Condition Red by Words At War

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Relic Radio Thrillers

Episode: Condition Red by Words At War

Release Date: April 3, 2026
Original Air Date: January 25, 1944
Podcast Host: RelicRadio.com

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Episode Overview

This episode of Relic Radio Thrillers features a radio adaptation of Condition Red, based on Captain Frederick J. Bell’s wartime memoir of destroyer action in the South Pacific during World War II. Through gripping dramatization, it immerses listeners in the tension, danger, and camaraderie of life on a U.S. Navy destroyer as it faces Japanese aerial and submarine threats. The story honors both the perils and pride of service aboard these fast, lightly-armored ships and spotlights the challenges faced by regular Navy men and "90-day wonders" (reserve officers freshly trained for war).

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life Aboard a Destroyer: Preparation and Readiness

• General Quarters and Battle Preparation:
  The episode opens under “Condition Red,” meaning imminent enemy engagement. The entire ship springs into action within minutes to meet an impending air attack.
  • “Within two and a half minutes from the first alarm, every station was manned…” (03:01)
• Roles and Responsibilities:
  Everyone, from engineers and repair parties to surgeons, springs into their specialized tasks. The dangerous, sweltering conditions below deck are highlighted.

2. First Enemy Attack: Air Raid

• Japanese Zeroes Descend:
  Japanese planes attack the fleet. The G’s (fictionalized) crew responds, shooting down enemy aircraft and coping with the resulting chaos and damage.
• Memorable Moments:
  • A gunner’s mate, Hoppers, literally throws a shoe to get the gun crew’s attention amidst the battle noise, resulting in a successful kill.
    • “Hoppers reached down, ripped off one of his shoes and threw it at the nearest gun captain… The gun captain saw the plane just in time… the Jap plane spun and tumbled into the sea.” (04:36–06:18)
• Calm After the Battle:
  Focus shifts to damage assessments and tending the wounded.
  • "Not bad, captain. Got up to 140 degrees in the engine room, but we didn't have any trouble." (07:21)

3. Naval Culture and Brotherhood

• Destroyer Life
  The narrative shifts to explore the nature of destroyer duty: small, uncomfortable ships demanding maximum effort and cooperation from their crew.
  • “On a destroyer, there can be no deadheads… A man pays his freight, does his job and more besides…” (13:33)
• Integration of Reserves (“90-Day Wonders”):
  The arrival and induction of Ensign Wood, a new reserve officer, showcases the adaptation required of civilian recruits in the fast-paced, high-stress war environment.
  • “The 90 day wonder, so called because he's commissioned after a three months course, has brought a new breath of life to the service...” (11:53–12:04)

4. Tension: Submarine Encounter

• The Phantom Carrier:
  The G's crew spots what appears to be an enemy carrier, only to find it’s a Japanese submarine that submerges upon sight.
  • “Funny we hadn't picked her up while she was still hull down... grabbed for my binoculars and looked again... There was nothing.” (16:09–16:46)
• Submarine Hunt:
  A detailed account of a destroyer’s technical and nerve-wracking pursuit of a submerged sub, including explanations of sonar (“the ping”) and laying depth charges (“ash cans”).
  • “Imagine you’re leaning over the roof of a 20 story building with a fistful of grenades… That’s the way it is when a destroyer goes after a sub…” (17:56)
• Victorious Outcome:
  After several tense attack runs, the G scores a kill just before supporting destroyers arrive.
  • “We were out of depth charges, almost out of oil, but we had finished that Jap sub.” (22:36–23:22)
  • Task force commander to the G: “Well done for your day’s operation.” (23:22)
  • "In a sailor’s language, there’s no higher praise." (23:23)

