Original subtitles

In 1944,

when Japan's island empire

was still an impregnable fortress,

I approved plans,

as Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet,

for one of the most daring and formidable operations

in the history of naval warfare.

The problem was how to get past

the heavily mined entrances

into the Sea of Japan,

how to sever the vital link of supply

between Japan and the Asiatic mainland,

thereby breaking his will to fight

and ensuring his destruction.

My faith in this daring operation

was placed in men

like Vice-Admiral Charles A. Lockwood,

Commander of Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet,

and his faith was placed in men like Commander Casey Abbott,

Captain of the submarine Starfish.

This is the story of the life and death struggle,

fought not only beneath the surface of the sea,

but within the minds and hearts of a valiant group of men,

the "Hellcats of the Navy."

My favorite kind!

Bah.

Hey, Freddy,

I made these special for you.

Thanks.

Cookie, sir?

We should be sitting right off the Honshu Coast.

See if those frogmen are ready.

Aye, aye, sir.

We close enough to pick up

a couple of Geisha girls,

maybe, Mr. Landon?

Yeah. Nice fat ones, with horns on them.

Horns?

He means mines, dope!

We're right on the edge

of the minefield, captain,

according to the DRT.

Thanks, Don.

No sonar contact, Mr. Landon.

Huh?

Where's the minefield?

It's there, all right.

What do you see, captain?

Nothing but fog.

All ahead one-third.

All ahead one-third.

We're right on the edge

of the Japanese shipping lanes, Don.

Better take those frogmen

out through the escape truck.

Aye, aye, sir.

Where's Mr. Barton?

He moved into your bunk this morning

to get some sleep, sir.

Too much acey-deucy, I guess.

All right, see you up forward.

Aye, aye, sir.

Let's go, fellas.

Come on, Wes!

Come on, lover boy.

Dream sequence is over.

You're on.

You're the head man in this act,

so get into your gear.

Oh, what time is it?

Time for you to go out and get a couple Japanese mines.

Oh, ain't I the lucky one?

Yeah. You're lucky it's me waking you up

and not Captain Abbott.

You think he's sore?

Oh, no, no, he likes it,

when his girl's going out

with another guy, especially a J.G.

Well, look, was it my fault?

She practically sat down in my lap

and demanded attention.

Yeah. I hear she's just that type.

Look, don't let the quiet ones

fool you, Don,

I've been telling you for years,

you've got to open the oyster

to find the pearl.

Forget the oysters this trip, will you?

Just bring back two Japanese mines.

We've got to have them if we're going to make

this new sonar work.

Oh, the next thing you'll want

is a thing like television

so you can see where you're going.

I wish I could see where you were going.

That girl again?

Look, what's the big deal, pal?

Wes, I've seen you playing the field

ever since the academy,

but this girl is different.

She wouldn't fit into a notch on your belt.

Oh, Don, may I never live

to borrow your skivvies again,

if I'm telling a lie,

but I didn't break up this romance.

No, I got her on the rebound

from Abbott.

Are you satisfied?

Now, where does it say in Navy regulations...

Come on, they're waiting for you out there.

A few days from now,

we'll be sitting around

Wing Joe's,

listening to Wes Barton

tell us all about how he won the war.

Single-handed!

Hey, tell us about it, will you, Wes?

Aw, come on.

All right. Listen. Listen.

There I was,

right in the middle of the Sea of Japan,

surrounded by the entire Japanese Navy...

and all I had was a pair of flippers.

A pair of flippers, huh?

Will you tell us how you did it?

Hey, Cinderella,

here's your magic slippers.

You men all ready?

We're all set, sir.

How about time?

20 minutes out, 20 minutes back--

no longer.

We'll surface in 40 minutes.

What's so special

about these particular mines?

Well, the Japanese have done something to them,

so our sonar won't pick them up.

We have to find out what it is.

We lost the Needlefin last week

trying to get through these straits.

All right, let's make it.

Hey, Wes,

you'd better hurry back.

You've got a pair of my shoes.

I'm getting a new pair of heels put on them.

You know how it is being dragged out of those bars.

Just the thing for water polo, huh?

You're not kidding.

What happened to him?

Too much, too long.

Get him below!

Where's Barton?

He was with Cordice and Smith.

Hey, Cordice! Isn't Bart with you guys?

I thought he was with you.

Hey, Barton!

Wes!

That guy couldn't drown!

We'll go back after him.

Barton!

Lines secured, sir.

Very well.

Radar contact on the starboard bow, captain,

bearing zero-two-five.

How far?

About 3,000 yards.

Range closing fast. Could be a destroyer.

Hey, Barton.

Landon!

We'll have to dive!

But, captain, if you cut your engines,

they'll never find us in this fog.

They may have us on their radar already.

We've got to bring him in!

What's the position on that radar report now?

2,500 yards. Range closing fast!

Wes!

Clear the deck!

Captain, I see Wes!

Where?

About a hundred yards off!

