THE PERCH'S NEW ROLE

[Music] I'm Rear Admiral Thomas M Dukakis retired this chapter the silent service deals with one of the most daring exploits of the United Nations forces in the Korean War it concerns not only a submarine and its crew but some passengers that were rough tough and well I'll let you be the judge United States Navy submarine perch was a typical fleet submarine the three berths began at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California where certain modifications changed it into a special breed of ship hey what are they doing on the perch beats me mr. Saunders Murphy let's get back from leave yes oh what's going on mine are Overhaulin they took out two of our main engines with two of our engines gone everybody will beat us back to port torpedo tubes have been removed too Oh without torpedoes what good is she they're making a troop carrier out of her Oh what room for a hundred and ten troops and equipment well let's all raw deal mr. Saunders they can't do that to the best sub in the fleet they've already done it Murphy not much we can do about it well maybe you can't sir but I can ask to transfer to a fighting ship I didn't volunteer for submarine service to ride herd on a water taxi yeah what are we doing case of war we shuttle a bunch of VIPs around there are other possible uses for a troop carrier in combat for example the landing of commandos behind enemy lines is that straight sure if it isn't I'll ask for a transfer myself hey after conversion to an underwater transport the perch was placed in a one-year evaluation status under the command of Lieutenant Commander Robert D Quinn landing exercises were held in the San Diego area a specially picked company the first marine division became very proficient in embarking and deep arcing under simulated combat conditions numerous drills and dives soon convinced the crew that approach was no left handed dangerous freak but had a definite role to play in any future warfare [Music] the Korean War broke out during the final stages of her evaluation the perch and her crew were ready she was ordered to Japan the word was that she would transport marine Raiders into enemy waters excitement ran high as the crew anticipated the missions ahead they were determined to prove the purchase efficiency skipper Quinn exact lesson and Bill Saunders engaged in thinking sessions was the perks really ready for combat could a performance be improved got to anticipate every emergency whether it arises or not what do you think will give us the most trouble shore batteries bill I'm concerned about everything the enemy control is shore batteries patrol boats planes destroyers subs you name it they probably have it say nothing of rocks and shoals we can't stand too far offshore sir mining party has to pedal those rubber boats exactly right now we can't estimate how close to the target area we dare go in some cases it can be pretty bad I'm afraid so that's what worries me those Marines would be sitting ducks down such a long trip to shore say nothing of the being pretty tired by the time they hit the beach they definitely required better and faster transportation and those rubber boats they need something to tow them and drop them off closer in whale boat would be too big on a small skimmer a rubber boat out with the job that sounds like the answer captain I'll bet it'll to work what about the son of the skimmers engine will not alert the enemy a lot of muscle the engine yeah the only problem I see is where to stow it Bob strain we store with the other rubber voice how about installing an antenna which can raise above the surface we'll need a precipitous your communication that's a good idea when we get to Japan I'll ask the division commander for a fool here's what I was thinking Yokosuka Naval Base near Tokyo August 1950 kippah Quinn received permission to install a new radio antenna the skimmer was housed in the hangar in place of the LVT cop Murphy yes sir yes how would you men like to live dangerously well what have you got mine sir transfer to the marine well almost I've been put in charge of the skimmer I need a good in and a machinist mate all we have to do is tell the assault craft ashore land explosives pick up casualties might be fun this is strictly on a volunteer basis so you can count me in sir how about you Joe well I don't know it's always been against my principles to volunteer for anything couldn't you just order me to do it sir my cool III sir I'll do it captain Quin trained his men in the tricky job of launching the skimmer time for either operation was cut down to two minutes flat perch was now ready to take Marines for a raid behind enemy lines in North Korea but the Marines had already been flown to Korea and were in the thick of the fighting the men of the perks shrug off their disappointment and plunged into the work of training first underwater demolition teams then army special Activities troops for that big mission but somehow the orders never came it seemed that the eager crew of the perch was destined to be always a bridesmaid but never a bride morale is at its lowest ebb tell yourself what someone's deliberately keeping this out of combat they're better saving us for bigger things like a USO tour well let's face it fellas we're stuck in a training ship for the rest of the war well I should have transferred when I had the chance how the other subs ain't seen any more action than us but I could have been on a flattop or a tin can they'd sitting out the war and do it take the insides out and all you got left so shell they ought to rename this at the shellfish yeah Foley up as we trained her over there fighting the war yeah for all the good with when we could have stayed in San Diego oh my jewel maybe we can stir up some action at the saddle club all righty gia spike oh I'm sorry I didn't see you why don't you look when you're gone what do you think it's still back to the London Fog listen you step right into my blooming way are you talking about I stepped in do you know right to stop me but I take it I'm easy come on work you just jumpy that's all we couldn't help thanks Oh babies my name Stan Ogilvy this is Harry crane Murphy bill Murphy cop hi okay well it accounts for the quick temper anyway look out Nations there are lies why shouldn't we be - why fight amongst ourselves we got so much of a cooling career I'll drink to that all right he's only got here two days ago what's those ready fish for when dolphins meaning what submarine service what I'd fit you with Royal Marines holy first independent commandos you blokes have been in the thick of it haven't you how many ships use them well for transports and an aircraft carrier not bad the scene is over North Koreans got no aircraft carriers well it was one of our long winters clean where in Ireland were you born in Dublin South Dublin really no my own father spent time the city door birthday he was with the Army during the revolution with a black enhance what a