The Silent Service
Documentary dramatic anthology about the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. All stories were based on fact and the realism was heightened by actual use of combat footage from the files of the Navy. The stories were varied between the South Pacific during World War II and the Korean War. The series was the brainchild of Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers, who retired from the Navy in 1949 after 22 years service. The Navy loaned him the U.S.S. Sawfish for the filming of several episodes.
- 1957-1958
- 2 seasons
- NBC Universal Television Distribution
- Action & Adventure
Documentary dramatic anthology about the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. All stories were based on fact and the realism was heightened by actual use of combat footage from the files of the Navy. The stories were varied between the South Pacific during World War II and the Korean War. The series was the brainchild of Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers, who retired from the Navy in 1949 after 22 years service. The Navy loaned him the U.S.S. Sawfish for the filming of several episodes.
Season 2 Episode Guide
39 Episodes 1958
Episode 1
The Archerfish Spits Straight
Fri, Mar 7, 1958 30 mins
Submarine Commander questions his own judgment and beaches himself in administrative duty. He returns to sea and commands another sub to sink one of the biggest warship prizes of the war.
Episode 2
The Sea Devil Attacks Puget Sound
30 mins
US Submarine vs US ASW group consisting of Destroyers and aircraft in a Cold War era war game. Who will win the competition?
Episode 3
The Bergall's Revenge
30 mins
Follows the beginning of the Bergall's third war patrol to Lombok strait. The highlight of the patrol is to use the new "cutie" torpedo to eliminate escorts that threaten US subs passing through the straits.
Episode 4
The Unsuccessful Patrol
30 mins
S boats were early and older US subs. S34 was sent into Kiska, Alaska after Japan invaded. She barely survived. Nothing sunk, but she survived.
Episode 5
The Story of the U.S.S. Aspro
Fri, Apr 4, 1958 30 mins
US subs provided lifeguard duty. Saving downed allied pilots. The USS Aspro did that just outside Tokyo, Japan in Aug. 1945 at great risk to all aboard.
Episode 6
The Thresher Story
Fri, Apr 11, 1958 30 mins
Torpedo test goes wrong and fired with the outer door still closed. It has to be disarmed or boom. Tresher adds a 5" gun for surface action in 42. US Torpedoes were bad at that time. The 5" gun saved the Tresher in a duel with a Jap ship.
Episode 7
The Ugly Duckling
Fri, Apr 18, 1958
Episode 8
Peto Plucks Some Chickens
30 mins
This episode starts with the New CO borrowing uniforms from one of his officers in San Fran. The Story ends with that JO resigning to be a priest. Plenty of soul saving in between late in the war.
Episode 9
The S-38 Story
30 mins
During the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies the S-38 attempts to rescue survivors from a British destroyer. She rescued 58 Royal sailors from the HMS Electra which had been sunk the day before.
Episode 10
Incident Down South
Fri, May 9, 1958 30 mins
In early 1942, the USS Tarpon is in bad shape. Then bad turns to worse when she is grounded on a uncharted reef. Can the ship float free in time to avoid the nearby Japanese?
Episode 11
Mine for Keeps
30 mins
When the Navy learns that Japanese freighters are hugging the coast of Japan in order to evade US submarines, the Trigger is sent to the area to lay mines to force Japanese shipping out into deeper waters. While laying mines in dangerously shallow waters the captain of the Trigger gets to see a Japanese freighter hit one of the mines they just laid.
Episode 12
Fish Out of Water
Fri, May 23, 1958 30 mins
The USS Baya operates in cooperation with Navy patrol planes in the South China Sea.
Episode 13
The U.S.S. Cod's Lost Boarding Party
Fri, May 30, 1958 30 mins
The USS Cod boarding party was stranded for 52 hours on a Japanese junk before they could be rescued.
Episode 14
The Triton's Christmas
30 mins
The Triton wardroom and torpedomen ensure a good Christmas is had by all.
Episode 15
The Hawkbill's Revenge
Fri, Jun 13, 1958 30 mins
The skipper of the USS Hawkbill vows revenge when a Japanese minelayer sinks the USS Lagarto.
Episode 16
The Tigershark
30 mins
Tigershark sights an enemy task force. The skipper has to make a decision: Follow orders and leave the area or surface and radio headquarters. His decision leads to one of his sailors being recommended for the Navy Cross.
