Original subtitles

(triumphant music)

(seagulls mewing)

(rumbling) (splashing)

- [Sailor] All secure, sir.

- All right, Number One.

- Not a bad trip, Commander.

- We did very well, sir.

- Well, young fellows me lads,

you can count yourselves very lucky

to have helped bag a submarine on your first trip.

All I remember about mine is being confoundedly sick.

- They were green about the gills the first week out, sir.

- We used to called it midshipmanitis in our day.

- Oh, we're over that now, sir.

- Muster the prisoners and have them sent ashore right away.

- Anything come, sir, about leave, sir?

- Not yet.

- I'm moving your things from the sea cabin, sir.

Will you be going ashore?

- I don't know yet, Bates.

(bell ringing)

- Gangway for the red watch.

- Any more for the Sky Lark?

- Pick up your monkeys and parrots!

- [Sailor] Get your shore-going out!

- [Sailor 2] Driver, where's my car?

- Well, the old mud hook's down.

Let's hope she stays there for a bit.

- Shut up that row! - Get you!

♪ Home, home, sweet home ♪

♪ There's no place like home ♪

- Home? (chuckles) You'll never see home.

- What are you talking about?

- Pipe down, we're bound to get leave.

Here, let's ask the admiral.

Oi, come on, sailor, oi, wake up.

- What do you want?

- A little bit of wisdom.

Are we going to get leave?

- Well, come on, out with it.

- [Sailor] Shh, can't you see he's thinking?

- Well, firstly, we sink a blooming submarine,

that should mean leave.

Secondly, we're due for boiler cleaning...

- Come on, come on!

- Hurry up!

- Thirdly, we haven't had any for a hell of a long time!

- And fourthly, admiral,

we have the case of able seaman Edmunds,

who was married two hours before he had to join his ship,

and hadn't the time nor the opportunity

to consummate the union.

(laughing)

- [Sailor] Nark it!

- Here, hold your noses, here comes the bootnecks.

(whistling)

Oi, where you going with those pea-shooters?

We're mustering the Jerry prisoners to go ashore.

(laughing)

- Grog-o, grog-o! - Grog-o!

- Here you are my lucky lads.

Now, stand back, you'll all get served, gents.

Stand back and let the dog see the rabbit, will ya?

- Come on, one, two.

Come along, kamerads, four.

Come along, keep moving, keep moving.

Prisoners, march.

- Just a minute, corporal.

- Halt. What do you want, sailor?

- Let's give the poor baskets a tot of rum.

It'll be a long time before they get any leave.

- All communication with the prisoners

is strictly prohibited.

Carry on, sailor.

- Go on, pop it in.

Here you are, Jerry, take a swig of this.

Go on, Nelson's blood.

- Nein, das is verboten!

- Stow it, Adolf!

Give the lads a chance.

- Go on, it'll do you good.

- Good. - Good! I should say it is.

Grows hairs on your chest.

(men laughing)

- Wunderbar.

- Yeah, you fellas made a mistake

letting those Nazis kid you.

You ought to join a real navy.

(laughing)

(glass shatters)

- Heil Hitler!

- Heil, my fanny.

Prisoners and escort shun, quick march.

Party, halt.

All present and correct, sir. - Very good.

Where the devil's that motorboat got to?

- She hasn't left yet, sir.

(seagulls mewing) (boat engine rumbling)

(tires screech)

- Charles? - Yes, ma'am?

- Take a walk, would you please.

- Certainly.

(boat horn bellows)

- Steady, darling.

- Oh, David, it's all over your collar too.

- Damn these stiff collars. - Spit.

- You know, after two years out of the service,

running my own show,

I'm gonna find this "aye-aye, sir" business

is pretty difficult.

- Never mind, you look lovely in your uniform.

- Yes, absolutely divine!

- Oh, David, you're going to make a bad start,

you're ten minutes overdue.

- Never mind, dear, Mr. Chamberlain says

it's gonna be a long war.

(ship's whistle tooting)

- I'm going to miss you, darling,

even though I know you're an awful waste of time.

- Is there a better way of wasting time, my sweet?

- I've loved every minute of it.

- Goodbye, my dear.

Look after yourself.

- Goodbye, David.

Be good. - Aye-aye, sir.

So long, my poppet. - Goodbye.

(seagulls mewing) (motorboat rumbling)

- Motorboat's just leaving, sir.

- Oh, Good. Stand by with your prisoners, corporal.

- Party, shun.

- Oh, there's old Bates, sir.

Will you excuse me for a moment?

- Yes, carry on. - Thank you, sir.

I say, Bates, is Captain Armitage going ashore?

- I don't know, sir, but I'm hoping if he goes, we go too.

- Thanks, Bates.

- Wotcher, swain. - What do you want?

- Is the oldie going ashore?

- How the hell do I know?

And once more, if anyone asks me that again,

I'll knock his blasted block off!

- All right, all right!

- Will you be going ashore, sir?

- I don't know.

- And there's no news about leave, sir?

- [Tom] Nothing official yet.

- Would you be going to town if we did get leave, sir?

- I expect so.

- There something I'd like to ask you, sir,

if it isn't a liberty.

- Anything you like, Bates.

Lord knows, we've known each other long enough!

- Well, it's like this here, sir,

my old woman made me promise,

you see, like she being very keen for you

to stand for the first,

well, I said, "No, wait a bit,

there's bound to be another one soon."

- Another what? What the devil are you talking about, Bates?

- Babies, sir.

- What, at your time of life?

- No, it's not exactly mine, it's me daughter's.

It's a boy, and his father being in the service,

we'd all like you to stand godfather,

sort of start him off right.

- Why, I'd be delighted!

- Thank you, sir.

We was thinking of wetting his head this leave.

- Grand! I was wondering what to do with myself.

Suits me perfectly, any time you like.

- By gum, my old girl'll be as proud as punch.

(chuckling) (knocking at door)

- [Tom] Come.

- Lieutenant Cranford, sir. - Who?

- Come aboard to join, sir. - All right, Hawkins.

- From the Admiralty, sir.

Hello, Bates, how's yourself?

- I'm as well as can be expected, thank you, sir.

- Hmm, I see.

- Tell the commander to muster all hands aft.

I usually offer anyone joining a drink,

but I think we can dispense with that formality.

- I quite agree, sir. Shall I go?

- Just a minute.

Did you apply to come to my ship?

- No, sir.

I think someone at the admiralty developed a sense of humor.

- You'll be transferred as soon as it can be arranged.

- Thank you, sir.

- Apart from duty,

I suggest we keep out of each other's way.

- Naturally, sir.

- Hey, Snotty. - Sir?

- What's your name? - Howard, sir.

- Mine's Cranford. Just come aboard to play.

Where's the wardroom?

- I'll show you, sir.

- I say, sir, was that the order for leave

you brought aboard?

- I don't know, I'm afraid Mr. Churchill didn't tell me.

- The First Lord, you actually know him?

- Winnie? One of my oldest friends.

I help him with his hats.

- Oh, you're pulling my leg, sir.

I wish they'd make up their minds about leave.

It's so damned unsettling.