co-host don't tell me your father was in the rebel army well sure he was Mark of all coincidence you know your father and I might have traded bullets on some dark dublin street 30 years ago it's amazing so small world governor to tell him about this he won't believe it what ship you on the perch we heard of her that's the one without the torpedoes hey that's classified information but the odd you sink them for transports with a peashooter way out of a boaster we want a Stephanie Ali go to war without a gun this guy don't want to fight he just wants to talk to death hey don't uniforms another outfit to Train [Music] hiya Jeff here you run a ruddy ruff training outfit did you know last night you were assigned to the perch of course oh man well cheerio chaps we must have tea together why sky laughing at 41st royal commando unit attacked their training exercises with such vigor that the entire crew of the perch including Murphy was impressed and that one intensive week the commandos became a fast-moving hard-hitting well coordinated submarine rating team their appetites were enormous the ship's cook figured they averaged 6 eggs a man at breakfast September 25th 1950 orders from headquarters United Nations command plan raiding party and North Korea the waiting and the training were over an innovation in modern warfare was about to be tested [Music] what's in target area all right well all ahead 1/3 the commandos were briefed on their objective that's pretty stuffy down there with all those passengers oxygen content low come on snorkeling on one engine it'll freshen things up faster see any lights not a thing captain I'm gonna surface in about an hour I'll take over aye aye sir 1910 Smith script everyman commando and sailor alike the pricks led quietly to a point offshore the sea was calm that's cool that troop of Bob detail sector speak Turkish [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] captain I think there's a patrol boat off the bow what light Sun sure they're going on to being trapped probably picked us up on radar recover the skimmer recover the progress boat [Music] control there's a plane overhead check out back see if it's our bare hands on deck while the tax for that movie come on [Music] must be a Ming [Music] 30 seconds you're all done [Music] we're afraid there's a break died [Music] the perch in the commandos had almost fallen into a trap on their first target they had a secondary target an ammunition dump 10 miles to the north major Collins the marine commander was ready to go ahead but skipper Quinn was undecided major the whole Coast might be alerted to us by now now let's check with the Task Group commander and see what diversionary action we can scare up now here are two possibilities a destroyer could shell target 1a meanwhile the Air Force could stage a nuisance raid here to the north apple confuse them completely I think you can brief your men on target to major might as well make this trip necessary hey Stan is it true about that rum business an old British custom every sailor or marine gets a drink of rum daily since it drop how much is that American money Oh about six cents I think they can keep the money keep the whole blinking Navy and the submarines from Anna do a good job of fighting you need God's green earth under him and fresh air to breathe well that's depends on how you look at it you know that was a close call tonight you guys would have been clobbered if we're taking you in there'll be proper fireworks when we blow off that ammo dump tomorrow night ain't you scared of nothing not for you to see anyway I told I have an Englishman yeah you're gonna live up to that stiff upper lip routine huh hey I got news for you I wasn't born in Ireland neither was my old man I just happened to see some movies of the Irish Revolution you don't surprise me it was a gag what I like about all you yes you're all another Jokers the following morning the perch made rendezvous with a destroyer Maddox a discussion of events with the Task Group commander resulted in agreement that diversionary attacks be made in conjunction with a commando raid on target to 7:00 in the evening the diversionary attacks had commenced would they work radar man recorded the two patrol boats in front of the target area had both moved off one to the south the other to the north the target area was clear [Music] like bunch of guys damn buddy go in in case they need us yeah sure [Music] well they'd gone in I hope there ain't any guards around now getting to that ammo dump won't be tucked up getting backs gonna be murder or they can have it that's what all those be said about the submarine [Music] pretty quiet that's the way the commandos like it how surprised are dead I didn't see them load anything explosive in the skimmer we're using phosphorous grenades throw a few of those into an ammo dumping you've had it I sure hope we don't have to leave those boys have to be awfully hot before we do [Music] they're taking a long time all right know her when they get back to the beach where do we go in so they don't have to paddle out so far if it's a fair let us know yeah Tommy up on top of that rock with a machine gun could get every one of them I'm beginning a baker a pessimist yes sir I was born [Music] break radio silence yes this is murder standing off like this not being able to help looks like missions accomplished skimmer - all repeat message you right coming in we're going in Murphy a casualty [Music] he's out back Murphy Kendall doctor don't you want us to tell you it at the same time now the lady simply make out okay get corny neato good show yank good job don't you worry about it such will get you there in a few minutes [Music] gimme hurried back taught the beach and took the boats in tow looks like we've made it control major Collins will want to know how a sergeant is check out a for me [Music] I'm sorry sergeant Stanley Oglesby Royal Marines 41st independent commandos was buried at sea the following morning the experience from constant training and the careful planning by the Marines and the purchased crew had much to do with the rape success this was only the beginning for the purge it had fulfilled its destiny I'll be back in a moment with our special guest I'd like you to meet the executive office of the USS perch on the raid you have just seen dramatized commander Conrad Jay fleckner you had a rough time getting a chance to put that landing party ashore yes it looked for awhile like we've done a lot of training for nothing the Royal Marines evidently were pretty tough bunch of commandos I couldn't begin to express my admiration for them they did the job they were sent to do and lost only one man it sounds like a real workman like performance it was they were well-trained and they had plenty of what it takes I'd say the same applies to the ship's company or the perch congratulations to everyone of you join us again for another true and exciting story of the silent service [Music] coming [Music]