The Wackiest Ship in the Army

If you remember Pearl harbour,

you'll recall that in the year that followed,

the Japanese were almost invincible.

Early in 1943, however, they were checked,

stopped cold by the marines at guadal canal,

the Navy in the coral sea,

and the allied armies in new Guinea.

This was a period of far reaching decisions,

desperate strategies, and incredibly daring counter strokes,

not the least of which involved

two bright, young naval officers.

This bold, slightly improbable adventure

began with a message authorised

by the commanding general, south west pacific area,

and flashed by top priority to the lone carrier on patrol

in the coral sea.

It was an urgent request for a particularly

qualified young officer to lead an extremely

delicate mission.

It demanded a man, a man of executive ability

and high intelligence,

and that innate quality that enables a man

to swiftly estimate a situation and make a wise decision.

In bestowing that most thrilling of all awards,

an officer's first command,

the Navy knew it had a man that would ask no questions

and offer no excuses.

He would carry out orders regardless

of what obstacles fate put in his path.

Well.

Within the hour, with high hopes and only a mild headache,

lieutenant rip crandall was on his way

to a secret Anchorage, a hidden harbour,

so shrouded in mystery

that it was known only as

somewhere in the south pacific.

Here, the us 7th fleet, Victors of the coral sea,

drowsed at anchor, licking their wounds,

and dreaming of the great battles to come.

And here, the lieutenant saw his passport to high adventure.

Here, somewhere among the flotillas of destroyers,

their vital supply and repair ships,

among stalwart battle waggons of the Nevada class, carriers,

deadly cruisers of the Boise class,

escorts, and tenders of all classes,

he found the ship of his dreams,

the echo, in, well, a class by itself.

While at first glance, it might have looked like

england's reply to the Boston tea party,

it had nevertheless had a distinguished career

in the corporate trade.

The Navy had not only gratefully received it

from New Zealand as a sort of reversed lend-lease,

but had taken great pains to man it with a picked

crew of specialists,

dedicated, highly-skilled seamen

who chafed at inactivity here in this

quiet backwater far from the battle lines,

and awaited only the arrival of their commander

to swing into action.

Start!

Bring that gear aboard.

Welcome aboard, sir.

What? Belay that racket!

You want the whole...

You want the whole flotilla to hear us? What is this?

Honours for the prospective commanding officer, sir.

The officer of the deck of the ship in commission

shall see that all honours and ceremonies-

this hulk is commissioned, as what?

It's unclassified, sir.

I can believe that.

Duck!

- Sorry, sir. - All right,

bear all hands, there, let's get that thing

in port and secure it!

Johnson?

Yes, sir?

I'm sorry, sir, but we've only been aboard

a couple of hours.

Uh-huh, how many men have you lost so far?

Well, none, sir, just a few cuts and bruises.

Oh, don't forget Miller, sir.

Oh, yeah, yeoman Miller, sir.

Transferred to the hospital ship.

Oh, he's a real nut, sir.

I told him to look out for the hatch,

and he thought I wanted a match, and...

Thanks, Johnson, you can take this man below and show him

where to stow his gear.

All right, sir.

Listen, mister, what is all this malarkey

about this ship being commissioned?

It's true sir, admiral hat ha way had me commission her,

and signed over to you.

The papers are in your stateroom, sir.

My what?

Your cabin, you can go right ahead,

I'll bring your gear along.

Yes, just leave it there.

Sir...

I'm sorry, sir, I meant to warn you about these beams.

You gotta watch it.

What did you say your name was?

Tommy.

Oh, sorry, sir, hanson, sir.

Hanson Thomas j.

Sit down.

My name is crandall, rip crandall.

Oh, I know that, I'd have recognised

even if they hadn't told me.

Uh-huh?

You know me from some place?

Oh, balboa, the California yacht club.

You were getting ready for the Honolulu race in '39.

Well, what did you do?

Crew for me? Or...

Well, I tried to, sir.

You're not the kid that fouled up the genoa jib?

Oh, gee.

Well, I remember I was a little rough with you that day.

Didn't I chase you up the mast?

Yes, sir.

You said I didn't know enough to pour water out of a boot.

Boot, that was nice.

You were right, sir.

I nearly wrecked your ship.

But I've studied a lot about sailing ever since, sir.

That's why I volunteered.

You volunteered, what, for this?

Yes, sir, I had a desk job here at the base,

and when commander vandewater told me about this-

vandewater?

Not, wilbur vandewater?

Gee, I don't know, kind of slim, blond hair.

And a blackguard Nazi!

Ooh, that, no-

- sir? - What does he do here?

Flight secretary to the admiral.

Yes, flight... he would be.

You have to take him those clearance papers

when you've signed them.

This ship's not officially yours until you do.

It isn't, huh?

You're right, it isn't.

Well, I'll get the ship's boat in the water

- so you can take it. - Yeah, do that, bill,

Tommy, wait a minute,

have you got a copy of the Navy rights around here?

In the top left hand drawer, sir.

Thank you.

Anything wrong?

No, do everything by the book, you know.

Your gear, sir, I already got that gaff secured.

Ah, the gaff...

Chief.

Watch...

For your information, it's not a gaff, it's a boom.

The main boom.

Oh, yeah, sorry, sir.

Mr. Hanson has been teaching us.

The gaff is the...

The spar that, on this ship, you would bend the head

of the foresail to, you didn't make your rate in sail?

No, sir, but do you think any of the rest

of these clowns know anything about...

Beg pardon, sir.

My last hitch was on the tender alongside, sir.

And you volunteered to...

In a manner of speaking, yes.

That is, no, sir.

You'd see it in my record anyway, it was this or else.

Else what?

Chief svenson started his 5th hitch.

And the chief's mess gave him kind of a testimonial,

and I figured a party is no good without,

well, entertainment,

and they got this girl dancer at the tavern.

I see.

Nothing like that, sir, her husband came with her.

Only-

only it's wartime, and unauthorised civilian personnel

are not allowed on naval installations.

Particularly tenders, the skipper said.

So he gave me my choice of bein' busted or grabbin'

the first ship out.

So, you volunteered.

What, the first...

The first ship out?

That's what they said, sir.

I've got to get out of here, pardon me.

Sir!

All clear? Lower away together.

If you don't mind, sir, I'd just as soon

you didn't mention it to Mr. Hanson.

He really believes I did volunteer,

and he's kind of young and eager, and, you know?

Let go of the after fall.

Let go the forward fall.

Chief, your secret is safe with me because