- Unsettling, eh? That means a girl.

- Well, of course, sir, she's only a friend.

There's nothing definite yet.

- So that's why you're anxious about leave.

- Yes, and it's just my luck, I'm on watch tonight.

- Well, perhaps you could fix something,

I might take over for you.

- They'd never let you, sir.

- It may be a bit irregular, but we can try.

- Thanks awfully, sir.

Down this way, sir.

But, I say, don't mention anything about my girl.

You know what it's like in the gunroom.

I'd rather keep it to myself.

- My dear fellow, I'll be as silent as the grave.

- Three.

- Wrong, old son. Four.

(laughing)

- They're on you, Dot.

- It's a pleasure, Sandeman.

- Peacock, make 'em doubles now the anchor's down.

- Very good, sir.

- Here you are, sir. - Thank you, my lad. Come in.

- No, sir, not in here.

- Oh, come on, have a drink.

- Thank you, sir.

- My name's Cranford, I've just joined.

- I'm glad to know you, Cranford.

- I'm Sandeman.

- How do you do?

- This is Guns, - How do you do?

- Torps, - How do you do?

- the surgeon commander, - Hi, how do you do?

- and Dot and Cary, our heroes of the sky.

- I'm happy to meet you all.

- Look here-- - And to forestall

the inevitable, I haven't the slightest idea

of when you're all gonna get leave.

(laughing) - I suppose everybody

on the ship's been asking you that.

- Do you know what I'd like to do?

Hop in my little bus, fly her to town--

- Then take her on top of the Ritz,

and make a parachute drop through into the American bar.

- With rows and rows of gleaming bottles

and fairy lights twinkling though them.

- And instead of Peacock's ugly mug leering at you

over a couple of pink gins, there'd be a wonderful popsie.

- With a full set of everything.

Bottoms up. - Here we go.

- Hello, sir, you're just in time to meet the new arrival.

- We know each other.

Well, you seem to have made yourself at home very quickly.

- Yes, sir, you can't keep a good man down.

- Pity. Get me a drink.

Beer, please, Petra.

- Well, I've got a spot of work to do, if you'll forgive me.

- Oh, I'll give you a hand.

- The glass must be falling, deep depression.

- Your luggage has been put in your cabin, sir.

- Thank you.

I'm afraid I've come to stay.

Thanks for the drink.

- Oh, (nervously chuckles) not at all.

What on earth's the matter, Commander?

- It's an awkward thing to talk about.

- Well, I thought he seemed a rather nice little bloke, sir.

- That's a matter of opinion.

- I've served with Tom Armitage for a long time.

He's one of my oldest friends.

- Oh, what's the skipper got to do with it?

- Well, five years ago, we were out on the China Station.

His wife was there, so was young Cranford.

- Oh, well, that was it.

- Yes, there was a divorce.

- That's tough luck on the skipper.

- Well, these sort of things do happen, sir.

- Just what I felt,

until we learned a year later at Singapore,

that Cranford had let her down.

- Didn't marry her, you mean? - Exactly.

I'm one of those rare birds, a happily married man.

And I don't set out to be a moralist,

still, you know what it is.

- You've gotta draw the line somewhere.

- Exactly.

- Yes, we seem to be well-off for balaclavas, Jenkins.

Two navy, three beige, one in your hand,

nothing up the sleeve, that's six.

- Seems your lady friends like to keep you warm, sir.

- Nonsense, Jenkins, all knitted by elderly relatives

on the front at Bournemouth.

- You'd better keep that one for yourself.

- Ah, thank you, sir.

- I say, sir? - Yes?

- About wangling my leave, sir,

I've come to ask you not to bother.

- I see.

All right, my lad, makes no difference to me.

- But thanks all the same.

- Don't mention it. Have a helmet.

- No, thank you, sir.

- Another one for you then, Jenkins.

- Thank you, sir.

(plays bugle)

- Lower deck clear, ship's company mustered aft, sir.

- Thank you, master-at-arms.

- Lower deck clear, sir. Everybody aft.

Ship's company, stand at ease.

(feet stomp)

I want to thank you all

for the way you've acquitted yourselves

during the patrol we've just finished.

You've given the enemy a taste of your quality.

I know there are people you're fond of ashore...

- He means you, Shorty, someone wants to split.

- Oh, pack it up!

- I know you're expecting leave and you deserve it.

- This looks good to me.

- Sounds like a week at least.

- But I don't have to remind you

that we're at war and have to make sacrifices.

The orders I have just received from the Admiralty

put general leave out of the question.

- Hard luck, Shorty.

- Our flotilla has been selected for special duty,

and I hope this news will make up

for the disappointment you've suffered,

because I don't mind telling you,

it may give us the chance of action

against enemy surface craft. - That'll be a great thing.

- Swimming in the North Sea with a leg off.

- Never mind, you'll get a medal.

- The operation we have been detailed to carry out

is one of the utmost importance,

and I know I can rely on all of you to do your very best.

That is all. Carry on, Commander.

- Ship's company, shun.

Turn forward, right and left.

Turn! Double march.

- The destroyer captains have come aboard, sir.

They're waiting in your cabin.

- Thanks, Brandon.

- I understand, that's the trouble, I do understand!

Now, you listen to me.

Leave, of course you won't get any leave.

And I'll tell you why,

'cause you're a lot of mugs

that won't stand up for yourselves.

- I've been in the service 30 years--

- Ah, shut up!

Now, listen to me-- - Oh, put a sock in it!

- I'll tell you why there's no leave,

'cause firstly, we sunk a blooming German submarine.

And secondly, - Grub up, grub--

- we're due for boiler cleaning.

And thirdly, we ain't had any leave for a long time,

and maybe you-- (splats)

(laughing)

- Grub up! - Come on, lads!

- The merchantmen we are to convoy

are assembling just outside Norwegian waters.

We'll steam across and pick them up,

and convoy them to Position X.

That's the entrance to our minefields,

where they'll be safe.

You'll find all further details in your sailing orders.

Pass them round, Mr. Cranford.

Usual precautions, no transmission of wireless messages,

we can receive but we mustn't send.

Absolute secrecy, absolute concentration on the one job,

to get the convoy home.

Nothing must interfere with that.

Well, before you go back to your ships,

everything quite clear?

- Very clear. - Absolutely clear.

- I've just been reading the list of ships

we're going to escort, sir.

The old Seaflower's among 'em. - Yes.

- That's the top that was running

the blockade on the Spanish war, isn't it?

- Yes, and she had that old blaggard of a skipper,

always in trouble.

- He's in the thick of it again, she's lying off Poland.

- Well, good luck.

- I hope you'll be able to wangle us

some leave after this trip, sir.

- So do I, Martin.

They've had to postpone a christening for me.

(Martin chuckles)

Just a minute, Cranford.

There's a question you might be able to answer.

- Official or personal, sir?

- Purely personal.

Would you care to smoke?

- No, thank you, sir.

- Have you heard anything of Lucy since she went abroad?

- Well, now and then.

Usual motoring tour postcards.

Nuremberg by moonlight, Hitler by daylight.

- When was the last?

- Day before war was declared.

