Hell Below (2016–2018): Season 1, Episode 2 - Hitler's Revenge - full transcript
December 1941-following the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor, five Nazi U-boats set out on a secret mission to attack ships off the shores of the United States to thwart the American war effort.
♪
Narrator: BETWEEN THE SHORES
OF OCCUPIED CHINA
AND THE ISLAND OF FORMOSA...
SUBMARINE COMMANDER
DICK O'KANE...
O'Kane: FIRE!
Narrator: ...ATTACKS FIVE
JAPANESE SHIPS, SINKING TWO.
HE DROPS BACK TO PREPARE
A FINAL ASSAULT.
James Scott: THIS LAST TORPEDO.
THIS IS ALL THAT STANDS
BETWEEN DICK O'KANE
AND ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PATROL.
ALL HE HAS TO DO
IS FIRE THIS LAST SHOT.
Narrator: O'KANE AND THE CREW
OF THE USS TANG...
O'Kane: NEW SETUP, GET READY.
Narrator: ...HAVE EXECUTED SOME
OF THE MOST DARING ATTACKS
AGAINST THE JAPANESE
IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
O'Kane: FIRE!
Narrator:
UNTIL THEIR LUCK AND A TORPEDO
TAKE A DRAMATIC TURN.
O'Kane: WE HAVE AN ERRATIC!
ALL AHEAD EMERGENCY.
[KLAXON HORN]
♪
Narrator: IN WORLD WAR II,
A SUBSEA WEAPON
ALLOWS WARRIORS TO FIGHT
FROM BENEATH THE WAVES...
WITH CUNNING, FORCE
AND TENACITY.
THEIR ENEMIES STRIKE BACK.
[BOOM]
REVOLUTIONARY
BUT STILL SOMETIMES PRIMITIVE,
IT'S A DESPERATE BID...
TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF WAR.
THEIR STORIES ARE LEGEND.
♪
[EXPLOSION]
JUNE 1944.
OFF THE COAST
OF NAGASAKI, JAPAN,
AN AMERICAN SUBMARINE DISCOVERS
A CONVOY OF SIX SHIPS
GUARDED BY 16 HEAVILY ARMED
ESCORT VESSELS.
James Scott: O'KANE IS THERE,
AND HE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW BEST TO ATTACK.
AND HE HAS THIS IDEA.
HE SAYS, YOU KNOW,
WHY NOT COME FROM THE REAR,
BECAUSE LOOKOUTS INHERENTLY
NEVER LOOK BEHIND THEM.
Narrator: FALLING BACK,
COMMANDER DICK O'KANE DISCOVERS
THAT ONLY TWO DESTROYERS
PROTECT THE END OF THE CONVOY.
HE MUST SNEAK PAST
TO SINK THE FREIGHTERS.
Scott: O'KANE REALLY FALLS BACK
ON HUMAN NATURE,
GAMBLING ON THE FACT
THAT MOST LOOKOUTS,
LIKE, LIKE HUMANS
WALKING DOWN THE STREET,
ARE GONNA BE LOOKING
WHERE THEY'RE GOING,
NOT WHERE THEY'VE BEEN.
O'Kane: CONSTANT BEARING.
Scott: HE SETS UP WHAT HE THINKS
IS THE PERFECT SHOT.
O'Kane: SET... FIRE!
Scott: HE FIRES A SPREAD
OF SIX TORPEDOES.
♪
[BOOM]
HE SEES THE, THE DETONATIONS.
AND IT JUST, IT LIGHTS UP
THE NIGHT SKY.
Narrator: BUT USS TANG
MUST NOW ESCAPE THE CONVOY.
THEY ARE SURROUNDED
BY ENEMY SHIPS.
Scott: ONCE THOSE EXPLOSIONS
GO OFF,
THEN IT'S GONNA DRAW
ALL THE ATTENTION
OF THE JAPANESE ESCORTS
TO THOSE WOUNDED SHIPS.
IN THAT CHAOS, HE'LL BE ABLE
TO SLIDE OUT.
AND IT'S WHAT HE DOES.
O'KANE THINKS HE'S
SUCCESSFULLY SUNK TWO SHIPS.
POST-WAR RECORDS REVEAL
THAT HE IN FACT
ACTUALLY SANK FOUR SHIPS.
THIS BECOMES THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
AMERICAN ATTACK
IN THE PACIFIC
DURING WORLD WAR II.
♪
Narrator: BY 1944, THE U. S.
HAS BEEN FIGHTING JAPAN
FOR OVER TWO YEARS,
AND SUBS HAVE BEEN ONE OF THEIR
MOST SUCCESSFUL WEAPONS.
TANG'S COMMANDER, DICK O'KANE,
CAME OF AGE ON ANOTHER SUB,
USS WAHOO, UNDER LEGENDARY
SKIPPER DUDLEY "MUSH" MORTON.
Scott: MUSH MORTON TAKES COMMAND
OF THE WAHOO
AT THE START
OF ITS THIRD PATROL,
AND DICK O'KANE IS
HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
THESE GUYS ARE
REALLY GREAT FRIENDS.
THEY REALLY SEE COMBAT IN
A REAL EYE-TO-EYE KIND OF WAY.
DICK O'KANE IS EQUALLY
AS AGGRESSIVE AS MUSH MORTON.
AND SO THEY REALLY, THEY ALMOST
FORM A PERFECT FIGHTING TEAM.
Narrator: MORTON GIVES
TANG'S SKIPPER HIS EARLY EDGE.
Norman Friedman: HE WAS TRAINED
BASICALLY BY MORTON.
AND THE INTERESTING THING
ABOUT THE TRAINING
WAS THAT, UH, NORMALLY
THE SUBMARINE COMMANDER
IS THE ONE WHO LOOKS
THROUGH THE PERISCOPE,
FIGURES OUT WHAT'S GOING ON,
AND DOES THE REST.
MORTON PREFERS
TO DO THE PLOTTING
AND FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE SITUATION IS.
HE LIKES HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
IN THIS CASE O'KANE,
TO DO THE, THE WORK
WITH THE PERISCOPE.
THAT PREPARES HIM FOR BEING
A SUBMARINE COMMANDER.
HE'S VERY AGGRESSIVE.
HE'S VERY GOOD AT IT.
♪
Narrator: AFTER FIVE PATROLS
ON WAHOO, O'KANE REMAINS ASHORE
TO TAKE COMMANDED
OF NEWLY COMMISSIONED TANG.
THE PROMOTION PROBABLY
SAVES HIS LIFE.
THREE MONTHS AFTER O'KANE
WAS REASSIGNED,
MORTON AND WAHOO WERE DECLARED
OVERDUE AND PRESUMED LOST.
♪
[KLAXON HORN]
NOW IN COMMAND OF HIS OWN CREW,
O'KANE IS DETERMINED THEY WILL
NOT SHARE HIS MENTOR'S FATE.
HE PUTS HIS NEW SUBMARINE
AND ITS CREW TO A PERILOUS TEST.
Scott: THE BEST TACTICAL THING
FOR A SUBMARINE IS TO GO DEEP,
IS TO GET AWAY FROM THE ENEMY.
AND SO YOU REALLY WANT
TO INCREASE THE DEPTH,
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY
YOUR ONLY NATURAL ADVANTAGE.
♪
Narrator: USS TANG IS AN
AMERICAN BALAO-CLASS SUBMARINE,
MADE OF HIGH-TENSILE STEEL
ABOUT 20 PERCENT THICKER
THAN ITS PREDECESSORS.
IT'S ENGINEERED TO WITHSTAND
MORE PRESSURE
THAN ANY HULL BEFORE IT.
Scott: THE BALAO-CLASS SUBMARINE
WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT
THE MOST STATE-OF-THE-ART
SUBMARINE
THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD
IN ITS ARSENAL.
AS THE JAPANESE
ANTISUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY
BECAME MORE AGGRESSIVE,
THE ABILITY FOR AMERICAN
SUBMARINES TO BE ABLE TO ESCAPE
BECAME, UH, PARAMOUNT.
♪
Narrator:
THE U. S. NAVY CERTIFIES TANG
TO DIVE TO 400 FEET,
NEARLY 100 FEET DEEPER
THAN PREVIOUS SUB CLASSES.
♪
[CREAKING]
BUT O'KANE WANTS TO SEE
HOW FAR HE CAN SAFELY GO.
THE INFORMATION COULD BE CRUCIAL
WHEN THEY COME UNDER ATTACK.
♪
[GROANING]
SOME OF THE DELICATE EQUIPMENT
DOES NOT HOLD UP
TO CRUSHING OCEAN PRESSURES...
♪
AS HE PUSHES THE SUB 200 FEET
DEEPER THAN IT IS RATED FOR.
♪
O'Kane: ALL CLEAR.
SURFACE THE BOAT.
Officer: AYE, SIR,
SURFACE, SURFACE, SURFACE.
[KLAXON HORN]
Narrator: BUT TANG'S TEST DIVE
PROVES THE SUB CAN SURVIVE
AT 612 FEET.
♪
AS ENEMY FORCES MOBILIZE,
O'KANE WILL NEED ALL THE HELP
HE CAN GET.
THE JAPANESE FINALLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THE THREAT
POSED BY AMERICAN SUBMARINES
TO THEIR WAR EFFORT
AND ESTABLISH
THE GRAND ESCORT FLEET,
WHICH GROWS TO 60 VESSELS.
Brian Hayashi:
THE GRAND ESCORT FLEET
IS CREATED TO PROTECT
JAPANESE SHIPPING.
THEY WOULD ASSIGN
A NUMBER OF SHIPS,
USUALLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR,
TO ESCORT MAYBE ABOUT 12
MERCHANT MARINE SHIPS
AND THEN ESCORT THEM THROUGH.
Narrator: SOME ESCORTS CARRY
UP TO 300 DEPTH CHARGES,
UNDERWATER BOMBS RIGGED
TO DETONATE AT SPECIFIC DEPTHS.
[BOOM]
THE GOAL IS TO COMPROMISE
THE SUBMARINE'S HULL.
♪
BY AUGUST OF 1944,
FEWER MERCHANT SHIPS SAIL
FROM THE EMPIRE'S OUTPOSTS.
USS TANG IS SENT
INTO JAPANESE HOME WATERS
TO SEARCH FOR TARGETS.
O'Kane: GIVE ME A NEW BEARING.
Submariner: BEARING IS NOW
2-7-0, CAPTAIN.
Narrator: AGAINST FALLING ODDS,
O'KANE LOCATES TWO FREIGHTERS...
O'Kane: FIRE TUBE FIVE.
♪
Narrator: ...IGNORING A SMALL
ESCORT THAT CHARGES TO ATTACK.
O'Kane: THAT'S IT,
TAKE HER DEEP.
Narrator: O'KANE ORDERS A DIVE
TO AVOID THE COUNTER BARRAGE.
BUT THE WATERS ARE VERY SHALLOW,
LESS THAN 200 FEET,
WELL WITHIN THE RANGE
OF DEPTH CHARGES.
Scott: ON ITS FOURTH PATROL
OFF OF HONSHU,
DICK O'KANE EXPERIENCES
THE WORST DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK
HE'S HAD
IN TEN PATROLS
ON BOARD SUBMARINES.
♪
[EXPLOSIONS]
Narrator: IN AUGUST OF 1944,
THE AMERICAN SUBMARINE USS TANG
FIRES SIX TORPEDOES, THEN DIVES.
THE CREW LISTENS
AS THE ESCORT PASSES OVERHEAD.
[EXPLOSIONS]
O'KANE DESCRIBES TANG'S STALKER
AS A MODEST 1,500-TON GUNBOAT.
IT'S OUTFITTED TO DROP
UP TO 28 DEPTH CHARGES.
AFTER THE FIRST SALVO
RATTLES THE SUBMARINE,
THE GUNBOAT COMPLETES
FOUR MORE PASSES,
RELEASING MORE BOMBS EACH TIME.
[EXPLOSIONS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
Scott: LIGHTS SHATTER,
GAUGES ARE BUSTED,
SAILORS ARE KNOCKED OFF
THEIR FEET DURING THIS ATTACK.
IT'S WORSE THAN BEING
ON A BATTLEFIELD,
IN A LOT OF CASES, 'CAUSE YOU'RE
IN A TIGHT, CONFINED SPACE.
YOU CAN'T SEE
WHAT'S COMING AT YOU.
YOU CAN ONLY HEAR IT
AND YOU CAN ONLY FEEL IT
AS IT'S SHAKING THE BOAT.
[EXPLOSIONS]
[CRASH]
WHEN A SUBMARINE IS LOST,
IT'S TYPICALLY LOST
WITH EVERYONE ON BOARD.
WHEN YOU'RE LOST UNDERWATER,
YOU KNOW, YOUR CHANCES
OF SURVIVAL ARE SO LIMITED.
Narrator: O'KANE AND HIS MEN
KNOW THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE CASE
WHERE A SUB CREW
HAS BEEN RESCUED.
IN 1939, 33 SAILORS WERE
RECOVERED WITH A DIVING CHAMBER
AFTER THE USS SQUALUS SANK
DURING A TEST DIVE
IN THE ATLANTIC.
THE SUBMARINE'S LOCATION
NEAR AMERICAN SHORES
MADE THE RECOVERY POSSIBLE.
FIVE YEARS LATER AND
THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY,
O'KANE ORDERS LEFT FULL RUDDER
AND RISKS FULL SPEED
TOWARD THE OPEN OCEAN,
WORRIED HIS SUBMARINE
CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE.
♪
38 MINUTES
AFTER THE GUNBOAT CHARGES,
THE ENEMY LOSES CONTACT
WITH THE SUB...
[EXPLOSION]
AND TANG MAKES AN ESCAPE.
[EXPLOSION]
THE PROLONGED ATTACK
RATTLES THE CREW.
Scott: O'KANE AND HIS
EXECUTIVE OFFICER MURRAY FRAZEE,
THEY'RE SITTING IN THE WARDROOM.
FRAZEE LOOKS OVER AT O'KANE,
AND HE TIPS HIS HAND BACK
LIKE IT'S A GLASS,
AND THAT'S HIS SIGNAL
THAT MAYBE IT'S TIME
TO BREAK OUT
THE DEPTH CHARGE MEDICINE.
DEPTH CHARGE MEDICINE
IS ESSENTIALLY, IT'S BRANDY.