5. Day-to-Day Realities: Humor and Hardship

• Destroyer Conditions:
  The men joke about low headroom, laundry shortages, strict regulations against beards, and the scarcity of luxuries like ice cream.
  • “Do you figure on raising a beard?... Our skipper considers any form of facial fur or foliage most grotesque. No beards.” (24:42–25:35)
  • "You will learn to have a new respect for fresh water, Mr. Wood..." (26:44)
• The Value of Coffee and Sleep:
  Coffee is a constant; sleep is a rare luxury.
  • "I never drank so much coffee in all my life." (24:07)
  • “On destroyers, sleep is something we prefer not to discuss until you can forget it for 72 or 96 hours at a stretch.” (28:10)

6. Return to Battle - Closing Loop

• Another "Condition Red":
  Even as the ship pauses, the alarm sounds again, and the crew springs back to action.
  • “Stand by to repel air attacks. Come on, man. Let’s go.” (28:31–28:37)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Readiness and Solidarity:
  “Within two and a half minutes from the first alarm, every station was manned… Manned by the men who fight this war aboard our destroyer, the G. Kids. Young men, a journalist, a mining engineer, a manager of a textile mill... 300 of them waited for the Zeros to attack.” — Captain Bell (03:01)

• On the Perils and Pride of Destroyers:
  “They have a hull so thin you could break through it with a hammer… Gun for gun, they're the fightingest things afloat.” — Captain Bell/Ensign Wood (09:19–09:34)

• On Officers’ Adjustment:
  “The 90 day wonder… has brought a new breath of life to the service… brings a fresh and inspiring atmosphere to shipboard routines.” — Captain Bell (11:53–12:36)

• On Submarine Warfare:
  “Imagine you’re leaning over the roof of a twenty story building with a fistful of grenades…” — Captain Bell (17:56)

• On Destroyer Camaraderie:
  “Summing up, Mr. Wood, may I say that you have made yourself a part of the darndest ship ever invented… and you love them.” — Ross (27:45–28:01)

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Timeline of Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |------------|-------------------------------------------------| | 00:48 | Introduction of "Condition Red" and the destroyer “G” | | 03:01 | Battle preparations; life onboard | | 04:36-06:18| Japanese air attack and defense; gunner’s mate Hoppers’ heroics | | 07:13 | Damage and casualty report post-battle | | 09:10 | Characteristics and hardships of destroyer life | | 11:04 | Ensign Wood arrives, induction of “90-day wonders” | | 16:00 | Sighting of the “carrier”—revealed as a submarine | | 17:58 | Sound man and pursuit sequence explained | | 22:36 | Final sub hunt run, successful sinking | | 23:22 | Task force commendation; crew camaraderie | | 24:07 | Destroyer routines, food, and humor | | 28:31 | Fresh “Condition Red,” return to action |

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Tone and Style

The episode’s language is brisk, evocative, and occasionally laced with sailor humor. The mood alternates between tense, technical, and comradely. Dialogue highlights the grit, work ethic, and banter that bind destroyermen together.

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Conclusion

Condition Red provides an immersive, authentic window into the hazards of World War II destroyer duty. It salutes the courage, resourcefulness, and unity of men thrust into battle, blending suspenseful battle scenes with an insider’s take on naval customs, routines, and “the stuff destroyer men are made of.” With its mix of action, personal detail, and humor, the episode remains both a gripping historical document and a tribute to unsung heroes of the sea.

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Transcript

[Relic Radio Host]