- And you haven't bothered to find out

if she got away from Germany?

- Lucy always preferred looking after herself.

- That's why you left her, I suppose.

- Look here, sir, I thought this was a personal talk.

Well, I suggest we keep off dangerous ground.

You'll never understand my point of view

and yours went out with wooden ships.

- You're being insulting.

- Well, I have reason to be.

What is this, a ship or a Sunday school?

I've been treated like a leper since I came onboard,

thanks to your influence, I have no doubt.

- You're wrong, Cranford.

The wardroom's opinion is entirely its own affair,

I don't control it.

As long as you do your job, as far as I'm concerned,

you'll be treated like any officer on the ship.

Please take these charts to the bridge.

We're sailing at six tonight.

(bell ringing)

(epic music)

- Signal just received from the Admiralty, sir.

- Read it, will you?

- All merchantmen of the convoy

are reported to have left for rendezvous,

except Seaflower, present whereabouts unknown.

- I knew we'd have trouble with that damned old pirate.

(men singing in foreign language)

- Don't they sing lovely, the poor beggars?

- Very nice, if you like that kind of foreign singing.

Now, when I was third officer in the Mauretania--

- Oh, I know, I know.

You had two symphony orchestras and a prize brass band.

Well, let me tell you, Mr. Mate,

there's nothing to touch the harmony of the human voice.

- It's all right.

- You know, If it weren't for us,

they wouldn't be singing down there,

they'd be herded together in some Nazi concentration camp.

Yes, Mr. Mathews, we performed a real work of mercy.

- Yeah, twenty quid a head.

- That's beside the point.

We've saved them.

(accordion plays)

(singing in foreign language)

(head thuds) - Oh blast!

Hey, Mary!

Mary, go in there and tell them to stop that awful row.

Mrs. Lucy Armitage, I've nursed you

ever since you wore nappies.

I've put up with all your tantrums.

I've tried to get you out of all your scrapes.

I've whizzed across the continent in a motor car with you,

chased by hordes of murdering Germans,

but now, at last, I'm on me way to England,

in a British ship.

There's nothing on god's earth

will get me out of the safety of me bed.

(crashing) Oh! What was that?

(clamoring)

- You stay here, I'll go and find out.

- What was it, Captain?

- Shot across our bows.

(speaking German)

Not a light nor a sound, Mr. Mate.

Go down and stand by amidships with a neutral flag.

(speaking German)

- Can I help, Captain? I understand German.

- Well, what's he saying?

- He's asking, "What ship are you and where are you bound?"

- Oh, you leave him to me.

(speaking Spanish)

That's Spanish, picked it up in Bilbao.

(speaking Spanish)

Neutrale. Us neutrale.

(speaking German)

- Cross your fingers, Captain, here it comes.

(speaking German)

- "Carry on, Neutral, best wishes for a safe journey."

- What did I tell you, they're gonna let us pass.

Now, where's that damned old fool of a mate of mine?

Mr. Matthews, full speed ahead.

- Have they gone, Captain?

- Don't you worry, Mr. Mate,

why, a child could fool a pack of squareheads like that.

- You know, Captain, I believe you could sail us

through the Kiel Canal itself.

- Well, why not?

- For the lord's sake,

don't suggest that to him, Mrs. Armitage.

- Thanks for your help all the same, ma'am.

- Please don't mention it. Any time.

- Steer nor'nor'east, helmsman.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Nor'nor'east, that'll never take us to the convoy.

- Now look, Mr. Mate, me and t'old Seaflower

are not joining any convoy.

Catch us tacking across North Sea like a drunken sailor,

with a lot of destroyers and cruisers chivvying us about.

No, we're going along on our own, like we've always done.

We're steering nor'nor'east.

- Make a signal to our flotilla.

From U37, the British steamer Seaflower

has been allowed to pass as arranged.

Am following on her course.

(telegram machine beeping)

- [Sailor] Message from U37.

- Steer a course for the convoy and follow on her quarter.

Signal to U42.

- [Sailor] Very good.

(epic music)

(wind blowing)

- Jolly cold, sir.

- Yes, shocking weather for monkeys, Mr. Sutton.

(laughing)

Well, I think I'll go and get a little sleep.

Your relief will be up in a few minutes.

- Very good, sir.

- Tell them to call me when they sight the merchantmen.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Just brought you a nice cup of cocoa, sir.

- (yawns) Take it up on the bridge.

What I want is sleep.

(whistling)

- Heave ho, heave ho, lash up and stow!

Wakey wakey, all the red watch, all the red watch!

Come on, out of it.

Come on, what is in here?

- Shut up!

- Come on, show a leg, here.

(yawning)

Come on, show a leg here, will ya?

Get up, come on, out of it, all of you!

Come on, the red watch, come on, lash up and stow!

(groans)

- Oh, blast!

Got any shaving soap, my lad?

Thanks. - That's all right, sir.

- Hello. What a pretty girl.

- Do you think so? - Damned attractive.

She's the one I was telling you about.

I was just writing to her, as a matter of fact.

She's the sort of girl a fellow can write to.

- Intelligent, eh?

- She's marvelous to talk to.

You're a man of the world,

what do you think about marriage

when a fellow's in the service?

- Well, that depends. How old is she?

- Only 25, and I'm practically 19, you know.

- Uh-huh. And what does she feel about it?

- Well, she's as keen as I am.

Of course, I'd have to keep it secret from my family,

but she says that would be all right.

She's an actress

and she's got dozens of men crazy about her.

- And she's told you

that you're the only man she cares about, eh?

- (chuckles) Yes, she did.

- Should be time to think about it,

no use hurrying these things.

- Thanks awfully, sir.

- That's all right.

- Oh, one thing, Shorty,

I shouldn't put too much in writing.

- [Shorty] Why, sir?

- Just a sound principle, that's all.

(wind blowing)

- (shivering) It's cold up here.

This ought to warm the cockles of your heart.

- No need for it, man, I use my imagination.

- Here they come.

(epic music)

Bridge, 20 merchantmen on the port bow.

(whistling)

- (yawns) Yes?

- Convoy in sight, sir. - I'll be up right away.

- Your cocoa, sir. I made another lot.

- No time right now, Bates. Later.

Right, Mr. Cranford, signal the two lead destroyers

to form up the convoy.

Main line of advance, 260, speed nine knots.

- Signalman.

- Form up the convoy.

Huh, he means sort out this ruddy mess.

- They look like the Grand National field, sir,

second time round.

- Better see what we can do about it.

Bring her up to 20 knots.

- Aye-aye, sir.

Engine room.

- Scruffy looking lot, aren't they?

- (chuckling) If I had charge of them for a week or two,

I'd make them look like real ships.

- How would you go about it?

- Oh, smarten up the paintwork, sir,

and get all of the ropes coiled,

and everything trim and taut,

and that sort of thing, sir. - Ah!

This is a convoy, gentlemen, not a regatta!

Those skippers were master mariners,

when you were toddling about the round pond

with your nannies.

- Very sorry, sir. - Sorry, sir.

- We will consider the incident closed.

