The U.S. Navy
Training Film that Won
a Battle in the Pacific

This three page reminiscence is an example of the persuasive power of film. It tells the tale of an important event at a small industrial building in Hollywood that housed the Navy Film Services Depot between 1942 and 1945.

“Taking the Offensive” was the name given to this small, low budget training film that was produced on that dusty sun-bleached street and it didn’t appear to be anything terribly special to the gobs who produced it at the time – but it provided a badly needed shot in the arm for the then untested officers and men of the U.S. Navy.

Perhaps there were more U.S. naval officers who gained strength from watching this one film, but the only one we know about is the captain whose story is told in this article; he looked for what he so vitally needed in order to develop the testicular fortitude required to triumph in a naval engagement. The following morning, as the sun rose over the Sula Straits, he directed his heavy cruiser in battle against a Japanese flotilla consisting of two destroyers and a light cruiser. All three sank.

Click here to read about the Battle of the Coral Sea

To read articles about W.W. II submarines, Click here.