Narrated by Alexander Scourby and directed by Lt. Frank Peele and written by Peele and Robert Sibley, this 1978 U.S. Navy film, “Pride Runs Deep” was produced on behalf of the Chief of Naval Operations. It presents an in-depth look at the life of a submariner, from missile and torpedo exercises, to mess and recreation. It explains in great detail the difference between fast attack submarines and Polaris ballistic missile submarines. The film was formally called SITREP 13, with “sitrep” defined as “a report on the current military situation in a particular area.”
Opening titles: Pride Runs Deep (over numerous submarine images) (:08-:55). Children run and hug their father inside of the Charleston airport. Women and men say goodbye as the men, U.S. Navy submarine crew, prepare to leave for their assignments. The men hold their luggage and board a Pan Am Jet. The jet takes off bound for Holy Loch, Scotland. The men talk about their experiences and leaving their loved ones. The plane touches down at Prestwick. The men exit the Pan Am jet. The men head for their ship (:56-3:01). Submarine returns from patrol. The new crew is getting ready to switch out with the old one. The USS Henry L. Stimson SSBN-655 is readied for sea. Periscope. Missiles. Men at the control desk. Supplies are brought onboard, men scrub the sub (3:02-5:19). At 3:39, a Playboy bunny symbol adorns a missile tube hatch. Men move supplies. At 4:23, a crewman aboard USS James Madison SSBN-627 cleans the periscope lens. Submarine leaves port and heads for the open sea. The crew at work (5:20-6:45). A drill is taking place, the men move into positions and man their stations. Men give orders, review screens. The Captain gives his orders. Buttons are pushed, paper sheets print. Men sit at their control desks, lights flash (6:46-8:41). Order is given – permission to fire. Men practice firing, but do not. The submarine is submerged. Graduation day at the Naval School in Groton, CT. Naval Submarine Base New London is the United States Navy’s primary East Coast submarine base, also known as the “Home of the Submarine Force”. It is located in Groton, Connecticut directly across the Thames River from its namesake city of New London. Men practice escaping from the sub underwater. An exercise where water is spraying from pipes and the men must figure a way out. As the water rises, the men try and stop it (8:42-10:56). Men take specialized courses. Men practice working on a real submarine. A submarine at sea. Submarine at the dock. Submarine moving, some men stand on it. A plane flies over a submarine (10:57-12:41). A missile leaves the water and flies into the air. Torpedos and missiles are fired. Orders are given, men move to perform a drill. Missiles inside the sub. Men sit at a control desk, monitor a screen (12:42-14:06). P-3 Orion anti-submarine warfare aircraft flies overhead at (12:41). A torpedo is fired. Men outside use binoculars. Submarine moves, partially submerged. At 13:30, Capt. Ira H. Coen, Jr. of the Sturgeon-class attack submarine USS Hawkbill SSN-666 is shown. Navy men explain why they like the job (14:07-16:00). Submarine moves slowly, partially submerged. POV from the submarine deck. Men close the hatch and go back down into the submarine. A man uses the periscope. Men look at pictures of loved ones, get a haircut, play checkers and cards, lift weights, sleep. Men perform their task onboard the sub. Numbers move closeup (16:01-18:05). Food is served: hot dogs, corn, bread, milk, ice cream. A film projector shows a 16mm movie. Submerged. Many different quick shots (18:06-19:33). A man speaks on life on the submarine. A cook makes food. Men eat and wipe their faces with napkins. Family messages are received. Letterhead (19:34-21:05). Wives of the crew meet and speak about being apart. Submarine moves below the water. Men have a class and men learn the complex systems onboard as they walk around the sub. A man writes on a chalkboard. A man receives his dolphin badge which means he is qualified in submarines (21:06-23:34). Men get their dolphin badges. The submarine USS Cincinnati (SSN-693), a Los Angeles-class submarine, is christened. The Los Angeles class is a new class of subs. New Trident class will carry 24 missiles. Lead boat USS Ohio is currently being built. Missiles are fired as part of a test. Submarine comes into port. Men are on their way home (23:35-25:48). Navy men talk about being happy to go home. Men walk down the steps of their jet at the airport and reunite with their wives and children. Submarine heads for sea. Men at work on the sub. Men play instruments. Submarine heads out to sea (25:49-27:34). End credits (27:35-28:16).
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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