Relicradio.com presents stories of mystery and intrigue, espionage and suspense. Hear tales of ticking time bombs, mysterious crime scenes and cloak and dagger action. This is Relic Radio Thrillers. Welcome back to Relic Radio Thrillers. Back this Friday with a story from Words at War series that aired over NBC stations for 94 episodes from June of 1943 to June of 1945. This is the 33rd episode from January 25, 1944. It's titled Condition Red.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Condition Red. Condition Red. Condition Red. Condition Red. We had been six weeks crossing the Pacific, eternally on the alert, always on the watch for the enemy. But we had met no opposition in force until today. Then we received a report that a Japanese carrier was within 300 miles of us. A stone's throw as distances are measured in the Pacific, planes had taken off from the carrier of our own task force, of which our destroyer, which I shall call the G, was a part. They were due back now and following them was sure to be Jap Zero spent on revenge. Condition Red is an expression used to indicate that we're about to engage the enemy. Whenever it blared out on the ship radio, we ran to general quarters and prepared to greet the Tokyo Express or the Zeros or Mitsubishis as soon as they came into view. Condition Red. Condition Red. Words at War, presented by NBC in cooperation with the Council on Books and Wartime, is bringing you another radio adaptation of an important war book, Condition Red, the story of destroyer action in the South Pacific, written by Captain Frederick J. Bell of the United States Navy. Stand by to repel air attack. We moved in closer to our carrier, ready for action. Within the steel walls of our destroyer, the G, 300 officers and men took a last minute inventory of their tools of war. In the wardroom, the surgeon opened out his equipment. On the office's dining table, on the bulkhead, he hung up a square canvas

[Ensign Wood]

fitted with pockets and pouches for kits of medical hardware.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

He laid his bottles along the leather seats to cushion them against the shattering concussion of gunfire. Across from the radio shack, in the

[Ensign Wood]

cramped quarters of the coding room, the

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

communications officer stuffed a sea bag with

[Ensign Wood]

our secret books,

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

weighted the bag with fire bricks so that it could be thrown overboard if the ship had to be abandoned. Far below deck, the engineers cracked their valves wide open and the turbine sang in higher key. In all lower deck compartments there were wooden shores and wedges ready to plug shell holes. The men of the repair parties waited to fight fire and explosion and the inrush of water. Everyone wore a steel helmet. The men topside were Bundled in life jacket below decks in the fierce heat, the others kept their jackets within easy reach. Unnecessary electric power and water supply were cut off. Wherever men were stationed, there was fresh drinking water. Handy for battle action brings intolerable thirst. All these and a hundred other details were attended to almost subconsciously. Within two and a half minutes from the first alarm, every station was manned. Manned by the men who fight this war aboard our destroyer, the G kids. Young men, a journalist, a mining engineer, a manager of a textile mill, a cattle raiser, a clothing merchant, a lawyer, a teacher of public speaking, a broker. 300 of them waited for the Zeros to attack. Suddenly, they were upon us. The first Jap plane cut over our quarter less than 200ft above our decks. The pilot rolled slightly toward us. In the after cockpit, the gunner leaned out and thumbed his nose. Seaman Robert Otto let the fingers of his left hand slide along the trigger of his 20 millimeter gun. And before that Jap hit the water, Otto was firing on a new target. Then the Jap dive bomber hit our carrier. We saw the dense cloud of gray white smoke. Then a burst of another Jap dive. Farmer overshot the carrier and loosed his bomb on the side of the jeep. The ocean soared up and fell on our deck. Splinters of steel ripped into our hull. Still another Jap plane pulled out of its dive and drone by us. We could have hit him with a rock, but the gun crews, still wiping water from their faces, shaken by the bomb, didn't see him. But chief gunner's mate Hoppers saw him and yelled at the gun crew on the starboard side. They couldn't hear him in the noise of the battle. So Hoppers reached down, ripped off one of his shoes and threw it at the nearest gun captain. It was a bullseye. The gun captain turned. Hoppers pointed frantically. The gun captain saw the plane just in time. His gun barged and the Jap plane spun and tumbled into the se. There was a lull. We checked up hurriedly on our formation. Everyone was accounted for. The carrier had put out its fire and stood ready to repel other Jap planes.

[Ensign Wood]

But they didn't come back.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Task force commander to the jeep. Proceed to the north. Pick up any of our plane crews that may be in the water. Give directions to planes that have sufficient fuel to return to the carrier. Rejoin task force at noon tomorrow, or if unable to make rendezvous, proceed to advance base. All stations stand easy. All stations stand easy. We are headed toward the enemy fleet to find our aviators. We are headed toward the enemy fleet to Find our aviators. The ship will remain at general quarters until our duty is completed. The ship will remain at general quarters until our duty is completed.