Episode 17
The Cavalla Story
30 mins
On her first war patrol in June of 1944, the USS Cavala's captain obeys orders despite a tempting target. His disciplined conduct sets up the great American victory of "The Marianas Turkey Shoot."
Episode 18
The Growler's Captain
Sun, Jul 6, 1958 30 mins
A submarine captain sacrifices himself for the safety of his ship and crew.
Episode 19
The U.S.S. Tinosa Story
Fri, Jul 11, 1958 30 mins
This was Operation Barney. 9 US Subs entered the sea of Japan June 45. They were the "Hellcats" squadron. They wreaked havoc on Japanese ships with the loss of only 1 sub.
Episode 20
The Grayling Story
30 mins
A Lucky hat and a whale of a tale that contribute to an evasion.
Episode 21
The S-44 Story
Fri, Jul 25, 1958 30 mins
A renovated 18-year-old sub is sent to sink a Japanese cruiser.
Episode 22
The Pargo's Lucky Seventh
Fri, Aug 1, 1958 30 mins
On her seventh war patrol, the USS Pargo gets an assignment to land Australian commandos on one of the Paracel Islands.
Episode 23
The Crevalle's Mine Plant
Fri, Aug 8, 1958 30 mins
Laying mines off the Japanese-held harbor of Saigon was a tough job at best; but, with one of your own mines stuck in the torpedo tube and an enemy destroyer closing fast, it was a downright nightmare.
Episode 24
The Sunfish Story
Fri, Aug 15, 1958 30 mins
The U.S.S. Sunfish endures 186 depth charges released by Japanese surface craft.
Episode 25
The Sunfish's Cook
Fri, Aug 22, 1958 30 mins
Fed up with his routine chores in the gallery, the cook of the USS Sunfish, Teddy Aldridge, requests an active combat station for the next engagement with the enemy. The ship's executive officer assigns him a Browning automatic rifle for use during surface action.
Episode 26
The Nautilus and the Nuns
Fri, Aug 29, 1958 30 mins
Fourteen nuns escape from the Solomon Islands in the U.S.S. Nautilus.
Episode 27
The Sandshark Story
30 mins
American submarine is sent to rescue missionaries from Japanese held island, but one does not want to leave.
Episode 28
Operation Seadragon
Fri, Sep 12, 1958 30 mins
Appendectomy. No doctor. No surgical supplies. But American Submariners get the job done -- even as depth charges explode nearby.
Episode 29
The Harder at Woleai
30 mins
Extensive effort to rescue a downed pilot off enemy held island beach from a reef. Early success versus an enemy destroyer. Cdr Samuel D Dealey commanding.
Episode 30
The Tautog Story
Fri, Sep 26, 1958 30 mins
USS Tautog was at Pearl Dec. 7th, 1941. She sank 26 Jap ships/72,606 tons by the end of the war. She had one of the best records in WWII.
Episode 31
The Swordfish Story
Fri, Oct 3, 1958 30 mins
USS Swordfish travels to the Lembeh Straits on Celebes to discover how an Imperial Japanese air base is being supplied.
Episode 32
The Gabilan Story
30 mins
Submarine risks Japanese shore batteries to rescue downed airman less than a mile off coast of Japan. Then USN destroyers mistake submarine for Japanese ship. Galivan evades multiple attacks by "friendly" destroyers.
Episode 33
The Gato Story
Fri, Oct 17, 1958 30 mins
The captain of the USS Gato plays a hunch (or is it something more than a mere "hunch"?) to rescue downed American airmen.
Episode 34
The Silversides Story
Fri, Oct 24, 1958 30 mins
An egocentric young torpedoman matures as he his shaped by the harsh realities of submarine combat.
Episode 35
The Bowfin Story
Fri, Oct 31, 1958 30 mins
Today's theme is the Bowfin Story.
Episode 36
Royal Submarines
Fri, Nov 7, 1958
A British sub commander in the Mediterranean intercepts enemy supply boats.
Episode 37
The Squalus Story
30 mins
USS Squalus sinks off of New Hampshire in 1939. New rescue equipment is used to rescue half of the crew.
Episode 38
Seanettle vs U-Boat
30 mins
American submarine skillfully tracks and engages a German U-Boat that is headed for Japan.
Episode 39
U-47 in Scapa Flow
30 mins
On 14 October 1939, Gunther Prien penetrated the Royal Navy's primary base at Scapa Flow where he torpedoed and sank the battleship Royal Oak and returned home to instant fame.