- Make a signal to all vessels in the convoy,

zigzag 20 degrees either side of the mean line of advance

every 15 minutes.

First zig to starboard. - Aye-aye, sir.

- They work too fast for me, skipper.

- Did you say a red flag with white stripes,

or a white flag with red stripes?

- I never said a word about stripes.

I said the whole thing gives me the gripes!

- Well, I'd check it out,

but I can't make head nor tail of it.

- Take no notice then, Mr. Mate.

We play follow my leader and hope for the best.

- Ahoy! Are you in trouble with the signal, skipper?

Can we help you?

- Yes, you can!

I haven't seen so many flags since the coronation.

- [Captain] It means to zigzag, first leg to starboard.

- Starboard your wheel.

- Thanks, Captain!

Come aboard and have a drink with us when we get in.

- What's he saying, Mr. Cranford?

- All ships in position, sir.

There's only one absentee, the Seaflower.

- Yeah, I thought as much.

- [Bates] I brought breakfast, sir,

your cocoa's getting cold.

- All right, Bates, I'll be down in a minute.

Steer 270 degrees, 12 knots.

Take up position ahead of convoy.

- Aye-aye, sir.

(epic music)

- Achtung, here they are.

Tell U42 to stand by.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan Leutnant.

- Yeoman of signals, flag deck.

- Flag deck.

- [Yeoman] SOS, SOS, Seaflower,

52-30 north, 4-50 east, struck German mine, sinking.

- Very good.

Just received, sir.

- All right, chief yeoman.

- Very good, sir.

- I'll take this down to the captain myself.

(clears throat)

SOS from the Seaflower, sir.

Hm.

I wish that old scoundrel had obeyed orders,

then he wouldn't be in this mess.

- Shall I detach a destroyer to help him, sir?

- Make no reply to the signal, Mr. Cranford.

On no account whatever

must a naval vessel be diverted from the convoy.

I can't lay myself open to enemy attack.

- Very good, sir.

- They'll have to take to the boats,

and trust to the destroyer patrol picking them up.

- Another SOS from the Seaflower, sir.

- Oh, all right, chief yeoman.

- Very good, sir.

- Signalman. - What did the captain say?

- I'm to send a destroyer and number one plane right away.

Make a signal to the leading destroyer,

leave convoy, proceed immediately latitude 52-30 north.

- Stand by with your torpedoes there.

- Stand by with your torpedoes.

- Torpedo number five, heave.

- We shall attack as soon as

the destroyer leaves the convoy.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan Leutnant.

- What are you going to do, sir?

- Nothing. Make no reply to the signal.

- But you've gotta do something, Lucy's in that ship.

- That doesn't enter into it.

- You'd let her drown rather than take a risk?

- Listen, Cranford,

I've had my orders and they must be carried out,

whatever my personal feelings are.

- It's common humanity!

A destroyer could reach them in a quarter of an hour.

- And expose the merchantmen of this convoy

to the danger of attack?

I haven't the right to.

(siren whooping)

What's that?

- I've taken the risk for you.

As officer of the watch, I've sent a plane and a destroyer.

- You damned idiot.

Wait till I send for you!

Yeoman, make a signal.

Recall the destroyer and plane.

- I can stop the destroyer, sir, but I can't stop the plane.

Signals!

- Damn, the destroyer's going back to the convoy.

Take her down to 50 feet.

- [Blount] Mr. Cranford.

- All right, gentlemen, I'll come quietly.

- It isn't very funny for any of us.

Lieutenant Harvey will escort you to your cabin.

You must consider yourself under close arrest.

- Certainly.

(propellor buzzing)

- Looks just as though they've abandoned her.

(gunfire blasting)

(crashes) (splashes)

- Bravo, boys, good shooting.

Hello, U37.

- Nice work, Herr Kapitan.

Have the convoy made any reply to the SOS?

- Not yet.

Keep a sharp lookout.

- Did you save anyone from the plane?

- They were dead before they hit the water, ma'am.

- Poor devils.

- That's a risk they must take, they were part of your navy.

- The women and kids you shelled and wounded in my ship

weren't part of our navy.

- You should've surrendered earlier, Captain.

- By god, I'd like to wring your blasted neck!

- I have no doubt.

Wireless room.

Any reply from the convoy yet?

- No, Herr Kapitan.

- Repeat the SOS.

- Yes, Herr Kapitan.

(clicking)

(receiver beeping)

(gunshots blasting)

- Hurry up and get that mine, Number One.

We're patrolling the North Sea,

not shooting for coconuts on Hampstead Heath.

- I wish we were, sir.

- Sir, intercepted SOS from the Seaflower.

(explosion booms)

- It's an SOS. - Yes.

Number One, full speed ahead, hard to starboard.

Steer 100 degrees. - Aye-aye, sir.

Full speed ahead, hard to starboard.

(bell rings)

- Keep on signaling.

- There'll be no reply.

- You British are always telling the rest of the world,

how humane your sailors are.

Well, I'm giving them the chance to prove it.

- They may be gentlemen, but they're not fools.

- If you're right, it will be unfortunate for you.

- What do you mean?

- My submarine isn't an hotel, madam.

I shall have no alternative

but to give you 10 minutes to take to your boats,

before I sink your ship.

- But you can't do that!

She's full of passengers.

I haven't got enough boats for the half of 'em.

- That is also unfortunate, Captain.

You should either carry more boats, or less passengers.

- But you can't turn women and children adrift like that.

It's inhuman, monstrous!

- With his own lips, our Fuhrer has told us Germans

how to fight this war.

Let us be inhuman, he said.

If we rescue Germany,

we have done the greatest deed in the world.

- A greater man than Hitler taught the British navy

how to fight.

- No greater man than Hitler has ever lived.

- Really?

I used to smile at my husband

for having a quotation framed on his desk.

It went something like this.

"May the great god whom I worship grant to my country,

and for the benefit of all Europe,

a great and glorious victory,

and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it.

And may humanity after victory

be the predominant feature of the British fleet. "

- "For myself, I commit my life to him who made me,

and may his blessing light upon my endeavors,

for serving my country faithfully.

To him I resign myself

and the just cause entrusted to me to defend.

Amen, amen, amen. "

- It was Nelson's prayer on the eve of Trafalgar.

What do you think of it, Herr Kapitan?

- We Germans think only as our Fuhrer has told us,

with our blood.

- [Sailor] Achtung, Herr Kapitan!

British destroyers approaching.

- Destroyers? They can't be from the convoy yet.

British patrol destroyers.

Stand by to take us off.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

- Tell them to batten down the forward hold.

- Herr Kapitan.

- But you can't sink women and children like this!

- I've got to. - That won't help you.

- You are wrong, Captain.

- Your destroyers will have all of their staff

out picking up survivors,

while we attack them, and then get away.

- Come up on deck right away.

Batten down the hold.

(speaking foreign language)

Batten down the hatch.

(passengers screaming)

- [Lucy] Kick the lock.

(passengers screaming)

- That swine have got clear of the boat.

They'll be torpedoing us in a moment.

- Get the women and children on deck, quick.

- Get a torpedo ready. - Very good, Herr Kapitan.

