SILENT SERVICE TV SHOW OPERATION SEADRAGON USS SEADRAGON SUBMARINE 83074

“Operation Seadragon” is a 1958 black-and-white episode of the docudrama “The Silent Service” - about the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. The were based on fact and the realism was heightened by actual use of combat footage from the files of the Navy. The stories were varied between the South Pacific during World War II and the Korean War. The series was the brainchild of Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers, who retired from the Navy in 1949 after 22 years service and introduces this episode.
This episode stars Richard Deacon, James McCallion, Mark Tapscott, Paul Carr, Wally Richard, David Whorf, Baynes Barron and Leonard A. Mazzola.
The episode is set in December 1942 aboard the USS Seadragon (SS-194) and the viewer is given a brief history of the vessel and how it came under attack by Japanese depth charges. Running out of air and with a Japanese sub trailing them, the captain gives the order to surface at mark 07:45 and to prepare to fire. On the surface and firing torpedoes at a Japanese vessel at mark 09:45 and take fire in return but successful elude the enemy. At mark 13:05, some of the officers question why their skipper didn’t stay and fight rather than turn from the battle, only to learn at mark 14:00 of his plan to take the sub into Rabaul Harbor in Papua New Guinea, where the Japanese have a naval installation and have based their subs. “No doggone Japanese sub is going to shoot at my boat and get away with it!” the skipper tells his men.
After locating and firing on the sub at mark 17:15 the Seadragon falls under attack from an enemy bomber, jamming a live torpedo in her firing tube. Dropping to 150 feet the captain realizes they can’t surface and they can’t run because the vibration may detonate the torpedo, so he decides to use a blast of air to jettison it from the tube. The idea was successful (mark 22:23) and though the blast damaged the sub the crew was able to save themselves and the ship.
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[@kensod6034]

My uncle Charles was a commander in the Navy...a W.W.2 double ace...on the Hornet... Than bull' staff in the Korean war... I love these show's.. God bless our veterans...

[@peterjeffery8495]

What a gem! I would have loved this show as a kid...about 50 years ago. Thanks for dredging it up.

[@raygiordano1045]

This series is great. It amazes me just how resourceful the USN captains and crews were in so many ways above and beyond the already dangerous job of sailing around shooting torpedoes at ships.

[@jeremybear573]

Ray Giordano Touchè

[@jamesmueller1921]

watched this and other related shows, as a little kid...thanks for the up-load...50# t.v.siting on little t.v. tray,,, t.v. dinners done in oven,,,black & white t.v. films,,,and party line telephone service,, President Trump bring America back to number one, please...

[@johnrogan9420]

Lol...trump is a russian spy!

[@sqracing]

11.02 half degree RIGHT.. which way is RIGHT on a boat ?... and he is facing backwards.. hmmmm

[@paul-andrelarose3389]

The courage of those who fought for our freedoms is absolutely overwhelming and humbling. What a contrast with today's clueless population totally devoid of moral values and governed by political opportunists, no matter what the long term social cost may be! There was no woke “culture” then. 2021/08/29. Ontario. Canada.

[@johnrogan9420]

Shooting the stuck torpedo was one option...another sub pulled the torpedo back into the firing area and disarmed it with a paperclip...a close call either way...thinking that many subs sank due to a fish getting stuck in the tube and exploding.

[@CAROLDDISCOVER-FINDER2525]

I want of him I said damn the torpedo!?

[@johnrogan9420]

No one wanted to surrender...lol...sure!

[@johnrogan9420]

Sea Dragon