I see him, sir!

I think.

You! Get below!

Barton!

Wes!

Clear the bridge!

Lookouts below!

What about Wes Barton?

2,000 yards!

We can't do anything for him now.

Hatch shut! Take her down fast!

Five-seven feet!

Ready all tubes!

Stand by forward and aft!

Left full rudder!

Left full rudder!

Green board.

Pressure in the boat. Main induction shut and locked.

She's heard our sounds.

She's passing close aboard.

Battle stations torpedo.

Battle stations torpedo.

Now man battle stations, torpedo!

Man battle stations, torpedo!

Range opening.

Bearing...

Mark.

Bearing two-five-zero.

Final bearing and shoot.

Stand by, aft.

Tubes aft ready and standing by, sir.

Bearing...mark.

Bearing two-five-zero.

Fire seven.

Seven fired electrically, sir.

Fire eight.

Eight fired electrically, sir.

Got him!

High fast cruise coming in on us, captain.

Stand by, forward.

Stand by, forward.

Final bearing and shoot.

All tubes ready, sir.

Bearing...

mark.

Bearing three-five-eight.

Fire one.

One fired electrically, sir.

Fire two.

Two fired electrically, sir.

Missed him.

Scope down!

Flood negative. Take her down deep.

They're over us now, sir.

Rig for depth charge.

All compartments rig ship for depth charge.

Fire in the forward engine room.

Lay aft, Don. Check on the fire.

Aye, aye.

We've lost main control, sir.

Screws have stopped turning.

Take over, Paul, I'm going to control.

What's our depth?

200 feet.

What's it look like up there, Paul?

Can't even hear him now, sir. Sonar power's off.

Ask maneuvering about those shafts.

Maneuvering control,

what's the condition of those shafts?

Fire's out in the engine room, captain.

Full power restored

in the maneuvering room, captain.

About Barton...

there was nothing else to do.

Thanks, honey.

You pulled me through again.

Hey, how's that?

That's Mabel. That's my girl.

She brings me luck.

Hey! Not bad at all.

I'd say, if she pulled you through,

she pulled me through.

She pulled us all through.

We all ought to kiss her.

Va-va-va-voom!

Ah, mon cherie, you are so beautiful.

I must kiss you.

At least if you

kissed her on the cheek!

Come on, Freddy, give her a kiss.

She won't bite you.

Come on, Freddy.

Atta boy, Freddy. You're my boyfriend.

Hey, Look out!

Cookie, give me the picture.

Oh, baby!

Oh, come on.

Give me the picture, Cook!

Okay, Landon, let's talk.

What I've got to say to you,

can't be said to a commanding officer.

Spit it out.

You have my permission.

You haven't served with me before.

Do you think I enjoy letting men drown?

No, captain,

but by now I suppose you've got yourself convinced

that this hurts you more than it did him.

I don't have to think

you had to let him die.

Some day, you may have a command of your own.

If you want to take a chance

and risk an entire crew, and ship, and a mission

for one man,

that will be your decision to make.

This one was mine.

If you'd cut your engines,

they might not have found us.

Maybe not.

We'll never know, will we?

But there was no time to figure the odds.

I had to rely on experience

and instinct.

Right or wrong,

I decided to play it safe

for the 85 men on this sub.

Tell me,

what did your "instinct" tell you about this?

In that split second, not knowing right from wrong,

did your instinct remind you that Wes Barton

might be waltzing your girl around the base?

I've had time to consider my decision.

I still think it was right.

If you were wrong, could you admit it,

even to yourself?

If you think I made a personal decision

that cost Barton's life,

you have my permission

to report it to the squadron commander.

I can't do anything about it, and you know it.

I can't prove a thing.

About this girl...

Leave her out of this.

I know I gave you permission to speak,

Mr. Landon,

so, I intend to forget this conversation.

I said, leave me alone!

I told you to leave me alone!

It was an accident, sir.

We planned a little party for Freddy.

He's 19 today, and it's his first time out.

I had the cake all ready, sir.

We figured to go ahead

and try to cheer him up.

Only I didn't want to be cheered up, sir!

I figure that after what happened today,

we shouldn't have a birthday party,

we should have a wake.

Why, back where I come from--

He's kind of broken up, sir.

He was on the deck,

and he claims he saw Lieutenant Barton

just before we--

I did see him!

You probably did.

Port, back full. Left full rudder.

All stop.

I can only say

that I feel the loss of Lieutenant Barton

as keenly as you both do,

but according to your report, Casey,

you did the only thing possible.

Well, let's hope

the mine you brought back

will give us a real clue

to getting through the Tsushima Straits.

We're covering a few dozen dummy mines

with the same rubber and acetate coating

we found on the Japanese mine.

When we get the report from the electronics lab,

we'll try to fix our sonar

to pick them up.

There's another way to do it, sir.

Japanese freighters

are going through those straits every day.

We could follow one through

and chart a mine-free channel for ourselves.

