Cap Mandrake
Posts: 23184
Joined: 11/15/2002 From: Southern California Status: offline
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****Court of Inquiry, 10th War Patrol USS Sturgeon, Dec. 15. 1942(c), Brisbane***** Prosecutor: Torpedoman, I'd like for you to think back about the time you took aboard the "special" torpedoes. That was on or about December 10, was it not? Torpedoman's Mate Malarkey: Yes sir. Prosecutor: And do you recall where it was? Torpedoman's Mate Malarkey: Yes sir. Nobody but the Captain was allowed to go on deck but the scuttlebut is we were off Bathurst Island. Prosecutor: Bathurst Island? Does the US Navy have a submarine base at Bathurst Island? Torpedoman's Mate Malarkey: Well, no sir, we all just figured it musta been a tender or something. Prosecutor: A sub tender 50 miles from the Japanese base at Darwin? Torpedoman's Mate Malarkey: Yes sir, we were all a little worried too but it was at night. Prosecutor: Was this standard practice? Torpedoman's Mate Malarkey: Oh no sir, never once in all our previous patrols. Prosecutor: Very well, torpedoman, what can you tell the court about the special torpedoes? Torpedoman's Mate Malarkey: Well sir, they did not look like any torpedoes I ever seen....and they had funny writing. Prosecutor: Funny writing? You said funny writing. What did it say? Torpedoman's Mate Malarkey: Well sir, one had chalk writing right on the warhead it said "GOOD RUCK!" with an exclamation mark. Prosecutor: Did you say "RUCK", torpedoman? Torpedoman's Mate Malarkey: Yes sir, "R U C K". Just like that. Prosecutor: Did you form an opinion about what that meant? Torpedoman's Mate Malarkey: Well sir..yes...It seemed to me like Jap talk. Observors: GASP!
< Message edited by Cap Mandrake -- 4/1/2012 4:14:24 PM >
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