Victory At Sea - Full Fathom Five - Episode 21

In this episode of Victory at Sea, viewers see how the U.S. Navy's submarines contributed to the Japanese empire's defeat, sinking thousands of tons of commercial ships. Viewers see footage of ship upon ship destroyed. But a price is paid for those whom the U.S. Navy classifies as "did not return".

[@stevefarris9433]

Joined the U. S. Navy in 1955. Served on the old Diesels until 62 and then a fast attack nuke. In 64 was assigned to the SSBN missile boats. The SSBN's were like going to sea in the Hilton. The old diesels had a more close knit group of Submariners, cramped, stinky and could not stay submerged for a long time, had to come up to periscope depth, raise the snorkel and suck in some air for the diesels to recharge the batteries. Would not trade those experiences for anything.

[@billhill3286]

Bill Hill The guy standing up with the Thompson at 24:05 or so is my Dad Joe Hill . Torpedoman on the USS Skate SS-305 . They pulled in 3 POWs for intel , the ship was the Merchantman Hatzon Maru , Sea of Japan , 1945 , Operation Barny . Those Sub boys kicked ass , God Bless our Veterans & our active duty .

[@mbriggs4627]

He's on the bow at the ready

[@raybin6873]

~75 days out at sea....living inside those small submarines..I couldn't handle that...whew! But...as repeatedly said in the film...they were the "arsenal of democracy to defeat fascism." 🇺🇸

[@SurferJoe46]

I looked for my dad as this was where Google sent me with the Crew Roster from his sub - The Trumpetfish. He was COB/TMC and retired from subs in 1959 (IIRC) off The Redfin before the nucs got big and replaced the diesel-electric boats. I went through that escape tower with my sister when my dad was an instructor at the Submarine School in New London. I walked on those same streets and climbed all over the Japanese sub on the lawn. My dad died on Aug 11th, 2009 in Hemet, CA - funny enough on the same day, ten years earlier in '99 when I got married. I wish I knew him better than I did.

[@TheDustysix]

As a young lad in the 60's I'd hear this intro tune and be thrilled. And now.....

[@jonathanhill4892]

I know what you mean. I didn't know what this series was until I watched and heard the intro - then it all came back to me!

[@rogerdane3253]

A time, sacrifices of Americans for the world and themselves, so much forgotten and so much of the freedoms sliding away. The Silent Service, the old man served on the Pipefish for four or five war patrols. Volunteered out of the Atlantic thru V12 and then the Pacific. Truly the Greatest Generation but almost completely gone. And Victory at Sea, what a dedication to that generation and the world's efforts to rid itself of dark oppression. The Silent Service had the highest per capita death toll of our wartime services, even higher than the 8th Air Force or the USMC in the Pacific (and not at all dismissing all those who passed in that violent clash of good vs evil!) . I took my aged Dad onto the Pompano in S.F. which was the sister boat to his Pipefish. Was amazing watching him on that boat, like returning home for a moment. Dad requested 'burial at sea' and was given a full honors burial off the USS Norfolk in the N. Atlantic. Thanks for the presentation.

[@harrisonblake1978]

watched these as a kid, now rewatching them as an old man (66). Road a Baltimore hull to Vietnam (USS Chicago CG11), and spent my time on a boat USS John Marshall SSN-611 (81 - 84), don't regret my time in the service. Should still be required viewing in schools today!

[@richardnajjar2202]

I watched these too back in the early to mid-60s when we were growing up. I could swear that there were excerpts from some of these episodes shown to us as we sat in class at Recruit Training Command - Orlando back in 1975.

[@JoeInCT418]

