1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,000 And now, tonight's presentation of radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense. 2 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:18,040 Tonight, we bring you a story of what might have happened to the first atomic-powered 3 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:19,040 submarine. 4 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,160 We call it Report on the X-915. 5 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,160 We ask you to remember that it is fiction. 6 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:31,160 So now, starring Stacy Harris, here is tonight's Suspense play, Report on the X-915. 7 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:58,320 As shown through groupers orders dated April 1st, 1952, I was detached from temporary duty 8 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,440 with Naval Defense Command Washington and reported to Andrews Field for immediate transportation 9 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:03,440 through New Haven, Connecticut. 10 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,240 From there, I was directed to proceed without delay to Naval Base Charlie, where I was to 11 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:09,240 report to Admiral R.L. 12 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:10,240 Carruthers' commandment. 13 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:16,000 After a routine flight, I landed at New Haven, Connecticut, and at 1815, I reported with 14 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,000 orders to the office of Admiral Carruthers. 15 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:19,000 Thank you. 16 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:20,000 Yes, sir. 17 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:21,000 Reporting for duty, sir. 18 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:22,000 Release you down, Commander. 19 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:23,000 Thank you, sir. 20 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:24,000 Goodbye. 21 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:29,680 No, thank you, Admiral. 22 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:41,360 Commander Richard, what do you know about Project Sailfish? 23 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:48,440 Atomic pig boat submarine, sir, authorized by the Secretary of Defense, begun May 1949, 24 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:54,480 designated experimental vessel X-915, cost about $50 million. 25 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:55,480 What about the timetable? 26 00:01:55,480 --> 00:02:00,880 Oh, I believe the first atomic sub is scheduled for test runs in May of 1953. 27 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:01,880 You've been reading the newspaper. 28 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:03,880 And the file in the bureau, sir. 29 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:08,080 Suppose I told you both, new ships and the daily papers are wrong. 30 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:09,080 Wrong? 31 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:10,080 Deliberately wrong. 32 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:11,080 Oh, I see. 33 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,520 But since this base was activated, Commander, world conditions have changed. 34 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,880 The Navy is no longer satisfied with the eight-hour day to 40-hour week. 35 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:24,080 For this reason, we've been on a round-the-clock basis for almost six months. 36 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:30,880 Project Sailfish is one year ahead of schedule, if we could publicly display our accomplishments. 37 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,120 As a fact, it's the case. 38 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:34,760 Not even to the Bureau of Ship, sir? 39 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:35,760 Not even to Congress. 40 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:41,280 I'm beginning to understand why my orders are classified top secret. 41 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,000 Commander, there are 307 men working on this base. 42 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,040 Every single one of these men has been given the most thorough loyalty check possible. 43 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,160 Every single one of them has been working and living behind a barbed wire for the past 44 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:52,160 six months. 45 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,760 Sir, do you suspect a leak? 46 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:56,760 We're not sure. 47 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,960 Two days ago, a convoy arrived at the base. 48 00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:00,960 Eight trucks. 49 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:02,880 And one of those trucks was a Steinblatt periscope. 50 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:03,880 Yes, sir, I've heard of it. 51 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:05,880 But not more than a handful have. 52 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:11,640 Yet, when the periscope was being installed yesterday aboard the X-915, it fell to the 53 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:13,640 deck, made completely inoperative. 54 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:17,080 The cable on the crane lifting it into place snapped. 55 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:18,080 Steel cable. 