[Ensign Wood]

How are the wounded?

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

All right. Captain. Causey has a mean chest wound, but he'll come around.

[Ensign Wood]

Good.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

How was it below, Chief? Not bad, Captain. Got up to 140 degrees and the

[Ross]

engine room, but we didn't have any trouble.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

It kind of looked like nice shooting.

[Ensign Wood]

It looked like nice shooting?

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

That was one of our jokes. The engineers never saw a shot fired. They tended their engines, gave us steam and answered the calls for speed, but never witnessed an action.

[Ross]

Sir, there's a nice little bomb hole at frame 30 starboard, but we put in a temporary patch and she's not taking any water.

[Ensign Wood]

Good. Ross, what's the matter with you?

[Ross]

Nothing, sir.

[Ensign Wood]

You're all covered with blood.

[Ross]

Oh, I got that from helping some of the gun crews below, sir. Oh, sir, did you happen to see the Jap that thumbed his nose at us?

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Yes, I did, Ross.

[Ross]

Well, sir, I thought you'd like to know. We got him, sir.

[Ensign Wood]

Good work, Ross. Gentlemen, suppose we order up some coffee? We settled down to a good speed course north.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

There remained an hour of daylight as

[Ensign Wood]

we advanced toward the retiring fleet of the enemy.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

All in all, it had been a

[Ensign Wood]

most highly satisfactory afternoon.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

I'm writing about just one destroyer which

[Ensign Wood]

I've called a G. Can't tell you its real name. And I'm glad I can't because the navy permits us to use actual names only of ships that have been sunk. And the G hasn't been sunk so far.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

But this is not just the story

[Ensign Wood]

of the G. It's the story of all destroyers. The hottest, coldest, fastest, rough riding ships in the world. They're uncomfortable and wet.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

They have a hull so thin you

[Ensign Wood]

could break through it with a hammer.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

They have the horsepower of a battleship

[Ensign Wood]

and less armor than our newest bombing planes. They carry 300 officers and men packed in a slender streamlined form that's designed to strike hard and fast.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Gun for gun, they're the fighting as things afloat.

[Ensign Wood]

The destroyer is a triple threat weapon, designed to carry the offensive against submarines, aircraft or surface vessels. Vessels. Its guns are double purpose. High angle for planes and hard hitting flat trajectory for surface work.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Its torpedoes make it the most dangerous ship in the fleet for its size.

[Ensign Wood]

Now, on a large ship, a man can be reasonably certain of things. Certain days bring certain drills. Certain hours are taken up with previously prescribed duties. Things go according to plan.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Not so on a destroyer.

[Ensign Wood]

There can be no such adherence to plan. Destroyer duty's hard duty. And yet men swear by these rugged rough riders of the sea. They might find the going a little tough at first, but if they've got the stuff that destroyer men are made of, they'll fit in. Ensign Wood reporting, sir. How are you, Wood? Glad to have you aboard. Thank you, sir. Take you long to catch up with us? Yes, it did, sir. I've been three months on the way. Come by freighter and plane and battleship. We're hard to catch, Wood. I'll have someone show you around. Thank you, sir. Ross? Yes, sir. Ross is Ensign Wood, who's just joined us. Will you show him around?

[Ross]

Well, yes, sir. Glad to meet you, Wood.

[Ensign Wood]

I'm glad to be here. Take him in hand, Ross.

[Ross]

Yes, sir. Will you come along, Wood?

[Ensign Wood]

It's a good looking ship.

[Ross]

It's pretty good.

[Ensign Wood]

You've seen some action?

[Ross]

A little. You ever served on a destroyer before?

[Ensign Wood]

I haven't served on anything. Just another 90 day wonder.

[Ross]

Oh, well, don't let that bother you. So am I.

[Ensign Wood]

Are there many regular Navy officers? I mean, Besides the captain? Three others.