Stand by with a torpedo.

- We can just do it.

- What's the range?

- 7,000 yards, sir.

- Right, open fire.

- Right, sir.

Open fire.

(blasting)

(cheering)

- [Passenger] Come on, the Navy, give 'em hell!

(clamoring)

(cheering)

- Thanks, Michael!

(epic music)

- Merchantmen with destroyer escort on the starboard bow.

- North Sea Patrol say they're bringing in the Seaflower

to join the convoy.

There's some casualties requiring medical attention.

- Are they serious?

- They've said nothing, sir.

They want us to stand by to receive them.

- Have them aboard right away.

No need to stop the convoy.

Tell the surgeon commander to get sick bay ready.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Howard. - Sir?

- I want you to go to Mr. Cranford's cabin

and give him a message. - Very good.

- Morning, sir. - Morning, Parker.

Your patients are coming aboard, sir.

- Oh, thank you, Shorty.

- Ah, the midshipman of the watch.

- Hello, sir.

I have a message from the Captain.

- Oh, I thought you'd come to join me in the gulag.

- The Captain said to tell you,

that the Seaflower had joined the convoy

without serious mishap.

- Give the Captain my thanks.

It was good of him to let me know.

- I say, sir, I'm awfully sorry about all this,

I mean, this trouble you're in.

- Well, that's all right, me lad, let it be a lesson to you.

Touch hands and part with laughter.

Touch lips and part with tears.

In other words, lay off the girls.

- Oh, no. No entanglements for me.

I'm gonna get properly married.

- Yes, I want a word with you about that.

(knocking at door)

- Time for our little trot round, Cranford.

- So long, Shorty. We'll have that chat later.

- So long. - I'm with you, soldier.

- Well, that's all right, Mrs. Armitage,

but be careful with it for a week or two.

- Thank you very much, Doctor.

- I understand Bates is waiting for you.

- Bates! Oh, it'll be nice to see him again.

- Ow!

- Now, now, Captain, behave yourself.

I'll see you in the launch.

- I'm afraid she won't, Captain.

- What do you mean, Doctor?

I've got to get back to my ship?

- Now, now, Captain,

I know you don't give a damn for the Navy,

but you've got to obey me, I'm a doctor as well.

- Well, I feel all right. - Maybe.

But I've got to find out if that's a fracture or not.

You'll have to stay aboard for a bit.

- Hey!

- How's the whole family, Bates?

- Fine, ma'am. I'm a grandfather now.

- Congratulations.

- And the captain's promised to stand godfather.

- Good.

How are you, Tom?

- Hello, Lucy.

(laughs)

- I've been worried about you

ever since this awful war started.

Has Bates been looking after you properly?

- Of course he has, confound him,

always pestering me with cups of cocoa.

(laughs) Well, how about you?

- I've had the most incredible adventures.

I'm a heroine now.

You must've had a bit of shock

when you found out I was in the Seaflower.

- I had.

Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one.

- Oh?

- David Cranford's in the ship.

- David. - Yes.

- Must've been awkward for you.

- It was.

I think he treated you very badly, my dear.

- What do you mean, Tom?

- Well, the way he let you down.

- Oh, no, you've got it all wrong!

David didn't leave me!

- Oh? What are you talking about?

- Well, I...

It just didn't work out,

and I knew it wouldn't break our David's heart.

- I don't understand you people!

You run away together, make me look a darn fool,

create a hell of a scandal,

then say the whole thing was a mistake.

You don't care for him, he doesn't care a thing about you,

your buddy hears you're in a spot of trouble,

he tries to send half the fleet to get you out of it!

All he does is get himself court-marshaled! Blast!

- Did David do that for me?

- Look, Tom, you'll have to get him out of this.

- I can do nothing about it.

It's out of my hands.

- All the same, I know you'll do your best for him.

You know, it's funny,

you and David are very alike in some ways.

- Well, I'm hanged if I can see that!

- Oh, yes.

Like most sailors,

you're both incurably sentimental about women.

(chuckles)

- Well, maybe you're right.

It's queer, Lucy, how I've missed you.

Everything seems pointless since you went away.

- You're happy enough in this ship.

- Oh, I'm all right when I'm at sea,

but when I go ashore, Lucy,

oh, I don't know, sitting about in clubs,

buying evening newspapers,

having Turkish baths when I don't want them,

I get bored stiff.

If you were there again, everything would be different.

- Oh, no, my dear, it wouldn't.

You've always been like that ashore,

grumpy, grumbling at everyone else's inefficiency,

at a permanent loose end,

just waiting for the moment

when you can get back to your ship.

- But that's my job!

- No, Tom, it's your whole existence.

Fond as I am of you, there's no place for me in it.

- I don't agree with you,

but you always did know your own mind.

Let's forget about it, shall we?

- Well, what sort of a cabin are you going to give me?

I hope it's a bit more comfortable than this one.

- (chuckles) Oh, no, Mrs. Armitage,

you're not staying in my ship.

- You can't put me back in the Seaflower,

she's leaking like a sieve.

- I've had all the Seaflower passengers transferred

to one of the convoy ships.

- Party from the Seaflower party are ready to leave, sir.

- Thank you, Howard.

Well, goodbye, my dear, I hope you'll be comfortable.

- I'm sure I shall.

I feel safe now. - Good.

- Let's meet in town for a drink sometime.

- That's a grand idea.

- Would you relax your attention for a minute?

- All right, old man, but don't be long.

- Hello, David.

- Well, Lucy, fancy meeting you on my morning stroll.

- Is this going to be serious for you?

- Oh, I expect they'll have me in the ARP.

- Tom told me what you did.

I'm very grateful.

- (chuckles) Another of my gestures, Lucy.

Dashing, but ineffective.

- You always were a lunatic. - Yes.

- Well, eh... - Well, um...

There's a party waiting for you.

Goodbye, my dear.

- Goodbye, David. Good luck.

- Time's up, Cranford. - Yes.

- [Reporter] Here is our news in English.

A successful attack

has just been launched by our gallant U-boats,

against a British North Sea convoy.

It is firmly established

that many vessels were sunk and damaged,

the convoy itself dispersed and thrown into confusion,

while the surviving warships

are still being actively hunted, by our indomitable U-boats.

An eyewitness account,

referring to the sinking of the armed liner the Seaflower,

reports that she was carrying a cargo of poison gas,

dispatched from Poland to England

by that fanatical warmonger,

First Lord of the Admiralty, W. Churchill esquire.

- Sunk my ship, the ruddy liar!

- [Reporter] Finally, it is believed

that the flagship Apollo herself

has been torpedoed and sunk with the loss of all hands.

A further report-- (clicks radio off)

- Blimey, boys, we're all dead and we don't know it!

(laughing)

- So that's where poor sailors go to when they die, eh?

Back to the ruddy mess decks.

- This fellow's a regular Ananias.

He's worse than that, he's a perishing liar!

- We don't take any notice of him.

- Poison gas? I once had a cargo of fertilizer.

I'll admit that whiffed a bit.

(laughing)

(whistling)

- B and Y turrets close up!

B and Y turrets close up!

