The Silent Service1957

Himself - Host:
At dawn, eight days later, Saturday 24th, January, Swordfish had transited Molucca Passage. Now she submerged as she neared Keema, Celebes Harbor that had previously been scouted without results.

Capt. Chester Smith:
Take a look at Keema, Johnny. We're less than four and a half miles off shore, and it's as calm as a lake.

Lt. Johnny Hyde:
Anything in the anchorage, sir?

Capt. Chester Smith:
No, not even a sampan.

Lt. Johnny Hyde:
Bare as the palm of your hand, Jimmy.

Capt. Chester Smith:
Down scope. Right 10 degrees rudder come to North Zero 2-2.

Lt. Johnny Hyde:
What's our next move, captain?

Capt. Chester Smith:
We'll take a look farther north. We'll run parallel to the coast at least as far as the lower entrance to the Lembeh Strait.

Lt. Johnny Hyde:
That's pretty narrow there, sir. Less than two and a half miles wide in the Strait itself, if you're figuring on going in.

Capt. Chester Smith:
I am. I know it's a long shot, Johnny, but at least we get a chance to scout the lower entrance of the channel.

Lt. Johnny Hyde:
You know, sir, since Operations briefed me, I can understand the wording on these Dutch charts okay - 'Depth Estimated'? 'Possible Sandbank'? 'Reported 1908'? - just how much faith can we have in these things, anyway?

Capt. Chester Smith:
Since they're the only ones available, Johnny, we don't have much choice.

Lt. Johnny Hyde:
At least it's better than nothing, I hope. Is the channel's entrance mined, sir?

Capt. Chester Smith:
Captain Wilkes didn't know. At last report he doubted it. I want to see if there are any boom floats in the channel. That'd be a tip off in itself if they got something to protect.

Lt. Johnny Hyde:
How about Monado on the northern coast, sir?

Lt. Johnny Hyde:
Well, if we don't have any luck here we'll search there, of course. You see, the south side of the island is the more preferred anchorage this time of year, being in the lee.