The Silent Service was a documentary style anthology series about the U.S. Navy’s submarine fleet and their missions during World War II and the Korean War created by Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers, who retired from the Navy in the late 1940s. Every episode was based on true historical events, with the realism of the show reinforced by the use of actual combat footage from the archives of the United States Navy. This particular episode titled “The Salmon Swims Upstream” is episode 17 from season 1 of the show, which aired Monday, June 17th, 1957.

Directed by Jean Yarbrough and written by Leonard Lee, “The Salmon Swims Upstream” featured a cast of actors which included Harry Landers, Tom Laughlin, Don Haggerty, James Dobson, Roy Lennert, Harry Harvey Jr., Dick Foote, Bill Cassady, Jack Lomas, and Harley K. Nauman. Together, this crew of actors bring to life the story of the USS Salmon (SS-182), who on October 30th, 1944 attacked a large tanker that had been previously damaged by USS Trigger. This tanker was protected by four antisubmarine patrol vessels which were cruising back and forth around the stricken ship. Salmon fired four torpedoes and made two good hits, but was forced to dive deep under a severe depth charge attack by escort CD-29. She leveled off at 300 feet (91 m) but was soon forced to nearly 500 feet (150 m) due to damage and additional pounding of the depth charges. Unable to control leaking and maintain depth level, the submarine surfaced and continued to fight for survival.

Following an introduction by Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers (0:31), the viewer is transported to the morning of October 30th, 1944 as the USS Salmon was embarking on the 30th and final day of its successful patrol 100 miles off the coast of Japan. USS Salmon receives message from USS Silversides that there is a large Japanese freighter with escort in the area, USS Salmon speeds ahead to try and get into position before target (4:12). Crew of USS Salmon spot target, prepare to take submarine down before getting spotted by enemy and begin to fire torpedoes (6:12). Nonetheless, one of the escort ships spots the USS Salmon and forces it to submerge further. While the USS Salmon tries to escape the enemy escort ship, the escort ship begins dropping depth charges that shake the submarine and cause severe damage (8:30). Crew of the submarine assess damage and try to remedy any structural damage as quickly as possible (12:50). USS Silversides, having received the distress call from the USS Salmon, works to distract the enemy escort ships and get them off the USS Salmon’s tail – all but one ship (15:04). The remaining enemy convoy ship speeds towards the USS Salmon, the crew begins to fire rounds but keep missing, artillery is starting to run out, a young low-ranking crew member takes over and manages to hit the convoy ship twice (16:16). Practically a sitting duck, the USS Salmon still unable to submerge and running out of artillery, is joined by a fleet of aerial escorts in the form of Grumman F6F Hellcats hoping to fend off the fleet of Mitsubishi G3M enemy planes out for revenge (22:00). A battle takes place in the sky (22:51). Closing words by Rear Admiral Thomas M. Dykers and interview with special guest, Commander Harley Kent Nauman, who was commander on the USS Salmon during the patrol featured on the episode (24:13).

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