IT WAS A WAY TO CALM
THE NERVES OF THE SAILORS.
YOU KNOW, AFTER YOU GO THROUGH
A REALLY SCARY
DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK,
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW,
A SHOT OF ALCOHOL
WOULD BE JUST THE THING
TO SORT OF TAKE THE EDGE OFF
OF A LONG DAY.
♪
Narrator: TWO WEEKS LATER
O'KANE RETURNS TO BASE.
THROUGH FOUR PATROLS,
TANG'S CREW AVERAGES
A SINKING EVERY 11 DAYS-
TWICE THE KILL RATE
OF ANY OTHER U. S. SUBMARINE.
Scott: IN FOUR PATROLS,
DICK O'KANE HAS ALREADY SUNK
17 SHIPS FOR 72,000 TONS.
AND HE'S HUNGRY FOR MORE ACTION.
♪
Narrator:
USS TANG IS UNDER THE COMMAND
OF ADMIRAL CHARLES LOCKWOOD,
MASTERMIND OF PEARL HARBOR'S
SUBMARINES.
Scott: O'KANE RETURNS
FROM HIS FOURTH PATROL,
AND HE GOES TO SEE
ADMIRAL LOCKWOOD.
AND ADMIRAL LOCKWOOD
WANTS TO GO AHEAD
AND SEND HIM RIGHT BACK OUT
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
HE NEEDS TO HAVE HIS BEST
SKIPPER IN POSITION TO HELP.
Narrator: LOCKWOOD FACES
A BOLD DIRECTIVE.
[BOOM]
AMERICAN FORCES LED
BY GENERAL MacARTHUR
RALLY TO CHARGE THE PHILIPPINES.
IF THEY SUCCEED, IT WILL PUT
ALLIED WARPLANES
WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE
OF JAPAN.
Friedman: MacARTHUR IS VERY HOT
TO ATTACK THE PHILIPPINES.
IF WE HELD THE PHILIPPINES,
THE JAPANESE COULDN'T BE SAFE.
AND BY THAT TIME,
THE JAPANESE REALIZED
THAT UNLESS THEY STOP US,
THE NEXT STOP IS JAPAN.
Narrator: LOCKWOOD HAS ORDERS
TO SINK ENEMY SHIPS
ATTEMPTING TO REINFORCE
THE JAPANESE GARRISONS.
A KEY SUPPLY ROUTE FROM JAPAN
TO THE PHILIPPINES
IS THE FORMOSA STRAIT.
BOTH SHORES OF THE PASS
ARE OCCUPIED BY THE JAPANESE.
Hayashi: THE FORMOSA STRAITS
IS ONE OF THE SAFEST PASSAGES
THE JAPANESE MERCHANT MARINE
COULD TAKE.
IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH
TO THE SHORES.
THEY WERE PROTECTED ON BOTH
SIDES BY LAND-BASED AIRCRAFT.
AND SO IT WAS A REASONABLY SAFE
OR PROBABLY THE SAFEST ROUTE
THAT YOU COULD TAKE.
Narrator: LOCKWOOD TURNS
TO HIS SUBMARINE ACE
TO CUT OFF THIS CRITICAL PASS.
♪
TANG'S FIFTH PATROL WILL TAKE
THE CREW TO THE FORMOSA STRAIT.
BUT BEFORE THEY CAN LEAVE,
THEY MUST RESUPPLY.
IT PROVES SURPRISINGLY
DIFFICULT, HOWEVER,
TO SOURCE TORPEDOES.
THE MARK 14 TORPEDOES
USED EARLIER IN THE WAR
PROVED FAULTY.
Scott: THE FAILURE
OF THE AMERICAN TORPEDO
IN THE EARLY PARTS
OF WORLD WAR II
IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCANDALS
OF THE WAR.
WHERE IT WAS MOST PROBLEMATIC
WAS FOR AGGRESSIVE SKIPPERS
WHO WOULD GO IN
AND WOULD GET IN CLOSE
AND WOULD HAVE THESE SHOTS
THAT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE
THE PERFECT SHOT,
ONLY TO HAVE YOUR WEAPON FAIL.
Narrator: THE SUBMARINE SERVICE
COMPLAINED FOR MONTHS
BEFORE THE NAVY AGREED TO TEST
THE MARK 14 WARHEADS.
Scott: THERE HAD BEEN
THIS BATTLE INSIDE THE NAVY.
YOU HAD THE BUREAU OF ORDNANCE,
WHO MANUFACTURED THE TORPEDOES,
WHO WERE BLAMING THE SKIPPERS
AS BAD SHOTS.
AND YOU HAD THE SKIPPERS
WHO WERE BLAMING
THE BUREAU OF ORDNANCE
SAYING WE HAVE A FAULTY WEAPON.
AND SO THERE WAS REALLY
THIS BACK AND FORTH
AND NO EFFORT TO REALLY SOLVE
THAT PROBLEM.
Narrator: OF THE FIRST TEN
MARK 14s TESTED,
SEVEN FAILED TO EXPLODE.
Scott: AT THAT POINT
THE PROBLEM WAS WELL KNOWN.
IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF WHO
WAS GONNA TAKE OWNERSHIP
OF THIS PROBLEM
AND WORK TO REMEDY IT.
Narrator: THE WAKELESS
MARK 18 TORPEDO
AIMS TO REPLACE
THE DEFECTIVE MARK 14.
Friedman:
THE MARK 14 IS A STEAM TORPEDO.
STEAM MEANS THAT IT LEAVES
A TRAIL OF BUBBLES.
THAT MEANS THAT IF
IT'S COMING AT YOU,
THERE'S A FAIR CHANCE THAT
YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING COMING.
AN ELECTRIC TORPEDO
DOESN'T LEAVE ANY BUBBLES.
SO THE GERMANS INTRODUCE
ELECTRIC TORPEDOES
FOR THAT REASON.
WE RECOVER SOME.
WE BASICALLY COPY IT
WITH AMERICAN FEATURES.
THAT'S A MARK 18.
AND THE IDEA IS
THEY WON'T SEE IT COMING.
SO IT'LL WORK BETTER.
Narrator: ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1944,
TANG DEPARTS FOR FORMOSA...
WITH A COMPLEMENT
OF AMERICA'S NEWEST TORPEDOES-
MARK 18s INITIALLY ALLOCATED
TO A DRY-DOCKED SUBMARINE.
Scott: AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS
WERE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP.
AND SO THERE WAS A SHORTAGE.
AND SO O'KANE
HAS TO ULTIMATELY SCAVENGE
A LOAD OF TORPEDOES
FROM THE SUBMARINE TAMBOR.
Narrator: O'KANE AND HIS MEN
HAVE BEEN OUT ON PATROL
AT DOUBLE THE EXPECTED RATE.
IN EXCHANGE, O'KANE NEGOTIATES
A BREAK FOR HIS OVERWORKED CREW
AND AN UPGRADE FOR TANG
AT THE END OF THIS MISSION.
♪
SOME 1,500 MILES
INTO THE JOURNEY,
TYPHOON SEASON IN THE PACIFIC
SLOWS TANG'S PROGRESS.
Scott: AS THE TANG IS HEADING
TOWARD THE FORMOSA STRAIT,
IT HITS THESE, THESE HIGH SWELLS
THAT DEVELOP
INTO THIS RAGING STORM.
WAVES CRASHING AGAINST THE BOAT.
TANGIS TOSSING BACK AND FORTH.
Narrator: O'KANE TOURS
TO BATTEN DOWN THE SHIP.
THE SITUATION TAKES
AN ALARMING TURN.
Scott: O'KANE IS DOING
AN INSPECTION
AND HE STEPS INTO AN OPEN HATCH
IN THE FORWARD ENGINE ROOM,
AND HE FALLS AND HIS FOOT SNAGS
ON THE BOTTOM RUNG
OF THE LADDER.
HE'S BROKEN SEVERAL BONES
IN HIS FOOT.
SO O'KANE IS THEN HAVING
TO COMMAND THE SHIP
FROM HIS BACK IN HIS BUNK.
♪
Narrator: OCTOBER 4th.
AS O'KANE RELIES ON HIS CREW
TO BATTLE THE ERRATIC WEATHER
THAT'S LASTED FOR DAYS...
[WHISTLING]
DURING A LULL
IN THE STORMING SEAS,
AN INTERCEPTED JAPANESE MESSAGE
DRAGS THE SKIPPER
FROM HIS QUARTERS.
THE CODE BREAK IS LEVEL "ULTRA."
Friedman: THERE ARE SEVERAL
DIFFERENT KINDS OF CODE BREAKING
THAT HAPPENED IN WORLD WAR II.
ULTRA IS BASICALLY USED
FOR BREAKING MILITARY CODES.
MUCH OF THE ALLIED CODE BREAKING
IN WORLD WAR II IS JOINT.
THERE ARE AMERICANS
AT BLETCHLEY PARK,
THERE ARE AMERICANS
WITH AUSTRALIANS IN MELBOURNE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THOSE UNITS
THAT WORK TOGETHER.
AND THAT GIVES US
A FAIR AMOUNT OF INSIGHT
INTO THE TIMING
OF JAPANESE OPERATIONS.
Narrator: SKIPPERS LIKE O'KANE
USE THIS INTELLIGENCE
TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION
OF ENEMY SHIPS.
Norman Jolin:
BASED ON INTELLIGENCE,
THESE SUBMARINES WERE
LITERALLY BEING DIRECTED
RIGHT ON THE POINT
WHERE THEY EXPECTED TO HAVE
MAJOR JAPANESE NAVAL UNITS
OR CONVOYS PASSING.
Narrator: THE ULTRA TRANSMISSION
REVEALS THE SUSPECTED LOCATION
OF A JAPANESE WEATHER SHIP.
Friedman: WEATHER SHIPS
MAKE A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.
IF THE OTHER SIDE
DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS
TO WEATHER INFORMATION
AND YOU DO,
YOU'LL DO A WHOLE LOT BETTER.
Narrator: THE COORDINATES
ARE WITHIN REACH.
BUT THE STORMY WEATHER
COMPROMISES O'KANE'S
ATTACK PLAN.
♪
THE INCREASINGLY VIOLENT SEA
MAKES IT DIFFICULT
AS HE TRIES TO HUNT
THE JAPANESE WEATHER SHIP.
Scott: TYPICALLY IN THESE KINDS
OF SITUATIONS,
A SUBMARINE SKIPPER
WOULD TAKE THE BOAT DEEP
AND JUST RIDE IT OUT
DEEP UNDERWATER.
Narrator:
BUT TANG'S COMMANDER REFUSES
TO LET A SHOT AT THE ENEMY
SLIP AWAY.
THEY SURFACE SO LOOKOUTS
CAN BRAVE THE BRIDGE
TO SEARCH THROUGH THE RAIN.
Scott: IT'S VERY DANGEROUS
FOR THESE SAILORS
TO BE OUT TOPSIDE
DURING A RAGING STORM LIKE THIS.
THEY CAN GET BATTERED AROUND,
THEY CAN BE WASHED OVERBOARD.
O'KANE'S IN A TOUGH SPOT,
BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND
HE HAS TO GET INTO POSITION.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE HAS
RUN THE RISK OF LOSING HIS BOAT
IF HE'S NOT CAREFUL.
Narrator: LIKE O'KANE,
THE WEATHER IS UNRELENTING.
AROUND 3:30 A. M.
VIOLENT WINDS FORCE LOOKOUTS
TO ABANDON THE BRIDGE.
TANG IS IN THE CLUTCHES
OF A TYPHOON.
Scott: AT ITS PEAK, THE WAVES
WERE, FROM TROUGH TO CREST,
WERE 95 FEET.
MANY OF THE MEN
ON BOARD THE TANG
WERE CONVINCED
THEY WERE DONE FOR.
Narrator: THE SEA BATTERS
TANG'S PORT SIDE,
TILTING O'KANE'S SUBMARINE
STARBOARD.
Scott: AT ONE POINT HE LOOKS
OVER AT THE INCLINOMETER,
AND HE SEES HE'S GOT
A 70-DEGREE LIST.
AND HE SAYS, "IS SHE EVER
GONNA COME BACK?"
AND HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICER SAYS,
"YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES
THEY DON'T."
♪
Narrator: OCTOBER 6, 1944.
[CREAKING]
A POWERFUL STORM THREATENS
AMERICA'S TOP WORLD WAR II
SUBMARINE.
♪
IF COMMANDER O'KANE ATTEMPTS TO
DIVE NOW TO ESCAPE THE WEATHER,
THE WAVES COULD CAPSIZE
USS TANG.
Scott: SO HE HAS TO RIDE
ON THE SURFACE,
HE HAS TO JUST PUSH
THROUGH THIS STORM.
AND THAT'S WHAT HE DOES.
WHEN THE STORM FINALLY ENDED,
THE CREW WAS JUST HIT
BY IMMENSE RELIEF.
AND AFTER SURVIVING THIS,
WHAT COULD BE WORSE?
Narrator:
THE JAPANESE WEATHER SHIP,
IF IT WAS EVER THERE, IS GONE.
BLOWN OFF COURSE,
O'KANE AND HIS CREW
SET A WESTERLY HEADING
FOR JAPANESE-CONTROLLED FORMOSA,
WHERE ALLIED FORCES MOBILIZE
A CRITICAL BLITZ.
THEY ATTACK KEY AIRFIELDS,
DESTROYING HUNDREDS
OF ENEMY PLANES...
[EXPLOSIONS]
TO CRIPPLE JAPAN'S ABILITY
TO REPEL MacARTHUR'S ASSAULT
ON THE PHILIPPINES.
♪
THE JAPANESE FIGHT BACK,
DAMAGING
TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS...
WHOSE CREWS ARE AMONG THE FIRST
TO EVER WITNESS
A KAMIKAZE ATTACK.
[EXPLOSION]
♪
USS TANG HAS ARRIVED
AMIDST THE CHAOS
TO JOIN THE FIGHT.
O'KANE'S MISSION
IS TO SINK TRANSPORT SHIPS
RESUPPLYING JAPANESE FORCES
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Scott:
SKIPPERS LIKE DICK O'KANE,
THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR JOB IS.
