THE LAST DIVE

[Music] I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M Dukakis retired the story we are about to bring you is one of individual heroism and group strength of a submarine it is a store of the United States submarine Cochino as commanded bonitas the submarine skipper said in his report regarding his men their award if they feel they need any must be found in their own hearts that when duty called they were not found warning during August 1949 two of the Navy's latest snorkel type serves the USS tusk in the USS Cochino ordered to conduct cold weather operations in arctic waters at 1700 on the 13th of August 400 miles north of the Arctic Circle the Cochino slid beneath the cold waters and deep into the icy sea one submerging the periscope lookouts were doubled an experienced sonar man will put on the listening gear both proceeded under simulated combat conditions four days ago Chino conducted submerged operations a snorkel to breathing air for the diesel engines and the men below Pacino's skipper was Lieutenant Commander RC Benitez of Groton Connecticut our executive officer Lieutenant Commander Richard M right of San Francisco a key man on board the casino as electrician's mate first class Oscar Martinez who hailed from Pequannock bridge Connecticut and chief pharmacist made few but dr. Ethan of Gatesville North Carolina Mama's letter still sound the same keep bundled up good don't go outside the boat without your heavy underwear your folks still live in Puerto Rico captain she sends her love and prayers 310 sent you a medal of you your patron saint added blessed by the local priest thanks I'll wear it I'm afraid it's being hypocritical don't worry dick I didn't tell her about you and religion why did she probably order the Navy not to let me stand with you I think I'll take a turn around the boat I guess I've always figured wearing a medal is like the box of blessing himself before the first round will do any harm but it doesn't mean much if he can't punch [Music] captain we have over 3% hydrogen rising [Music] [Applause] I didn't smoking lamps house fire explosion in the after battery short-circuit Salvi alarm I stand by the surface off radio the Tuscan take over here dig keep me informed hi sir we're trying to get some co2 extinguishers in the burning compartment radio as soon as we surface in foreign the tusks fire and explosion and after battery service [Music] Global Boise [Music] [Applause] [Music] I open the hatch feed the seal cool [Music] dancing the answer compartments get all heads that are not needed topside keep up with the fire parties leaving locate the trouble hi sir [Music] doc bring all the injured men up on the bridge have chief Roush last the others to the rail around the sail captain was still generating hydrogen the co2 isn't helping fire have you located the chart no my tina's is getting ready to open the battery disconnect switches now got no time to talk captain will liable to have another explosion any minute [Music] finish it and : engine room get medical aid right ups and duckies methane right away keep having that short Martinez we got to find it gotta help those men below dicen you'll have to get back in the after Peter room captain is pretty dangerous back there the decks are watch use a safety line think you can make it I'll try [Music] so I can't seem to find the trouble I'll keep after it we've gotta find it before it blows us to fits captain videos out can't get an answer from the test let's hope she received our first message chief Roush hurry dinner buddy lat these are getting worse the Fonz sister hurry up and find us check this for me will you chief s'matter don't you trust me you couldn't eyes sick dog defense without choking him to death maybe you're right guess my place is in the gala he could've fooled me why didn't I stay in Tennessee Man Overboard can't get a line to him captain I'm going after him where you going red that's Joe Morgan I'd with no commissary man get deep sixed I'd have to run that galley alone give me a lot jack [Music] [Music] maneuvering room yes sir we haven't located the short yet captain okay they take it easy we're not having a Caribbean pleasure cruise up here either well keep you informed sir very well thanks red I couldn't have made it without you doughnut breakfast almost sucked me I got a pinpoint where is it was between batteries three and four causing a generation of hydrogen in the battery roll we've gotta get in there and pull the disconnects it's impossible now it's burning too bad and we're bound to get another explosion soon we don't get to him quick it'll be the end of the Kachina maybe so but you can't get in there get me a rescue breathing apparatus mr. Wright you'll never get out alive come on come on give me a safety line no the signals on the safety line yeah [Music] move back don't come any further [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] play on a forward engine room can't get too exact Freddy's he's gone captain we've lost all power to the propellers what about the exact it's impossible to get to him sir the rooms completely a place captain there's a touch bearing about zero to five get on a light signal condition we've got to get power enough let's cancel the test getting alongside if we can't help [Music] it's mr. I'd better get back East Indies babies bird right get back back to your station forget about Mia I'm sure you can't chicken out on us now