Away All Boats Page #5

Use all the men you need

to accomplish it. Understand?

Yes, sir.

Oh, thank you, sir.

- Oh, your coffee.

- Oh, no, thank you, sir.

Hey!

You finish making the hinges

for the ramp on boat nine?

I only got two hands,

Mr. Kruger.

This lousy jewelry for

the captain's crummy sailboat...

takes priority over everything.

You'd think it was some kind

of new secret weapon!

Will you try to make

the hinges, too?

Yes, sir.

Know what I'd like to do

with these cruddy cleats?

Mount them in the seat

of the captain's pants.

Here we go again.

You're in charge

of the deck department.

Aren't boat repairs

your responsibility?

Yes. So?

What are we

making the landings with-

our VPs

or the captain's sloop?

- Quit beefing to me about it.

- You got twice as many people...

working on that sailboat

as on our landing craft.

You think it's my idea?

Dave, you're close to the old

man. What do you make of this?

I don't understand.

I know he can be stubborn,

but up to now, he's

always been for the ship!

His ship is looking

another D-day right in the eye,

and only half of his boats

are ready for it!

That's the last. Absolutely

the last red ink I can find.

- What are you doing?

- Dyeing canvas.

What does it look like

we're doing, you stupid-

Oh, hello, Chief.

And why are you doing it?

The captain wants red sails

on his sailboat. That's why.

Go on up. I want to

show you something.

Feast your eyes on that.

Beautiful lines, eh?

- I call her the Albatross.

- She's a real beauty, sir.

CAPTAIN:
She'll make a dandy

for me to sail...

when we're in

some snug anchorage.

Meantime, we'll keep her stowed

in the Mike boat.

She's ready to launch.

Right, Mr. Fraser?

I hope our VPs will be

as ready to launch.

CAPTAIN:
They will be.

I knew my crew would-

I assumed you,

of all the officers aboard,

would most understand

my motives...

for having this sailboat

constructed.

I was mistaken, Mr. Fraser.

What's that supposed to mean?

You're no veteran.

You've just put in time

in this navy.

- Look, MacDougall!

- You look!

You're closer to the crew

than other officers,

yet you're blind

to what's happened to them.

The men were coming unglued

from too many months at sea.

They'd lost

their combat efficiency.

They needed something

to fix their hate on...

so they'd stop fighting

among themselves.

The captain gave it to them-

himself and this sailboat.

You worried about

the boats being ready.

They'll be ready, mister,

but more important,

the crew will be ready.

You don't get those stripes

for nothing, do you?

I'll bet every navy ship

is anchored at the Admiralties.

That PA over there,

number 22...

she's really been places.

Holy cats! A sailboat?

Ready about!

Let's take her home.

See that Admiral?

He's about to bust with envy.

Not a skipper here that ain't

jealous of the Albatross.

He knows how to sail.

He can sail a shingle

in a hurricane.

Well, she didn't sink.

She sails pretty well.

Thank you, sir.

Spare a hand and be gentle

when hoisting her aboard.

See that she's wiped dry.

Be sure to polish her brass.

May we take her aboard

at hatch number five, sir?

Affirmative.

Bring her alongside Green Nine.

She's a pretty sight

scudding before the wind.

Looks like she handles fine.

I want a boat alongside

in 10 minutes.

Commander Quigley and I are

going to an operations meeting.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Oh, Captain!

Sir, I've been waiting

to tell you.

It's in Highlandia now.

Our mail, sir.

Didn't you instruct the post

office to forward everything...

and leave it in the Admiralties

for pickup?

Yes, sir, I did, but they

showed me the top-secret list...

which tells where

every ship is.

That list shows the Belinda

anchored off Highlandia.

They sent our mail by air to

be sure we'd get it-22 bags.

Perhaps they'll fly it back.

She could have it now.

I don't know.

Why are we always anchoring

in the wrong place?

I'll see what I can do.

Watch the mooring line, sir.

Captain!

Get the lantern.

We sewed him up

and took him to his cabin.

He's sedated.

He'll sleep for a while now.

Thank you.

How serious is it?

No skull fracture,

but there's undoubtedly

a concussion.

Just how serious,

we can't be sure.

Not for some time, at least.

But knowing him,

I'll bet he'll skipper his ship

all the way to Leyte.

Now hear this.

Stream your paravanes.

Stream your paravanes.

- Stream what?

- Paravanes, whatever they are.

What's that thing for?

It's supposed to deflect mines.

Cuts them loose,

they float to the surface,

and we detonate them

with rifles.

We're sailing through

a mine field now?

Oh, my aching back!

We've passed control point

x- ray, Captain.

We're now 34 miles south

of Tacloban.

How's our timing?

Three minutes ahead of schedule,

but the ebb tide and currents

are stronger than predicted.

Tides and currents

were always here.

The mines weren't.

Mine found

in starboard paravane!

Chief Torgeson reports mine

found in starboard paravane.

- Right full rudder!

- Right full rudder, sir.

Reports-continue reports!

Inform the flagship

and ships astern.

Alert the engine room

and Damage Control.

Mine found

in starboard paravane.

Engine Room, Damage Control,

mine found

in starboard paravane!

All damage control parties,

stand by with shore

firefighting equipment.

All troops will move immediately

to starboard side of midships.

Clear the starboard side.

Can't carry on any further.

We'll run into the next column.

Chief Torgeson reports

he still can't see the mines.

We can't lie here.

We're being set down on it

faster every minute.

Back the ship.

Aye, aye, sir.

All backs pull!

What's the captain doing?

That mine will hit his midships!

Standing by.

Captain wants Alvick

on the bridge.

- Now right full rudder!

- Right full rudder.

Radar range to the columns

on either side.

- Alvick.

- Yes, sir?

You're the best rifle shot.

Get on the forecastle

and prove it.

I could prove it quicker

with a 20-millimeter.

It could get ricocheted into

some ship and start a shootout.

- Take off.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- All stop!

- All stop, sir.

- MacDougall.

- Yes, sir?

Can you her like this

for five minutes?

Yes, sir. I can hold her.

Let me know

when Alvick gets there.

Forecastle, the captain wants

to know when Alvick arrives.

- I can see it!

- Ready in the forecastle.

- Open fire.

- Open fire!

Got to hit a horn.

Plugging it full of holes

won't do any good.

Basketful

to unknown ship...

violating gunfire

restriction plan.

Cease fire immediately.

Out.

Who's Basketful?

Commander of first

LST squadron, sir. 57.7.1.

Stu Masterson, class of '26.

He's junior to me.

Basketful, this is Tango.

Stick around, Stu.

You ain't seen nothing yet.

- He's hit it twice.

- One of the horns?

Couldn't tell.

Maybe it's a dud.

So you're the big rabbit hunter

from Wyoming?

If you ain't better

at shooting rabbits...

than you are at that mine,

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