[Ross]

All the rest are reserved 90 day wonders like you and me. They're good too.

[Ensign Wood]

Well, gee. Gee, I hope I make good.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

I think the chances are that brand

[Ensign Wood]

new Ensign Wood will make good.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

I'm constantly amazed at the way these

[Ensign Wood]

reserves learn their job. The 90 day wonder, so called because he's commissioned after a three months course, has brought a new breath of life to the service.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

He requires more supervision than your Naval Academy graduate. He makes mistakes, and for a time

[Ensign Wood]

he does weird things to the language of the sea. He calls the bow of the ship that part of the boat up front

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

and describes anything that he doesn't know

[Ensign Wood]

exactly as a gadget.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

But he falls in with naval routine

[Ensign Wood]

so readily that after he's been on board a month, I never know or care whether he's a regular or a reserve.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

We're put on our mettle to train him, but it's easy to train a

[Ensign Wood]

man who wants to learn.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

And the so called 90 Day Wonder,

[Ensign Wood]

with his varied civilian accomplishments, brings a fresh and inspiring atmosphere to shipboard routines.

[Ross]

Well, here's where you bunk, Wood. I'll leave you here now and let you get organized.

[Ensign Wood]

All right. Thanks a lot.

[Ross]

You're welcome. Anything else you want to know right now?

[Ensign Wood]

No. No, I guess not. Thanks. Not right now.

[Ross]

You'll be all right, Wood. But at first it may be a little tough.

[Ensign Wood]

Oh, I expect that at first. I expected it'll be a little tough at first. No, it won't be a picnic for young ensignwood.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

On a big ship, it's possible that a few men out of the thousands

[Ensign Wood]

aboard can slide by on a minimum of effort.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

They can stand their watches, man their

[Ensign Wood]

battle stations, but contribute little to the general welfare.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

On a destroyer, there can be no deadheads.

[Ensign Wood]

A man pays his freight, does his job and more besides. Or pretty soon he finds himself at the gangway waiting with bag and hammock for transfer to another ship.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

But if a young officer takes to

[Ensign Wood]

responsibility and proves that he can work

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

hard, if he can do a little

[Ensign Wood]

more than is expected of him, he'll get along.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

And if, in addition to that, he

[Ensign Wood]

has a personality that makes officers work with him and his men work for him, if he can be reasonably cheerful after six months of day in, day out cruising, if he can keep his eyes open after 72 hours without sleep, then he'll be welcome aboard any destroyer in the fleet. But if he's just a little better than run of the mind, if he figures that the end of the day means the end of work, and if he's not the type to whom men will come with their troubles and their personal triumphs, well, then it won't be long before his face is missing around the wardroom table. Lack of training in a new officer is expected. We'll train him. Intellectual shortcomings are capable of adjustment. We'll find a place for him. But lack of effort, well, that's something we just can't accept aboard a destroyer, there's no room for it. Following our battle with the Jap planes, the G slid through the Solomon seas

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

with oil enough for just 24 more

[Ensign Wood]

hours, sloshing in her tanks. The doctors reported the wounded in good condition. Even Causey, whose chest wound had worried me. The decks had been scrubbed down, cleaned of the bloody reminders of the battle. We'd gotten a little sleep by the next morning, which dawned bright as a chamber of commerce booking.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

There was a refreshing nip in the

[Ensign Wood]

air and the sea was a pale blue carpet. The walking wounded came topside to bask in the sun and in the admiration of their comrades.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

They wore a jaunty air, but they'd

[Ensign Wood]

had a scare all right.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

You can't collect a bullet or a

[Ensign Wood]

fragment of hot springs steal without thinking.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Thinking.

[Ensign Wood]

Gee. Supposing it had been just a half inch to the right. Supposing I'd been picking up a shell just then. Supposing. Well, it leaves you a little weak. Things were very calm that beautiful morning when Suddenly.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Sail hole 1.4 to starboard beams.