Harrison My Dad taught me about WW2 by watching VAS together, and he would explain, using a metal globe I bought for grade school, where the battle we were watching took place. He showed me where he was sent after Engineer Training at Ft Belvoir in Virginia: Iceland. The coldest place on earth, he said. But they had to fix up the few airfields the Icelanders had, and they also built several new ones, away from the civilian population centers. He told me how the first cement they put down for the heavy bombers would not dry in the cold weather; they had to cover it to keep the heat in the cement so it would cure. It would still crack in the cold, however. So they kept experimenting, trying to mix in chemicals to let the concrete cure in the cold weather. They had some success, but they could never get it perfect. He was in Iceland from July 1942 until may 1944 when he was transferred to England, and they filled in the open spots in the Aviation Engineer Battalions. He hit Omaha on D+1, Fox Red. Bodies were still floating in the water. He blew breakfast as they came up to the beach in their LCVPs. They had to use their Garands to push the bodies away from the boat so they could land. After they landed, they had to clean and oil their rifles so they would not rust. His Bn (820th) built the first Allied airfield in Europe on top of the hill at Omaha: A-2. They had to move a lot of earth and put down Marston Mats; the dozer drivers needed to have a GI riding shotgun with his Garand to keep snipers under control. Eventually they had welders make armored boxes so the drivers had some cover from snipers. It was a crazy time. They took sniper casualties, and some died. They could not smoke at night for about a week; that made you a target. His unit went with the 1st Army and supported the 9th TAC; built or repaired Luftwaffe airfields for the P-47s for CAS. Maintained the fields and provided defensive support against snipers; they also had to sometimes help the AAF guys to service the P-47s (load up the ammo for the 8 x 50 cal BMGs, etc). If a Wing was there, that was 3 squadrons, or 48 planes. 48 planes times 8 guns per plane came to a lot of ammo for the P-47s. The AAF guys handled the bombs, later the rockets, and also did the refueling.

[@sidbusch1562]

spent time on the John Marshall in the late 70's

[@stinker43]

Every time I watch any WWII film, I bring up Google Earth. I wish there was a way to bring up how the locales looked in WWII rather than now or only the last few years.

[@marvinhueske3203]

Nothing better than watching Victory at Sea while swaying to and fro while underway on a submarine. 32 years of Silent Service.

[@1212mill]

Thank you for your service.

[@ragandoil]

yuo were on our side , not so silent , from murmansk . as mr sosus

[@ragandoil]

i also spent 20 years in the sevice , the army in the cold war , many thanks mate

[@53bigmikejones]

Take her down, Take her deep, Make your depth, 58 feet. USS Clamagore, SS343. DBF

[@TheDustysix]

RIP RMCM Austin. Bill.

[@dangeradio1600]

I get a charge out of the narration... "where east meets west and west meets east"... Priceless.

[@richardhesse4494]

I WATCHED THIS SERIES SUNDAY AFTERNOONS AS A CHILD NEVER THINKING THAT 73 MILLION DIED IN THE WAR AND COUNTLESS MORE RECEIVED WOUNDS BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL THAT THEY NEVER RECOVERED FROM.

[@VinnyDaQ]

My dad served on U.S.S. Grouper (SS/SSK - 214) from 1949 - 1954. I served on U.S.S. New York City (SSN - 696). He always kids me for serving on a "Hilton Hotel" sub instead of a REAL sub. : )

[@robertyoung3992]

Vinny its written just USS

[@locutys]

I am going to get off my soapbox now and enjoy this wonderful old documentary series. Richard Rogers score is wonderful to listen to and it is fascinating for a post war baby-boomer like myself to see all of these wonderful old vessels. A deep thank you goes to the "greatest generation" for all you sacrificed in order to give me a free future in this great nation. Also, forgive my spelling errors. Billy had me so vexed that I didn't proof read as I should have! Thanks for posting this video!

[@tomsavage7279WalteroftheSea]

I like the score and am a little surprised by others who have slated it. All opinions valid-i guess what was thought good at time of making, is thought not so good by people now. 👍

[@ConvairDart106]

What spelling errors? I don't see any!

[@Og-Judy]