THEY KNOW THAT THEIR SUCCESS
IS GONNA BE GAUGED
ON HOW MANY JAPANESE SHIPS
THEY'VE SUNK,
ON HOW MUCH JAPANESE TONNAGE
THEY'VE PUT
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA FLOOR.
SO THEY LEAVE WITH 24 TORPEDOES,
AND THEY WANT TO COME BACK
EMPTY-HANDED.
THEY WANT TO FIRE THEM ALL.
♪
Narrator: ON OCTOBER 23, 1944,
TANG'S CREW FINALLY SPOTS
A CHANCE TO STRIKE.
Scott: THE TANG'S RADAR MEN
PICK UP A WHOLE MESS OF BLIPS,
SO MANY THAT THEY THINK
THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING
AT AN ISLAND CHAIN,
UNTIL THEY CHECK THE CHARTS
AND THEY REALIZE THERE ARE NO
ISLANDS IN THIS SAME POSITION.
SO O'KANE'S EXCITED.
HE'S THRILLED AT THIS POINT.
HE'S GOT WHAT TURNS OUT TO BE
A FOUR-SHIP CONVOY
LED BY TWO DESTROYERS.
Narrator: THE CONVOY STEAMS
TO BOMB-RAVAGED FORMOSA,
KNOWN TODAY AS TAIWAN.
Lookout: COMMANDER,
YOU BETTER TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
Narrator: ONE OF THE SHIPS
IS A TROOP TRANSPORT
THAT CARRIES
ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS.
Friedman:
IF THE TARGET IS A FREIGHTER,
YOU'RE CUTTING OFF
RAW MATERIALS.
IF IT'S A TRANSPORT,
YOU'RE CUTTING OFF TROOPS.
AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THE
SUPPLY OF TROOPS ISN'T ENDLESS,
ANYTHING THAT CAN KILL
THE TROOPS EN ROUTE HELPS.
♪
Narrator: TANG'S CREW
READIES FOR AN ATTACK.
Scott: SAILORS MAN
THEIR BATTLE STATIONS.
♪
Narrator: O'KANE MUST GET TANG
PAST THE SCREEN OF ESCORTS.
O'Kane: CONSTANT BEARING MARK.
Scott: HE'S STUDYING THIS
AND TRYING TO DETERMINE
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO ATTACK.
AND HE SEES HIS MOMENT
OF OPPORTUNITY
WHEN ONE OF THE DESTROYERS
PULLS OUT OF FORMATION
AND BEGINS A BIG WIDE CIRCLE
AROUND THE CONVOY,
CHECKING UP AND MAKING SURE
ALL THE SHIPS ARE IN LINE.
Narrator: THE TIMING IS PERFECT.
Scott: O'KANE THEN MOVES
INTO THAT DESTROYER'S POSITION.
AND HE KNOWS THAT ON RADAR
FOR THE OTHER JAPANESE SHIPS,
THEY'RE GONNA LOOK
AND THEY'RE GONNA SEE
WHAT TO THEM IS JUST AN ESCORT.
AND SO HE'S GONNA
BLEND RIGHT IN.
HE'S GONNA BECOME PART
OF THE JAPANESE CONVOY.
Narrator:
AT NIGHTTIME, ON RADAR,
THE SUBMARINE LOOKS
LIKE A DESTROYER.
O'KANE CONTINUES THE DECEPTION.
Scott: HE JUST SLOWLY PULLS OUT
TO THE SIDE,
MIMICKING THE MOVEMENTS
OF THE JAPANESE ESCORT.
AND THEN HE ALLOWS THE OTHER
SHIPS TO SLOWLY OVERTAKE HIM.
AND AT THAT POINT,
HE CAN THEN TURN INTO POSITION,
AND HE HAS THE BROAD SIDE
OF ALL THESE SHIPS,
ALL OF THEM TARGETS
THAT HE CAN THEN SHOOT AT.
Submariner: LET'S GET
THOSE JIGGERS RIGGED.
COME ON, WE AIN'T GOT TIME,
LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO!
[SLAM]
O'Kane: CONSTANT BEARING.
Narrator: O'KANE TAKES AIM
AT THE CARGO SHIPS IN THE CONVOY
AS THEY PASS.
SOME AT TANG'S BOW,
ANOTHER ON ITS STERN.
O'Kane: MARK!
SET... FIRE!
♪
Scott: HE FIRES THREE
ELECTRIC TORPEDOES.
NOW THESE ARE WAKELESS,
THAT THEY CAN'T SEE 'EM
COMING TOWARD 'EM.
Operator: TWO READY.
O'Kane: FIRE!
Scott: EACH TIME HE FIRES,
HE CAN FEEL THE JOLT,
THE SHUDDER OF THE SUBMARINE
AS THE COMPRESSED AIR
PUSHES THESE TORPEDOES OUT.
AND THEN HE WAITS
LESS THAN A MINUTE OR SO,
AND THEN THE EXPLOSIONS
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY.
Narrator: O'KANE'S BOLD ATTACK
QUICKLY SINKS
TWO JAPANESE SHIPS.
BUT THE AMBUSH REVEALS
TANG'S PRESENCE.
Scott:
AND AT THAT POINT, ACTUALLY,
ONE OF THE SHIPS TURNS
AND HE SEES THE TANG,
AND HE COMES IN TO TRY
AND RAM O'KANE.
O'Kane: RADAR,
GIVE ME A READING.
Narrator: THE CONVOY'S TRANSPORT
IS LESS THAN 30 SECONDS AWAY
FROM SMASHING INTO TANG'S HULL.
THERE'S NO TIME TO DIVE.
Scott: HE'S BOXED IN
BY THESE BURNING SHIPS,
AND HE CAN'T ESCAPE,
HE CAN'T DIVE.
HE ORDERS LEFT FULL RUDDER,
AND EMERGENCY SPEED.
AND HE ACTUALLY GOES RIGHT DOWN
THE SIDE OF THIS JAPANESE SHIP.
[GROANING AND CREAKING]
Narrator: O'KANE AVOIDS
A COLLISION WITH THE TRANSPORT,
BUT A FOURTH CARGO SHIP
FROM THE CONVOY
STEAMS IN FOR THE KILL.
Scott: THESE TWO SHIPS, HOWEVER,
ARE ON THEIR OWN
COLLISION COURSE,
AND O'KANE SEES AN OPPORTUNITY.
Narrator: TANG'S COMMANDER
MANEUVERS CAREFULLY.
Scott: HE SETS UP A SHOT
AND HE FIRES AT THE SPOT
WHERE THE TWO SHIPS
ARE GONNA COLLIDE.
SO INTO THAT MIX
OF THESE TWO COLLIDING SHIPS
GO TANG'S TORPEDOES.
♪
HE'S CREATED ALL THIS CARNAGE
OUT THERE.
THESE SHIPS HAVE COLLIDED,
THEY'VE EXPLODED,
AND SO AGAINST THE GLOW
OF THESE BURNING SHIPS,
HE CAN SEE THE DESTRUCTION
THAT THE TANG HAS CAUSED.
AT THAT POINT HE DECIDES
MY WORK HERE IS DONE,
AND HE SLIPS BACK OUT TO SEA.
♪
Narrator: AS DAYLIGHT BREAKS
JAPANESE PATROL UNITS
HUNT THE SUBMARINE.
O'Kane: GIVE ME A NEW BEARING.
Frazee: BEARING 2-7-2.
Narrator:
USS TANG LAUNCHED THE ASSAULT
ALONG A MAIN SHIPPING ROUTE
THROUGH THE FORMOSA STRAIT.
O'KANE BELIEVES THE JAPANESE
WILL REROUTE THEIR CONVOYS
CLOSER TO THE CHINESE COAST
IN A BID TO DETER THE SUBMARINE.
♪
THE SHALLOWER WATER ERODES
TANG'S DEEP DIVING ADVANTAGE
AND LEAVES IT MORE VULNERABLE
TO DEPTH CHARGES.
IT'S A RISK TANG'S SKIPPER
IS DRIVEN TO TAKE.
Submariner: AYE, SIR,
SURFACE, SURFACE, SURFACE!
[KLAXON HORN]
Friedman: IF YOU'RE A SMART,
AGGRESSIVE GUY,
YOU CAN GET REAL RESULTS.
BUT THAT'S ALSO
INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS...
SOME OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
COMMANDERS GET KILLED
PUSHING IT TOO HARD.
Narrator: OCTOBER 1944.
AMERICA'S SUBMARINE ACE
SCOURS THE FORMOSA STRAIT
FOR JAPANESE SHIPS.
Scott: ON OCTOBER 24,
THE TANG'S RADAR MEN
PICK UP ANOTHER CONVOY.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY
A 12-SHIP CONVOY,
AND IT'S DEPARTED SASEBO
IN JAPAN.
AND IT'S GUARDED
BY FIVE ESCORTS,
AND IT'S STRUNG OUT
IN ONE REALLY LONG COLUMN.
Friedman: IF THE CONVOY
IS WEAKLY PROTECTED,
IT BECOMES A TASTY MEAL
RATHER THAN A DANGEROUS PLACE.
Narrator:
STRINGING OUT THE FORMATION
LEAVES SOME OF
THE MERCHANT SHIPS UNSCREENED.
Scott: O'KANE WONDERS WHY WOULD
THE CONVOY COMMANDER DO THIS.
WHY WOULDN'T HE GROUP THEM
ALL TOGETHER
AND SURROUND THEM
AND KEEP THEM SAFER?
BUT HE SURMISES
THAT THE CONVOY COMMANDER
HAS STRUNG THEM OUT SO MUCH
SO THAT IF THEY'RE ATTACKED
BY AMERICAN SUBMARINES,
THEN THEY'LL HAVE
ENOUGH SPACE AND DISTANCE
THAT THEY CAN SEPARATE,
THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Narrator: O'KANE HAS 11
MARK 18 TORPEDOES LEFT.
HE MUST FIRE AS MANY AS HE CAN
BEFORE HIS TARGETS SCATTER.
Scott: SO O'KANE THEN HAS TO
DECIDE HOW IS HE GONNA ATTACK.
O'Kane: ALL AHEAD TWO-THIRDS.
Narrator: O'KANE ORDERS TANG
TO SLINK BETWEEN
THE CONVOY'S TWO COLUMNS.
Scott: HE'S GETTING IN CLOSE
ON THIS CONVOY
WHEN SEARCHLIGHTS ILLUMINATE
AND THE TANG GETS SPOTTED.
[FLARES SCREAMING]
Narrator: THE CREW RACES
TO ATTACK THE CARGO SHIPS
BEFORE THEIR ESCORTS MOBILIZE.
O'Kane: GET READY!
Scott: HE SETS HIS SIGHT ON ONE,
HE FIRES.
O'Kane: FIRE!
Operator: FIVE ON THE WAY.
Scott: HE MOVES ON TO THE NEXT,
FIRES AGAIN, AND AGAIN.
♪
[EXPLOSIONS]
Narrator:
O'KANE TARGETS FIVE SHIPS
BEFORE A DESTROYER CLOSES IN.
Scott: AT THAT POINT
HE CLEARS OUT.
HE PULLS BACK, HE'S ONLY GOT
TWO TORPEDOES LEFT.
Narrator: ONE OF THE SHIPS
THEY'VE HIT HAS NOT SUNK.
Scott:
IT'S RIDING LOW IN THE WATER,
BUT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY SINKING.
AND HE WONDERS
ARE THOSE CREWS BELOW DECK
DOING DAMAGE CONTROL DUTIES.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY'RE
GONNA SAVE THE SHIP?
Narrator: ESCORTS PROTECT
THE DAMAGED SHIP SEASIDE.
O'KANE DECIDES TO CREEP AROUND
AND ATTACK FROM CLOSER
TO THE SHORE.
Scott: IT'S TIME TO REGROUP,
GET A CUP OF COFFEE,
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY RELOAD
THOSE LAST COUPLE OF TORPEDOES.
AND THEN IT'S TIME
TO RETURN TO THE FIGHT.
Narrator:
THE WORDS OF HIS MENTOR
DRIVE O'KANE BACK INTO THE FRAY.
Scott: IT'S JUST AS MUSH MORTON
HAD TOLD HIM-
"TENACITY, DICK, YOU STICK WITH
'EM 'TIL THEY'RE ON THE BOTTOM."
Narrator: AT 2:30 A. M.
TANG CIRCLES IN FOR THE KILL.
THE SUBMARINE ADVANCES
AT TWO-THIRDS SPEED.
O'Kane: NEW SETUP, GET READY.
[DIALS CLICKING]
Operator: NINE STANDBY.
O'Kane: FIRE!
♪
Narrator: TANG FIRES
ITS 23rd MARK 18 TORPEDO.
CREWS READY FOR THE 24th.
Scott: THIS LAST TORPEDO,
THIS IS ALL THAT STANDS
BETWEEN DICK O'KANE
AND ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PATROL.
HE'S GONNA HEAD ALL THE WAY BACK
TO SAN FRANCISCO
WITH THE PROMISE OF DAYS OFF,
SEVERAL MONTHS IN CALIFORNIA,
A REAL BREAK FROM THE WAR
FOR HIS MEN.
ALL HE HAS TO DO
IS FIRE THIS LAST SHOT.
O'Kane: FIRE!
Operator:
TEN FIRED ELECTRICALLY.
♪
Narrator: THE FINAL WARHEAD
FIRES FROM TANG'S BOW.
CHEER SPREADS THROUGH THE SHIP.
Scott: THROUGHOUT THE SUBMARINE,
MEN RELAX.
ONE OF THE MEN SHOUTS
"LET'S HEAD FOR THE BARN."
THERE'S NO MORE TORPEDOES
TO FIRE.
THE PATROL IS DONE.
Narrator: BUT SECONDS LATER
SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
Scott: DICK O'KANE IS UP
ON THE BRIDGE AT THIS POINT.
O'Kane: WE HAVE AN ERRATIC!
Scott: AND HE SEES
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY
THAT HE'S GOT A PROBLEM,
A MAJOR PROBLEM.
THE TORPEDO
IS RUNNING ERRATICALLY.
Friedman: TANG'S LAST TORPEDO
MAKES WHAT'S CALLED
A CIRCULAR RUN,
WHICH IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
IT COMES BACK AT HER.
Narrator: A VERTICAL RUDDER
STEERS THE 3,154 POUND TORPEDO.
IT'S NOT RUNNING THE RIGHT WAY.
