by Tim DeForest
Classic radio gave us many exciting tales about naval warfare. Because of the time frame covered by old time radio, the bulk of these stories are set during the Second World War. But radio also gave us stories about battles at sea from throughout history. Radio took us aboard the first ironclads of the American Civil War and to the decks of wooden ships manned by iron men. There are stories set aboard large battleships, tiny patrol torpedo boats, and submarines lurking beneath the seas.
You Are There: Drake Defeats Spanish Armada (August 11, 1947):
You Are There: Monitor and Merrimac (December 26, 1948):
Cavalcade of America: Red Lanterns on St Michaels (August 11, 1941):
William Conrad plays the commander of the American Navy frigate Panther. He’s assigned to track down and eliminate a French warship that’s been attacking American shipping in the Caribbean. But France and the United States aren’t actually at war, so he can only actually attack the Frenchie in self-defense or in defense of another ship.
It’s a tricky mission, but (after effectively dealing with a British ship attempting to press-gang some of his crew) the captain soon comes up with a plan. With the help of a merchant captain—and his pretty daughter—he lays a trap for the French privateer.
Conrad is superb in the role of captain. He exudes an air of authority and obviously expects to be obeyed, but it’s also obvious that he has earned the respect of his crew. Listen to it and take special note of his relationship with his two deck officers—to the way he switches back and forth from using their first names to using a more formal mode of address depending on the situation. And take note of how well actors Ben Wright and John Dehner, playing the two officers, quickly manage to endow their characters with individual personalities.
Escape: Clear for Action (June 14, 1953):
Escape: Up Periscope (August 8, 1951):
“Pressure” (March 22, 1953) is set aboard an American sub during the war as it stalks a Japanese surface ship and then endures a devastating depth charge attack.
Escape: Pressure (March 22, 1953):
Lux Radio: Captain Horatio Hornblower (Jan 21, 1952):
"The African Queen" (December 15, 1952) was set during the First World War (with Bogie recreating his role from the movie and Greer Garson subbing for Katherine Hepburn), while “Destroyer” (March 3, 1944) featured Edward G. Robison as an aging sailor who comes out of retirement to serve during World War II.
Lux Radio: African Queen (December 15, 1952):
Lux Radio: Destroyer (April 3, 1944):
Man Behind the Gun: Pt Name Prep Joe (Feb 12, 1944):
Suspense: Log of Marne (October 22, 1951):
Battle Stations: Battle of the Atlantic (August 5, 1943):
Now Hear This: Operation Submarine (July 8, 1951):
Whether you are trading broadsides with an enemy ship-of-the-line in 1806, trying to survive an hours-long depth charge attack while aboard a submarine in 1943, or gaping at the sight of the first ironclad ship in 1862, old-time radio will take you through these battles, with your imagination adding visuals to the intense sounds of war at sea.
For these episodes and more, see also the compilation:
Naval Battles in Old Time Radio
See also: Ships and Boats and Submarine Collection
Tim DeForest has been geeking out on various elements of early 20th Century pop culture for most of his life. He is the author of several books on old-time radio, comic strips and pulp fiction. His first book—Storytelling in the Pulps, Comics and Radio: How Technology Changed Popular Fiction in America--was published in 2004. Radio by the Book: Adaptations of Fiction and Literature on the Airwaves, was published in 2008. Tim also maintains a blog about comics, radio and pulp fiction.
Tim has also written magazine articles on military history and the American West. He regularly teaches several Bible studies and has served as a short-term missionary in Haiti and south Sudan.
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