I have seen various condescending comments towards both the the music and the narration. I'm over 70 now. Seems the spoiled younger generations with all the modern electronics are clueless to what was at stake in the Pacific battles against Japan and Atlantic battles against Germany during WWII . When this program was produced in 1952-1953 television was something NEW. TV sets were large boxes with one large speaker many vacuum tubes and a cathode rayvtube with often a small viewing area on just black and white images. Programs used symphony orchestras to record music. No different here. They needed narrators for the old newsreels recorded during the war because they had no voice recording ability. During the 30s and 40s when men were off to war, at home, people sat on front of a RADIO to listen to the news and various programs. People would go see movies where these newsreels played before the regular show played. It was the only way people could "see" what was happening during the war.. first television broadcast attempts were made in New York City and a few other areas of the us in the 1920s and1930s but signals wer grainyv and nd ghost images at best. Most people didn't have a way to view the signals. TV was somethibg "new fangled" and waa showcased in the 1939 worlds fair and production of TV sets waa limited. All TV production was halted as the US was pushed into war. . It was post war knowledge of radar and aircraft communication that changed TV reception for the better in the late 1940s early 1950s My goodness. In 1952 when NBC produced this documentary, many homes still didn't have a TV set. Post war suburbs sprung up in metropolitan areas of large US cities. Large antennas were often needed just to bring in the 3 major Networks. Who remembers the stations signing off after the late news with the National Anthem and then the dang "test pattern" was all you saw along with static noise until the next morning when the station again went "on air" with the morning news? 😛 young people today will never understand.

[@SurferJoe46]

@@Og-Judy The next morning eating breakfast and getting ready to go to school - it was Dave Garroway with the Today Show --- and J Fred Muggs. ... all in stunning black and white on our 5" Dumont TV.

[@terryhughes3887]

This is the greatest TV series ever produced. Its history indicates it was not genius. Sarnoff's son's roommate at Harvard suggested it, NBC cadre almost rebelled since was not theatre production, would cost too much, bankrupt NBC. Sarnoff went ahead and still the most residuals ever.

[@user-gd7rw4qm3k]

I am72. Victory at sea is where I learned my WW2 history from.

[@lauracwhitney]

Some years back, I heard that the submariners who did not return, were referred to as "Still On Patrol". I find that so moving.

[@spreadeagled5654]

Laura Whitney , Also called, “Eternal Patrol.”

[@lauracwhitney]

@@spreadeagled5654 Thank you. I appreciate any information you can share.

[@model-man7802]

Yes that's true.

[@inlandwhaler13]

Yep. Eternal patrol.

[@richardangelini7296]

That is true

[@johncollins9592]

16 0f these wonderful boats are still preserved

[@johncollins9592]

I recently visited USS Cobia at Maniwitoc wisconsin and USS Pampanito at San Francisco

[@granskare]

and so did I in Wisconsin :)

[@43cpy]

All I can remember is that it was produced by NBC. I had two copies but do to moving and old age, I have lost both. Of all the World War II videos that I have had over the years, the lost of the 2 hour Victory at Sea with Alexander Scourby as the narrator hurts me the most.

[@madprofessor5966]

I bought my copy on DVD from Amazon. If they don't sell it, it never existed.

[@lenshilt]

I used to watch it intensely as a kid. Still one of my favorites of all time. But I believe that Leonard Graves was the narrator of all of them. Uh, oops, you are right. The 2 hr. one was Alexander Scourby. I gotta look for that one.

[@rayopezzo4052]

The USS Silversides sub can be viewed at Muskegon Michigan.

[@JedediahSmith1]

There are still 16 of these great fleet class submarines preserved across the country. I've visited three USS Drum, SS-228 in Mobile, Alabama, USS Becuna in Philadelphia, and USS Cavalla, SS-266 in Galveston, Texas, who sank the Japanese carrier IJS Shokaku (one of the Pearl Harbor raiders) on her maiden voyage as a rookie submarine in June of 1944.

[@robertyoung3992]

the USS Croaker SS-246 Buffalo,NY

[@charlessalmans4496]