Friedman: IF THE RUDDER
ON THE TORPEDO LOCKED,
INSTEAD OF GOING
ONTO THE NEW COURSE
AND STAYING THERE,
IT WOULD JUST KEEP TURNING.
O'Kane:
RADAR, GIVE ME A READING.
Narrator:
570 POUNDS OF EXPLOSIVES
RACE FASTER
THAN THE SUB CAN TRAVEL.
Scott: HE CAN SEE
THE PHOSPHORESCENCE
TRAILING BEHIND IT, KIND OF LIKE
THE TAIL OF A COMET.
AND SO HE CAN CHART ITS COURSE
AS IT'S COMING IN.
HE'S WATCHING WITH HORROR
AS THIS ERRANT TORPEDO IS
BOOMERANGING BACK TOWARD HIM.
Narrator: THE TORPEDO
IS ON A CRASH COURSE
WITH TANG'S PORT SIDE.
Scott: THE SUBMARINE IS
THE LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD
AND HE HAS ONLY ABOUT 10 SECONDS
TO TRY AND FISHTAIL
THE SUBMARINE
OUT OF THE WAY OF THIS TORPEDO.
Friedman: TANG AND SIMILAR
SUBMARINES WERE SO LARGE,
THEY COULDN'T MANEUVER AS WELL
AS, SAY, SMALLER SUB MIGHT HAVE.
O'Kane: ALL AHEAD EMERGENCY.
Scott: SO HE IMMEDIATELY ORDERS
EMERGENCY SPEED
AND LEFT FULL RUDDER
TO TRY AND SWING IT AROUND.
O'Kane: HOLD ON, HOLD ON!
Narrator: 20 SECONDS AFTER
TANG'S FINAL MARK 18 LAUNCHED...
[ALARM SOUNDS]
♪
[BOOM]
THE WARHEAD STRIKES
THE SUBMARINE WHICH FIRED IT.
Scott: THE TORPEDO COMES AND IT
SLAMS INTO THE STERN OF THE TANG
AND IT BLOWS A HUGE HOLE IN IT
AND IMMEDIATELY STARTS FLOODING
THOSE AFT COMPARTMENTS.
♪
ALL THOSE MEN IN THERE ARE
EITHER KILLED IN THE EXPLOSION
OR THEY DROWN.
♪
Narrator: THE REST OF TANG'S
CREW IS THROWN INTO CHAOS.
Scott: THE EXPLOSION
IS SO HORRIFIC ON BOARD
THAT IT LITERALLY RAISES UP
THE DECK PLATES.
IT RUPTURES PIPING
AND IT SHATTERS EQUIPMENT
AND MACHINERY.
THEIR TRAINING KICKS IN
LIKE THAT,
AND THEY BEGIN TO SEAL THOSE
WATERTIGHT COMPARTMENT DOORS
TO HELP ISOLATE THE FLOODING.
SAILORS THROUGHOUT THE BOAT
WHO JUST SECONDS EARLIER
HAD BEEN CELEBRATING
THIS RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO
ARE NOW FACED
WITH THIS STUNNING HORROR
AS WATER'S BEGINNING TO FLOOD
INSIDE OF THE SUBMARINE.
♪
Submariner: CAPTAIN, LET'S GO!
O'Kane: HOLD ON, HOLD ON!
Narrator: TOPSIDE, TANG'S
SKIPPER FACES A DARK SEA.
Scott: THEY CAN SEE
THE WATER RACING UP.
THEY ALSO CAN SEE THIS
HUGE CLOUD UP ABOVE THE TANG,
AND IT'S THAT TELLTALE SYMBOL
OF A DESTROYED SHIP
THAT THEY HAD SEEN SO OFTEN
OVER THEIR OWN VICTIMS.
Narrator: AS TANG SINKS,
O'KANE AND THE LOOKOUTS
ARE SWEPT FROM THE BRIDGE.
Scott: THE BOAT
LIKE A GIANT PENDULUM
SWINGS DOWN TO THE BOTTOM
UNTIL IT RESTS
ON THE MUDDY BOTTOM
OF THE FORMOSA STRAIT.
Narrator: THE SURVIVING CREW
HAVE ONE CHANCE AT LIFE.
AN EXIT HATCH
IN THE TORPEDO ROOM
AT THE BOW OF THE SUBMARINE.
Scott: THAT ESCAPE CHAMBER
IS THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS
BETWEEN THESE MEN AND DEATH.
♪
Narrator: OCTOBER 25, 1944.
IN THE FORMOSA STRAIT
DOZENS OF AMERICANS FIGHT
TO SURVIVE A SUNKEN SUBMARINE.
USS TANG'S STERN
SITS ON THE BOTTOM.
THE ONLY ESCAPE HATCH IS
AT THE BOW OF THE SUBMARINE.
Scott: THE BOW, WHICH IS STILL
FILLED WITH AIR,
IS ACTUALLY JUTTING
OUT OF THE WAVES,
SORT OF LIKE A KNIFE BLADE,
IF YOU WILL, COMING UP.
Narrator: BUT WITH
JAPANESE ESCORTS ON THE HUNT,
THE EXPOSED SECTION
MAKES THEM VULNERABLE.
Scott: THEY WERE WORRIED
THAT THERE'S STILL
JAPANESE DESTROYERS
OUT THERE AND THEIR ESCORTS.
AND THEY KNOW THAT THE BOW OF
THE SUBMARINE IS AN EASY TARGET.
AND SO IF THEY DON'T
LEVEL IT AND HIDE,
THEN THE JAPANESE MAY COME IN,
KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE,
AND DESTROY THE TANG COMPLETELY.
Narrator: THE MEN CHOOSE TO SINK
THEIR DAMAGED SUBMARINE
TO CONCEAL IT,
WHILE THEY PREPARE TO ESCAPE.
Scott:
THEY DECIDE TO LEVEL THE BOAT,
TO RELEASE ALL THE AIR
FROM THE FORWARD BALLAST TANKS
AND TO LET THE BOW OF THE TANG
COME DOWN AND REST
ON THE BOTTOM.
THEY RELEASE THE AIR AND
THE TANG DIVES FOR A FINAL TIME.
♪
[COUGHING]
AT THIS POINT THESE MEN WHO ARE
SCATTERED THROUGH THE SUBMARINE
HAVE TO MAKE THIS MARCH FORWARD
TO THE FORWARD TORPEDO ROOM
WHERE THE ESCAPE CHAMBER IS.
AND IT'S A JOURNEY
THROUGH A DESTROYED SUBMARINE.
THERE'S SPARKS, SOME OF THE MEN
ARE TRYING TO DESTROY CODEBOOKS.
SOME OF THESE MEN HAD
BROKEN LEGS, BROKEN ARMS,
THEIR HEADS HAD HIT, YOU KNOW,
CORNERS OF EQUIPMENT
AND IT CUT THEM OPEN.
SO THEY'VE GOT TO MOVE THESE
INJURED MEN ALL THE WAY FORWARD.
Narrator:
AN HOUR AFTER TANG SINKS,
THE LAST OF ITS CREW
REACHES THE BOW.
Scott: THEN THEY GET
TO THE FORWARD TORPEDO ROOM.
SEVERAL DOZEN MEN,
THEY ULTIMATELY ALL CROWD INSIDE
AND THEY SEAL THAT DOOR.
AND INSIDE THAT TOR-
FORWARD TORPEDO ROOM
IS THE ESCAPE CHAMBER.
Narrator: THE ENTIRE SUBMARINE
LIES 180 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.
Narrator: THE CREW WILL USE
A SPECIAL-ISSUE BREATHING AID
TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE
TO SURVIVE THE ASCENT-
A MOMSEN LUNG.
A CANISTER OF SODA LIME
CAPTURES CARBON DIOXIDE
SO AIR CAN BE RECYCLED
AND BREATHED AGAIN.
IT'S AN EXPERIMENTAL DEVICE
DESIGNED TO INCREASE
THE ODDS OF SURVIVAL.
Scott: THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PAUSE
AFTER SO MANY FEET
TO GO UP AND SORT OF EQUALIZE,
YOU KNOW,
TO BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT,
SORT OF EQUALIZE
THE, THE AIR IN THEIR LUNGS.
IN THEORY, IT SEEMS
LIKE A VERY SIMPLE CONCEPT.
BUT TYPICALLY,
WHEN A SUBMARINE WAS LOST,
ALL HANDS WERE LOST WITH IT.
IT WAS ALMOST AN ALL OR NOTHING.
IN VERY FEW CASES
WERE THERE ANY SURVIVORS.
[SONAR PING]
Narrator: AS TANG'S CREW
PREPARES TO BRAVE THE OCEAN...
ANOTHER ATTACK...
STOPS THEM SHORT.
Scott: AS THESE MEN ARE THERE
CROWDED INSIDE
THE FORWARD COMPARTMENT,
TERRIFIED ABOUT HOW THEY'RE
GONNA MAKE IT
180 FEET UP TO THE SURFACE,
THE JAPANESE ARE COMING OVER,
AND THEY'RE DROPPING
DEPTH CHARGES.
[EXPLOSIONS]
SO HERE THEY ARE STUCK
ON THE BOTTOM,
AND THEIR BOAT'S STILL
BEING RATTLED.
[EXPLOSION]
[WATER RUSHING]
[EXPLOSIONS]
Narrator: THE HELPLESS MEN ENDURE
A FINAL DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK
BEFORE THE SEA FALLS SILENT.
Scott: THE CONDITIONS
AT THIS POINT
IN THE FORWARD TORPEDO ROOM
IN THE TANG ARE AWFUL.
THE BATTERY COMPARTMENTS
ARE ON FIRE...
IT'S HAZY AT THIS POINT.
THE AIR PRESSURE'S RISING,
AND THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY
ARE RISING.
ALL OF THESE THINGS COMBINE TO
SAP THE ENERGY FROM THESE MEN,
WHO ARE FACING
THIS LIFE- OR-DEATH STRUGGLE
AS TO HOW TO GET OFF
OF THIS SUNKEN BOAT.
Narrator:
13 MEN MUSTER THE STRENGTH
TO ATTEMPT AN ESCAPE.
Scott: IT'S A REALLY DAUNTING
TASK BECAUSE AT 180 FEET,
IT'S THE EQUIVALENT
OF AN 18-STORY BUILDING.
Narrator: OTHERS ARE UNWILLING
OR UNABLE.
Scott: AND SO MANY MORE
FINALLY DECIDE TO GIVE UP
AND THEY LAY ON THEIR BUNKS.
THEY'VE SURRENDERED
TO THEIR FATE.
[WATER DRIPPING]
Narrator: AT 8:00 A. M.
TANG'S ESCAPE HATCH CLOSES
FOR THE LAST TIME.
Scott: WHEN THEY FIRST STEP OUT,
IT'S VERY DARK.
YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
AND THE FARTHER THEY GO
UP TOWARD THE SURFACE,
THE WATER AROUND THEM
BEGINS TO LIGHTEN.
♪
Narrator: ONLY 5 OF THE 13 MEN
SURVIVE THE ASCENT.
Scott: EVEN THOSE WHO ESCAPE
AND MAKE IT ALL THE WAY
TO THE SURFACE
AREN'T NECESSARILY GUARANTEED
TO SURVIVE.
IN FACT, FOR SOME OF THOSE MEN,
THEY WATCH OTHERS COME UP
WHO ARE VOMITING,
WHO, BLOOD IS COMING
OUT OF THEIR NOSES,
WHO ARE SO EXHAUSTED AND SO SICK
AT THIS POINT
THAT THEY ULTIMATELY DROWN
JUST A FEW FEET AWAY
FROM THEIR FRIENDS,
THEIR BODIES CARRIED OUT
BY THE TIDE.
Narrator: THE SHALLOWER SEAS
WHERE TANG ATTACKED
MAY HAVE SAVED THEIR LIVES.
EVEN SLIGHTLY DEEPER WATER
MIGHT HAVE PROVED UNSURVIVABLE.
FOUR OTHERS FROM TANG'S BRIDGE
AND CONNING TOWER
ALSO MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT.
ALL ARE TAKEN PRISONER
BY THE JAPANESE.
ONE OF THEM IS TANG'S LEGENDARY
SKIPPER, RICHARD O'KANE.
Scott: THE JAPANESE BEGIN
TO PUNCH THEM, SLAP THEM,
PUT OUT CIGARETTES
ON THEIR SKIN.
AND O'KANE LOOKS AND HE REALIZES
THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE INFLICTING THIS PAIN
ARE COVERED IN BANDAGES
AND THIS WHITE SALVE,
THIS MEDICINAL SALVE.
AND HE REALIZES THAT THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE NOW PUNISHING HIM
ARE THE SURVIVORS OF THE BOATS
THAT HE JUST SANK
THE NIGHT BEFORE.
AND HE LATER SAYS,
"I COULD TAKE IT BETTER
AFTER LEARNING THAT THESE WERE
THE BLOWS COMING FROM VICTIMS
OF WHAT WE HAD DONE
THE NIGHT BEFORE."
Narrator: TANG'S SURVIVORS
SPEND THE REST OF THE WAR
IN JAPANESE
PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMPS.
O'KANE LIVES TO BE 83.
HE GOES DOWN IN HISTORY
AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SKIPPER
OF AN AMERICAN SUBMARINE.
Scott: O'KANE'S LEGACY
REALLY COMES DOWN
TO TACTICS AND DARING.
HIS EXPERTISE AND WHAT HE WAS
BEST SUITED FOR
REALLY WAS FIGHTING.
THAT'S WHAT DICK O'KANE WAS
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
HE WAS A FIGHTER.
Jolin: BECAUSE USS TANG
ONLY EVER HAD
ONE COMMANDING OFFICER,
RICHARD O'KANE,
IT'S HARD TO SEPARATE THE
SUBMARINE FROM THE COMMANDER.
THEIR LEGACY IS THAT OF ONE
OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
FIGHTING SUBMARINES
OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
Narrator: BECAUSE IT WAS HELD
IN SUCH HIGH REGARD,
THE FIRST POST-WAR CLASS
OF AMERICAN SUBS
WAS NAMED AFTER USS TANG,
A LASTING TRIBUTE TO THE MAN
AND THE SUBMARINE.
Narrator: BETWEEN THE SHORES
OF OCCUPIED CHINA
AND THE ISLAND OF FORMOSA...