[Ensign Wood]

Looks like a carrier.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Right standard rudder. Get a bearing on that ship.

[Ensign Wood]

We put our glasses to starboard.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Yes, it was a carrier all right. We could see the flat outline of the flight deck under the island superstructure. Funny we hadn't picked her up while she was still hull down. But no one's eyes were much good this morning. After all, you had to sleep sometimes. I stepped at the Polaris to get a bearing and check our course telecommodore. We have the carrier in sight and we're headed for an hour. My eyes are. I squinted through the veins and moved the bearing circle to the right, paralleling the horizon.

[Ensign Wood]

But nothing appeared.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

We couldn't be that blind. I grabbed for my binoculars and looked again.

[Ensign Wood]

There was nothing.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

No carrier, no ship. Nothing. Sir, it seems to be. Seems to be gone. Gone? But where could it go?

[Ross]

Well, beg your pardon, sir, but could it be that. That was no carrier.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

That was a dirty sticker. Is that submarine, sir? Submarine? She submerged? Yes. The realization came to us all at once. It was a submarine. A Jap submarine. General quarters, General quarters. Stations for sub attack.

[Ross]

Stations for sub attack.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Set depth charges. Set depth charges. All ahead flank. All ahead flank. The G went into action. This was her special business, getting a submarine. The gun crew swung the muzzles of their main battery down toward the sea. The depth charges were made ready and the sound man came into his own. Let me tell you about the sound man on a destroyer. He sits at a listening device. Hour after hour, day after day, he listens over and over again to the ping of an electric impulse sent out by a projector under our waterline. If these impulses strike the hull of another ship or a submarine, the ping bounces back to the sound man with

[Ensign Wood]

an echo of a different note.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

From the intensity of this returning ping, the sound man and the plotting officers are able to chart the position of the ship or sub with reasonable accuracy. And that's what we set out to do now. To find this Jap sub, which was somewhere below the surface, not far from us. We were going to find it and then try to destroy it with our depth charges. Our ash can rain 3o, bearing 27 5. Perhaps you'll get a better idea if I put it this way. Imagine you're leaning over the roof of a 20 story building with a fistful of grenades in your hand. You're trying to hit an automobile. It's cruising around a large parking lot below at about 25 miles an hour. You keep a careful watch on the car. It's moving at a Steady rate and in a straight line. Rain, 2, 6, 5. Merrick. 2, 6, 8. You look at the moving car below and estimate the distance it will advance. While your grenade is falling, toss one over. But the driver's watching you too, and as he spots the grenade, he twists the wheel sharply. When your grenade explodes, he's a hundred yards away, waiting to dodge the next one. That's the way it is when a destroyer goes after a subject, except that sound takes the place of sight. You can hear the sub, and the sub can hear you. Range 1, 4, 5. Bearing 2 6. Oh, yes. Now the sound man, the kettle drummer of our orchestra, has a chance to be heard. More than that, he has a solo number. Behind him in the chart house are the other members of the attack team. The executive officer poised over a chart, pencil and dividers in hand, and the sound officer, who was in the role of conductor of the orchestra. I stood in the doorway between the pilot house and the chart house, where I could be within arm's reach of the helmsman and the engine telegraphs and equally close to the sound officer. He's pulling left. He's going pretty fast. Left rudder. Steer 2 4, 5. Steer 2, 4, 5. Sir, the range is closing. Left standard rudder. Stand by. Standing by, sir. Drop one.

[Ross]

One.

[Relic Radio Host]

Drop.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Drop two. Two dropped. Drop three. Three. Drop. Drop four. Four. Dropped.

[Ensign Wood]

We hadn't heard him.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

The Jap sub was making radical maneuvers at the expense of his batteries, but he couldn't continue them for long. We picked him up on the sound gear again and came in for the second run. That run was better, but the Jap dived deep in his hole and our charges exploded above him.