56 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:20,080 Had it been cut, sir? 57 00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:21,080 No, it had not. 58 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:25,760 In fact, the lab technicians assure me it simply broke under the strain. 59 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:29,280 That cable was designed to support 100 tons. 60 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:31,760 The Steinberg periscope weighs less than 20. 61 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:32,760 All right. 62 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,760 Now, there are two possibilities. 63 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,120 One, that the cable was faulty to begin with. 64 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:39,280 A manufacturer's mistake. 65 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:41,200 I'm having Washington check that for me now. 66 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,840 That someone on this base somehow weakened that cable. 67 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:45,840 Sabotage? 68 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:46,840 Exactly. 69 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:52,600 Commander, only one thing matters to me right now, that the X-915 completes the first trial 70 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:53,600 run. 71 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,880 They must proceed according to plan without interruption. 72 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,720 That's why I requested Washington to send me a top man for the UNI. 73 00:03:58,720 --> 00:03:59,720 Yes, sir. 74 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:00,720 I'll open anyway I can, sir. 75 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,520 When do you plan to test the sub sometime this month? 76 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:05,520 Not this month, Commander. 77 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:06,520 Tomorrow. 78 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:16,160 Twenty-one hundred hours, Tuesday, April 1st, 1952. 79 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,160 I looked up Lieutenant Commander Stanley Lyndon, Chief Engineering Officer, on the base. 80 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:24,680 In his quarters, I was told Lyndon was at the docks working. 81 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:28,440 Naval Base Charlie was surrounded by barbed wire, yet within the base itself was still 82 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:34,720 a smaller area surrounded by more barbed wire, controlled by an armed sailor every 20 yards. 83 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,960 Even with my high priority yellow pass, I was given the same check I've received by 84 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,520 any other visitor to this inner barbed wire area. 85 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:48,120 For it was here, behind the wire, that the United States ship X-915 was moored, the first 86 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:49,120 atomic submarine. 87 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:50,120 All aboard, watch it! 88 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:51,120 Watch it! 89 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:52,120 Floodlights covered the area and brought a glaring whiteness over the faces of the men 90 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:53,120 who were there. 91 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:54,120 But that wasn't what caught my eye. 92 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:55,120 It was the thing you see. 93 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:56,120 The thing you see. 94 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:57,120 The thing you see. 95 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:58,120 The thing you see. 96 00:04:58,120 --> 00:04:59,120 The thing you see. 97 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:00,120 The thing you see. 98 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:01,120 The thing you see. 99 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:02,120 The thing you see. 100 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:03,120 The thing you see. 101 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:04,120 The thing you see. 102 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:09,120 It was the thing that lay alongside the dock, the iron and steel monster that nestled against 103 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,120 the peel of a giant pig. 104 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:17,120 Here she was, black, hideous and beautiful. 105 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:24,400 The X-915, 3,000 tons, 50 million dollars, the Navy's first line of defense in any future 106 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:25,400 war. 107 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:33,760 The atomic age gone down to the sea in ships. 108 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:37,920 I found Lieutenant Commander Stanley Lyndon just outside a 6x6 wooden shack near the dock. 109 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:38,920 He invited me inside. 110 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:44,360 The old man phoned you were coming down, Commander. 111 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:45,360 What's the story, Lyndon? 112 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:46,360 About the Steinberg periscope. 113 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:47,360 I wish you could tell me. 114 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:48,360 How do you feel about it? 115 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:49,360 Personally. 