SUBMARINE COMMANDER
DICK O'KANE...
O'Kane: FIRE!
Narrator: ...ATTACKS FIVE
JAPANESE SHIPS, SINKING TWO.
HE DROPS BACK TO PREPARE
A FINAL ASSAULT.
James Scott: THIS LAST TORPEDO.
THIS IS ALL THAT STANDS
BETWEEN DICK O'KANE
AND ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PATROL.
ALL HE HAS TO DO
IS FIRE THIS LAST SHOT.
Narrator: O'KANE AND THE CREW
OF THE USS TANG...
O'Kane: NEW SETUP, GET READY.
Narrator: ...HAVE EXECUTED SOME
OF THE MOST DARING ATTACKS
AGAINST THE JAPANESE
IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
O'Kane: FIRE!
Narrator:
UNTIL THEIR LUCK AND A TORPEDO
TAKE A DRAMATIC TURN.
O'Kane: WE HAVE AN ERRATIC!
ALL AHEAD EMERGENCY.
[KLAXON HORN]
♪
Narrator: IN WORLD WAR II,
A SUBSEA WEAPON
ALLOWS WARRIORS TO FIGHT
FROM BENEATH THE WAVES...
WITH CUNNING, FORCE
AND TENACITY.
THEIR ENEMIES STRIKE BACK.
[BOOM]
REVOLUTIONARY
BUT STILL SOMETIMES PRIMITIVE,
IT'S A DESPERATE BID...
TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF WAR.
THEIR STORIES ARE LEGEND.
♪
[EXPLOSION]
JUNE 1944.
OFF THE COAST
OF NAGASAKI, JAPAN,
AN AMERICAN SUBMARINE DISCOVERS
A CONVOY OF SIX SHIPS
GUARDED BY 16 HEAVILY ARMED
ESCORT VESSELS.
James Scott: O'KANE IS THERE,
AND HE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW BEST TO ATTACK.
AND HE HAS THIS IDEA.
HE SAYS, YOU KNOW,
WHY NOT COME FROM THE REAR,
BECAUSE LOOKOUTS INHERENTLY
NEVER LOOK BEHIND THEM.
Narrator: FALLING BACK,
COMMANDER DICK O'KANE DISCOVERS
THAT ONLY TWO DESTROYERS
PROTECT THE END OF THE CONVOY.
HE MUST SNEAK PAST
TO SINK THE FREIGHTERS.
Scott: O'KANE REALLY FALLS BACK
ON HUMAN NATURE,
GAMBLING ON THE FACT
THAT MOST LOOKOUTS,
LIKE, LIKE HUMANS
WALKING DOWN THE STREET,
ARE GONNA BE LOOKING
WHERE THEY'RE GOING,
NOT WHERE THEY'VE BEEN.
O'Kane: CONSTANT BEARING.
Scott: HE SETS UP WHAT HE THINKS
IS THE PERFECT SHOT.
O'Kane: SET... FIRE!
Scott: HE FIRES A SPREAD
OF SIX TORPEDOES.
♪
[BOOM]
HE SEES THE, THE DETONATIONS.
AND IT JUST, IT LIGHTS UP
THE NIGHT SKY.
Narrator: BUT USS TANG
MUST NOW ESCAPE THE CONVOY.
THEY ARE SURROUNDED
BY ENEMY SHIPS.
Scott: ONCE THOSE EXPLOSIONS
GO OFF,
THEN IT'S GONNA DRAW
ALL THE ATTENTION
OF THE JAPANESE ESCORTS
TO THOSE WOUNDED SHIPS.
IN THAT CHAOS, HE'LL BE ABLE
TO SLIDE OUT.
AND IT'S WHAT HE DOES.
O'KANE THINKS HE'S
SUCCESSFULLY SUNK TWO SHIPS.
POST-WAR RECORDS REVEAL
THAT HE IN FACT
ACTUALLY SANK FOUR SHIPS.
THIS BECOMES THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
AMERICAN ATTACK
IN THE PACIFIC
DURING WORLD WAR II.
♪
Narrator: BY 1944, THE U. S.
HAS BEEN FIGHTING JAPAN
FOR OVER TWO YEARS,
AND SUBS HAVE BEEN ONE OF THEIR
MOST SUCCESSFUL WEAPONS.
TANG'S COMMANDER, DICK O'KANE,
CAME OF AGE ON ANOTHER SUB,
USS WAHOO, UNDER LEGENDARY
SKIPPER DUDLEY "MUSH" MORTON.
Scott: MUSH MORTON TAKES COMMAND
OF THE WAHOO
AT THE START
OF ITS THIRD PATROL,
AND DICK O'KANE IS
HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
THESE GUYS ARE
REALLY GREAT FRIENDS.
THEY REALLY SEE COMBAT IN
A REAL EYE-TO-EYE KIND OF WAY.
DICK O'KANE IS EQUALLY
AS AGGRESSIVE AS MUSH MORTON.
AND SO THEY REALLY, THEY ALMOST
FORM A PERFECT FIGHTING TEAM.
Narrator: MORTON GIVES
TANG'S SKIPPER HIS EARLY EDGE.
Norman Friedman: HE WAS TRAINED
BASICALLY BY MORTON.
AND THE INTERESTING THING
ABOUT THE TRAINING
WAS THAT, UH, NORMALLY
THE SUBMARINE COMMANDER
IS THE ONE WHO LOOKS
THROUGH THE PERISCOPE,
FIGURES OUT WHAT'S GOING ON,
AND DOES THE REST.
MORTON PREFERS
TO DO THE PLOTTING
AND FIGURE OUT
WHAT THE SITUATION IS.
HE LIKES HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
IN THIS CASE O'KANE,
TO DO THE, THE WORK
WITH THE PERISCOPE.
THAT PREPARES HIM FOR BEING
A SUBMARINE COMMANDER.
HE'S VERY AGGRESSIVE.
HE'S VERY GOOD AT IT.
♪
Narrator: AFTER FIVE PATROLS
ON WAHOO, O'KANE REMAINS ASHORE
TO TAKE COMMANDED
OF NEWLY COMMISSIONED TANG.
THE PROMOTION PROBABLY
SAVES HIS LIFE.
THREE MONTHS AFTER O'KANE
WAS REASSIGNED,
MORTON AND WAHOO WERE DECLARED
OVERDUE AND PRESUMED LOST.
♪
[KLAXON HORN]
NOW IN COMMAND OF HIS OWN CREW,
O'KANE IS DETERMINED THEY WILL
NOT SHARE HIS MENTOR'S FATE.
HE PUTS HIS NEW SUBMARINE
AND ITS CREW TO A PERILOUS TEST.
Scott: THE BEST TACTICAL THING
FOR A SUBMARINE IS TO GO DEEP,
IS TO GET AWAY FROM THE ENEMY.
AND SO YOU REALLY WANT
TO INCREASE THE DEPTH,
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY
YOUR ONLY NATURAL ADVANTAGE.
♪
Narrator: USS TANG IS AN
AMERICAN BALAO-CLASS SUBMARINE,
MADE OF HIGH-TENSILE STEEL
ABOUT 20 PERCENT THICKER
THAN ITS PREDECESSORS.
IT'S ENGINEERED TO WITHSTAND
MORE PRESSURE
THAN ANY HULL BEFORE IT.
Scott: THE BALAO-CLASS SUBMARINE
WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT
THE MOST STATE-OF-THE-ART
SUBMARINE
THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD
IN ITS ARSENAL.
AS THE JAPANESE
ANTISUBMARINE TECHNOLOGY
BECAME MORE AGGRESSIVE,
THE ABILITY FOR AMERICAN
SUBMARINES TO BE ABLE TO ESCAPE
BECAME, UH, PARAMOUNT.
♪
Narrator:
THE U. S. NAVY CERTIFIES TANG
TO DIVE TO 400 FEET,
NEARLY 100 FEET DEEPER
THAN PREVIOUS SUB CLASSES.
♪
[CREAKING]
BUT O'KANE WANTS TO SEE
HOW FAR HE CAN SAFELY GO.
THE INFORMATION COULD BE CRUCIAL
WHEN THEY COME UNDER ATTACK.
♪
[GROANING]
SOME OF THE DELICATE EQUIPMENT
DOES NOT HOLD UP
TO CRUSHING OCEAN PRESSURES...
♪
AS HE PUSHES THE SUB 200 FEET
DEEPER THAN IT IS RATED FOR.
♪
O'Kane: ALL CLEAR.
SURFACE THE BOAT.
Officer: AYE, SIR,
SURFACE, SURFACE, SURFACE.
[KLAXON HORN]
Narrator: BUT TANG'S TEST DIVE
PROVES THE SUB CAN SURVIVE
AT 612 FEET.
♪
AS ENEMY FORCES MOBILIZE,
O'KANE WILL NEED ALL THE HELP
HE CAN GET.
THE JAPANESE FINALLY
ACKNOWLEDGE THE THREAT
POSED BY AMERICAN SUBMARINES
TO THEIR WAR EFFORT
AND ESTABLISH
THE GRAND ESCORT FLEET,
WHICH GROWS TO 60 VESSELS.
Brian Hayashi:
THE GRAND ESCORT FLEET
IS CREATED TO PROTECT
JAPANESE SHIPPING.
THEY WOULD ASSIGN
A NUMBER OF SHIPS,
USUALLY ABOUT THREE OR FOUR,
TO ESCORT MAYBE ABOUT 12
MERCHANT MARINE SHIPS
AND THEN ESCORT THEM THROUGH.
Narrator: SOME ESCORTS CARRY
UP TO 300 DEPTH CHARGES,
UNDERWATER BOMBS RIGGED
TO DETONATE AT SPECIFIC DEPTHS.
[BOOM]
THE GOAL IS TO COMPROMISE
THE SUBMARINE'S HULL.
♪
BY AUGUST OF 1944,
FEWER MERCHANT SHIPS SAIL
FROM THE EMPIRE'S OUTPOSTS.
USS TANG IS SENT
INTO JAPANESE HOME WATERS
TO SEARCH FOR TARGETS.
O'Kane: GIVE ME A NEW BEARING.
Submariner: BEARING IS NOW
2-7-0, CAPTAIN.
Narrator: AGAINST FALLING ODDS,
O'KANE LOCATES TWO FREIGHTERS...
O'Kane: FIRE TUBE FIVE.
♪
Narrator: ...IGNORING A SMALL
ESCORT THAT CHARGES TO ATTACK.
O'Kane: THAT'S IT,
TAKE HER DEEP.
Narrator: O'KANE ORDERS A DIVE
TO AVOID THE COUNTER BARRAGE.
BUT THE WATERS ARE VERY SHALLOW,
LESS THAN 200 FEET,
WELL WITHIN THE RANGE
OF DEPTH CHARGES.
Scott: ON ITS FOURTH PATROL
OFF OF HONSHU,
DICK O'KANE EXPERIENCES
THE WORST DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK
HE'S HAD
IN TEN PATROLS
ON BOARD SUBMARINES.
♪
[EXPLOSIONS]
Narrator: IN AUGUST OF 1944,
THE AMERICAN SUBMARINE USS TANG
FIRES SIX TORPEDOES, THEN DIVES.
THE CREW LISTENS
AS THE ESCORT PASSES OVERHEAD.
[EXPLOSIONS]
O'KANE DESCRIBES TANG'S STALKER
AS A MODEST 1,500-TON GUNBOAT.
IT'S OUTFITTED TO DROP
UP TO 28 DEPTH CHARGES.
AFTER THE FIRST SALVO
RATTLES THE SUBMARINE,
THE GUNBOAT COMPLETES
FOUR MORE PASSES,
RELEASING MORE BOMBS EACH TIME.
[EXPLOSIONS]
[GLASS BREAKS]
Scott: LIGHTS SHATTER,
GAUGES ARE BUSTED,
SAILORS ARE KNOCKED OFF
THEIR FEET DURING THIS ATTACK.
IT'S WORSE THAN BEING
ON A BATTLEFIELD,
IN A LOT OF CASES, 'CAUSE YOU'RE
IN A TIGHT, CONFINED SPACE.
YOU CAN'T SEE
WHAT'S COMING AT YOU.
YOU CAN ONLY HEAR IT
AND YOU CAN ONLY FEEL IT
AS IT'S SHAKING THE BOAT.
[EXPLOSIONS]
[CRASH]
WHEN A SUBMARINE IS LOST,
IT'S TYPICALLY LOST
WITH EVERYONE ON BOARD.
WHEN YOU'RE LOST UNDERWATER,
YOU KNOW, YOUR CHANCES
OF SURVIVAL ARE SO LIMITED.
Narrator: O'KANE AND HIS MEN
KNOW THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE CASE
WHERE A SUB CREW
HAS BEEN RESCUED.
IN 1939, 33 SAILORS WERE
RECOVERED WITH A DIVING CHAMBER
AFTER THE USS SQUALUS SANK
DURING A TEST DIVE
IN THE ATLANTIC.
THE SUBMARINE'S LOCATION
NEAR AMERICAN SHORES
MADE THE RECOVERY POSSIBLE.
FIVE YEARS LATER AND
THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY,
O'KANE ORDERS LEFT FULL RUDDER
AND RISKS FULL SPEED
TOWARD THE OPEN OCEAN,
WORRIED HIS SUBMARINE
CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE.
♪
38 MINUTES
AFTER THE GUNBOAT CHARGES,
THE ENEMY LOSES CONTACT
WITH THE SUB...
[EXPLOSION]
AND TANG MAKES AN ESCAPE.
[EXPLOSION]
THE PROLONGED ATTACK
RATTLES THE CREW.
Scott: O'KANE AND HIS
EXECUTIVE OFFICER MURRAY FRAZEE,
THEY'RE SITTING IN THE WARDROOM.
FRAZEE LOOKS OVER AT O'KANE,
AND HE TIPS HIS HAND BACK
LIKE IT'S A GLASS,
AND THAT'S HIS SIGNAL
THAT MAYBE IT'S TIME
TO BREAK OUT
THE DEPTH CHARGE MEDICINE.
DEPTH CHARGE MEDICINE
IS ESSENTIALLY, IT'S BRANDY.
IT WAS A WAY TO CALM
THE NERVES OF THE SAILORS.