[Ross]

He's gonna run down his batteries if he keeps up that speed.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Yeah, unless he runs us out of ashcans first. Fantail reports both racks reloaded, sir. Very good. Starting the run. Pick him up as soon as you can. All ahead standard.

[Ensign Wood]

Contact.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Range 2 4, 0. Eric. 31 5. The third run was no good, but the fourth one did the Jap some damage. There were plain indications that he was trying to surface. We swung around for our fifth attack to help him make up his mind, praying that our oil would hold out. Task force commander to the G, do you still have contact with the submarines? Still have contact. Sending two destroyers to back you. When they have made contact, proceed to tanker. We needed oil, all right, but we had found this Jap sub. We'd softened him up, and, by golly, we were going to finish him ourselves without any help from our sister destroyers. We had depth charges Remaining for just two more runs. Come on, let's get this guy. Make it good. Make it good. He must have been one whale of a submarine. We knew that when we mistook him for a carrier. Our next attack punished him some more. He was groggy, but still in there fighting. And then we had just one more chance. A handful of ash cans left and the two destroyers from the task force now in sight coming up fast, eager to be in on the kill. We wanted this sub for ourselves. We wheeled and started in for our Last run. Rank, 1O, Barry, 2, 5O. Stand by. Standing by.

[Ross]

Make this one good. Make this one good.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Drop. One. One. Drop. Drop. Two. Two drops. Drop. Three.

[Ensign Wood]

Three.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Drop. The Jap tried desperately to surface, but we had him now. We poised over him and laid a pattern of those deadly ash cans on his deck. He started going down. Our sound instruments followed him down and down. And then slowly the churning of the water subsided and the afternoon breeze drew a featherly line of whitecaps over the spot where our late enemy rested a thousand fathoms below. Our sister destroyers plowed up to the spot, but there was nothing for them to do. We were out of depth charges, almost out of oil, but we had finished that Jap sub task force commander. To the garden. Well done for your day's operation.

[Ross]

You hear that boy?

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

In the sailor's language, there's no higher praise. The attack team relaxed over coffee and cigarettes. The torpedo man came to the bridge to receive a pat on the back. The sound man, who had been bored to death a few hours before, was fairly bursting. He was the kettle drummer of our orchestra, and the kettle drummer seldom gets a chance to to solo. But when he does, you can hear him all over the house. And this had been the sound man's day.

[Ross]

More coffee, Wood? Thanks, man.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

I never drank so much coffee in all my life.

[Ross]

Oh, shocks. You haven't had more than six or seven cups. Well, how you like it so far? It's great. Boy, that was some action before. Yeah, I like it. Great.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

That's good.

[Ross]

Well, is there anything you want to know?

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Oh, lots of things. Oh.

[Ross]

Oh, I see. You want facts. That's right. All right, then. Stem to stern, The G measures 348ft. She's 36ft across, the broadest part of a beam. She's built for speed and she doesn't waste an inch of space. You bumped your head yet?

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Matter of fact, I did. How'd you know?

[Ross]

There's exactly 18 inches of headroom in your bunk till you remember that you're going to keep on bumping your head too?

[Ensign Wood]

Yeah.

[Ross]

Yeah. Do you figure on raising a beard?

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Well, I hadn't thought of it, but maybe I'll.

[Ross]

Don't do it against regulations. Navy regulations say it's all right for a man to raise a beard if it isn't grotesque. Our skipper considers any form of facial furs or foliage most grotesque. No beards. Okay, no beards. Destroyers aren't. Well, they aren't dress up ships. As you may have noticed, sometimes we. We out so long that our trousers start growing a fringe and our shoes get to looking like they belong to a cotton picker with sore feet. Last time out we were gone so long only one man had as much as two pair of entire socks. We call him the Dude.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

The dude, huh? Yeah.