116 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:50,360 Me? 117 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:51,360 Yeah, you. 118 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:52,360 Not the official Navy. 119 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:53,360 Sabotage? 120 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:54,360 I see. 121 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:55,360 And? 122 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:56,360 And something more than just the periscope? 123 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:57,360 I think so. 124 00:05:57,360 --> 00:06:04,360 Something else has happened to the men, the crew, the officers. 125 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,360 Could it be the speed up? 126 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:08,360 It could be. 127 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:13,360 24 hour days, 7 day weeks, even with three ships you get the feeling of rush. 128 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,360 Get it done right now, get it done yesterday. 129 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:17,360 Your crane operator. 130 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,360 I think he might have had something to do with it. 131 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:21,360 Thompson? 132 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:22,360 Yeah, I said that now. 133 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:25,360 But then I could say that about almost every man on the base. 134 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:30,360 They were handpicked, Commander, not just stray working with know-how, but the best. 135 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,360 Nobody applied for a job at this base, not even me. 136 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:35,360 We were all chosen. 137 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:40,360 And the loss of your periscope doesn't postpone your trial run set for tomorrow. 138 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:45,360 Commander, Washington didn't take chances with anything on Project Sailfish. 139 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:47,360 Two periscopes were made. 140 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:51,360 The second was installed less than an hour ago. 141 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:53,360 What's your ETB for tomorrow, Lyndon? 142 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,360 0700. 143 00:06:55,360 --> 00:07:00,360 Good. I'll be aboard. 144 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:05,360 0700, Wednesday, April 2, 1952. 145 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:20,360 Captain Zeo Under, U.S. Navy commanding officer, sets special fee detail aboard the USS X915. 146 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:28,360 On October 10, the X915 left the berth under auxiliary power. 147 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:33,360 0830, the X915 was in the open sea. 148 00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:36,360 Now hear this. Now hear this. 149 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:46,360 All ship personnel, X915 is 22 and will proceed under atomic power. 150 00:07:46,360 --> 00:07:51,360 And in the control room. 151 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:54,360 Engines sound good. 152 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,360 Watch our speed, Lyndon. 153 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,360 30 knots, traveling at two-thirds. 154 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,360 Cruise at 50. 155 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:02,360 That's what the book says. 50 knots. 156 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,360 30 knots submerged. 157 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:07,360 You've been reading the same book, Commander. 158 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,360 Today's test is speed and maneuverability. Testable. 159 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:11,360 Am I right? 160 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,360 Right. Tomorrow we go for depth. 161 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:19,360 We're successful today. 162 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,360 10 hundred hours. 163 00:08:21,360 --> 00:08:24,360 Captain Under gave the command of standard speed. 164 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,360 The X915 responded quietly and efficiently. 165 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:31,360 We made 50 knots. 166 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:33,360 11 hundred hours. 167 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,360 Captain Under gave the command of flank speed. 168 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:39,360 We made good 60 knots. 169 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:48,360 Nothing in the United States Navy could catch him. 170 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:51,360 At 1700 hours, the exercises were secured. 171 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:56,360 At 1730, the X915 tied up alongside the dock at Naval Base Charlie. 172 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:01,360 A pig boat of tomorrow was everything the Navy had hoped for and then some. 173 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:06,360 Lyndon and I went up to the VOQ, changed clothes, and joined Admiral Corrotus for dinner in his office. 174 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,360 Lyndon reported, and I listened. 175 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:13,360 Yes, there was sabotage aboard the sub. It had kept itself well hidden. 176 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:15,360 Everyone was pleased. 177 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:21,360 The Admiral suggested I continue my investigations on shore the next day instead of joining the test on Baker, and I agreed. 