THE SILENT SERVICE "The Grouper Story" 1957
This is the 21st 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. "Grouper". It is Sept. 1943 and the "Grouper" is sent on a top secret mission. They are to pick up a party of 50 men and transport them to New Britain. The men, Australians and local natives are being landed to gather information for the upcoming landing on the island. The Japanese have a major base on the island, Rabaul.
The task is complicated by the natives who of course are most reluctant to board a submarine. Then there is the intended landing spot. It turns out there is an unforeseen reef blocking the entrance to the cove. This results in having to row the rubber rafts several extra miles to land the men. Half way through the operation a Japanese patrol craft comes sailing by. The submarine though blends in with the jungle and they are not spotted. The mission is completed and the "Grouper" returns to base.
The "Grouper" completed 12 wartime patrols sinking 5 enemy ships. One of the ships, the Lisbon Maru had 1800 British and Canadian p.o.w.s from Hong Kong on board, of which over 800 died in the sinking. The cast includes, Mark Roberts, Bret King, William Boyett and Ron Foster.
The "Grouper" was kept in service after the war as a research ship. It was later converted into the first "hunter-killer" submarine in the U.S. Navy. The ship was finally decommissioned in 1968 and sold for scrap in 1970.
This is the 21st 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. "Grouper". It is Sept. 1943 and the "Grouper" is sent on a top secret mission. They are to pick up a party of 50 men and transport them to New Britain. The men, Australians and local natives are being landed to gather information for the upcoming landing on the island. The Japanese have a major base on the island, Rabaul.
The task is complicated by the natives who of course are most reluctant to board a submarine. Then there is the intended landing spot. It turns out there is an unforeseen reef blocking the entrance to the cove. This results in having to row the rubber rafts several extra miles to land the men. Half way through the operation a Japanese patrol craft comes sailing by. The submarine though blends in with the jungle and they are not spotted. The mission is completed and the "Grouper" returns to base.
The "Grouper" completed 12 wartime patrols sinking 5 enemy ships. One of the ships, the Lisbon Maru had 1800 British and Canadian p.o.w.s from Hong Kong on board, of which over 800 died in the sinking. The cast includes, Mark Roberts, Bret King, William Boyett and Ron Foster.
The "Grouper" was kept in service after the war as a research ship. It was later converted into the first "hunter-killer" submarine in the U.S. Navy. The ship was finally decommissioned in 1968 and sold for scrap in 1970.