We lost the Needlefin trying that.

We're not sure

how we lost the Needlefin,

are we, sir?

Let's try it my way for now, Casey.

We'll see how the sonar tests go.

Aye, aye, sir.

Anything else?

I'd like to talk to you

about my officer personnel situation,

if I may, admiral?

Yes, sir.

Commander Abbott.

Case!

Oh, I was afraid you wouldn't come.

You heard about Wes?

Yes.

I talked to Landon.

Somehow, I feel it's all my fault.

Everything's such a mess, and I--

Let's get out of here.

I'll sign out.

I've got a Jeep.

Take over for me, will you, Frankie?

You knew I was fresh out of a bad marriage

when we met.

I wanted to be sure this time,

so we played it safe,

until I knew that you were Mr. Right.

Then you gave me that line

about wartime marriages.

I wanted a wife and kids, not a widow and orphans.

Sure,

and I began to think maybe you were playing

the South Sea circuit.

You knew better.

How could I know?

Did you give me a postdated check?

So I got sore.

What really happened

is that I got scared, unsure.

I had to prove to myself I could still circulate.

You proved it with Wes Barton.

Well, he was the guy

all the girls whistled at,

and just about the nicest guy

I ever knew,

but it wasn't love...

not for him or for me.

We both knew that.

I should have known it.

I should have come around and found out

while I could still do something about it.

That's what I'm trying to say.

What happened out there

had nothing to do with you and me.

It's Landon, isn't it?

He didn't come right out and say so,

but I knew what he thought.

It's crazy, Case.

Don't you see? He doesn't know you.

Don't you see how crazy it is?

He's right about one thing.

I can't take up where Wes Barton left off.

I'd never feel right,

and if I forgot,

they'd be people and faces to remind me.

You!

What about me? What about us?

I don't care about people.

You have to live with people.

You have to work with them,

fight beside them.

It does matter.

I guess you'd better take me back, Casey.

Take in two and three.

Take in four.

Leave her on easy on one.

All back two thirds.

How much longer

are we going to play tag

with these dummy mines, sir?

Until we get the bugs out of that sonar gear.

The army may be in Tokyo by then.

Try telling the admiral that.

Clear the bridge!

Can you interpret that hash?

No, sir.

Would you say there were mines

out there?

No, sir.

Well, there are.

Looks more like fish or seaweed

to me, sir.

Does that sound like seaweed?

No, sir.

All stop.

All stop.

Let's hope we're not hung up again.

All back full.

All stop.

All stop.

All ahead one-third.

All ahead one-third.

Right full rudder.

Right full rudder.

It's working, sir.

It's working.

What did you do to it?

I just remembered,

I cut in the new circuit the lab gave us.

If it keeps on working like this,

we've really got something.

Mine coming up.

Starboard side.

Rudder amidships.

Rudder amidships.

Steady as she goes.

Steady as she goes.

Take over, Landon, and run the field.

Aye, aye, sir.

Naturals!

I'm telling you, he shaved the dice!

Stop him, somebody!

I bet you five more he comes out.

Use the cup, Carroll.

Come on. Blow. Blow. Will you?

What do you mean, blow? Come on!

Ha!

I got a six!

How're we doing on sixes?

Just a minute. I have to figure it.

Hey, look, what's with the pencil and paper bit?

Yeah, what do you mean,

"How're we doing on sixes?"

It's simple mathematics.

It's... What do you call it, kid?

Combinations and permutations.

What's with this

"combinations and permutations"?

Look, Freddy keeps tabs on the numbers.

We know the odds.

If it ain't come up much, we figure it's due to show,

otherwise, I figure it's a sucker bet.

See? Combinations and permutations!

I don't understand

combinations and permutations.

You're okay on sixes.

Well, how come he knows so much?

Oh, look, never mind, Carroll.

Shoot the dice.

He knows all about science too--

radar, electronics, sonar.

I bet he knows more about these sonar tests

than all you knucklebrains put together.

He was explaining to me about these minefields.

Look, either you shoot the dice or get off the--

All right. All right.

Come on. Come on. Fade me. Fade me.

All right.

Shoot already.

Six it is.

Look, after we clean out the Japs,

Freddy and I are going to take our system to Las Vegas,

ain't we, Freddy boy?

Come on. Shoot the dice.

Come on now. Fade me. Fade me.

You got it!

Here we go.

Is that floating crap game still going on?

I'm afraid it's chronic, sir.

Who's winning?

Carroll.

He claims he's using science.

Well, I have to break it up,

but I don't have to catch them at it.

I'm going forward, Charlie!

Forward room.

Yes, sir, captain.

Suppose we're going through an enemy minefield...

like into Tokyo Bay.

What's this? A kind of crap game?

Oh, no, sir.

Freddy was just explaining to us

about the sonar tests.

Well, go on, Freddy.

I want to hear this too.