178 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:27,360 Lyndon and I said good night to the Admiral and headed for our quarters. 179 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:36,360 0700 Thursday, April 3, 1952. USS X915 underway for depth test. 180 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:40,360 0800 I began an investigation of the dock area. 181 00:09:40,360 --> 00:09:45,360 0930 I was summoned to the office of Admiral Corrotus and the messenger said it was urgent. 182 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,360 Never mind that. You get me the secretary of defense. 183 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,360 Don't worry, it's now you get him. 184 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,360 All right. All right. Call me back. 185 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,360 Hand me those charts, please, Commander. 186 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:58,360 Hello. 187 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,360 What? Why do I care if he's in the meeting? 188 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:03,360 No, I don't care if he's with the president. You get him. 189 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,360 I have the charts, Commander. 190 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,360 You know the test area for the 8th ground, which is in circle. 191 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:11,360 Yes, sir. 192 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,360 I believe this color is the area of store, Commander. 193 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:16,360 Yes, good. 194 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,360 Hello. Hello. 195 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:21,360 Yes, this is Corrotus. 196 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:23,360 Oh, yes, sir. 197 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,360 Yes, that's right. 198 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,360 No, nothing's changed. 199 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:29,360 No, sir. 200 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:33,360 I want authority to put Plan Zebra in effect. 201 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,360 Yes, it wants. 202 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,360 Thank you. 203 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,360 Yes, sir, right away. 204 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,360 All right, Commander Richards, here it is. 205 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:44,360 Sir? 206 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:46,360 The X915 began depth test at 0800. 207 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:49,360 She was to remain at various depths until 0900. 208 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:51,360 It is now 940. 209 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:53,360 She hasn't said anything. 210 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,360 What about radio contact, sir? 211 00:10:55,360 --> 00:10:57,360 Silence. She hasn't answered a radio message since 0845. 212 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,360 You think they're in trouble? 213 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,360 I don't think so. 214 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:03,360 Sir? 215 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:09,360 That sub was equipped with any number of special emergency devices, including an automatic marker which would immediately rise to the surface should any trouble develop at the engines. 216 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:11,360 No markers have appeared. 217 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,360 Well, I don't know if she is in trouble. 218 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:21,360 The X915 is deliberately maintaining radio silence and is proceeding under her own orders to some unknown destination. 219 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:25,360 Have the destroyer escorts lost contact with us, sir? 220 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:30,360 The accompanying destroyer reports the sub disappeared off their sonar screen at full submerged speed, 30 knots. 221 00:11:30,360 --> 00:11:33,360 Commander, there is only one possible conclusion. 222 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:40,360 The X915 has fallen into enemy hands. 223 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:44,360 Ten hundred hours, April 3, 1952. 224 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:46,360 Admiral Kolevichov. 225 00:11:46,360 --> 00:11:49,360 The admiral explains Plan Zebra. 226 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:54,360 There are 15 plans covering each phase of the trial run to Project Sailfish. 227 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:57,360 Each plan covers a particular contingency. 228 00:11:57,360 --> 00:12:02,360 Of all of them, Plan Zebra is to be used only in the case of extreme emergency. 229 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:07,360 It covers the possibility of capture of the X915 by enemy forces. 230 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:11,360 Even though it's very unlikely, every possibility has to be provided for. 231 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,360 And the secretary gave you permission to put this plan into effect, sir? 232 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:15,360 Correct. 233 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:19,360 Within half an hour, the task force will steam out of three separate bases on the Atlantic coast. 234 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:22,360 They'll rendezvous at this point here. 235 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,360 That's about 100 miles southeast of this base, correct? 