YOU KNOW, AFTER YOU GO THROUGH
A REALLY SCARY
DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK,
SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW,
A SHOT OF ALCOHOL
WOULD BE JUST THE THING
TO SORT OF TAKE THE EDGE OFF
OF A LONG DAY.
♪
Narrator: TWO WEEKS LATER
O'KANE RETURNS TO BASE.
THROUGH FOUR PATROLS,
TANG'S CREW AVERAGES
A SINKING EVERY 11 DAYS-
TWICE THE KILL RATE
OF ANY OTHER U. S. SUBMARINE.
Scott: IN FOUR PATROLS,
DICK O'KANE HAS ALREADY SUNK
17 SHIPS FOR 72,000 TONS.
AND HE'S HUNGRY FOR MORE ACTION.
♪
Narrator:
USS TANG IS UNDER THE COMMAND
OF ADMIRAL CHARLES LOCKWOOD,
MASTERMIND OF PEARL HARBOR'S
SUBMARINES.
Scott: O'KANE RETURNS
FROM HIS FOURTH PATROL,
AND HE GOES TO SEE
ADMIRAL LOCKWOOD.
AND ADMIRAL LOCKWOOD
WANTS TO GO AHEAD
AND SEND HIM RIGHT BACK OUT
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
HE NEEDS TO HAVE HIS BEST
SKIPPER IN POSITION TO HELP.
Narrator: LOCKWOOD FACES
A BOLD DIRECTIVE.
[BOOM]
AMERICAN FORCES LED
BY GENERAL MacARTHUR
RALLY TO CHARGE THE PHILIPPINES.
IF THEY SUCCEED, IT WILL PUT
ALLIED WARPLANES
WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE
OF JAPAN.
Friedman: MacARTHUR IS VERY HOT
TO ATTACK THE PHILIPPINES.
IF WE HELD THE PHILIPPINES,
THE JAPANESE COULDN'T BE SAFE.
AND BY THAT TIME,
THE JAPANESE REALIZED
THAT UNLESS THEY STOP US,
THE NEXT STOP IS JAPAN.
Narrator: LOCKWOOD HAS ORDERS
TO SINK ENEMY SHIPS
ATTEMPTING TO REINFORCE
THE JAPANESE GARRISONS.
A KEY SUPPLY ROUTE FROM JAPAN
TO THE PHILIPPINES
IS THE FORMOSA STRAIT.
BOTH SHORES OF THE PASS
ARE OCCUPIED BY THE JAPANESE.
Hayashi: THE FORMOSA STRAITS
IS ONE OF THE SAFEST PASSAGES
THE JAPANESE MERCHANT MARINE
COULD TAKE.
IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH
TO THE SHORES.
THEY WERE PROTECTED ON BOTH
SIDES BY LAND-BASED AIRCRAFT.
AND SO IT WAS A REASONABLY SAFE
OR PROBABLY THE SAFEST ROUTE
THAT YOU COULD TAKE.
Narrator: LOCKWOOD TURNS
TO HIS SUBMARINE ACE
TO CUT OFF THIS CRITICAL PASS.
♪
TANG'S FIFTH PATROL WILL TAKE
THE CREW TO THE FORMOSA STRAIT.
BUT BEFORE THEY CAN LEAVE,
THEY MUST RESUPPLY.
IT PROVES SURPRISINGLY
DIFFICULT, HOWEVER,
TO SOURCE TORPEDOES.
THE MARK 14 TORPEDOES
USED EARLIER IN THE WAR
PROVED FAULTY.
Scott: THE FAILURE
OF THE AMERICAN TORPEDO
IN THE EARLY PARTS
OF WORLD WAR II
IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SCANDALS
OF THE WAR.
WHERE IT WAS MOST PROBLEMATIC
WAS FOR AGGRESSIVE SKIPPERS
WHO WOULD GO IN
AND WOULD GET IN CLOSE
AND WOULD HAVE THESE SHOTS
THAT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE
THE PERFECT SHOT,
ONLY TO HAVE YOUR WEAPON FAIL.
Narrator: THE SUBMARINE SERVICE
COMPLAINED FOR MONTHS
BEFORE THE NAVY AGREED TO TEST
THE MARK 14 WARHEADS.
Scott: THERE HAD BEEN
THIS BATTLE INSIDE THE NAVY.
YOU HAD THE BUREAU OF ORDNANCE,
WHO MANUFACTURED THE TORPEDOES,
WHO WERE BLAMING THE SKIPPERS
AS BAD SHOTS.
AND YOU HAD THE SKIPPERS
WHO WERE BLAMING
THE BUREAU OF ORDNANCE
SAYING WE HAVE A FAULTY WEAPON.
AND SO THERE WAS REALLY
THIS BACK AND FORTH
AND NO EFFORT TO REALLY SOLVE
THAT PROBLEM.
Narrator: OF THE FIRST TEN
MARK 14s TESTED,
SEVEN FAILED TO EXPLODE.
Scott: AT THAT POINT
THE PROBLEM WAS WELL KNOWN.
IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF WHO
WAS GONNA TAKE OWNERSHIP
OF THIS PROBLEM
AND WORK TO REMEDY IT.
Narrator: THE WAKELESS
MARK 18 TORPEDO
AIMS TO REPLACE
THE DEFECTIVE MARK 14.
Friedman:
THE MARK 14 IS A STEAM TORPEDO.
STEAM MEANS THAT IT LEAVES
A TRAIL OF BUBBLES.
THAT MEANS THAT IF
IT'S COMING AT YOU,
THERE'S A FAIR CHANCE THAT
YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING COMING.
AN ELECTRIC TORPEDO
DOESN'T LEAVE ANY BUBBLES.
SO THE GERMANS INTRODUCE
ELECTRIC TORPEDOES
FOR THAT REASON.
WE RECOVER SOME.
WE BASICALLY COPY IT
WITH AMERICAN FEATURES.
THAT'S A MARK 18.
AND THE IDEA IS
THEY WON'T SEE IT COMING.
SO IT'LL WORK BETTER.
Narrator: ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1944,
TANG DEPARTS FOR FORMOSA...
WITH A COMPLEMENT
OF AMERICA'S NEWEST TORPEDOES-
MARK 18s INITIALLY ALLOCATED
TO A DRY-DOCKED SUBMARINE.
Scott: AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS
WERE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP.
AND SO THERE WAS A SHORTAGE.
AND SO O'KANE
HAS TO ULTIMATELY SCAVENGE
A LOAD OF TORPEDOES
FROM THE SUBMARINE TAMBOR.
Narrator: O'KANE AND HIS MEN
HAVE BEEN OUT ON PATROL
AT DOUBLE THE EXPECTED RATE.
IN EXCHANGE, O'KANE NEGOTIATES
A BREAK FOR HIS OVERWORKED CREW
AND AN UPGRADE FOR TANG
AT THE END OF THIS MISSION.
♪
SOME 1,500 MILES
INTO THE JOURNEY,
TYPHOON SEASON IN THE PACIFIC
SLOWS TANG'S PROGRESS.
Scott: AS THE TANG IS HEADING
TOWARD THE FORMOSA STRAIT,
IT HITS THESE, THESE HIGH SWELLS
THAT DEVELOP
INTO THIS RAGING STORM.
WAVES CRASHING AGAINST THE BOAT.
TANGIS TOSSING BACK AND FORTH.
Narrator: O'KANE TOURS
TO BATTEN DOWN THE SHIP.
THE SITUATION TAKES
AN ALARMING TURN.
Scott: O'KANE IS DOING
AN INSPECTION
AND HE STEPS INTO AN OPEN HATCH
IN THE FORWARD ENGINE ROOM,
AND HE FALLS AND HIS FOOT SNAGS
ON THE BOTTOM RUNG
OF THE LADDER.
HE'S BROKEN SEVERAL BONES
IN HIS FOOT.
SO O'KANE IS THEN HAVING
TO COMMAND THE SHIP
FROM HIS BACK IN HIS BUNK.
♪
Narrator: OCTOBER 4th.
AS O'KANE RELIES ON HIS CREW
TO BATTLE THE ERRATIC WEATHER
THAT'S LASTED FOR DAYS...
[WHISTLING]
DURING A LULL
IN THE STORMING SEAS,
AN INTERCEPTED JAPANESE MESSAGE
DRAGS THE SKIPPER
FROM HIS QUARTERS.
THE CODE BREAK IS LEVEL "ULTRA."
Friedman: THERE ARE SEVERAL
DIFFERENT KINDS OF CODE BREAKING
THAT HAPPENED IN WORLD WAR II.
ULTRA IS BASICALLY USED
FOR BREAKING MILITARY CODES.
MUCH OF THE ALLIED CODE BREAKING
IN WORLD WAR II IS JOINT.
THERE ARE AMERICANS
AT BLETCHLEY PARK,
THERE ARE AMERICANS
WITH AUSTRALIANS IN MELBOURNE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THOSE UNITS
THAT WORK TOGETHER.
AND THAT GIVES US
A FAIR AMOUNT OF INSIGHT
INTO THE TIMING
OF JAPANESE OPERATIONS.
Narrator: SKIPPERS LIKE O'KANE
USE THIS INTELLIGENCE
TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION
OF ENEMY SHIPS.
Norman Jolin:
BASED ON INTELLIGENCE,
THESE SUBMARINES WERE
LITERALLY BEING DIRECTED
RIGHT ON THE POINT
WHERE THEY EXPECTED TO HAVE
MAJOR JAPANESE NAVAL UNITS
OR CONVOYS PASSING.
Narrator: THE ULTRA TRANSMISSION
REVEALS THE SUSPECTED LOCATION
OF A JAPANESE WEATHER SHIP.
Friedman: WEATHER SHIPS
MAKE A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE.
IF THE OTHER SIDE
DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS
TO WEATHER INFORMATION
AND YOU DO,
YOU'LL DO A WHOLE LOT BETTER.
Narrator: THE COORDINATES
ARE WITHIN REACH.
BUT THE STORMY WEATHER
COMPROMISES O'KANE'S
ATTACK PLAN.
♪
THE INCREASINGLY VIOLENT SEA
MAKES IT DIFFICULT
AS HE TRIES TO HUNT
THE JAPANESE WEATHER SHIP.
Scott: TYPICALLY IN THESE KINDS
OF SITUATIONS,
A SUBMARINE SKIPPER
WOULD TAKE THE BOAT DEEP
AND JUST RIDE IT OUT
DEEP UNDERWATER.
Narrator:
BUT TANG'S COMMANDER REFUSES
TO LET A SHOT AT THE ENEMY
SLIP AWAY.
THEY SURFACE SO LOOKOUTS
CAN BRAVE THE BRIDGE
TO SEARCH THROUGH THE RAIN.
Scott: IT'S VERY DANGEROUS
FOR THESE SAILORS
TO BE OUT TOPSIDE
DURING A RAGING STORM LIKE THIS.
THEY CAN GET BATTERED AROUND,
THEY CAN BE WASHED OVERBOARD.
O'KANE'S IN A TOUGH SPOT,
BECAUSE ON THE ONE HAND
HE HAS TO GET INTO POSITION.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HE HAS
RUN THE RISK OF LOSING HIS BOAT
IF HE'S NOT CAREFUL.
Narrator: LIKE O'KANE,
THE WEATHER IS UNRELENTING.
AROUND 3:30 A. M.
VIOLENT WINDS FORCE LOOKOUTS
TO ABANDON THE BRIDGE.
TANG IS IN THE CLUTCHES
OF A TYPHOON.
Scott: AT ITS PEAK, THE WAVES
WERE, FROM TROUGH TO CREST,
WERE 95 FEET.
MANY OF THE MEN
ON BOARD THE TANG
WERE CONVINCED
THEY WERE DONE FOR.
Narrator: THE SEA BATTERS
TANG'S PORT SIDE,
TILTING O'KANE'S SUBMARINE
STARBOARD.
Scott: AT ONE POINT HE LOOKS
OVER AT THE INCLINOMETER,
AND HE SEES HE'S GOT
A 70-DEGREE LIST.
AND HE SAYS, "IS SHE EVER
GONNA COME BACK?"
AND HIS EXECUTIVE OFFICER SAYS,
"YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES
THEY DON'T."
♪
Narrator: OCTOBER 6, 1944.
[CREAKING]
A POWERFUL STORM THREATENS
AMERICA'S TOP WORLD WAR II
SUBMARINE.
♪
IF COMMANDER O'KANE ATTEMPTS TO
DIVE NOW TO ESCAPE THE WEATHER,
THE WAVES COULD CAPSIZE
USS TANG.
Scott: SO HE HAS TO RIDE
ON THE SURFACE,
HE HAS TO JUST PUSH
THROUGH THIS STORM.
AND THAT'S WHAT HE DOES.
WHEN THE STORM FINALLY ENDED,
THE CREW WAS JUST HIT
BY IMMENSE RELIEF.
AND AFTER SURVIVING THIS,
WHAT COULD BE WORSE?
Narrator:
THE JAPANESE WEATHER SHIP,
IF IT WAS EVER THERE, IS GONE.
BLOWN OFF COURSE,
O'KANE AND HIS CREW
SET A WESTERLY HEADING
FOR JAPANESE-CONTROLLED FORMOSA,
WHERE ALLIED FORCES MOBILIZE
A CRITICAL BLITZ.
THEY ATTACK KEY AIRFIELDS,
DESTROYING HUNDREDS
OF ENEMY PLANES...
[EXPLOSIONS]
TO CRIPPLE JAPAN'S ABILITY
TO REPEL MacARTHUR'S ASSAULT
ON THE PHILIPPINES.
♪
THE JAPANESE FIGHT BACK,
DAMAGING
TWO AIRCRAFT CARRIERS...
WHOSE CREWS ARE AMONG THE FIRST
TO EVER WITNESS
A KAMIKAZE ATTACK.
[EXPLOSION]
♪
USS TANG HAS ARRIVED
AMIDST THE CHAOS
TO JOIN THE FIGHT.
O'KANE'S MISSION
IS TO SINK TRANSPORT SHIPS
RESUPPLYING JAPANESE FORCES
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Scott:
SKIPPERS LIKE DICK O'KANE,
THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR JOB IS.
THEY KNOW THAT THEIR SUCCESS
IS GONNA BE GAUGED
ON HOW MANY JAPANESE SHIPS
THEY'VE SUNK,
ON HOW MUCH JAPANESE TONNAGE
THEY'VE PUT
ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA FLOOR.
