[Film] The Cruel Sea

jakarta · Mar 15, 2020

Absolutely stonking War Film coming up on BBC2 at 14.00 for all of us that are self isolating today.

Both Mrs Jakarta's Grandfathers were Merchant Navy Captains sailing out of Liverpool and both got through World War 2 intact, which course many didn't...

Horrible depth charging sequence involving survivors, I'm sure it must have happened in reality when Escorts were hunting down U-Boats that had just torpedoed a ship in the Convoy.

Razzoo · Mar 15, 2020

Slightly OT but I have just discovered the tale of the Batavia shipwreck. Wow! what a story that is, horrific yet fascinating. Totally bears out the saying that "worse things happen at sea".

Boys 9d · Mar 15, 2020

For me my favourite war film. No false heroics but containing the real truths of that conflict. As balance, I also like to watch the German film "Das Boot" which shows how the U-Boat crews coped with their war. I don't think either film could be made by Hollywood.

Cowfold Seagull · Mar 15, 2020

Razzoo said:
Slightly OT but I have just discovered the tale of the Batavia shipwreck. Wow! what a story that is, horrific yet fascinating. Totally bears out the saying that "worse things happen at sea".

On the same lines, having been regular visitors to the Greek island of Kefalonia for many years now, my wife and l discovered the story of HMS Perseus recently, HMS Perseus was a Royal Navy Submarine which struck a mine off the coast of Kefalonia in 1941,

Just one sailor survived the wreck, and even until this day he remains one of the very few men who have ever escaped from a submerged submarine. He somehow swam six miles in heavy sees in the night to the coast, where exhausted he was discovered by Greek partisans, who managed, along with many civilians to hide him from Italian soldiers on the island, for three long years until he escaped to Turkey just before the end of the war.

A real story of wartime hardship, bravery, and derring do.

Is it PotG? · Mar 15, 2020

Algernon · Mar 15, 2020

"When you are very tired, even the moment of triumph seems no more than part of the same bad dream."

Could be quite apt in a few months/years time.

Thunder Bolt · Mar 15, 2020

jakarta said:
Absolutely stonking War Film coming up on BBC2 at 14.00 for all of us that are self isolating today.

Both Mrs Jakarta's Grandfathers were Merchant Navy Captains sailing out of Liverpool and both got through World War 2 intact, which course many didn't...

Horrible depth charging sequence involving survivors, I'm sure it must have happened in reality when Escorts were hunting down U-Boats that had just torpedoed a ship in the Convoy.

Nicholas Montserrat was my Dad’s favourite author.

lawros left foot · Mar 15, 2020

Thunder Bolt said:
Nicholas Montserrat was my Dad’s favourite author.

He was buried at sea, off Portsmouth in about 1980.
I was part of the Guard of Honour on HMS Scylla.

Raleigh Chopper · Mar 15, 2020

lawros left foot said:
He was buried at sea, off Portsmouth in about 1980.
I was part of the Guard of Honour on HMS Scylla.

The same HMS Scylla that now lies on the seabed in Whitsand Bay Cornwall and used as a structure for divers to explore?
I watched it blown up and sunk.

lawros left foot · Mar 15, 2020

Raleigh Chopper said:
The same HMS Scylla that now lies on the seabed in Whitsand Bay Cornwall and used as a structure for divers to explore?
I watched it blown up and sunk.

Yes, I think so, I was only on her for the day.

Sussexscots · Mar 15, 2020

My late Father had a hollow tooth and used to make that noise to annoy and irritate my Mother.

dejavuatbtn · Mar 15, 2020

jakarta said:
Absolutely stonking War Film coming up on BBC2 at 14.00 for all of us that are self isolating today.

Both Mrs Jakarta's Grandfathers were Merchant Navy Captains sailing out of Liverpool and both got through World War 2 intact, which course many didn't...

Horrible depth charging sequence involving survivors, I'm sure it must have happened in reality when Escorts were hunting down U-Boats that had just torpedoed a ship in the Convoy.

Merchant navy captains were under orders not to pick up survivors from escort boats torpedoed by U Boats, leaving them exposed to either drowning or being picked off by the U Boats.
Grandfather was Leading Torpedoman on HMS Exmouth that was on convoy support in North Sea - lost with all hands after U Boat blew them up.

jakarta · Mar 15, 2020

dejavuatbtn said:
Merchant navy captains were under orders not to pick up survivors from escort boats torpedoed by U Boats, leaving them exposed to either drowning or being picked off by the U Boats.
Grandfather was Leading Torpedoman on HMS Exmouth that was on convoy support in North Sea - lost with all hands after U Boat blew them up.

Never knew that but never met either of Mrs Jakarta's Grandads to talk to them as they both died well before we met. Her Mums Dad actually stopped going to sea as Captain and became a Pier Master on one of the Docks in Liverpool from late 1941 onwards which was arguably an even more hazardous role given the bombing.

studio150 · Mar 15, 2020

Think I may have to have some snorkers tomorrow after watching the film.

Jim D · Mar 15, 2020

Sussexscots said:
My late Father had a hollow tooth and used to make that noise to annoy and irritate my Mother.

That's cruel, see

Sussexscots · Mar 15, 2020

Jim D said:
That's cruel, see

Indeed. The first time I saw the film it was one of those 'Eureka! ' moments.

Thunder Bolt · Mar 15, 2020

lawros left foot said:
He was buried at sea, off Portsmouth in about 1980.
I was part of the Guard of Honour on HMS Scylla.

My Dad was buried at sea, there too, in 1998.

Anyone who’s served in the Navy is entitled to be buried by them, at sea.

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[Film] The Cruel Sea

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