B and Y turrets close up! (blows whistle)

- What's up this time, bosun's mate?

- Don't know, but the old man

must be expecting a bit of trouble.

Old Skipper, the Captain would like to talk to you

in his sea cabin.

- Me? Oh, all right. - Yeah.

- Anything serious, sir?

- Just hear the signal from the Admiralty,

things are looking up.

They have information one of these pocket battleships

has slipped through the cordon on a raid.

- After us? - Yes.

- We might have some fun then.

- I don't think they want us to.

They're making dispositions now.

They're sending out operation orders.

(receiver beeping) - [Man] Admiralty operation

to battle squadron.

Admiralty operations to battle squadron.

Alter course and take up positions covering flank

of North Sea convoy.

Alter course and take up positions covering flank

of North Sea convoy.

Admiralty operations to battle squadron.

Admiralty operations to aircraft carrier Aquilla.

Admiralty operations to aircraft carrier Aquilla.

Locate enemy battleship attempting raid

on North Sea convoy.

Locate enemy battleship attempting raid

on North Sea convoy. (propellors buzzing)

Admiralty operations to aircraft carrier, Aquilla.

Admiralty operations to aircraft carrier, Aquilla.

Admiralty operations to minesweeper flotilla, Position X.

Admiralty operations to minesweeper flotilla, Position X.

North Sea convoy due Position X two hours earlier.

Sweep entrance to minefield before 1800 tonight.

North Sea convoy due Position X two hours earlier.

Sweep entrance to minefield before 18:00 tonight.

- They seem to be doing what they can for us, sir.

- Yes.

Tell the navigating officer

I'll be up on the bridge with a new course in a few minutes.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- And let that old blaggard in if he's waiting.

- Aye-aye, sir.

Come right in, Captain.

- Please take off your cap in my cabin.

- Captain Armitage, I hear you shifted passengers

from my ship.

Well, you've got no right to do that.

- So long as your ship's in my convoy,

you're subject to my orders.

- I want you to understand that.

- Well, I suppose so,

but I want you to understand that I'm registering a protest.

- I've sent for you because I've got to sink your ship.

- Sink the Seaflower?

Nay, you can't do that. - I want no further trouble,

Eckersley, there's as raider out.

I have orders from the admiralty

to alter course and increase speed.

Your ship's practically unseaworthy.

She's incapable of keeping up with the convoy

and I can't leave her behind.

She'd be a pointer to our whereabouts

and a danger to navigation.

- But it'll ruin me. - There'll be no argument.

I'm detailing a destroyer

to take off her crew and torpedo her.

- Captain Armitage, I've been master of Seaflower

for more than 20 years now,

and you know what that means.

How would you like it if a stranger came to you

and said he was gonna sink your ship?

- I should have to obey orders, Captain.

- Oh, so will I.

Only, I can't bear the thought of her being torpedoed.

Look, would you let me go aboard of it last time

and open sea cocks?

I'd like to finish her off myself.

- Someone told me the other day

that all sailors are incurably sentimental.

Maybe they were right.

You can go aboard her, Captain.

- That's right good of you, sir.

(levers cranking) (bells ringing)

- Well, there they go, skipper.

- Aye. Booking their way to harbor.

It's a grand feeling, Mr. Mate,

when you're taking your ship safe home to port.

I'll never know it any more.

- You'll get another ship all right, Skipper.

- [Sailor] Ahoy!

Seaflower, ahoy!

- Taking a darn long time about it.

They ought to be on that boat by now.

- Shall I tell them to hurry up, sir?

- Yes, go on.

- Seaflower, ahoy!

Get a move on!

- Well, it's gotta be done.

- Aye, Mr. Mate.

What's got to be must be.

- You go for'ard, sir, and I'll go aft.

- Yeah.

(sniffing)

Do you smell what I smell, Mister?

- Why, yes, Captain, fog.

She'll be down on us any minute now.

- Aye, the nicest piece of fog I ever tasted.

Mr. Mate, I don't think we need bother

with them sea cocks any longer.

We'll be better of on our own

than with that blasted sea circus over there.

- We're taking a great risk.

- Aye, well, we'll take it.

You stay there.

- Tell the old fool to hurry up,

this fog will be down in a minute.

- Seaflower, ahoy! Hurry up!

- Stand by with the engines, chief.

- [Sailor] Seaflower, ahoy!

- Tell him I've gone below.

- Skipper's gone below, for the log book.

Won't be a minute, sir.

- [Sailor] Seaflower, ahoy!

- Don't say a word, Mr. Mate.

We've done it. Put her astern.

(cranking) (bell ringing)

(water splashing)

- He's started his engine, sir.

He's trying to give us the slip.

- Blast him, he'll be going ahead,

I'll try and cut across his bows.

Half speed ahead together.

- Half speed ahead together.

Seaflower, ahoy! Seaflower, ahoy!

It's got pretty thick, sir.

- Yes.

- Are you thinking of reducing speed?

- No. I've got to make Position X before nightfall.

Tell them to string their fog buoys.

- Signalman.

- Seaflower, ahoy! Seaflower, ahoy!

Seaflower, ahoy!

- Oh, you'd better chuck it, Number One.

- Looks as if she's clean away, sir.

If I could get my hands around

that old so and so's neck, I'd...

♪ Stand by yer weather mainbrace an' ease away yer lee ♪

♪ Hoist (indistinct) an' let yer ships go free ♪

♪ Hurrah, boys, hurrah, we'll hymn the jubilee ♪

♪ God bless the navy but a merchant ship for me ♪

- There's something in that song, Skipper.

- There's nowt like freedom.

Well, you know, it's one of our war aims, isn't it?

♪ Stand by your weather mainbrace and hoist away your lee ♪

♪ God bless the diddly dee ♪

Here, do you hear something?

- Yes. What is it?

(rumbling)

- British merchantmen on port bow, Herr Kapitan.

- Hard a port. Slow your engines.

- Look! My god, the Deutschland.

- She's after the convoy.

- We gotta warn 'em.

That little cruiser wouldn't stand a chance against her.

Where's that blasted destroyer?

Just like the navy, they're never there when they're wanted.

Well, there's only one thing for it.

- Don't touch that, Skipper.

They'll hear it on the Deutschland.

- I can't help that, we gotta signal that destroyer.

Now, how do you spell Deutschland?

D-U-T-C... (tooting horn)

- I think she's over there, Herr Kapitan.

- Alter course and steer towards the siren.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

- On contact with merchantmen,

open fire with secondary armament.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

(horn tooting)

- Merchantmen in sight, Herr Kapitan.

- Open fire.

- Secondary armament, open fire.

(explosions blasting)

- Skipper, skipper. (groans)

- All right, Mr. Mate, leave it.

I'm right sorry I let you in for this bucket.

- Oh, well, don't talk so silly, Skipper.

- Nay, you were right.

We ought to have stuck to convoy,

but, I've always been a bit pig-headed.

- [Mate] I'd sooner sail under you than anyone, sir.

- Thanks, lad.

(artillery blasting)

She's been a good ship, Mr. Mate.

(horn tooting)

- Cease fire. - Cease fire.