SO THEY LEAVE WITH 24 TORPEDOES,
AND THEY WANT TO COME BACK
EMPTY-HANDED.
THEY WANT TO FIRE THEM ALL.
♪
Narrator: ON OCTOBER 23, 1944,
TANG'S CREW FINALLY SPOTS
A CHANCE TO STRIKE.
Scott: THE TANG'S RADAR MEN
PICK UP A WHOLE MESS OF BLIPS,
SO MANY THAT THEY THINK
THEY'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING
AT AN ISLAND CHAIN,
UNTIL THEY CHECK THE CHARTS
AND THEY REALIZE THERE ARE NO
ISLANDS IN THIS SAME POSITION.
SO O'KANE'S EXCITED.
HE'S THRILLED AT THIS POINT.
HE'S GOT WHAT TURNS OUT TO BE
A FOUR-SHIP CONVOY
LED BY TWO DESTROYERS.
Narrator: THE CONVOY STEAMS
TO BOMB-RAVAGED FORMOSA,
KNOWN TODAY AS TAIWAN.
Lookout: COMMANDER,
YOU BETTER TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
Narrator: ONE OF THE SHIPS
IS A TROOP TRANSPORT
THAT CARRIES
ENEMY REINFORCEMENTS.
Friedman:
IF THE TARGET IS A FREIGHTER,
YOU'RE CUTTING OFF
RAW MATERIALS.
IF IT'S A TRANSPORT,
YOU'RE CUTTING OFF TROOPS.
AND IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THE
SUPPLY OF TROOPS ISN'T ENDLESS,
ANYTHING THAT CAN KILL
THE TROOPS EN ROUTE HELPS.
♪
Narrator: TANG'S CREW
READIES FOR AN ATTACK.
Scott: SAILORS MAN
THEIR BATTLE STATIONS.
♪
Narrator: O'KANE MUST GET TANG
PAST THE SCREEN OF ESCORTS.
O'Kane: CONSTANT BEARING MARK.
Scott: HE'S STUDYING THIS
AND TRYING TO DETERMINE
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO ATTACK.
AND HE SEES HIS MOMENT
OF OPPORTUNITY
WHEN ONE OF THE DESTROYERS
PULLS OUT OF FORMATION
AND BEGINS A BIG WIDE CIRCLE
AROUND THE CONVOY,
CHECKING UP AND MAKING SURE
ALL THE SHIPS ARE IN LINE.
Narrator: THE TIMING IS PERFECT.
Scott: O'KANE THEN MOVES
INTO THAT DESTROYER'S POSITION.
AND HE KNOWS THAT ON RADAR
FOR THE OTHER JAPANESE SHIPS,
THEY'RE GONNA LOOK
AND THEY'RE GONNA SEE
WHAT TO THEM IS JUST AN ESCORT.
AND SO HE'S GONNA
BLEND RIGHT IN.
HE'S GONNA BECOME PART
OF THE JAPANESE CONVOY.
Narrator:
AT NIGHTTIME, ON RADAR,
THE SUBMARINE LOOKS
LIKE A DESTROYER.
O'KANE CONTINUES THE DECEPTION.
Scott: HE JUST SLOWLY PULLS OUT
TO THE SIDE,
MIMICKING THE MOVEMENTS
OF THE JAPANESE ESCORT.
AND THEN HE ALLOWS THE OTHER
SHIPS TO SLOWLY OVERTAKE HIM.
AND AT THAT POINT,
HE CAN THEN TURN INTO POSITION,
AND HE HAS THE BROAD SIDE
OF ALL THESE SHIPS,
ALL OF THEM TARGETS
THAT HE CAN THEN SHOOT AT.
Submariner: LET'S GET
THOSE JIGGERS RIGGED.
COME ON, WE AIN'T GOT TIME,
LET'S GO, LET'S GO, LET'S GO!
[SLAM]
O'Kane: CONSTANT BEARING.
Narrator: O'KANE TAKES AIM
AT THE CARGO SHIPS IN THE CONVOY
AS THEY PASS.
SOME AT TANG'S BOW,
ANOTHER ON ITS STERN.
O'Kane: MARK!
SET... FIRE!
♪
Scott: HE FIRES THREE
ELECTRIC TORPEDOES.
NOW THESE ARE WAKELESS,
THAT THEY CAN'T SEE 'EM
COMING TOWARD 'EM.
Operator: TWO READY.
O'Kane: FIRE!
Scott: EACH TIME HE FIRES,
HE CAN FEEL THE JOLT,
THE SHUDDER OF THE SUBMARINE
AS THE COMPRESSED AIR
PUSHES THESE TORPEDOES OUT.
AND THEN HE WAITS
LESS THAN A MINUTE OR SO,
AND THEN THE EXPLOSIONS
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT SKY.
Narrator: O'KANE'S BOLD ATTACK
QUICKLY SINKS
TWO JAPANESE SHIPS.
BUT THE AMBUSH REVEALS
TANG'S PRESENCE.
Scott:
AND AT THAT POINT, ACTUALLY,
ONE OF THE SHIPS TURNS
AND HE SEES THE TANG,
AND HE COMES IN TO TRY
AND RAM O'KANE.
O'Kane: RADAR,
GIVE ME A READING.
Narrator: THE CONVOY'S TRANSPORT
IS LESS THAN 30 SECONDS AWAY
FROM SMASHING INTO TANG'S HULL.
THERE'S NO TIME TO DIVE.
Scott: HE'S BOXED IN
BY THESE BURNING SHIPS,
AND HE CAN'T ESCAPE,
HE CAN'T DIVE.
HE ORDERS LEFT FULL RUDDER,
AND EMERGENCY SPEED.
AND HE ACTUALLY GOES RIGHT DOWN
THE SIDE OF THIS JAPANESE SHIP.
[GROANING AND CREAKING]
Narrator: O'KANE AVOIDS
A COLLISION WITH THE TRANSPORT,
BUT A FOURTH CARGO SHIP
FROM THE CONVOY
STEAMS IN FOR THE KILL.
Scott: THESE TWO SHIPS, HOWEVER,
ARE ON THEIR OWN
COLLISION COURSE,
AND O'KANE SEES AN OPPORTUNITY.
Narrator: TANG'S COMMANDER
MANEUVERS CAREFULLY.
Scott: HE SETS UP A SHOT
AND HE FIRES AT THE SPOT
WHERE THE TWO SHIPS
ARE GONNA COLLIDE.
SO INTO THAT MIX
OF THESE TWO COLLIDING SHIPS
GO TANG'S TORPEDOES.
♪
HE'S CREATED ALL THIS CARNAGE
OUT THERE.
THESE SHIPS HAVE COLLIDED,
THEY'VE EXPLODED,
AND SO AGAINST THE GLOW
OF THESE BURNING SHIPS,
HE CAN SEE THE DESTRUCTION
THAT THE TANG HAS CAUSED.
AT THAT POINT HE DECIDES
MY WORK HERE IS DONE,
AND HE SLIPS BACK OUT TO SEA.
♪
Narrator: AS DAYLIGHT BREAKS
JAPANESE PATROL UNITS
HUNT THE SUBMARINE.
O'Kane: GIVE ME A NEW BEARING.
Frazee: BEARING 2-7-2.
Narrator:
USS TANG LAUNCHED THE ASSAULT
ALONG A MAIN SHIPPING ROUTE
THROUGH THE FORMOSA STRAIT.
O'KANE BELIEVES THE JAPANESE
WILL REROUTE THEIR CONVOYS
CLOSER TO THE CHINESE COAST
IN A BID TO DETER THE SUBMARINE.
♪
THE SHALLOWER WATER ERODES
TANG'S DEEP DIVING ADVANTAGE
AND LEAVES IT MORE VULNERABLE
TO DEPTH CHARGES.
IT'S A RISK TANG'S SKIPPER
IS DRIVEN TO TAKE.
Submariner: AYE, SIR,
SURFACE, SURFACE, SURFACE!
[KLAXON HORN]
Friedman: IF YOU'RE A SMART,
AGGRESSIVE GUY,
YOU CAN GET REAL RESULTS.
BUT THAT'S ALSO
INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS...
SOME OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
COMMANDERS GET KILLED
PUSHING IT TOO HARD.
Narrator: OCTOBER 1944.
AMERICA'S SUBMARINE ACE
SCOURS THE FORMOSA STRAIT
FOR JAPANESE SHIPS.
Scott: ON OCTOBER 24,
THE TANG'S RADAR MEN
PICK UP ANOTHER CONVOY.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY
A 12-SHIP CONVOY,
AND IT'S DEPARTED SASEBO
IN JAPAN.
AND IT'S GUARDED
BY FIVE ESCORTS,
AND IT'S STRUNG OUT
IN ONE REALLY LONG COLUMN.
Friedman: IF THE CONVOY
IS WEAKLY PROTECTED,
IT BECOMES A TASTY MEAL
RATHER THAN A DANGEROUS PLACE.
Narrator:
STRINGING OUT THE FORMATION
LEAVES SOME OF
THE MERCHANT SHIPS UNSCREENED.
Scott: O'KANE WONDERS WHY WOULD
THE CONVOY COMMANDER DO THIS.
WHY WOULDN'T HE GROUP THEM
ALL TOGETHER
AND SURROUND THEM
AND KEEP THEM SAFER?
BUT HE SURMISES
THAT THE CONVOY COMMANDER
HAS STRUNG THEM OUT SO MUCH
SO THAT IF THEY'RE ATTACKED
BY AMERICAN SUBMARINES,
THEN THEY'LL HAVE
ENOUGH SPACE AND DISTANCE
THAT THEY CAN SEPARATE,
THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE WAY.
Narrator: O'KANE HAS 11
MARK 18 TORPEDOES LEFT.
HE MUST FIRE AS MANY AS HE CAN
BEFORE HIS TARGETS SCATTER.
Scott: SO O'KANE THEN HAS TO
DECIDE HOW IS HE GONNA ATTACK.
O'Kane: ALL AHEAD TWO-THIRDS.
Narrator: O'KANE ORDERS TANG
TO SLINK BETWEEN
THE CONVOY'S TWO COLUMNS.
Scott: HE'S GETTING IN CLOSE
ON THIS CONVOY
WHEN SEARCHLIGHTS ILLUMINATE
AND THE TANG GETS SPOTTED.
[FLARES SCREAMING]
Narrator: THE CREW RACES
TO ATTACK THE CARGO SHIPS
BEFORE THEIR ESCORTS MOBILIZE.
O'Kane: GET READY!
Scott: HE SETS HIS SIGHT ON ONE,
HE FIRES.
O'Kane: FIRE!
Operator: FIVE ON THE WAY.
Scott: HE MOVES ON TO THE NEXT,
FIRES AGAIN, AND AGAIN.
♪
[EXPLOSIONS]
Narrator:
O'KANE TARGETS FIVE SHIPS
BEFORE A DESTROYER CLOSES IN.
Scott: AT THAT POINT
HE CLEARS OUT.
HE PULLS BACK, HE'S ONLY GOT
TWO TORPEDOES LEFT.
Narrator: ONE OF THE SHIPS
THEY'VE HIT HAS NOT SUNK.
Scott:
IT'S RIDING LOW IN THE WATER,
BUT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY SINKING.
AND HE WONDERS
ARE THOSE CREWS BELOW DECK
DOING DAMAGE CONTROL DUTIES.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY'RE
GONNA SAVE THE SHIP?
Narrator: ESCORTS PROTECT
THE DAMAGED SHIP SEASIDE.
O'KANE DECIDES TO CREEP AROUND
AND ATTACK FROM CLOSER
TO THE SHORE.
Scott: IT'S TIME TO REGROUP,
GET A CUP OF COFFEE,
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY RELOAD
THOSE LAST COUPLE OF TORPEDOES.
AND THEN IT'S TIME
TO RETURN TO THE FIGHT.
Narrator:
THE WORDS OF HIS MENTOR
DRIVE O'KANE BACK INTO THE FRAY.
Scott: IT'S JUST AS MUSH MORTON
HAD TOLD HIM-
"TENACITY, DICK, YOU STICK WITH
'EM 'TIL THEY'RE ON THE BOTTOM."
Narrator: AT 2:30 A. M.
TANG CIRCLES IN FOR THE KILL.
THE SUBMARINE ADVANCES
AT TWO-THIRDS SPEED.
O'Kane: NEW SETUP, GET READY.
[DIALS CLICKING]
Operator: NINE STANDBY.
O'Kane: FIRE!
♪
Narrator: TANG FIRES
ITS 23rd MARK 18 TORPEDO.
CREWS READY FOR THE 24th.
Scott: THIS LAST TORPEDO,
THIS IS ALL THAT STANDS
BETWEEN DICK O'KANE
AND ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL PATROL.
HE'S GONNA HEAD ALL THE WAY BACK
TO SAN FRANCISCO
WITH THE PROMISE OF DAYS OFF,
SEVERAL MONTHS IN CALIFORNIA,
A REAL BREAK FROM THE WAR
FOR HIS MEN.
ALL HE HAS TO DO
IS FIRE THIS LAST SHOT.
O'Kane: FIRE!
Operator:
TEN FIRED ELECTRICALLY.
♪
Narrator: THE FINAL WARHEAD
FIRES FROM TANG'S BOW.
CHEER SPREADS THROUGH THE SHIP.
Scott: THROUGHOUT THE SUBMARINE,
MEN RELAX.
ONE OF THE MEN SHOUTS
"LET'S HEAD FOR THE BARN."
THERE'S NO MORE TORPEDOES
TO FIRE.
THE PATROL IS DONE.
Narrator: BUT SECONDS LATER
SOMETHING GOES WRONG.
Scott: DICK O'KANE IS UP
ON THE BRIDGE AT THIS POINT.
O'Kane: WE HAVE AN ERRATIC!
Scott: AND HE SEES
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY
THAT HE'S GOT A PROBLEM,
A MAJOR PROBLEM.
THE TORPEDO
IS RUNNING ERRATICALLY.
Friedman: TANG'S LAST TORPEDO
MAKES WHAT'S CALLED
A CIRCULAR RUN,
WHICH IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.
IT COMES BACK AT HER.
Narrator: A VERTICAL RUDDER
STEERS THE 3,154 POUND TORPEDO.