Uh, these nickels, dimes and quarters,

they're the mines in the bay,

but a clear channel has been left,

so a Japanese harbor pilot,

having a chart,

can guide friendly shipping through

without running into any of the mines.

Only we don't have a chart,

so if we try to get through,

we run into the mines,

and then we all get killed.

Go on.

That's all, sir.

One thing,

if this is supposed to be

one of our ships,

you turned up snake-eyes.

Snake-eyes are supposed to be bad luck.

Isn't that right, Carroll?

If you say so, sir.

Well, I'm glad to see

you're all up on your sonar lessons,

but don't overdo it.

Commence reload drill. That'll relax your minds.

Feels like we're riding up

on another cable.

Secure that fish!

All stop.

All stop.

Push her back, fellows!

Doc! Doc! Somebody!

Doc! Come on.

The skull is badly fractured.

There's no chance at all

unless we get him right back to base.

Ring the conning tower.

Paul? Sonar and radar still out?

They will be, captain, for two or three hours.

What's our visibility?

What's visibility?

Tropical storm coming up, captain,

visibility less than a hundred yards.

I'm coming up.

The boy can't live

unless we get him to base hospital right away.

Prepare to surface two main engines.

If we surface,

we risk a collision in this squall.

If we lay here till that gear is fixed,

he'll be dead.

Sir, there are four other destroyers,

three subs, a minesweeper

and five PT boats up there.

It's a big ocean, Mr. Landon.

What would you do? Let the boy die?

No, sir, I wouldn't.

I'd take a chance to save a life.

I think you made the right decision--

this time.

Ready to surface below, sir.

Surface!

Oh, hello, Casey.

How's that boy doing?

Still in a coma, sir.

Casey, your dummy mine tests

have helped us a lot,

but I'm taking you off them for a special mission.

You'll have sealed orders

aboard the Starfish in an hour.

Yes, admiral.

About my exec, Lieutenant-Commander Landon?

You say he is a good officer.

Yes, sir.

Any reason

why he shouldn't go out with you?

No, sir.

Good.

Then, hop to it, and...

lots of good luck, Casey.

Thank you, sir.

The captain would like to see you

in the ward room, sir, right away.

Steering course two-five-zero.

Going ahead on standard on four engines.

You have the con.

Aye, aye, sir.

We're on a special nine-day assignment,

proceeding to the island of Saishu-to.

Let's see, that's--

that's almost 60 miles southeast

of Tsushima Strait.

That's right.

We're to knock out the island

so it can't be used as a base

when we make our breakthrough

into the Sea of Japan.

I want you to arrange a small landing party,

one officer--

I'll take the party, captain.

I don't think that's a good idea, Landon.

But as second in command,

it's only right I should lead the party.

In the event of trouble,

it might be necessary for me to abandon the raiding party

in order to save this boat.

Yes, sir.

It's a question of your confidence

in my judgment.

I understand exactly what you mean, sir,

but it's my job.

I don't think I should ask anyone else to take over.

Very well.

Pick your men. No other orders.

Yes, sir.

Prepare to surface on the battery.

Prepare to surface on the battery.

How does things look up there?

No Japs, but plenty of installation.

Ready to surface below.

Surface.

We'll surface for you at 22:30.

Good luck.

Those explosions are off ahead of schedule.

Prepare to surface on the battery.

One man's missing.

They got Carroll.

There they are, captain. Close aboard starboard.

Clear the bridge!

Hatch shut!

Take her down six-zero feet.

Aye, aye, sir.

They've got us zeroed in.

We can't stay down here

any longer, captain.

Landon says the pumps

can't keep up with the water.

No sonar, no radar.

Only five miles from the entrance

of the Sea of Japan and those minefields.

Well, we'll just have to take her up on guts.

Let's have a quick look around first.

Paul! Have a look at this.

Landon,

there's a Japanese merchantman

just heading into the Straits.

Quite a temptation.

I thought we were supposed to avoid

contact with the enemy.

I'm not thinking of sinking her--

just following her through.

But our orders, captain.

My orders don't say anything about a situation like this.

We can't radio for new ones.

Here's our chance to log every inch of that channel

right into the Sea of Japan.

Didn't Prentice tell you

that there was no suction in the bilges,

and the drain pump's burnt out?

Even with a trim, we can't get any speed,

because the battery's too low.

This tub I'm watching can only do about seven knots.

We'll limp along behind her.

I want the torpedo room cleared.

Leave a volunteer in there to hold the leak-stoppers.

Put on any air pressure you need in that room

to keep the plugs in.

Aye, aye, sir.

We'll follow this baby all the way in.

All ahead two thirds.

All ahead two thirds.

Clear the torpedo room.

It can get pretty rough in the Straits, sir.

They might need you up in the conning tower.

It might get rough if those plugs pop.

I can handle that job.

I know you can, but I want you outside.

I'm going to close this hatch.

Keep up the air pressure.

We're going to need plenty of it.

Mark the time, Paul.

One hour, 14 minutes

since we started our transit.

