since the Great Depression. Labor was cheap to get the work force off the government and into government contracts. Every contractor was guaranteed profit. So it was a win no matter investments. Apparently education in technology and physics suffered nil to produce these things. One would think the Japanese didn't suffer either from the Great Depression.

[@mingfanzhang4600]

❤I😊😊

[@mingfanzhang8927]

😊

[@CoNeSol]

your background music is drowning out your voice and making it difficult to listen - please fix it.

[@williamdodge5123]

USS DIXON AS-37 79-81 Point Loma Ca. 81 moored in Diego Garcia Harbor tending Submarines and Surface warcrafraft during the Iranian hostage issue. 82 onboard the USS FORRESTAL FORRESTAL CV-59. Cruised close enough to Diego Garcia Diego Garcia to fly a fallen Shipmate there for transfer Stateside. Average loss of life per six month deployment on carriers was five souls. 82 Mediterranean/ Indian Ocean deployment we lost seven souls. Until Valhalla Brother's. We have the watch.

[@SwanOnChips]

💖✝️🛐

[@bobking252]

What about the SS-316 barbell lost with all hands in the South China sea?????

[@safiremorningstar]

It's ironic that they call the submarine groupings a wolf pack when the submarine the majority of the submarines were in fact called gato meaning cat... I guess even a a cat can lead a wolf pack against an enemy.

[@chrish5791]

Your videos would be far more interesting and informative if the photos being viewed matched what you were describing in the audio at the time. It seems like you haphazardly take anything that mildly resembles what you’re detailing and throw it on the screen like a shiny object to keep your audience entertained. I’m sure it must be difficult to find actual footage of what you’re describing, but a disclaimer stating that the photos often don’t match the narration would go a long way toward mitigating this issue.

[@NormFreilinger]

Get over it….ill bet your a lot of fun to go to the movies with

[@Will-dn9dq]

Crybaby just finding out the history books use stock footage. Cry some more

[@ISISareDemocrats]

Virgins ☝️☝️☝️

[@ISISareDemocrats]

@@Will-dn9dqlol what a loser

[@ISISareDemocrats]

@@NormFreilingerat least people wanna hang out with him. You’re alone in your moms basement

[@davidjonah7402]

It’s only a shame that those men were forced to fight with defective torpedoes because the admiral decided that they couldn’t stay in the shame of admitting that the damn things were a lot of good men lost their lives because of that

[@TheDarkFalcon]

Interesting video, but thumbs downing, title is misleading and click baity.

[@RoiratNews]

I love Dark Seas in general however I have noticed that your use of music is becoming unbearable. I can not distinguish your voice from the noise you think is background. Please tone it down, PLEASE!

[@Kitty-CatDaddy]

Pronounced 'Gay-Tow' class.

[@davidmuse8548]

The background racket renders an excellent tale unintelligible. Thumb down.

[@supergeek1418]

It's GAY toe, not Gah toe !

[@mzimm460]

Gay-tow

[@johnmacdonald6698]

Why can't this guy speak normally?

[@sandville2396]

Just leave

[@raymondj8768]

GAY TOE class !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@christophercook723]

It was the United States OF the Continent of America. America is not a Country 😢😢😢

[@josephcrane5436]

The continent is North America,,,US citizens are referred to as Americans. America is referred to as a country all over the world. 😂

[@christophercook723]

@@josephcrane5436 Ignorance is bliss. The reason its not The United States of North Anerica is because its one Continent both Geographically and Geologicaly, in two main parts and the north's recent attempt to distance itself from the Hispanic Catholic South is pathetic. You lit are referred to as Yanks, as in more educated countries we know what of means and know a full stop has nothing to do with Menstruation. MUSAGA, not the whole Continent .

[@josephcrane5436]

@@christophercook723 South America is a separate continent. If ignorance is bliss then you are indeed a happy fellow.

[@christophercook723]

@@josephcrane5436 ltsca recent ignorant invention to distance the North from the Hispanic South. The Continent is one Geographically and Geologically That is why its not the United States of NORTH America. Google thousands other wise but it is as wrong as simplified Redneck Hillbilly English spoken and written in the USA lts MAGA also but should be MUSAGA in the Untied Sates of Achronims.

[@ISISareDemocrats]

@@christophercook723you’re the definition of ignorant

[@arkzbh]

The only way I can properly follow your videos is by playing in 0.75x. Please consider speaking a little slower

[@flyingdutchmanindustries5877]

I understand how hard it is to come up with matching footage that doesn't cost an arm or leg for usage rights.😱 Your videos are (usually) top notch; best of the best. 👌The editing hours, reviewing raw footage, moving clips (and re-moving, and re-re-moving) can be tedious and brain-burning🥵. But, the work pays off.🫡 Congratulations on JOBS well done! I am just starting out doing videos. I am not sure if you will ever read this👀, but I would like to be able to aquire permission to use other people's footage and audio. I will also be making karaoke training videos. Maybe I can take advantage of fair-use laws? 🤔 I used a bunch of emoji's to (hopefully) get your attention😊 Hope you do well, and never get in trouble 🤙