sir we'll never say that bucket without you you're gonna be okay ships more important me nice get back you ain't giving the orders now mr. right I'm gonna get you patched up okay let's get out on me I wouldn't feel right about the Kachina without you needling me every day for goofing off give me shut up the paint I haven't got any morphine I can't get too sick play what's happening topside we're trying to get the tests alongside for signal earlier we needed medical aid she's trying to get a rap to us now why can't we get the test alongside no power we're trying to find enough compressed air to start the engines what are you waiting for go on get going on it [Music] she's got a raft in the water they're sending over medical supplies you can't make an approach unless we can turn into the Seas the new bring room and they look for the engines spines in the after engine room lining up we think we got enough there we'll try our in a few minutes stay with it Martinez we got to help them no worries if we don't help them those ribbon clerks and the Tusken be kneeling me to Larry's tire I hate about to let that happen we got the medical supplies from the tests captain if they're below right away I got number four engine running kick it ahead captain span in maneuvering we're going ahead on one main engine ahead two-thirds then two thirds right 20 degrees rudder right 20 degrees rudder signal the test tone to make another approach we've got power again [Music] [Music] honey towers full of smoke captain can't steer sir can you set the steering pump on your drove I don't know sir what have I got to lose we'll get to it not back to you after torpedo room see if they can hook off a jury rig on the rudder tell attest to stand off your gloves theory sir there's lobstering forward conning towers up we'll make a jewelry rig after yes sir now listen carefully Martinez get a screwdriver position the control cylinder on the Waterbury speed gear it will drive your rudder Rams hi sir how you feeling sir like a fricassee chicken but much better since doc gave me that last shot spread this ball bearing grease on me look at you deal with my grease Sawbones I gotta come for the old man for it why don't you get out of the bilges and take a bubble bath how's the exec he's very bad I don't know how we're gonna get him topside that morphine is gonna wear off pretty soon he'll be in terrific pain Martinez get going on that control cylinder hi Arthur [Music] we've got a line to him anyway I've got a journey we got so you can stare now good right full rudder thanks God will be able to get her alongside start hauling in on that line all back two-thirds rudder amidships Parliament below sing it singing yes sir Doc's got a quartet Laura in the water almost erupted midships tell doc Eason to be alert back there we may have to abandon ship but tell him not to let the injured men know how serious it is I don't want those poor devils getting panicked [Music] there's the trouble right sorry sir you'll have to do better than that or we'll be forced to drop you from the group okay you guys what do you want to sing next keep the home fires burning sinking sinking wood she badly ruptured Michels that last explosion did it now listen the old man wants you to get these guys out without panic but tusk alongside if I'm moving I'm tough sir I don't know about mr. right he's in bad shape I'll give you a hand with him oh it's no use us morphing starting to wear off his body so badly burned you can't lay a hand though you'll have to make it up alone well let's get moving what are we waiting for okay you charcoal-broiled swab jockeys let's get topside the tusks alongside we're gonna get medical aid what about mr. right get me okay Willy shove off what Oscar you better go to the old man I'll need you we're gonna make it and we ain't gonna lose a man let's hope so All Hands abandon ship you come on Oscar get going [Music] Oh what's here we gotta get topside I'm staying here you go ahead doc they're going topside said we gotta abandon I don't think I can make it that is so you got to oh don't touch me I'll try but All Hands abandon ship hurry sir there's a much time hold your buddy sniffs ah don't touch me please don't touch me hurry mr. right we're going down I can't make it you go on go on appeasing I'm not leaving you here you can make it gotta help me [Music] and a boy is right [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank thanks for the extra shocker I didn't touch her you made it alone somebody shopping I'll be back in a moment with our special guests we're very fortunate to have with us one of the heroes in the tragic episode you have just witnessed commander Richard Wright dick it's nice to see you I'm glad to say that you don't seem to be any of the worse for this harrowing experience thanks to some very good work on the part of the medical department over a period of 14 months oh I feel fine we thought you are never gonna make it up that ladder as a matter of fact to this day I don't recall how I did it I just seemed to arrive on the topside through no force of my own is there anything you'd especially like to say yes there certainly is only one man from the Cochino was lost which under the conditions of wind and weather was remarkable the real heroes were the crew of the Tusk they did a great and unselfish job well thank you very much commander please be with us again for another exciting submarine story [Music]