- That's someone calling us.

- Must be the Seaflower, sir.

- What the hell's she doing?

Bring her up to 20 knots and steer towards the siren.

- Engine room, 200 revolutions.

(cranking) (bell ringing)

(horn tooting)

- It's Morse, sir.

- What's she saying?

- D-U-T-C-H-L...

They must mean Deutschland.

- Deutschland, that was her guns firing?

- Will you have a crack at her, sir?

- Don't be an idiot.

We've got to get to the convoy at top speed

before she does.

She'd blow the whole damn lot out of the water.

We must give them a chance to scatter.

Full speed ahead.

(horn tooting) (water splashing)

- That was good work,

but just the beginning, the hors d'oeuvres.

We can't be far from that convoy.

- I've plotted the new course, Herr Kapitan.

- Right, bring your ship around.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

- Bring her up to 20 knots.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

(thrilling music)

- Sutton, how long will it take us yet,

before we make Position X?

- I reckon about three hours, sir.

- Where the devil's that destroyer got to?

- Be here soon. The fog's lifting a bit.

- Hmm, it'll be a great deal easier

when we get this lot inside the minefields.

Thank you.

- Ah, this is better.

- Yes, Herr Kapitan.

- We should see them any moment now.

Full speed ahead.

- Yes, Herr Kapitan. Full speed ahead.

- Ship ready for action. - Very good, Herr Kapitan.

Ship ready for action.

- Signalman, make a signal to Apollo right away.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Destroyer signaling, sir.

- What's she saying?

- "Deutschland reported 12 miles to the eastward.

Approaching convoy rapidly."

- I'm going to engage the enemy.

We're three hours steaming

from the minefields and Position X.

We've got to hold her till the convoy's safely there.

Make a signal to the admiralty:

About to engage Deutschland.

Give them our position from the chart.

- Aye-aye, sir. - Signaler?

Signal Commander Martin, take charge of the convoy,

and keep her on course. - Aye-aye, sir.

- Officer of the watch, starboard 25,

steer 280 degrees, full speed ahead.

- Aye-aye, sir.

(cranking) (bell ringing)

- Action stations, Commander.

Launch number two plane for reconnaissance.

- Aye-aye, sir.

(plays bugle)

(exciting music) (propellor buzzing)

(plays bugle)

- Excuse me, sir, but has Captain Sandeman given

you permission to leave your cabin?

- No, Corporal.

- Then may I ask where you're going, sir?

- Into action. - But sir...

- Corporal Parker,

do you realize that I might interpret

that indiscreet gesture as striking a superior officer?

- Well, you wouldn't do that, sir.

- I'm not so sure.

I'll think about it.

Stand to attention, don't leave your post.

(bugle playing)

- All ready for action, sir. - Good.

- Come to report for duty, sir.

- Good lord, I'd forgotten all about you.

- Yes, sir.

May I remind you that it's usual to release all prisoners,

before a ship goes into action.

- Mr. Cranford, you can consider yourself released

for the period of our engagement with the enemy.

- Thanks very much, sir.

(chuckles)

- David, Lucy told me a lot of things.

I think I overdid it.

- I know I did, sir.

- Good luck. - Thank you, sir.

With those 11-inch guns of hers, sir,

she ought to blow us to bits, on paper.

- Fortunately, Mr. Cranford, we are not on paper,

we're at sea.

That evens up the odds a bit.

- Blimey, here she comes!

Red three-O, enemy battleship, sir.

- Bridge.

- Enemy cruiser sighted, Herr Kapitan.

- Right. Range?

- 20,000 meters, Herr Kapitan.

- Main armament, open fire.

- Gun control, main armament, open fire.

- Main armament, stand by.

- Deflection, eight right. - Deflection, eight right.

- Steady salvo. - Salvo!

(guns blasting)

(water splashing)

- Pretty good for a first go, sir.

- Not so bad.

What's the range now, Sutton?

- 18,000 yards, sir.

- Hold your fire, Hawkins. - Aye-aye, sir.

(booming)

- That was a close one, wasn't it?

- You'll get that medal yet.

Why don't we get a start and give them a basinful, sir?

- We've got to get to 15,000 yards

before we can do any good with our little Greta.

(blasting)

- Blimey, it reminds you of Guy Fawkes Day, don't it, chums?

(artillery firing)

(gasping) (screaming)

- God help them, and God help us.

- Shh, Mary, be quiet.

- I will not be quiet.

I'm after hearing one of the sailors say,

"The little cruiser doesn't stand a chance."

Why did you go away like that

and leave us with only them destroyers to look after us?

I tell you, we'll all be sunk.

- Mary Hogan, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

You haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about.

You leave this for the Navy to decide.

They know what they're doing.

- The Germans won't come and shoot at us again, will they?

- No, darling, of course they won't.

Look, here's a bit of his face.

It looks as if he's got a beard, doesn't it?

Perhaps it's Father Christmas.

(blasting)

(splashing)

- First blood to the Bosch, eh?

- Yeah, she's got the range all right, sir.

- What's the reading now?

- 17,000 yards, sir.

- Looks as though we've got to take it

for another 2,000 yards. - Yes.

- Got them again, direct hit.

- Shan't be long now, Herr Kapitan.

- Forward turret, direct hit.

- Whoa-ho, talk about haystacks, Jim.

- Yeah, I don't think even I could miss that one.

- Let's have a go at her.

- We might check her fire

and give our boys a bit of a breather.

- Concentrate on the bridge.

- Right, scout. Here she goes.

(glass shattering)

- What the hell are they swinging the ship about for?

- I can't keep my guns going.

Check fire.

- That finishes me for the day, Cary.

- All right, Jim, lets get out of here,

and I'll buy you a nice cup of tea.

- They're coming back, sir.

- Nice work.

- 15,000 yards, sir.

Thank you, Sutton.

Hawkins, you can open fire.

- Aye-aye, sir.

Open fire.

- Target's nice and clear, sir.

- Right. All guns stand by.

- Salvoes, right gun commencing.

- Right gun ready, sir.

- Salvoes, left gun commencing.

- Left gun ready, sir.

- Salvoes, right gun commencing.

- Right gun ready, sir.

- Range 149, deflection, four left, salvoes, shoot.

(blasting)

- They've begun.

(shell whistling) (explosion booms)

- Gun control?

That must've been a direct hit, Herr Kapitan,

there's no answer.

- That decides we must carry on under local control.

Get them firing as quick as you can.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

(blasting)

- You hear that, Donald? - Aye.

- There's a fight on, and it sounds like them big fellas.

- Aye.

- I would not be surprised if that's why they changed

the time of the convoy. - Aye.

- Well, there's no sign of them yet.

And they ought to be here soon.

(hook splashes)

Have I not told you that you're in the navy now,

and I'll no have that fishing on my boat?

Have ye got one? - Aye.

(blasting)

- Bill? Bill?

- It's all right, sir.

- We'll get you below, old man.

Lookout!

- Watch your back!

Put your wheel amidships.

- Pull 'em up and put your wheel amidships.

Quartermaster?

(artillery blasting)

No reply, sir.

