Originally created by the Franklin Institute, SUBOPS THE U.S. NAVY’S FIRST SUBMERSIBLE SWIMMERS details the history of the Underwater Demolition Teams known as the Frogmen. More importantly, it examines work of John Fenjohn, who invented a series of cameras for use in the underwater world. The film features rare footage of the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs), now known as the SEALs, conducting operations off of the submarine USS Quillback (SS-424). It also shows various developments in diving, including the use of the miniature depth gauge, SCUBA apparatus, and submarine air lock. Hosted by Commander Francis Douglas Fane, a former UDT. Most of the film was shot using the revolutionary FenJohn underwater camera.
The film is hosted by Francis Douglas Fane, who was in charge of UDT UNIT 13. He and his team were one of the first into Japan at the end of WWII. After the war the chief of Naval Operations dispatched Lt Cmdr Fane to Europe to investigate combat diving operations. He did a complete survey and this was the beginning of Research, Development, Test and Evaluation within the UDT and later the SEAL Teams. He brought back from Europe several Frogman specialists as consultants to the UDT program.
Upon returning, Lt. Cmdr Fane found out the Navy had planned on dissolving the UDT Program. He played a major role in saving UDT Teams.
Fane was instrumental in locating Dr. Christian Lambertsen who had developed the Lambertsen Amphibious Respiratory Unit.
This closed circuit rebreather (used by both the OSS and later the UDT)was an underwater breathing system that did not release any bubbles when exhaled. Fane went on to set up UDT Training facilities in the Virgin Islands, developing the diver lockout in submarines.,
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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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