236 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:31,360 When the task force is rendezvoused, they will begin search Able, which is the second step in Plan Zebra. 237 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,360 And that is to find the X915? 238 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,360 Not to find it, Commander. 239 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:40,360 The sinker. 240 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,360 $1,100. 241 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,360 The story of the escorting the atomic sub in the second trial run reported they had watched the dive 242 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:49,360 and never regained either visual radar or sonar contact. 243 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:54,360 This supported the admiral's theory that the X915 was not on bottom. 244 00:12:54,360 --> 00:13:00,360 Either the crew was composed entirely of traitors, which was unlikely in view of the exhaustive loyalty checks made on them, 245 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:07,360 or some small portion of that crew, perhaps but a handful of men, had succeeded in taking over Commander DeBessos. 246 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,360 1,130 hours. 247 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:14,360 Admiral Carruthers established radio contact with the task force, which had now begun to rendezvous at Point Stork. 248 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:21,360 The task force commander, Captain Elton R. Stevens, was designated by the code name Red Dog One for radio communications. 249 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:27,360 Admiral Carruthers was using Pier Point Five on a wavelength unavailable to the sub. 250 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:34,360 This is Red Dog One. This is Red Dog One. Hello, Pier Point Five. Hello, Pier Point Five. This is Red Dog One. 251 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,360 How do you read me? Over. 252 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:42,360 Hello, Red Dog One. This is Pier Point Five. I read you four by three. 253 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:47,360 Pier Point Five, this is Red Dog One. Group is headed for Stork. 254 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,360 We are beginning search plan Oval. Over. 255 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:54,360 Hello, Red Dog One. This is Pier Point Five. How's the weather? 256 00:13:54,360 --> 00:14:01,360 Pier Point Five, wind 20 to 25 knots per hour. We could do a lot better with a calmer sea. Over. 257 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:08,360 Red Dog One from Pier Point Five, execute search plan A-Boat. Good luck. Over. 258 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:12,360 Pier Point Five, that's given. Over and out. 259 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:16,360 Now we wait. 260 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,360 Well, that said, we've got a pretty fair lead at number. 261 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,360 We haven't got any in the fleet that can make good 30 knots of merch. 262 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:28,360 I don't know who's commanding the X-915 right now, Richards, but if he's smart, he isn't traveling submerged. 263 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:32,360 I don't understand your point, sir. What about air search? They'd spot him in a minute if he's surface. 264 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:37,360 The sub is equipped with Mark 10 radar. That means she can pick up a plane 100 miles away. 265 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:40,360 By traveling on the surface, she can make good 60 knots. 266 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:44,360 She'll have plenty of time to die before being spotted by the air force. 267 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,360 Yes. 268 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,360 Yes, just a minute. 269 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:51,360 Commander, it's for you. Take it to the other office, please. 270 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:53,360 Yes, sir. 271 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:00,360 Richards speaking. 272 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:02,360 Commander Richards, sir? 273 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:03,360 Yes, who is it? 274 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,360 Sir, this is Lieutenant Hammond down at the torpedo shack. 275 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:07,360 Yes, go on with him. 276 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:12,360 Well, sir, you remember you were inspecting the torpedoes down here this morning about nine o'clock. 277 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:13,360 That's right. 278 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,360 Remember you checked the cases containing the atomic warheads? 279 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:19,360 You told me to report to you if anything funny happened. 280 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,360 All right, Lieutenant, what have you found? 281 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,360 Well, sir, that's just it. We didn't find anything. 282 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:28,360 We see one of the gates came open a while ago and we could see it was empty. 283 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,360 Somebody had removed the atomic warheads during the night. 284 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:32,360 What? 285 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:34,360 We looked down here at the torpedo shack, Commander. 