In another 15 minutes, we should be at--

Captain,

forward reducer just let go, captain.

Shut that valve!

All stations, put Mr. Landon on.

All stations, put Mr. Landon on.

This is Landon in the forward room, captain.

The room's under pressure.

Tubes forward, con.

When I want you to volunteer, I'll tell you.

How are the plugs holding?

Well, I can keep them in

if control gives me back the air pressure.

One plug just let go.

Charlie, how're you coming with the air?

We're working on it, captain,

but I can't hold it at periscope depth much longer

with that forward torpedo room flooding.

According to DRT, two minutes and we're through, captain,

with no gravy.

Landon,

you've got to hold out for two more minutes.

Cullen, forward battery.

Forward torpedo room flooding fast.

We're losing the bubble, captain.

We'd better quit with what we've got.

Prepare to surface, four main engines.

Ready to surface, four main engines, sir.

Surface!

We're out of the Straits, captain!

Here's the chart.

Talk about bringing home the bacon.

A clear channel into the Sea of Japan.

It could change

the whole course of the war.

Right full rudder!

All ahead flank!

Battle stations! Gun action!

Abandon ship. Open all deck hatches.

Come on!

Over here! Come on.

Somebody, give us a hand.

Bring that boat.

Hunter Seven calling Red Dog Two.

Spotted life raft, picking up survivors.

Have ambulance ready, over.

I'll take over, Frankie.

All right.

You have to get some rest.

I don't want to sleep, dream, or wake up.

60 men trapped below with the sea rushing in...

and the "lucky" ones that escaped,

burning in the oil, riddled by bullets.

Oh, Case.

Those weren't just casualties.

I knew them.

I knew about their families, their plans.

Do you know what I feel?

Yes, I do know, Case.

When you were overdue,

and I thought you weren't coming back,

I imagined every awful minute of it.

Don't you think I know?

How are the others? Charlie, Landon, Chick?

They'll be all right.

You have a slight concussion.

You have to stay a little bit longer.

I have a slight concussion, and 60 men are killed.

That ought to earn me a purple heart

with 60 clusters!

An investigation, sir?

An inquiry into the loss of the Starfish.

Naturally, I had to report

that the captain carried out the action

against my advice.

I understand, sir.

But I don't mind telling you that the charts you brought back

is a mighty welcome form of insurance.

The hearing is set for 10:00 tomorrow.

The doctor said Abbott should be on his feet by then.

Admiral Lockwood...

I understood when I first shipped out

as Commander Abbott's exec,

that it was a temporary assignment,

that I was in line

for a command of my own.

In fact, I thought

when the Sea Ray returned from the China Sea...

Your last commanding officer turned in a report

which makes it impossible for me

to recommend your assignment.

My last--

Do you mean Captain Abbott, sir?

But what was the nature of the report?

Is the report subject to review, sir?

I'd prefer it, Landon,

if you'd discuss the matter

with Captain Abbott first.

Yes, sir.

Well, sir, the admiral made it quite clear,

your report stands in the way of my command.

Yes. I'm sorry, Landon.

Yes, sir.

I was hoping you'd tell me about it.

Don't you know?

No, sir, I don't.

If it's because of the way I talked to you

after Lieutenant Barton's death,

I'll admit it was improper,

but you asked me to "spit it out."

I recall your words.

My criticism had nothing to do with that.

I reported that you were an excellent executive officer,

courageous, alert, skillful and efficient.

Yes, sir.

I also remarked you were not equipped

for the responsibility of command,

because you seemed incapable of making

the sometimes painful decisions required in an emergency.

Oh.

Now I understand, captain.

I doubt that, Mr. Landon.

I think you're a man

who is ruled by personal emotion,

and you attribute that behavior to everyone around you.

Until you overcome that,

you'll be unfit for the responsibility of command.

Yes, sir.

Since you seem determined to be proper today,

I might as well say the rest of it.

I know what you think of the Wes Barton episode.

You think too,

that out of remorse and sentimentality,

I risked the Starfish and crew

in order to save Freddy Warren,

and now you think,

that, for reasons of personal ambition,

I risked the passage of Tsushima Straits

and lost my boat and men.

You said it, captain.

I didn't.

But it's what you think, Landon,

and that's what I mean

by your inability to interpret the decision of command

in anything but personal terms,

and, until you grow up...

There's an inquiry

into the sinking of the Starfish

tomorrow morning.

If you still think you have a case

against me--

Sorry.

What is it? Freddy Warren.

He's conscious and asking for you.

He's very weak.

I'll see you tomorrow, captain, at the inquiry.

Hi, Freddy.

I wondered where the fellows were...

Carroll...

Jug, Benny...

Well, we've been out on a mission, Freddy.

But you're back now.

They'll come now?

Yeah.

They'll be coming to see you.

I wanted to tell you something, sir.

It's about Lieutenant Barton.

That day,

my birthday,

what I thought about you...

I wanted to tell you, sir, I was wrong.