At the time of Pearl Harbor, the US had 73 submarines. By war's end, it had 228. Building these vessels was a remarkable achievement, but as you watch this episode the most extraordinary achievement in my opinion was the ability of the US Navy to train the number of submariners (over a period of little more than three years) to support such a major increase in the submarine fleet. As this episode suggests, being a submariner required not only courage and the ability to live in difficult conditions, but also to learn to operate a complex vessel in which the mistake of any one member of a crew could take the life of all of one's shipmates. Our torpedoes were ineffective due to the fact that strict budget limits in the 1930s meant that no "real world" tests were conducted to discover that "our torpedoes don't work" and it wasn't until September 1943 (almost two years after Pearl Harbor) that the US Navy had reliable torpedoes. By contrast, the US Navy did have foresight to design long-range submarines which had air conditioning (German U-boats did not) and an effective distillation system for drinking water (important in the tropics). Pre-war U.S. Navy doctrine-like that of all major navies-specified the main role of submarines was to support the surface fleet by conducting reconnaissance and attacking large enemy warships. The good thing was that the submarines were designed to be fast in order to keep up with the fleet. The US was somewhat slow in realizing the importance of starving Japan and its Pacific military garrisons by targeting its merchant shipping. But despite their dependence as an island nation, the Japanese never considered this threat in their naval planning. They never developed merchant fleet escorts along the lines of those of the British, Canadian and American navies in protecting the convoys of the North Atlantic. In 1943, Congressman Andrew May, who then headed the House Military Affairs Committee, revealed in a press conference that that American submarines had a high survival rate because the Japanese depth charges were set to explode at too shallow a depth. Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, commander of the U.S. submarine fleet in the Pacific, later estimated that May's security breach cost the United States Navy as many as ten submarines and 800 crewmen killed in action, stating "I hear Congressman May said the (Japanese) depth charges are not set deep enough. He would be pleased to know (they) set them deeper now." In the immediate postwar period, Congressman May was convicted and sent to prison for taking bribes to award munitions contracts. One of the contractors to which May steered business produced mortar shells with defective fuzes that were said to have cost the lives of 38 American soldiers. May was an altogether bad guy. Overall I admire President Harry Truman and his tough decision to use the atomic bomb, his willingness to challenge Soviet expansion, etc. But, inexplicably, he pardoned May in 1952 due to May's prominence in the Democratic Party.

[@charlessalmans4496]

+Winston Smith You are right, what an extraordinary advance in technology, which you help put in context by the fact that your great grandfather fought at the time of the construction of the HL Hunley. My son is a nuclear engineer working on propulsion systems for US Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. He can't tell me anything about what he is doing, though! I gather the next class of attack submarine is on the drawing boards to replace the Virginia-class subs but I know that only from what is in the public domain, not from anything he has told me. So the advances in submarine technology continue and may the US Navy lead the way.

[@charlessalmans4496]

+Winston Smith I'll have to drop down to Galveston to see the Cavalla the next time I am in Houston. I live in Connecticut and am embarrassed to say that I have never been to Groton to see the Nautilus and the sub museum, and my sister-in-law and family live in New London, directly across the river! It's always on my "to do" list" and ironically we end up spending "family time" and don't get over there. Groton is an active sub base and although I have never seen this sight, my relatives have a house on the River Thames and tell me that as one of the nuclear subs sails down the river, a number of sailors are on the deck. They know once the sub gets into deep water, it will submerge and this is their last chance for fresh air and sunshine for months. I have seen the Growler at the Intrepid Museum in New York City, the Requin in Pittsburgh where a son lives, and the German submarine at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. All very interesting and it's incredible men were able to survive in such quarters for long missions.

[@charlessalmans4496]

+John Collins One of my sons is a student at the University of Chicago and so I had a chance to visit the U-505 once again last fall. My father, in 1942 a recent graduate of Kansas State, volunteered to be a "shake and bake" Naval officer. The family joke was that he volunteered never having seen the ocean (or any body of water where you couldn't see the other side, for that matter). He never experienced combat, which was just fine with him, but of course those in service went where the Navy sent them and had no choice in whether they found themselves in a dangerous spot. As with all wars, there are a lot of servicemen and women who support those at the "tip of the spear". The submariners, who volunteer for the duty, are a different breed, of course, and deserving of special respect.

[@charlessalmans4496]

Your father's family sound like my father-in-law's family in Connecticut. There were four boys and a girl, all of whom went into the services during World War II. One brother joined the Royal Canadian Air Force before the US entered the war, became a pilot of a Mosquito bomber, used in "special missions". Sadly, his plane went down shortly after D-Day and he lost his life. My father in law joined right after Pearl Harbor and was among the first troops sent to the Pacific, in his case New Guinea. It was a very long voyage as a slow-moving troopship zig-zagged out. He fought in New Guinea and the Philippines. To the end of his life, his back bore the scars of some jungle skin disease. The family joke was that he spent more of his time at sea than his brother who became an officer and was lucky enough to be on the staff of an Admiral who flew from place to place in the Pacific. A third brother was in the merchant marine and served on gasoline tankers crossing the North Atlantic. It was very dangerous because these tankers tended to explode with the loss of all hands on board if they were torpedoed. His sister was a WAC although I'm not sure of her specific wartime role. This was an amazing generation.