286 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,360 Perhaps you'd like to come down here and have a look for you. 287 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:41,360 Never mind that, Lieutenant. You get some men, search the entire storeroom, search the base and check back with me. 288 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:43,360 Oh, we haven't got time for that now. 289 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,360 See why that second fighter group hasn't contacted our task force yet. 290 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,360 Right. 291 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:49,360 Anything, Commander? 292 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,360 Robert was then in Hammon at the torpedo shack, sir. 293 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:54,360 He told me he found the atomic warhead crates empty. 294 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:55,360 Empty? 295 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,360 That's right, sir. They're conducting a thorough search, but I don't imagine they'll find them. 296 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:00,360 Those crates were marked torpedoes, but you know as well as I do what they actually contain. 297 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,360 Yes, sir, atomic warheads for the guided missiles aboard the X-915. 298 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,360 They were scheduled for use in the final trial run. 299 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:10,360 Quick, with those warheads, that sub could launch a full-scale atomic attack on any city on the eastern seaboard. 300 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:11,360 Yes, sir. 301 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,360 Well, that about does it. 302 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,360 Not only has an enemy force succeeded in capturing our first atomic submarine, 303 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,360 but now they've taken along the greatest single weapon the United States Navy owns. 304 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:25,360 Admiral, Admiral, the captors of the X-915 pulled off one of the greatest coups in military history. 305 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:27,360 Wouldn't you think they'd be satisfied to let it go at that? 306 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:32,360 But, but this enemy went to the added risk of stealing a shipment of atomic warheads for guided missiles. 307 00:16:32,360 --> 00:16:36,360 Now why? Why take that extra gamble unless you had plans to use it? 308 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:37,360 I see your point. 309 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,360 If they wanted the sub and were planning to make a run for it, they've accomplished it. 310 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,360 But they included in their plans atomic warheads. 311 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:47,360 Admiral, it's my guess they're going to use those rockets in the near future. 312 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,360 Why, well, say today. 313 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,360 I'll go along with that reasoning, Commander. Let's get to work. 314 00:16:57,360 --> 00:17:01,360 Thirteen hundred hours, April 3, 1952. 315 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:03,360 Admiral Clothers and I studied the charts of the Atlantic coast. 316 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:07,360 We agreed the nearest major target for atomic attack would be the city of New York. 317 00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:11,360 Figuring the effective range of the sub's missiles at 50 miles within, 318 00:17:11,360 --> 00:17:14,360 sketched in the launching area the sub would have to use. 319 00:17:14,360 --> 00:17:17,360 Once that was established, there remained one simple detail. 320 00:17:17,360 --> 00:17:20,360 Stop those rockets from leaving the sub's deck. 321 00:17:20,360 --> 00:17:22,360 Admiral Clothers had a plan. 322 00:17:22,360 --> 00:17:26,360 All right. Now we settle on the probable side of their attack. 323 00:17:26,360 --> 00:17:28,360 That becomes our bullseye. 324 00:17:28,360 --> 00:17:32,360 Around that bullseye we draw a circle ten miles out. 325 00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:35,360 Like this. 326 00:17:35,360 --> 00:17:37,360 Then another circle. 327 00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:41,360 It's another ten miles. 328 00:17:41,360 --> 00:17:43,360 And still another. 329 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:47,360 Until the outer circle around the bullseye measures a 100-mile radius. 330 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:51,360 In other words, sir, our outer circle is out of the atomic sub's radar range, right? 331 00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:52,360 Exactly. 332 00:17:52,360 --> 00:17:58,360 Now, calculating their speed, of course, we should arrive at their ideal launching site, the center of our circle. 333 00:17:58,360 --> 00:18:01,360 Just about the time we're able to complete a ring of ships 100 miles out. 334 00:18:01,360 --> 00:18:03,360 With the X-915 in the center. 335 00:18:03,360 --> 00:18:06,360 Except if we close in, sir, the sub will submerge and escape under us. 336 00:18:06,360 --> 00:18:07,360 We won't close in. 337 00:18:07,360 --> 00:18:08,360 Sir? 338 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:11,360 We'll send one ship in toward the bullseye, alone. 339 00:18:11,360 --> 00:18:12,360 The sub will pick up contact. 340 00:18:12,360 --> 00:18:16,360 Oh, and they'll figure for a stray vessel, not enough of a threat to fight them, 341 00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:19,360 that it will force them to shift their position before launching their missile. 342 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:20,360 Correct. 