This gripping film from 1957, “The Silent Service” shows submarine warfare in the Pacific theater of WW2. Submariners played a heavy role in decimating the Japanese fleet. The film opens with a note explaining that much of their work was shrouded in secrecy (:40). A periscope pokes the surface of the sea (1:02). A torpedo is fired (1:09). Debris and crewmen bob in the waters (1:14). Members of Japanese industry appear. Mr. Rozo Asano; President of Nippon Steel Tube Co. (1:35) details loss of steel. Mr. shun Nomura of Mitsui Oil (2:10) states much of their oil supply was derived from the US prior to the war. (2:31). Fleet Admiral O. Nagano I.J.N; chief of Naval General Staff (2:57) testifies. One reporter questions the scarce coverage of submarine warfare (4:30) and the phrase “the silent service” is discussed. Scenes follow from Pearl Harbor (5:32). FDR is heard (5:42). 51 subs were in the Pacific (6:27). The USS Swordfish would be the first to sink a Japanese ship. It is pictured in the China Sea (6:28). Tokyo Rose; Iva Toguri D’Angelo, is heard (6:36). She was the Japanese-American DJ and radio personality who participated in radio broadcasts to Allied Troops on the “Zero Hour Show”. A torpedo is fired (7:07) hitting Atsutasan Maru (7:09). Footage follows from January 1st, 1942 as Kanan Maru is hit off the coast of Japan (7:26). The story of USS Trigger; a Gator-class sub follows (8:41). Mare Island Naval Shipyard (8:43) is pictured. Trigger reaches Pearl Harbor (9:29). Trigger prepares to dive as they spot an enemy craft (10:16). At 1,500 yards, a torpedo is fired (11:20). Yoshu Maru takes a hit (11:35). Trigger takes multiple depth charges (11:55). The crew reacts (12:01). Tokyo Rose returns over the radio (12:24). Submariners laugh (12:45) over her false report they had been sunk. An Aircraft Carrier and two destroyers are spotted (14:02). The helmsmen orders torpedoes to be fired (15:23). Explosions erupt (15:51). The USS Trigger was sunk in March of 1945 (16:16). Statistics follow from 1943 (16:33). US, German and Japanese losses are compared (16:59). Footage of USS Sculpin’s scuttling and subsequent sinking follows from November 19, 1943 (17:14). The Sculpin appears (17:30). Depth charges are dropped (17:37). The Japanese destroyer Yamagumo is sighted (18:04). Explosions erupt (18:32). Five hours into battle; crewman were fatigued (18:45), temperatures hit 115 degrees within the hull and they were faced with the decision to remain submerged or surface and continue battle. Conway and Captain Cromwell discuss rumors of torture and safety of the crew (19:01). The pair reportedly argued over this decision. The crew is called to surface and fight with the deck guns (19:11). The ship surfaces and crew head for the guns (19:22). Two dozen perished almost instantly including Conway (19:37). The ship is scuttled (19:57). Cromwell decides goes down with the Sculpin (20:01) to protect sensitive information. Survivors surface (20:11). The Royal Hawaiian Hotel appears (21:08). Footage follows from the submariners retreat (21:21). Sunbathers enjoy Waikiki beach (21:26). Submariners shoot pool (21:56). Statistics follow from 1944 (22:58). Deck guns blow holes in Japanese merchant vessels (23:29). Targets were minimal by 1945. Submariners pick up prisoners (25:22). A distress call is heard in Morse code from a B-29 (25:46). Lookouts spot the plane (26:01) as it hits the water. Airmen parachute down (26:14). Medics service the wounded (27:00). Submariners board Japanese merchant ships and search through cargo (29:23). Prisoners are captured (29:30). Mines explode (29:43). A large Japanese freighter (29:49) is spotted. Crew members hold a war council (30:16). They change course (30:34). The skipper addresses the crew (30:44). A torpedo is fired (32:47). Another torpedo is a misfire (33:23). A third hits the target (34:16). The submarine surfaces (34:35). The crew notes the bow plank had not yet folded up (35:08). Back on the home front the submariner’s receive decoration for their service (35:37). The film concludes over the US Navy Department seal (37:10).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com