[@JoeInCT418]

Mr Salmans One thing has not changed: the influence of politics in making it harder and more dangerous for our service men and women to do their jobs. He (May) should have been shot.

[@granskare]

Submarines were also built in Wisconsin.

[@trynnallen]

The sideways launch was at Manitowoc, at the Manitowoc Boat Building Co. Described as the most inglorious way to launch a warship...ever.

[@1101millie97]

You really have to wonder how the creators of this series filmed it, and how complex it might have been, especially when television was still so new.

[@scottparis6355]

Most of the film is from military cameramen; 16mm black and white, no sound. The job of the Victory at Sea authors was to splice together an hour long program from 2 minute slivers of film, shot 10 years before. Which is why you will occasionally see 1942 model aircraft, for instance, in a segment that's about 1945, and vice versa. They're not mistakes; the filmmakers could only use what they had.

[@papabear2]

@@scottparis6355 doing research I found that the Leyte Gulf Footage of the “jeep” escort carriers fighting back with Wildcats but were the FM2 upgrade models that were still in production at the end.

[@captainobvious9233]

One small problem I had with this episode - At 25:03 the narrator says, "52 Submarines will never return, their epitaph - overdue presumed lost, but for those who returned, those who survived, those whose contribution to victory is second to none, their citation - Well Done." They are sending the message that the submarines that were lost didn't contribute anything to the war and only the ones that survived got honors.

[@kpd3308]

It is absolutely obvious that that was in no way the narrator's intention. Come on now.

[@albertmacias1007]

Leonard Graves is the better narrator!

[@pressureworks]

14:23 Japanese shipping is the immediate target, this guy in his "ship" had better beware !

[@NancySubsister]

U.S. Boats and submariners are still our most deadly, deterrent weapons. With respect to our, the world's submariners. When one goes down, they all do.

[@jrident]

This is IT.

[@brucechamberlin9666]

Technically terrific upload. ESP audio. Thx

[@jasonsaville2262]

How about this great submarine war??? This helped us a lot ❤️💕! So what about the Silent Hunter 4 Wolves Of The Pacific?

[@ronb37]

This episode makes me wanna go buy a 1:72 gato submarine

[@markteaney8381]

I served USS Mg. Vallejo SSBN 658 1977 to 1980 as a sonar tech. Loved every patrol. Came close to the balls these guys had , I said close lol.

[@kevinjohnson-lf3kj]

USS Harder just found 3000 Ft deep after 80 Years..Skipper CMOH..Crew P U C. Rest in Peace

[@1101millie97]

I'm waiting to see the young Jimmy Carter.....

[@scottparis6355]

Too young for this war. His sub was a nuke. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1946, began officer training for submarine duty in 1948.

[@KickingBirdJr]

Never went to sub school. Went straight to the USS Patrick Henry from ET school. Five war patrols and two global transits. Got my fish after two patrols.

[@johnemerson1363]

Dolphin.

[@lordscrewtape2897]

" knock it off... prepare to surface" ... that's the Chief ( Chief Petty officer) saying that...and by God you better listen...

[@jerrylagesse9046]

Fair winds n followin seas brothers

[@2view428]

USS Cod , Cleveland, Ohio in Lake Erie

[@billhahn4113]

At 3:00 that’s postwar footage. The second man to come aboard is wearing postwar E-2 insignia

[@43cpy]

This is great, but try the 2 hour version narrated by Alexander Scourby. The combination of his narrative and the excellant musical score is something all World War II buffs should experience. Leonard Graves is an adequate narrator, but believe me he doesn't move your emotions as Scourby does. If anyone can find the 2 hour version, please post it.

[@robertstrovink2532]

I could never do that duty....not for me I would crack up...