[Ross]

This is a good eating ship. Yeah, it's fine. This morning. This morning you had fruit, cereal, ham and eggs and coffee. That's right. Tomorrow morning you will have cream, chip, beef or hotcakes. And syrup. And coffee. Noontime you eat your big meal. Soup, two or three vegetables, pork chops or roast beef or chicken. Dessert. And coffee. Jose, how about some more coffee?

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

No, no, really.

[Ross]

Come on, come on.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Give me a cup.

[Ross]

It's good for you. Okay. That's the stuff. This is not any conducted tour, as you may have surmised. Now, on the battleships and cruisers, oh, they have a gay old time. Yep. Here's your coffee. Thanks, but we haven't got any room for deck tennis or shuffleboard on a destroyer.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

You like ice cream?

[Ross]

Sure, I like it. Now, you're gonna just adore ice cream on this ship. Cause we haven't got any. No room. Once in a while, when we latch onto a big ship refueling, why, they'll send us over a cup of cans of ice cream. It'll be the best ice cream you ever tasted. But try to get it out of your mind in the meantime.

[Ensign Wood]

I'll try.

[Ross]

You. You will learn to have a new respect for fresh water. Mr. Wood, we got enough, but you don't go wastin it. When you take a shower, turn off the water while it's open.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Right.

[Ross]

And Mr. Wood.

[Ensign Wood]

Yes, sir.

[Ross]

Please arrange not to be caught in the shower when general quarters is sounded. You will find it most embarrassing to man your gun station wearing nothing but lather. I'll try to watch that, sir. That'll be a good idea. Sometimes, although we do not guarantee this, we will come into port on such occasions, Mr. Wood, you are expected to conduct yourself as an officer and a gentleman. You will not Exhibit yourself in public places except under the most favorable circumstances. Privately, you may enjoy a friendly little glass with your comrades.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Thank you.

[Ross]

Escort proper young ladies to the cinema, and you are even permitted to raise your voice in song of a decorous nature.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

No, I think I have that straight, mister.

[Ross]

Summing up, Mr. Wood, may I say that you have made yourself a part of the darndest ship ever invented. You don't say. The toughest, most uncomfortable ship ever to come out of a designer's nightmare. They are simply impossible. And you love them.

[Ensign Wood]

Yes.

[Ross]

Sure. One final word. Do you enjoy sleeping?

[Ensign Wood]

Sleeping?

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Yes.

[Ensign Wood]

Very much.

[Ross]

Please try to break yourself of this most unfortunate habit. I'll do my best. On destroyers, sleep is something we prefer not to discuss until you can Forget it for 72 or 96 hours at a stretch, you will be a very unhappy ensign in the US Navy. I see. Now, there's one thing more. And then I'll show you the Condition red.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Hey, what's the matter?

[Ross]

Shut up.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Give us a condition red. Stand by to repel air attacks. Come on, man.

[Ross]

Let's go. Go.

[Narrator/Captain Frederick J. Bell]

Right behind you, Ross. You have heard another program in the series, Words at War. Tonight, a dramatization of Condition Red by Captain Frederick J. Bell of the United States Navy. The adaptation was by Gerald Holland. The production was under the direction of Anton Leader, with music by William Meter. Alan Brunce was heard as Captain Frederick J. Bell and others in the cast were Jerry Macy, Jack Lloyd and Jeffrey Bryant. Next week you will hear White Brigade by Robert Goffin, A true story of the Belgian underground. Next week, white Brigade by Robert Goffin, A true story of the Belgian underground. Words at War is presented each Tuesday evening at this time by the National Broadcasting Company and its affiliated independent stations in cooperation with the Council on Books in Wartime. This is the National Broadcasting Company.

[Relic Radio Host]

There's more from Words at War, Relic Radio thrillers and all of the other podcasts at the website relicradio.com. there's a shout cast stream there as well with more old time radio and you can donate through that website if you'd like to help support this and all of the shows. Thanks to those who have. Thanks for joining me this week. I'll be back tomorrow with the CBS radio Mystery Theater on the horror and next Friday with our next episode of Relic Radio Thrillers.