Looks as though the voice pipe's gone.

- Ah!

- Message from the quartermaster, sir.

The ship won't answer her helm.

We think the transmission's been shot away.

- Sutton, are you all right? - Yes, sir.

- Make contact the chief.

I'll get her steady by the engines.

- All right.

- Cranford, get the aft receiving position connected up.

Organize a chain of men to relay my steering orders.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Hawkins? - Sir?

- Let the gun crew take it easy while they can.

I'm going to retire behind the smokescreen

till she's steady on the course again.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Mortimer, tell the engine room to make smoke.

- Aye-aye, sir.

(artillery blasting)

- Cup of cocoa, sir? - What?

- Yes, please, why not?

- You could do with it.

- Thank you.

- Smokescreen, Herr Kapitan.

- They're in trouble.

Keep firing into her.

She will have trouble on her course.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

- Check. - Check.

- Check fire.

- Something's gone wrong with the interjector switch, sir.

- He looks pretty bad, sir.

- How are you feeling now, Walker?

- Shocking, hurts like hell, sir.

- I'm getting him down to the sick bay.

- Oh, no, you don't!

My left arm's still all right.

No, I'd rather stay here and be a hero.

- (chuckles) All right, we'll patch you up

and leave you here.

- Still after that medal,

eh, chum? - Yeah.

- Grub up!

- Al right, boys, carry on.

- That's right, feed yer faces while you still got 'em.

- Ah!

- Sounds as if only the Deutschland is firing, sir.

I can't hear our guns.

- I don't like it.

I wish to heaven we were there with them,

instead of pottering along wet-nursing this lot.

- We'll be sighting the minefields presently.

Maybe there'll be time for us

to get back and have a go at them ourselves.

- Maybe.

(artillery blasting)

- Master-at-arms, are you ready?

- Yes, sir, all men in position.

- Pass a message to the bridge.

Tell the captain, everything under control.

- Everything under control.

- Everything under control.

- Everything under control. - Everything under control.

(explosion booms)

- How are you, chum?

- I'm all right.

Everything's under control.

- Everything under control.

- Message from Mr. Cranford.

Everything's under control, sir.

- Good. Tell him I'm leaving the smokescreen.

Tell Mr. Howard his is the only turret left in action.

He's to engage the enemy as soon as possible.

- Very good, sir.

- Any news of Commander Blount?

- He's dead, sir. - Oh!

- He asked if all goes well, would you go and see his wife.

- Tell the engine room to stop smoke.

We're going to attack again. - Aye-aye, sir.

- Tell Mr. Howard's turret to stand by.

- Right.

Shorty? - Hello, sir.

You're to engage the enemy

as soon as we leave the smokescreen.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- And you'd better shoot straight,

yours are the only guns left.

- Very good, sir.

Let's go.

- Tell the engine room to stop the smokescreen.

- Donnerwetter!

They are hard, these British.

They are attacking again.

(blasting)

(shouting) (shell whistling)

(explosion booms)

- Tell the captain there's been a direct hit

on Mr. Howard's turret.

I'm going off to investigate.

- Aye-aye, sir.

Mr. Cranford's gone up!

- Howard?

Where's Mr. Howard?

- Went below to the magazine, sir.

It's on fire.

The whole ship'll blow up in a minute, sir.

- Get that gun working again.

Shorty?

(gasping)

- I was trying to flood the magazine, sir.

(fire crackling)

(water rushing)

(coughing)

- Are you all right, sir? - Yes.

Mr. Cranford is down there.

Easy now, easy.

- Magazine, must, must, must get...

(gasping)

Hello, Shorty. - Hello, sir.

- Something I wanted to...

If I were you, old man, I wouldn't marry that girl.

Not, not your sort.

- They're waiting for you on top, sir.

There's one gun in the turret still working.

- All right, close the flood valve

and get some more cordite up.

(blasting)

- Howard's turret still out of action?

- There's a message coming along, sir.

- [Man] Right front of the aft turret ready for action, sir.

- Then what the hell is he waiting for?

Tell him to open fire as soon as he can.

I'm still engaging the enemy.

- Aye-aye, sir.

(blasting)

- They're stopping on the line.

She's still firing.

- Shall we take the new course, Herr Kapitan?

- Yes, close in.

(blasting)

(shelling stops)

- She's been silent for five minutes, Herr Kapitan.

- I think she's done.

We'll finish her now.

Steer to close in to 5,000 meters.

- Will you stop to pick up survivors?

- I have no time.

I've got to get that convoy.

(shell whistling)

(blasting)

(speaking German)

- Bridge, British battleships approaching.

(triumphant music)

(artillery blasting)

- The battle cruisers, that ends it, mein Herren.

This is no place for us.

Cease fire and steer for home at full speed.

- Well, we held her.

I think we can cease fire.

- Cease fire.

- Anybody got a handkerchief? - Here, sir.

- Thank you.

(plays bugle)

- Cease fire.

(sighs)

- Easy, boy. Come on, come on.

- (sighs) The end of a perfect day

(laughing)

(blasting)

(cheering)

- Blimey, chums, the old Deutschland is off

like a scalded cat.

Ooh, and they're giving her a pasting!

- Who's firing? - It's the big boys.

- [Patients] Hooray, hooray!

- Well, Doctor, how did we get on?

- I'm afraid you've lost some good men, sir.

(sighs)

- [Sailor] What about a bit of leave this time, sir?

- I think it's in the bag this time, lads.

- When are we gonna get home, sir?

- We'll hold church in harbor tomorrow.

Any man who's fit for leave is fit for church,

isn't he, doctor?

- That's right, sir. (laughing)

(epic music)

- A very soft job this convoy.

Nothing to do,

just steaming along with a lot of merchantmen.

- Aye.

- And they ought to come and have a spell at our job.

- Aye.

(seagulls mewing)

- Well, thank heaven we're home at last.

When I set me foot on dry land,

nothing will get me out of England again,

except when I go on me holidays, of course.

I'm just glad it's all over.

- Yes, it'll be good to be home.

- Wireless message for you, ma'am, from the Apollo.

- Leave me alone for a moment, will you, Mary?

(seagulls mewing) (waves crashing)

♪ O Trinity of love and power ♪

♪ Our brethren shield in danger's hour ♪

♪ From rock and tempest, fire and foe ♪

♪ Protect them wheresoe'er they go ♪

♪ And never let them lie to me ♪

♪ Glad hymns of praise from land and sea ♪

♪ Amen ♪

- O, eternal Lord God, be pleased to receive

into thy almighty and most gracious protection,

the persons of us, thy servants,

and the fleet in which we serve.

Preserve us from the dangers of the sea

and from the violence of the enemy.

- Hear hear. - Shut up.

- That we may be a safeguard

unto our most gracious sovereign lord,

King George and his dominions,

and a security for such as pass on the sea

upon their lawful occasions,

that the inhabitants of our empire,

may in peace and quietness serve thee our God,

and that we may return in safety

to enjoy the blessings of the land,

and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies,

to praise and glorify thy holy name

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

- Amen, amen. - Amen.

(seagulls mewing)

(triumphant music)