[@2view23]

My favorite film of World War 2. This would have you think there where no black sailors in US Navy even in the silent service. there was very few with the hard task. Things didn't get better until President Harry Truman and Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. President the broke racial barrier

[@richardnajjar2202]

+Winston Smith There were a lot of black sailors during World War II. Some were still in the Navy when I served and they would retire as senior NCOs and warrant officers. Granted, a lot of Navy rates were closed to blacks during the war, but unlike the Army, different races were not segregated in the Navy __ at least not aboard ship or at forward bases. Even stewards, cooks, bakers and other service rates went to battle stations when their ship closed with the enemy. In fact, most anti-aircraft gun crews manning the 20mm and 40mm anti-aircraft guns were those same stewards, cooks, bakers and non-rated personnel. A gunners mate generally served as the gun captain at each 40mm quad mount. The other designated gunners mates generally manned the bigger 5-inch guns and other big guns that required their specialized training. Other operational posts for the service rates and non-rated personnel included important tasks like topside lookouts, sound powered phone personnel, helmsman and other control room personnel, and damage control personnel. When World War II was over, many black sailors stayed over and made the Navy a career. Many or most moved into other rates, including a lot of new rates that did not exist during the war.

[@2view23]

Richard Najjar Thanks.

[@2view23]

Richard Najjar Thanks for telling the story of all US Navy Personnel .all those skills had to be used on and after Dec 7 1941

[@R.U.1.2.]

In this interesting series, it's a shame the background music has to be SOO loud, almost drowning out the commentary. But that was over seventy years ago when this was made, so I guess there's no use complaining

[@theartificialsociety3373]

The modern nuclear submarine is probably the most extraordinary device mankind has created. But have torpedoes become too good now too?

[@shaunmcclory8117]

I really want to watch this but only a few min in and the 'music' is unbearable🙉

[@JedediahSmith1]

USS Razorback has been added to the list

[@dlb3512]

The Razorback has been repatriated from Turkey and now resides on the Arkansas river in Little Rock Arkansas.

[@johnwood2788]

Watch silent service series

[@Rep0007]

Is there a disco remix of that theme song? : )

[@Redemptorchapter]

Love a ceremony...still on patrol... Taiwan Straits...

[@johnemerson1363]

Tang.

[@georgehare2915]

japanese? best by far, the amazing, LANCER torpedo usa reading there codes surely helped., unarmoured zero fighters huge miscalculation .

[@lightbox617]

May I ask everyone to remember that this is"post war" materiel? Should I be sorry that this is the victors celebrating the victory?

[@matismf]

With Mark 14 torpedoes, submarines will not sink ANYTHING!

[@2000toddowen]

Billy.. That song by that Billy Joe guy, about a town full of kids who stay cooped up in their homes all day and night with nothing to do but whack off and wrap their cold sore covered lips around a bong and inhale, while their biggest decision of the day is: "which hand do I stroke myself with? The one I stuff my face with Doritos? Or my precious joystick/game controller/money hand?" Yes Billy....Billy Joe says "This one's for you." Just imagine Billy Joe holding your hand, like John Wayne walking off to the sunset with the little Viet Namese boy at the end of "The Green Berets". Only it's Billy Joe at the end of "The Green Days" holding your crank while telling you- "You're what this war is all about, Billy" at the end of the movie.

[@lawdog490]

I PICKED UP AN INTERESTING BOOK. IT LISTED EVERY SUBMARINE THE NAVY HAD SINCE THE FIRST THROUGH THE END OF WW2. IT GAVE EACH ONES FATE, EITHER FINISHING THE WAR INTACT OR LOST IN ACTION. AFTER WW2 WE GAVE ALOT OF SUBS TO FRIENDLY NATIONS. THEN THERE WERE THE ONES SCRAPPED, OR WORSE, USED AS TARGET PRACTICE. CALL ME OLD FASHIONED, PATRIOTIC OR WHATEVER, BUT BEING THE ONE LINING UP A PIECE OF HISTORY AND BEING THE ONE TO DESTROY WHAT OUR ENEMIES COULND'T....NOT RIGHT.

[@dougkennedy2393]

Sports illustrated bathing suit

[@locutys]

I agree with jettrink60, Billy's type of left-wing drivel has been around forever and gets very tiresome to put up with. What is most annoying about Billy is that he is too myopic to realize that the men we are watching in this marvelous old NBC series fought and died so can have the right to freely spout his warped views of America. Just for once, instead of criticizing the people who defended that right for him, could he not just keep his opinions to himself and say "thank you" for their deeds