It's been on my mind a long time.

I understand, Freddy.

No, sir. I have to tell you.

I know what you did for me, risking the ship, just for me.

That's how I know I was wrong about you.

It's been on my mind.

It's very important... important...

Come on, Case.

It's funny, in a way.

How do you mean?

He said it.

I took a chance to save him.

I wouldn't take a chance to save Wes.

He didn't say that. You're twisting it.

It's what Landon's been believing

all this time.

It's not the same.

When the boy was hurt,

you didn't have the whole Japanese navy

bearing down on you.

Of course, you took a chance to save him.

A chance in a hundred.

Anybody would have.

I don't know anymore.

I don't know how I'll ever know.

Previous testimony has established

that you were without radar or sonar,

and at this time,

you sighted a Japanese merchantman.

Are these facts correct, captain?

Captain Abbott?

Aye, aye, sir.

Captain, your operation orders

said nothing about a mission

through the Straits.

No, sir, nor did they preclude it.

You are aware Admiral Lockwood

advised against any such attempt?

Yes, sir, but that advice

was based on other circumstances.

Will you tell us, then,

what were the circumstances

that prompted your transit in the Strait

in the wake of this merchantman?

Yes, sir.

Knowing that we planned, soon, to invade the Sea of Japan,

and appreciating the value

of a chart through the minefield,

I decided that the weather,

the time of day,

and the evident lack of Japanese surveillance

all justified the attempt.

I considered it a target of opportunity

and within my discretion as a commanding officer.

Did you take into consideration

that your vessel was already damaged?

It was my conclusion that the damage was not so extensive

as to interfere with the mission.

As to the air-pressure failure,

that didn't enter the picture until I was fully committed.

Is there anything else, captain?

Yes, sir.

I should point out that I lost my boat

after maneuvering successfully out of the Strait

into the open sea.

I had no radar as a result of damage

on my original mission to Saishu-to.

It was just bad luck.

Is that all, captain?

No, sir.

I request it be entered into the record

that I was successful in bringing back

a chart of the minefield.

Any other questions?

Thank you, captain.

Mr. Landon, this is an informal inquiry,

but anything you say

will be entered into the record

and may become subsequently

a foundation for a charge

against Captain Abbott.

Yes, sir.

Did Captain Abbott consult you,

as his executive officer,

before undertaking this foray?

I was in charge of damage control

at the time, sir.

The captain merely announced his decision to me.

Did you express an opinion?

Yes, sir. I tried to protest.

On what grounds, Mr. Landon?

On the grounds that a transit of the Strait

seemed to exceed the permissible scope of our assignment.

But you are aware now

that Admiral Lockwood

never expressly prohibited such a mission,

and that Captain Abbott

was unable to radio for instructions?

Yes, sir. I'm aware of that.

Mr. Landon,

I know this may be distasteful to you,

but as next ranking officer,

I must ask you,

do you have any reason

to believe that Captain Abbott

was guilty of any negligence

or dereliction of duty?

Sir, that's a conclusion that you're asking of me,

not facts.

You may express a conclusion, but I must ask you to be candid.

I'm sorry, sir. I cannot answer that.

Do you wish to bring forward

any other facts

which will assist this board

in reaching a conclusion about Captain Abbott's action?

Facts?

No, sir.

No other facts.

You know, Casey, in conditions of war,

the line between initiative and heroism on the one hand

and recklessness and dereliction on the other

is sometimes hard to draw.

There's the report of the Board of Investigation

in the matter of the loss of the Starfish.

They concluded that your actions were justified

and they've recommended no further proceedings.

I'm glad, Casey.

I want you to know that I agree with their conclusion.

Thank you, sir.

You don't seem very pleased.

I understand the final briefing

for the Sea of Japan take-off

is scheduled for some time this afternoon.

Yes, and I want you to be there.

I've no command, sir.

Well, the Sea Ray is back from the China Sea.

Yes, sir?

It was Admiral Nimitz's personal suggestion

that you take over its command.

The Sea Ray.

That's the boat Landon expected to get.

I'll have a talk with him.

You be at the briefing this afternoon at 4:00.

If Landon is there, he's your exec.

Aye, aye, sir.

Gentlemen, the admirals are here.

Attention on deck!

Good evening, gentlemen. Carry on.

All right, Bill, go ahead.

Well, you Hellcats are shoving off at dawn

in three groups, gentlemen,

Hepcats, Polecats and Bobcats.

Now, we have calculated your time of departure

to permit an E.T.A. at Tsushima Strait

at zero hour

based on a speed of 13 knots.

Rely on your new sonar.

In case of mechanical failure,

you have Captain Abbott's chart

on a clear channel through the minefields.

Once in the Sea of Japan,

all Hellcats are to reconnoiter their areas.

How have these areas been assigned, Lockwood?

The Bobcats will lay off Honshu,

the Polecats off Korea, and the Hepcats off Hokkaido.