343 00:18:20,360 --> 00:18:22,360 And it also forces them to come and submerge. 344 00:18:22,360 --> 00:18:24,360 And that negates the 100-mile radar. 345 00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:30,360 Now, we send in another ship, the sub's ship's position again, to another segment of our circle. 346 00:18:30,360 --> 00:18:31,360 Then we send in still another ship. 347 00:18:31,360 --> 00:18:34,360 We're constantly narrowing their corridor for attack. 348 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:38,360 And then when they do break service in the last remaining segment to launch their missiles, 349 00:18:38,360 --> 00:18:40,360 we're surrounding them. 350 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:44,360 We hope to God we are commanding. 351 00:18:44,360 --> 00:18:45,360 Hello. 352 00:18:45,360 --> 00:18:46,360 Red Dog One. 353 00:18:46,360 --> 00:18:49,360 Hello, Red Dog One, this is Air Point Five. 354 00:18:49,360 --> 00:18:51,360 Over. 355 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:53,360 Hello, Air Point Five, this is Red Dog One. 356 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:55,360 Over. 357 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:57,360 Discontinue search plan Able. 358 00:18:57,360 --> 00:18:59,360 I repeat, discontinue search plan Able. 359 00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:01,360 Over. 360 00:19:01,360 --> 00:19:04,360 Air Point Five, this is Red Dog One. 361 00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:07,360 Would you repeat your last transmission? 362 00:19:07,360 --> 00:19:09,360 Red Dog One, this is Air Point Five. 363 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:13,360 I repeat, discontinue your present search plan. 364 00:19:13,360 --> 00:19:16,360 The following plan supersedes all previous orders. 365 00:19:16,360 --> 00:19:21,360 It is to be executed immediately following this transmission. 366 00:19:21,360 --> 00:19:25,360 For five minutes, the Admiral gave facts and figures. 367 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:29,360 And at 1600, the plan was in effect. 368 00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:33,360 The Admiral clicked off his radio transmitter and we stared at each other. 369 00:19:33,360 --> 00:19:39,360 We had to pray for one thing, that whoever had captured the X-915 was now proceeding to the launching area, 370 00:19:39,360 --> 00:19:47,360 and once there would attempt to destroy the city of New York. 371 00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:49,360 1715. 372 00:19:49,360 --> 00:19:53,360 The sun was low outside the Admiral's office. 373 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:56,360 The sun was low outside the city of New York. 374 00:19:56,360 --> 00:19:59,360 The sundown is made for submarines. 375 00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:04,360 It is their witching hour, their time for attack. 376 00:20:04,360 --> 00:20:06,360 Coffee? 377 00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:12,360 Yes, thank you, sir. 378 00:20:12,360 --> 00:20:14,360 What time is it? 379 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:18,360 It's exactly 1720, sir. 380 00:20:18,360 --> 00:20:20,360 Beautiful sunset. 381 00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:22,360 Yes, sir. 382 00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:25,360 Used to seem like this off on the way to the Pacific. 383 00:20:25,360 --> 00:20:28,360 That's where you have the sunsets. 384 00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:31,360 Linden was served in the Pacific? 385 00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:34,360 Yes. 386 00:20:34,360 --> 00:20:36,360 What happened to Linden and Captain Unger? 387 00:20:36,360 --> 00:20:38,360 Unger was a classmate of mine at the Academy. He didn't sell out. 388 00:20:38,360 --> 00:20:41,360 None of them sold out, sir. They were shying and I didn't bet on it. 389 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:44,360 And they're all aboard that sub right now. 390 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:46,360 Linden and Unger and a lot of good men. 391 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:48,360 The sub is our job to sink. 392 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:50,360 5.5, this is Red Dog One. 393 00:20:50,360 --> 00:20:51,360 I should be at the launching point now. 394 00:20:51,360 --> 00:20:53,360 This is Red Dog One. 395 00:20:53,360 --> 00:20:55,360 5.5 to Red Dog One. 396 00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:57,360 Go ahead. Over. 397 00:20:57,360 --> 00:21:00,360 5.5, we have completed the range. 398 00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:04,360 I repeat, we have completed the range. Over. 399 00:21:04,360 --> 00:21:10,360 Red Dog One, 5.5, have you sent in your first messenger? 400 00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:12,360 5.5, Red Dog One. 401 00:21:12,360 --> 00:21:13,360 Roger. Over. 402 00:21:13,360 --> 00:21:16,360 Red Dog One, proceed with plan. 403 00:21:16,360 --> 00:21:21,360 Please advise any contact. Over and out. 404 00:21:21,360 --> 00:21:25,360 The Admiral sat down behind his chart-coded desk. 405 00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:29,360 The wind-stained lines of his face were more noticeable now. 406 00:21:29,360 --> 00:21:33,360 Together we waited. 407 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:37,360 5.5, and then again, step in messenger. 408 00:21:37,360 --> 00:21:40,360 Rain's closing. No contact yet. 409 00:21:40,360 --> 00:21:43,360 Over and out. 410 00:21:43,360 --> 00:21:50,360 Ten minutes. 411 00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:57,360 Twenty minutes. 412 00:21:57,360 --> 00:22:01,360 Thirty minutes. 413 00:22:01,360 --> 00:22:03,360 Ten minutes, sirs. 414 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:05,360 Closing to hold out. 415 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:06,360 No contact. 