Run Silent Run Deep Page #2

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I'll take care, ma'am.

- Take over, Mr Conwell.

- Aye aye, sir.

Captain's off the bridge.

It won't be long now.

Captain's off the bridge.

- Order's coming up soon, Chief.

- OK, Carver.

- Is he downstairs yet?

- Below, Jessie. The Captain's below.

- How much is in the pool?

- 200 bucks. Are all the areas covered?

- I got a five spot on Area 22.

- 16 for me! I hear it's a pleasure cruise!

- I took 7.

- 7?

- You what?

- I took 7.

- That's a one-way ticket, idiot!

- Trying to jinx us all?

- What do you mean, one-way?

- No return, Jessie. No return.

But I was born on the 7th.

What with all that money in the pool, I...

The money's all locked up inside.

Wilson, tell the engine room

we're standing by.

- Hey, Chief, can I change areas?

- Too late.

Gentlemen, I ask for silence.

The next voice you hear...

...will be the dealer.

This is the Captain.

I know all of you are vitally interested

in our area assignment.

Here is a rundown of the orders under

which we will operate during this patrol.

Number one.

And I'm sure you've heard this

many times:
Sink enemy shipping.

Number two:
Proceed

on a specified course to Area 7...

- I knew it! I just knew it!

- For Pete's sake, turn it off!

Number three:
Avoid the section

in Area 7 known as the Bungo Straits.

Number four:
Take coast intelligence

photos wherever possible.

A third of you are new men, and I know

there are bound to be some questions.

Feel free to ask

your division officer any time.

That's all. Thanks for your attention.

Hey, where are the Bungo Straits?

- Why?

- He said we'll avoid it.

He didn't say anything about avoiding 7.

OK, give everyone back

his money, Kohler.

No dice. Somebody took Area 7.

- Who?

- He did.

Jeez, fellas, I didn't know!

Well, it's my birthday!

Simulated target dead ahead, sir.

(Jim) Range 2,000.

All hands standing by for drill.

Bail out. Lookouts, below!

Clear the bridge!

(klaxon)

Dive! Dive!

- What's the depth?

- 38 feet, sir.

- Ruby, where's the scope?

- We're not at periscope depth yet.

- Stand by to surface.

- Stand by to surface!

Now let's get this straight.

- I want this scope up as we dive.

- As we dive, sir?

I wanna be ready to fire

once we level off at 50 feet.

I know this is new to you,

but you'll have to get used to it.

The purpose of this drill is

to dive and fire as soon as we level.

Let's try it again. Surface!

(klaxon)

Blow main ballast. Hard rise on planes.

(klaxon)

- Blow negative!

- Level off. 8-degree angle,

- Depth:
40 feet.

- Steady on course, Captain.

- Mark:
50. Levelled off.

- Fire 1. Time?

- Not fast enough. Open the vents sooner.

- Aye aye, sir.

- Stand by to surface. We'll try it again.

- Stand by to surface.

(klaxon)

Dive! Dive!

- Open the vents on the diving alarm.

- Taking a chance, isn't it?

You can always shut 'em

if you don't get a green board.

Aye aye, sir.

(klaxon)

Dive! Dive!

Open 'em up! Flood those tanks!

(klaxon)

Dive! Dive!

- Mark:
50. Levelled off.

- Fire 1.

- 37 seconds, sir.

- That's good. Very good.

By the time we reach Area 7,

I want it down to 33.

- 33, sir?

- 33 is right.

- Yes, sir. Secure from battle stations?

- Yes, Jim.

- Take the conn, Mr Cartwright.

- Secure from battle stations.

- Secure. Third section, take watch.

- Secure. Third section, take watch.

All ahead one third.

Light the smoking lamp.

I said secure. Your tails

can't be dragging that much.

What's the matter? No gripes, no groans?

Isn't anyone gonna say

it's a four-second difference?

Not a boat in the fleet could make it?

Ruby, you worried about drills?

- No, sir.

- Poplin?

I never keep anything from a crew. I don't

expect 'em to keep anything from me.

So, come on, speak up!

Well, I... I guess it's...

It's Area 7, Mr Bledsoe.

- You heard the operation orders.

- That's just it, sir.

- They mentioned the Bungo Straits.

- What difference does that make?

That's the section where

those subs were lost - the graveyard.

- We've got orders to avoid it.

- The Bungo Straits!

- Well, for Pete's sake!

- Great!

- Lieutenant, we thought...

- Don't think.

Grab some coffee.

In 30 minutes, you got another drill.

Leave the hatch open,

the boat might go down faster.

(men continue banter)

I heard you, Lieutenant.

Now that you've explained the orders...

...how do you explain

the purpose of these drills?

(alarm)

Captain to the bridge!

Easy, fellas! She's gotta last the patrol!

One pat to a customer now!

- All ahead, standard on board.

- OK, I got it.

Radar contact dead astern, sir.

We think it's a Jap sub.

Has he seen us?

Hard to tell. Shall we open

the outer doors on the stern tubes?

No. Keep her on present course.

(alarm continues)

Conning tower,

aft engine room manned and ready.

Conn, forward torpedo room

manned and ready.

How long shall we hold this course, sir?

What?

Before we double back to get 'em.

We're not going to double back.

- Sir?

- He might get lucky. I'm not risking it.

- We're faster. We could outmanoeuvre it.

- Hold her steady.

- Aye aye, sir.

- Keep a sharp lookout astern!

Lost radar contact at 6-5-0-0 yards, sir.

Very well. Secure from battle stations.

Secure from battle stations.

Second section, take the watch.

I'll take the conn. Lay below.

Aye aye, sir.

Well, you've had the boat for a week now.

I guess you noticed

how quickly she responds.

Always a shudder when you push her

too hard. Best to ease her into it.

- Thanks. Anything else?

- Just one thing, sir.

She hates showing her backsides

to Japanese submarines.

Permission to go below, sir?

Granted.

Now hear this, now hear this.

Orders of the day.

To your sacks, men. You've got

Any of you gripers want a sleeping pill?

He's a caution. Isn't he a caution!

Give the skipper a couple, will ya?

A Jap sub and all these drills.

The Captain must be running scared.

Aw, it's the craziest war patrol

I ever started on.

Who said anything about a war patrol?

You're all confused, my friend.

We're on a drill patrol. First time

in the annals of the Navy Department.

What's it all mean?

What's he got in mind, huh?

Haven't you heard? He's gonna

challenge the Japs to a drill.

The winner will get

an all-expense-paid honeymoon...

...with Tokyo Rose in the Bungo Straits.

Gentlemen, we are indeed fortunate.

Let us pay tribute to that great motto.

"Caution with safety

and safety with caution."

Now. Let's do better than that.

Let's drink a toast to our beloved captain,

the drillmaster!

For he knew our fleet boat

was faster than a Jap sub.

I've had enough kidding, Jerry.

Why? A cautious captain

with orders to "avoid"?

If we stay out of Area 7

as well as the Straits, we're in.

- I bet he's thinking of a way now!

- Excuse me, sir. Your watch list.

What about that, Mueller?

You're chummy with him.

I don't know what you're talking about,

Mr Cartwright. Do you, sir?

Come back here, Kraut!

Get out, Mueller. Go on.

If you have any questions, you come

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