89144 “SUB KILLERS” 1960s U.S. NAVY ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE ASW COLD WAR

This black & white film, one of the episodes of the TV show “The 20th Century” narrated by Walter Cronkite, is about war-games performed between U.S. Navy ships and submarines. It was released in 1960.

Opening: SUB KILLERS (:06-:16). U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Randolph, destroyers including USS Waller (DD/DDE-466), a Fletcher-class destroyer, helicopters and submarines, including USS Cobbler (SS-344), a Balao-class submarine, in formation. This ‘Hunter Killer’ group was a convoy support group. Planes including a Grumman S-2 Tracker are seen taking off from the cruiser deck (:17-1:26). Walter Cronkite is our host and narrator. He enters Flag Plot, the command center. Subtitles show and explain how they are speaking in a certain naval code that cannot always be easily understood. Admiral J.E. Clark speaks to Cronkite about what is going on and why they are out at sea (1:27-3:29). Task Group tracking plane on radar patrol. Inside the cockpit with the pilots. Pilots speak into their radios and give their position. Plane tilts and flies off. U.S. Submarine plays the enemy in this exercise. Inside the sub with the men. Men start pulling levers and steering (3:30-5:15). Inside the cockpit of the plane, pilots give coordinates. A smoke flare is dropped as a marker to locate the ‘enemy.’ Sikorsky S-34 helicopters take off from the deck of the cruiser. Helicopters drop a flashing ball to act as sonar. Helicopter hovers over the water. Navy Destroyer on the way (5:16-7:15). Under water and inside the submarine. Helicopter men try and find the submarine. Inside the submarine, the men try and maneuver and hide. Radar screen. Helicopter with sonar ball still hovers above the water, they have lost contact (7:16-8:59). Cronkite is carried from a helicopter to the submarine to speak to the captain. He enters the submarine and talks with the captain (9:00-11:50). Cronkite uses a highline to go from ship to ship – From the U.S.S. Randolph to the U.S.S. Waller. Cronkite is on the bridge of the U.S.S. Waller. Cronkite watches the men in charge discuss, he then speaks to the man in charge, the Commodore (11:51-14:29). Tracking plane in the sky. The operator onboard tries to detect the submarine underwater. Plane flies over a destroyer to make sure their magnetic gear works. Helicopter hovers over the water with Cronkite inside of it (14:30-16:02). Destroyer moves at sea. Plane tries to pinpoint the submarine. Cronkite watches all of this from a helicopter. Plane takes another scan with its sonar equipment (16:03-17:37). On the U.S.S. Waller, the submarine is being tracked by men in the control room. A display screen. Men on radios call in orders. Men standby to fire during exercise. A torpedo is fired. Inside the submarine, the men are aware of the attack and plot. ABoard the Waller, men fire a rocket, then another (17:38-20:26). Submarine men take a direct hit, they plan and discuss. Aboard the Waller, ‘hedgehogs’ are fired into the water. Submarine radios in. Submarine comes to the surface to surrender (20:27-22:17). No end credits.

Link Copied

About Us

Thanks for your interest in the Periscope Film stock footage library.  We maintain one of the largest collections of historic military, aviation and transportation in the USA. We provide free research and can provide viewing copies if you can let us know some of the specific types of material you are looking for. Almost all of our materials are available in high quality 24p HD ProRes and 2k/4k resolution.

Our material has been licensed for use by:

Scroll to Top

For Downloading, you must Login or Register

Free to Download High Quality Footage

Note: Please Reload page and click again on My Favorites button to see newly added Favorite Posts.