416 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:08,360 Over and out. 417 00:22:08,360 --> 00:22:13,360 One by one, the single ships were slicing across the big target that we'd drawn on our chart. 418 00:22:13,360 --> 00:22:16,360 Each ship slicing in closer toward the launching area, 419 00:22:16,360 --> 00:22:20,360 forcing the enemy we had never seen to change plans, change positions, 420 00:22:20,360 --> 00:22:24,360 yet not frightening him enough to make him forget his attack. 421 00:22:24,360 --> 00:22:29,360 8.5, Red Dog One, sending in seventh messenger. 422 00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:31,360 No contact yet. 423 00:22:31,360 --> 00:22:34,360 Closing within one day or miles of both eyes. 424 00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:36,360 I repeat, no contact. 425 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:38,360 Well, one way that's good, Commander. 426 00:22:38,360 --> 00:22:40,360 At least we can feel certain the sub has a surface. 427 00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:44,360 All we're safe from a radar then, our sound range is only 10,000 yards. 428 00:22:44,360 --> 00:22:48,360 I'm going to order the task force to patrol that range. 429 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:52,360 Red Dog One, take position five miles from both eyes. 430 00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:55,360 I repeat, take position five miles from both eyes. 431 00:22:55,360 --> 00:22:57,360 Over. 432 00:22:57,360 --> 00:23:00,360 10-1, pilot. This is Red Dog One. 433 00:23:00,360 --> 00:23:02,360 Okay, skipper, that's as close as we can get. 434 00:23:02,360 --> 00:23:04,360 Report to me every minute. 435 00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:05,360 Yes, sir. 436 00:23:05,360 --> 00:23:08,360 Red Dog One, good man. Over and out. 437 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:09,360 He's worried. 438 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:11,360 Well, I don't blame him, sir. 439 00:23:11,360 --> 00:23:13,360 Well, he's only worried. I'm scared. 440 00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:15,360 I suppose the sub headed for Siberia. 441 00:23:15,360 --> 00:23:17,360 Well, sure then we were out of luck anyway. 442 00:23:17,360 --> 00:23:24,360 Hip-1-5, closing in to 10,000 yards. 443 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:26,360 No contact. 444 00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:32,360 Destroyer group in. 445 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:36,360 Hip-1-5, destroyer group off my fourth file has found an enemy. 446 00:23:36,360 --> 00:23:40,360 I repeat, destroyer group has found an enemy. 447 00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:42,360 The sub is servicing. 448 00:23:42,360 --> 00:23:44,360 Hip-1-5, you hear me. Over. 449 00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:48,360 Red Dog One, I hear you. Over. 450 00:23:48,360 --> 00:24:00,360 Enemy has surface. Destroyer group opening fire. 451 00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:08,360 Sky-farmers, one and one. 452 00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:15,360 Cover message is off to 7-0 limit. 453 00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:22,360 Hip-1-5. Hip-1-5. 454 00:24:22,360 --> 00:24:28,360 Red Dog One. Red Dog One, come in. 455 00:24:28,360 --> 00:24:33,360 Red Dog One, this is Hip-1-5. Come in. 456 00:24:33,360 --> 00:24:41,360 Red Dog One, are you receiving me? 457 00:24:41,360 --> 00:24:45,360 Hip-1-5, this is Red Dog One. I am receiving you. 458 00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:49,360 Air Force and destroyer group to the cat. 459 00:24:49,360 --> 00:24:55,360 The X-915 is sinking. I repeat, sir, the X-915 is sinking. 460 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:58,360 Proceeding to pick up survivors. Over. 461 00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:13,360 Red Dog One, this is Hip-1-5. Well done. Over and out. 462 00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:18,360 Ten hundred hours, April 4, 1952. 463 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:21,360 Task Force Able reported in to Admiral Corrupted. 464 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:25,360 Of the crew of 40 men and eight officers, there were 11 survivors. 465 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:29,360 Captain G. L. Unger and Lieutenant Commander Stanley Lyndon were not among them. 466 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:32,360 But the 11 survivors told us the story. 467 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:35,360 The X-915 had been captured during maximum depth tests. 468 00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:39,360 It had taken only eight well-trained enemy agents to do it. 469 00:25:39,360 --> 00:25:41,360 Where did they come from? 470 00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:44,360 For one year they had been trained for this assignment. 471 00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:47,360 All eight were seaman with brilliant naval records. 472 00:25:47,360 --> 00:25:52,360 All eight had been living and working within naval base Charlie for over six months. 473 00:25:52,360 --> 00:25:56,360 And what of the Steinberg Periscope? Why had they sabotaged this? 474 00:25:56,360 --> 00:25:58,360 The answer was they had not. 475 00:25:58,360 --> 00:26:03,360 Just as the lab technicians had told us, the cable had broken from strain. 476 00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:05,360 A manufacturer's mistake. 477 00:26:05,360 --> 00:26:10,360 A mistake that brought about an investigation that saved the city of New York. 478 00:26:10,360 --> 00:26:32,360 End of report. 479 00:26:32,360 --> 00:26:41,360 Suspense, in which Stacy Harris starred with Jack Cushin in tonight's presentation of reports on the X-915. 480 00:26:41,360 --> 00:27:03,360 Tune us in next week to radio's outstanding theater of thrill, Suspense.