THE SILENT SERVICE "The Salmon Swims Upstream"1957
This is the 17th episode of the U.S. war series, "The Silent Service". The series was about the exploits of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Each episode is a stand-alone tale of the actions of a particular submarine. Most of the stories are about actions against the Japanese Navy and merchant fleet in the Pacific. There is also the odd tale from the Korean conflict. The series ran for 78 episodes during 1957 and 1958. The stories were all based on actual events. Some pretty good attention to detail here with the U.S Navy allowing filming on several WW 2 era Gato class subs.
Each episode started and ended with retired Real Admiral Thomas M. Dykers giving a breakdown of the action. Dykers became a writer, producer and technical adviser after leaving the service. He worked on films such as, TORPEDO ALLEY, FLAT TOP, THE FROGMEN, HELL AND HIGH WATER and SUBMARINE COMMAND.
This episode is about the U.S.S. submarine, "Salmon". It is October 1944 and the "Salmon" has been sent out to patrol off the coast of Japan. She is part of a wolf pack looking for Japanese ships. She is soon involved in a fracas with a small Japanese convoy. After one of the other wolf pack submarines torpedoes and damages a Japanese cargo ship, "Salmon" moves in for the kill.
This draws a quick response from the Japanese escort ships. The "Salmon" undergoes a severe round of depth charges. The attack badly damages the submarine destroying some much needed equipment. The "Salmon" is given several more depth charge barrages and it looks like the jig is up for the ship and crew.
The Japanese escorts however move off allowing the "Salmon" time to emergency surface. The ship though, is dead in the water unable to start their diesel engines without some repairs. As luck would have it, the "Salmon" is hidden from the Japanese by a rain squall. The gun crews stand by in case they are needed, while the engine crew work as fast as they can to effect repairs.
One of the Japanese escorts spots the "Salmon" and moves in. There is a quick exchange of shells between the escort and the submarine. The "Salmon" gets in a couple of well-placed shots with their 5in gun. The engine room calls up that they can now start the engines.
The "Salmon" of course heads back to base as fast as the battered vessel will go.
The cast includes, James Dobson, Harry Landers, Don Haggerty and Tom (Billy Jack) Laughlin.
The "Salmon" was so damaged that she was sent directly back to the States for repairs. The ship though was deemed a constructive loss due to the heavy damage. She was scrapped in 1946. The "Salmon" completed eleven wartime patrols sinking at least 4 Ships and damaged another 6.
This is the 17th episode of the U.S. war series, "The Silent Service". The series was about the exploits of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Each episode is a stand-alone tale of the actions of a particular submarine. Most of the stories are about actions against the Japanese Navy and merchant fleet in the Pacific. There is also the odd tale from the Korean conflict. The series ran for 78 episodes during 1957 and 1958. The stories were all based on actual events. Some pretty good attention to detail here with the U.S Navy allowing filming on several WW 2 era Gato class subs.
Each episode started and ended with retired Real Admiral Thomas M. Dykers giving a breakdown of the action. Dykers became a writer, producer and technical adviser after leaving the service. He worked on films such as, TORPEDO ALLEY, FLAT TOP, THE FROGMEN, HELL AND HIGH WATER and SUBMARINE COMMAND.
This episode is about the U.S.S. submarine, "Salmon". It is October 1944 and the "Salmon" has been sent out to patrol off the coast of Japan. She is part of a wolf pack looking for Japanese ships. She is soon involved in a fracas with a small Japanese convoy. After one of the other wolf pack submarines torpedoes and damages a Japanese cargo ship, "Salmon" moves in for the kill.
This draws a quick response from the Japanese escort ships. The "Salmon" undergoes a severe round of depth charges. The attack badly damages the submarine destroying some much needed equipment. The "Salmon" is given several more depth charge barrages and it looks like the jig is up for the ship and crew.
The Japanese escorts however move off allowing the "Salmon" time to emergency surface. The ship though, is dead in the water unable to start their diesel engines without some repairs. As luck would have it, the "Salmon" is hidden from the Japanese by a rain squall. The gun crews stand by in case they are needed, while the engine crew work as fast as they can to effect repairs.
One of the Japanese escorts spots the "Salmon" and moves in. There is a quick exchange of shells between the escort and the submarine. The "Salmon" gets in a couple of well-placed shots with their 5in gun. The engine room calls up that they can now start the engines.
The "Salmon" of course heads back to base as fast as the battered vessel will go.
The cast includes, James Dobson, Harry Landers, Don Haggerty and Tom (Billy Jack) Laughlin.
The "Salmon" was so damaged that she was sent directly back to the States for repairs. The ship though was deemed a constructive loss due to the heavy damage. She was scrapped in 1946. The "Salmon" completed eleven wartime patrols sinking at least 4 Ships and damaged another 6.