You are to remain unseen until sunset of June 9th.

Is that clear, gentlemen?

That will be the hour for commence firing.

You mean, from here on, admiral,

it's every cat for himself?

You're to torpedo or gun everything in sight,

freighters, trawlers, even sampans.

Why the wait

until we start popping them, admiral?

Intelligence figures

the Japanese know something is brewing.

We don't want any single unit to be spotted

until you're all in position

to go into action simultaneously.

You are to rendezvous on June 23rd

west of La Perousse Strait,

and make your exit.

Any questions, gentlemen?

No, sir.

Now Admiral Nimitz

would like to say a few words.

With the help of the men in this room,

we have beaten the Japanese back

from the very shores of Hawaii and Australia,

from Guadalcanal, from the Philippines,

New Guinea, the Gilberts,

Solomons, Carolines and the Marianas.

We have retrieved the vast empire

they sought to plunder,

but we cannot achieve victory

until we isolate the home island

from their main source of coal,

iron, and food

on the continent of Asia.

It is your mission, gentlemen,

to demonstrate to the Japanese people

that even their warlord's private lake

is fair fishing for the American Navy,

so make it a big show,

and remember,

this time, we're reaching for victory.

Good hunting and Godspeed.

Oh, hi, Helen.

Hi.

How's young Freddy doing?

Well, he's doing much better, I think.

How about buying me a cigarette?

Sure. See you on board.

Aye, aye, sir.

Say, what about me?

Well, take your pick.

It must be a big push this time, Case.

The admiral told me not to tell.

The admiral should have told me

not to worry.

I thought we'd settled all that,

about you and me.

It won't stay settled, Case,

not until you tell me you've stopped caring.

Still beating your chest about Wes?

Well, I guess I didn't have much to say after all.

What are you going to do after the war, Case?

I've told you a hundred times.

I want to hear it once more.

I'm going into the surplus business.

I'm going to buy up all the old mines

and sell them to the man in the moon.

There's no water on the moon.

How do you know so much about the moon?

I know a lot about it.

I spend all my time looking at it

when you're away.

That's how it still is with me, Case.

It's time for me to go now.

The aft torpedo room

looked like the fountains of the French palace.

He couldn't have picked a better place to surface.

It looked as though we were right in the--

Did I interrupt something?

Well, I was just telling them

how we lost the Starfish on your last patrol.

If you've finished with your coffee, Mr. Landon,

and through telling war stories,

would you mind making up a position report?

Aye, aye, sir.

Mr. Landon probably didn't tell you

about his own part in that last patrol.

He preformed with great bravery.

He's a fine officer.

We're ready for the transit of Tsushima, captain.

Can you give me a fix?

What do we hear from the other boats, Foley?

All communications are shut off until H-Hour, June 9th, sir.

Kaiko-to bearing,

Mark.

Peak bearing,

Mark.

Charlie.

We'll make our transit by the chart.

Depth, one-two-zero.

One-two-zero feet, captain.

We're at the halfway mark, captain.

Mines ahead, sir.

I thought this was too easy.

No mines or surface vessels.

How far? I can't tell.

Blips are coming in all over the place.

They must be packed solid.

Rig for depth charge.

All compartments, rig ship for depth charge.

All stop.

All stop.

All back two thirds.

All back two thirds.

Rudder amidship.

Rudder amidship, sir.

Mine cable scraping down the port-side

of the after battery, captain.

Left full rudder. Port stop.

Left full rudder. Port stop.

We're clear, sir.

The Japanese must have shifted their minefield pattern, sir.

I hope the rest of our subs caught it.

Destroyer screws on the starboard bow, captain,

coming in fast.

I've got to get under those mines.

How deep can I go?

250 feet.

Rig for silent running. Rig for depth charge.

Rig for silent running. Rig for depth charge.

200 feet, Charlie.

200 feet, captain.

Put her on the bottom.

When are they going to give up?

I think they're gone, sir.

Can't be sure. Sonar's out.

How long to fix it?

I don't know.

I don't know what's the matter yet, sir.

No sonar. An unreliable chart. And they knew we're down here.

How long can we continue running at 200 feet?

All the way.

* take her up to 200 feet. *

Maybe we can sneak in under their minefield.

Charlie, take her up. 200 feet.

Captain!

According to the DRT chart,

we're through.

Well, I'd better check it with a fix.

Six-two feet. Bring her up smartly.

All ahead full.

All ahead full.

We're through all right.

What a temptation.

The pond's lousy with them!

I'd sure like to get one of them now, captain.

When the time comes, we'll get them all.

Down scope.

Japanese freighter off the port bow,

heading north.

And it's sunset, June 9th.

Now man battle stations torpedo.

Man battle stations torpedo.

Range...mark.

One-two, double-o-yards.

Gyro matched and ready.

Heave!

Final bearing and shoot.

Fire one.

One fired electrically.

Fire two.

Two fired electrically.

Banzai!

Up their kilt!