IT'S NOT RUNNING THE RIGHT WAY.
Friedman: IF THE RUDDER
ON THE TORPEDO LOCKED,
INSTEAD OF GOING
ONTO THE NEW COURSE
AND STAYING THERE,
IT WOULD JUST KEEP TURNING.
O'Kane:
RADAR, GIVE ME A READING.
Narrator:
570 POUNDS OF EXPLOSIVES
RACE FASTER
THAN THE SUB CAN TRAVEL.
Scott: HE CAN SEE
THE PHOSPHORESCENCE
TRAILING BEHIND IT, KIND OF LIKE
THE TAIL OF A COMET.
AND SO HE CAN CHART ITS COURSE
AS IT'S COMING IN.
HE'S WATCHING WITH HORROR
AS THIS ERRANT TORPEDO IS
BOOMERANGING BACK TOWARD HIM.
Narrator: THE TORPEDO
IS ON A CRASH COURSE
WITH TANG'S PORT SIDE.
Scott: THE SUBMARINE IS
THE LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD
AND HE HAS ONLY ABOUT 10 SECONDS
TO TRY AND FISHTAIL
THE SUBMARINE
OUT OF THE WAY OF THIS TORPEDO.
Friedman: TANG AND SIMILAR
SUBMARINES WERE SO LARGE,
THEY COULDN'T MANEUVER AS WELL
AS, SAY, SMALLER SUB MIGHT HAVE.
O'Kane: ALL AHEAD EMERGENCY.
Scott: SO HE IMMEDIATELY ORDERS
EMERGENCY SPEED
AND LEFT FULL RUDDER
TO TRY AND SWING IT AROUND.
O'Kane: HOLD ON, HOLD ON!
Narrator: 20 SECONDS AFTER
TANG'S FINAL MARK 18 LAUNCHED...
[ALARM SOUNDS]
♪
[BOOM]
THE WARHEAD STRIKES
THE SUBMARINE WHICH FIRED IT.
Scott: THE TORPEDO COMES AND IT
SLAMS INTO THE STERN OF THE TANG
AND IT BLOWS A HUGE HOLE IN IT
AND IMMEDIATELY STARTS FLOODING
THOSE AFT COMPARTMENTS.
♪
ALL THOSE MEN IN THERE ARE
EITHER KILLED IN THE EXPLOSION
OR THEY DROWN.
♪
Narrator: THE REST OF TANG'S
CREW IS THROWN INTO CHAOS.
Scott: THE EXPLOSION
IS SO HORRIFIC ON BOARD
THAT IT LITERALLY RAISES UP
THE DECK PLATES.
IT RUPTURES PIPING
AND IT SHATTERS EQUIPMENT
AND MACHINERY.
THEIR TRAINING KICKS IN
LIKE THAT,
AND THEY BEGIN TO SEAL THOSE
WATERTIGHT COMPARTMENT DOORS
TO HELP ISOLATE THE FLOODING.
SAILORS THROUGHOUT THE BOAT
WHO JUST SECONDS EARLIER
HAD BEEN CELEBRATING
THIS RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO
ARE NOW FACED
WITH THIS STUNNING HORROR
AS WATER'S BEGINNING TO FLOOD
INSIDE OF THE SUBMARINE.
♪
Submariner: CAPTAIN, LET'S GO!
O'Kane: HOLD ON, HOLD ON!
Narrator: TOPSIDE, TANG'S
SKIPPER FACES A DARK SEA.
Scott: THEY CAN SEE
THE WATER RACING UP.
THEY ALSO CAN SEE THIS
HUGE CLOUD UP ABOVE THE TANG,
AND IT'S THAT TELLTALE SYMBOL
OF A DESTROYED SHIP
THAT THEY HAD SEEN SO OFTEN
OVER THEIR OWN VICTIMS.
Narrator: AS TANG SINKS,
O'KANE AND THE LOOKOUTS
ARE SWEPT FROM THE BRIDGE.
Scott: THE BOAT
LIKE A GIANT PENDULUM
SWINGS DOWN TO THE BOTTOM
UNTIL IT RESTS
ON THE MUDDY BOTTOM
OF THE FORMOSA STRAIT.
Narrator: THE SURVIVING CREW
HAVE ONE CHANCE AT LIFE.
AN EXIT HATCH
IN THE TORPEDO ROOM
AT THE BOW OF THE SUBMARINE.
Scott: THAT ESCAPE CHAMBER
IS THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS
BETWEEN THESE MEN AND DEATH.
♪
Narrator: OCTOBER 25, 1944.
IN THE FORMOSA STRAIT
DOZENS OF AMERICANS FIGHT
TO SURVIVE A SUNKEN SUBMARINE.
USS TANG'S STERN
SITS ON THE BOTTOM.
THE ONLY ESCAPE HATCH IS
AT THE BOW OF THE SUBMARINE.
Scott: THE BOW, WHICH IS STILL
FILLED WITH AIR,
IS ACTUALLY JUTTING
OUT OF THE WAVES,
SORT OF LIKE A KNIFE BLADE,
IF YOU WILL, COMING UP.
Narrator: BUT WITH
JAPANESE ESCORTS ON THE HUNT,
THE EXPOSED SECTION
MAKES THEM VULNERABLE.
Scott: THEY WERE WORRIED
THAT THERE'S STILL
JAPANESE DESTROYERS
OUT THERE AND THEIR ESCORTS.
AND THEY KNOW THAT THE BOW OF
THE SUBMARINE IS AN EASY TARGET.
AND SO IF THEY DON'T
LEVEL IT AND HIDE,
THEN THE JAPANESE MAY COME IN,
KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE,
AND DESTROY THE TANG COMPLETELY.
Narrator: THE MEN CHOOSE TO SINK
THEIR DAMAGED SUBMARINE
TO CONCEAL IT,
WHILE THEY PREPARE TO ESCAPE.
Scott:
THEY DECIDE TO LEVEL THE BOAT,
TO RELEASE ALL THE AIR
FROM THE FORWARD BALLAST TANKS
AND TO LET THE BOW OF THE TANG
COME DOWN AND REST
ON THE BOTTOM.
THEY RELEASE THE AIR AND
THE TANG DIVES FOR A FINAL TIME.
♪
[COUGHING]
AT THIS POINT THESE MEN WHO ARE
SCATTERED THROUGH THE SUBMARINE
HAVE TO MAKE THIS MARCH FORWARD
TO THE FORWARD TORPEDO ROOM
WHERE THE ESCAPE CHAMBER IS.
AND IT'S A JOURNEY
THROUGH A DESTROYED SUBMARINE.
THERE'S SPARKS, SOME OF THE MEN
ARE TRYING TO DESTROY CODEBOOKS.
SOME OF THESE MEN HAD
BROKEN LEGS, BROKEN ARMS,
THEIR HEADS HAD HIT, YOU KNOW,
CORNERS OF EQUIPMENT
AND IT CUT THEM OPEN.
SO THEY'VE GOT TO MOVE THESE
INJURED MEN ALL THE WAY FORWARD.
Narrator:
AN HOUR AFTER TANG SINKS,
THE LAST OF ITS CREW
REACHES THE BOW.
Scott: THEN THEY GET
TO THE FORWARD TORPEDO ROOM.
SEVERAL DOZEN MEN,
THEY ULTIMATELY ALL CROWD INSIDE
AND THEY SEAL THAT DOOR.
AND INSIDE THAT TOR-
FORWARD TORPEDO ROOM
IS THE ESCAPE CHAMBER.
Narrator: THE ENTIRE SUBMARINE
LIES 180 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE.
Narrator: THE CREW WILL USE
A SPECIAL-ISSUE BREATHING AID
TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE
TO SURVIVE THE ASCENT-
A MOMSEN LUNG.
A CANISTER OF SODA LIME
CAPTURES CARBON DIOXIDE
SO AIR CAN BE RECYCLED
AND BREATHED AGAIN.
IT'S AN EXPERIMENTAL DEVICE
DESIGNED TO INCREASE
THE ODDS OF SURVIVAL.
Scott: THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PAUSE
AFTER SO MANY FEET
TO GO UP AND SORT OF EQUALIZE,
YOU KNOW,
TO BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT,
SORT OF EQUALIZE
THE, THE AIR IN THEIR LUNGS.
IN THEORY, IT SEEMS
LIKE A VERY SIMPLE CONCEPT.
BUT TYPICALLY,
WHEN A SUBMARINE WAS LOST,
ALL HANDS WERE LOST WITH IT.
IT WAS ALMOST AN ALL OR NOTHING.
IN VERY FEW CASES
WERE THERE ANY SURVIVORS.
[SONAR PING]
Narrator: AS TANG'S CREW
PREPARES TO BRAVE THE OCEAN...
ANOTHER ATTACK...
STOPS THEM SHORT.
Scott: AS THESE MEN ARE THERE
CROWDED INSIDE
THE FORWARD COMPARTMENT,
TERRIFIED ABOUT HOW THEY'RE
GONNA MAKE IT
180 FEET UP TO THE SURFACE,
THE JAPANESE ARE COMING OVER,
AND THEY'RE DROPPING
DEPTH CHARGES.
[EXPLOSIONS]
SO HERE THEY ARE STUCK
ON THE BOTTOM,
AND THEIR BOAT'S STILL
BEING RATTLED.
[EXPLOSION]
[WATER RUSHING]
[EXPLOSIONS]
Narrator: THE HELPLESS MEN ENDURE
A FINAL DEPTH CHARGE ATTACK
BEFORE THE SEA FALLS SILENT.
Scott: THE CONDITIONS
AT THIS POINT
IN THE FORWARD TORPEDO ROOM
IN THE TANG ARE AWFUL.
THE BATTERY COMPARTMENTS
ARE ON FIRE...
IT'S HAZY AT THIS POINT.
THE AIR PRESSURE'S RISING,
AND THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY
ARE RISING.
ALL OF THESE THINGS COMBINE TO
SAP THE ENERGY FROM THESE MEN,
WHO ARE FACING
THIS LIFE- OR-DEATH STRUGGLE
AS TO HOW TO GET OFF
OF THIS SUNKEN BOAT.
Narrator:
13 MEN MUSTER THE STRENGTH
TO ATTEMPT AN ESCAPE.
Scott: IT'S A REALLY DAUNTING
TASK BECAUSE AT 180 FEET,
IT'S THE EQUIVALENT
OF AN 18-STORY BUILDING.
Narrator: OTHERS ARE UNWILLING
OR UNABLE.
Scott: AND SO MANY MORE
FINALLY DECIDE TO GIVE UP
AND THEY LAY ON THEIR BUNKS.
THEY'VE SURRENDERED
TO THEIR FATE.
[WATER DRIPPING]
Narrator: AT 8:00 A. M.
TANG'S ESCAPE HATCH CLOSES
FOR THE LAST TIME.
Scott: WHEN THEY FIRST STEP OUT,
IT'S VERY DARK.
YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING.
AND THE FARTHER THEY GO
UP TOWARD THE SURFACE,
THE WATER AROUND THEM
BEGINS TO LIGHTEN.
♪
Narrator: ONLY 5 OF THE 13 MEN
SURVIVE THE ASCENT.
Scott: EVEN THOSE WHO ESCAPE
AND MAKE IT ALL THE WAY
TO THE SURFACE
AREN'T NECESSARILY GUARANTEED
TO SURVIVE.
IN FACT, FOR SOME OF THOSE MEN,
THEY WATCH OTHERS COME UP
WHO ARE VOMITING,
WHO, BLOOD IS COMING
OUT OF THEIR NOSES,
WHO ARE SO EXHAUSTED AND SO SICK
AT THIS POINT
THAT THEY ULTIMATELY DROWN
JUST A FEW FEET AWAY
FROM THEIR FRIENDS,
THEIR BODIES CARRIED OUT
BY THE TIDE.
Narrator: THE SHALLOWER SEAS
WHERE TANG ATTACKED
MAY HAVE SAVED THEIR LIVES.
EVEN SLIGHTLY DEEPER WATER
MIGHT HAVE PROVED UNSURVIVABLE.
FOUR OTHERS FROM TANG'S BRIDGE
AND CONNING TOWER
ALSO MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT.
ALL ARE TAKEN PRISONER
BY THE JAPANESE.
ONE OF THEM IS TANG'S LEGENDARY
SKIPPER, RICHARD O'KANE.
Scott: THE JAPANESE BEGIN
TO PUNCH THEM, SLAP THEM,
PUT OUT CIGARETTES
ON THEIR SKIN.
AND O'KANE LOOKS AND HE REALIZES
THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE INFLICTING THIS PAIN
ARE COVERED IN BANDAGES
AND THIS WHITE SALVE,
THIS MEDICINAL SALVE.
AND HE REALIZES THAT THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE NOW PUNISHING HIM
ARE THE SURVIVORS OF THE BOATS
THAT HE JUST SANK
THE NIGHT BEFORE.
AND HE LATER SAYS,
"I COULD TAKE IT BETTER
AFTER LEARNING THAT THESE WERE
THE BLOWS COMING FROM VICTIMS
OF WHAT WE HAD DONE
THE NIGHT BEFORE."
Narrator: TANG'S SURVIVORS
SPEND THE REST OF THE WAR
IN JAPANESE
PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMPS.
O'KANE LIVES TO BE 83.
HE GOES DOWN IN HISTORY
AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SKIPPER
OF AN AMERICAN SUBMARINE.
Scott: O'KANE'S LEGACY
REALLY COMES DOWN
TO TACTICS AND DARING.
HIS EXPERTISE AND WHAT HE WAS
BEST SUITED FOR
REALLY WAS FIGHTING.
THAT'S WHAT DICK O'KANE WAS
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
HE WAS A FIGHTER.
Jolin: BECAUSE USS TANG
ONLY EVER HAD
ONE COMMANDING OFFICER,
RICHARD O'KANE,
IT'S HARD TO SEPARATE THE
SUBMARINE FROM THE COMMANDER.
THEIR LEGACY IS THAT OF ONE
OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
FIGHTING SUBMARINES
OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
Narrator: BECAUSE IT WAS HELD
IN SUCH HIGH REGARD,
THE FIRST POST-WAR CLASS
OF AMERICAN SUBS
WAS NAMED AFTER USS TANG,
A LASTING TRIBUTE TO THE MAN
AND THE SUBMARINE.