Final bearing and shoot.

Bearing...mark!

Bearing one-o-four.

Fire four.

Range...mark.

900 yards.

Angle on the bow zero.

Down the throat shot.

Final bearing and shoot.

Bearing...mark.

One-three-five.

Fire seven.

Seven fired electrically.

Fire eight.

Eight fired electrically.

Got him.

Sounds like another can astern of us, captain.

Coming in fast.

Range...mark.

700 yards.

Final bearing and shoot.

Bearing, mark.

Bearing one-eight-two.

Fire nine.

Nine fired electrically.

Fire 10.

10 fired electrically.

Missed.

Flood negative. Take her down deep.

All ahead full.

All ahead full, sir.

She's above us now, captain.

Fire in the I.C. board. What's our depth?

Approaching 250 feet, captain.

All ahead one third.

Mr. Landon, go below and secure everything.

Aye, aye, sir.

Course zero-one-zero.

Course zero-one-zero, sir.

Charlie, we're going to hug the coast

at about 8,000 yards

and cut down sonar detection from seaward.

Aye, aye, sir.

Foley, you better go see how they're doing.

Aye, sir.

They'll be all right, captain.

Oh, brother,

I'm so tired, I'm breathing from memory.

What did we catch, Bob?

About 15,000 tons, by the identification books.

Five A-Ks. Two destroyers.

Not bad for a few days work.

Mr. Altman to the conning tower.

Mr. Altman to the conning tower.

Pardon me, captain.

I broke these dispatches from the other boats, sir.

Hmm. Sea Tiger got three A-Ks,

one 1,500-ton destroyer and three luggers.

Hey, the rest bagged 22 vessels

and one submarine.

70,000 tons!

Captain.

Very well.

Landon's got something on the sonar.

Wants me to come up.

No word from the Sandfish yet, huh?

No, sir, I'm--

I'm afraid they got it,

otherwise she would have

come up on the circuit.

What do you make of this, captain?

Our charts don't show any nets at La Perousse.

It could be--

If it is,

it looks like there's a beautiful hole

at zero-one-five relative.

Right full rudder. All ahead two thirds.

Right full rudder, all ahead two thirds.

Looks like a bull's eye, captain.

Con maneuvering.

Something just hit the starboard prop.

All stop.

All stop.

Stern planes is jammed.

Stern planes jammed and out of commission, captain.

All back two thirds.

All back two thirds.

Diving officer says we can't hover here

any longer, captain.

Hm.

We'll have to surface to fix it.

That destroyer is still up there

looking for us.

Prepare to surface on battery.

Prepare to surface, on the battery.

Well, there are only three of us on board

to do the job.

Looks like you two are out.

Send the diving gear, the one with the phone,

to my state room.

Landon, take over.

Aye, aye, sir.

Ready to surface below.

Surface.

Any luck, sir?

How long have I been down?

20 minutes.

I can't get it.

What was that, sir?

I'm caught in the wire.

Captain, I'm sending a man down to help you.

No, I think I'm getting it.

Japanese destroyer coming in from bearing zero-seven-zero.

Distance, 4,000 yards.

Captain. Destroyer, 4,000 yards.

Take her down.

I'm stuck. I can't get loose.

No!

Fulton, get into your gear.

Landon, I'm ordering you.

Take her down!

No, sir!

Destroyer now at 2,000 yards.

There are 81 men onboard this sub.

They're your responsibility.

Clear the deck!

Run, boys.

Hatch secure.

Six-zero feet.

Man battle stations torpedo.

Man battle stations torpedo.

Stand by, forward. Stand by, one and two.

Tubes full and con.

Stand by, forward. Stand by, one and two.

One and two ready and standing by, sir.

Final bearing and shoot.

Bearing--

mark.

Down scope.

Three-zero-zero.

All tubes ready, sir.

Fire one.

One fired electrically.

Fire two.

Two fired electrically.

If he got free of the cable,

there should be a chance.

After torpedo room, con.

After torpedo room, aye.

Any sound from the clearing cables?

No, sir. Cables are clear.

Up scope.

Wait a minute!

There he is.

Prepare to surface on the battery.

Prepare to surface on the battery.

It's Abbott. He's out there!

Ready to surface below, sir.

Surface.

Landon?

Are we through La Perousse yet?

Yes, captain, we're through.

All boats accounted for except the Sandfish.

Course zero-nine-zero. We're headed home.

About this morning, sir--

I'm just glad you surfaced.

It was a long swim back to Guam.

I think there's more to say than that.

About myself--

I've-- I've been wrong about a lot of things.

We've both been wrong.

No, sir, I want to say it.

Suddenly, I saw things a lot differently

when I had to take over.

You'll make a good commander, Don.

Thank you, sir.

If you take over command of the Sea Ray,

I'm going to need a new boat

and a new exec.

Of course,

I'm going to need a best man too.

That's a pretty personal thing, Don.

That's the way I'd like it, Case.