Original subtitles

(gentle music)

(triumphant music)

(birds squawking)

(chain rumbling)

(water splashes)

- [Number One] All secure, sir!

- All right, Number One!

Not a bad trip, Commander.

- We did very well, sir.

- Well, young fellow my lads,

you can count yourselves very lucky

To have helped bag a submarine on your first trip.

All I can remember about mine is being confoundedly sick.

- They looked pretty green about the gills

the first week out, sir.

- We used to call that midshipmanitis in our day.

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

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

- Anything come through 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 tolling)

- [Gates] Gangway for the red watch!

- Any more for the Sky Lark?!

- Pick up your monkeys and parrots!

- [Rating] Get your shore-going rigs out.

Driver, where's my car?!

- Well, the old mud hook's down,

Now let's hope she stays there for a bit!

- Shut up that row.

- Get ya.

♪ 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.

- [Admiral] What do you want?

- A little bit of wisdom.

Are we going to get leave?

- Oh, come on, out with it.

- [Gates] 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 this ship,

And hadn't the time nor opportunity to consummate the union.

(group laughing)

- Hey!

- Hold your noses, here comes the bootnecks.

(Knowles whistling)

Oi, where you going with those pea shooters?

- We're mustering the Jerry prisoners to go ashore.

(foot thuds) (group laughing)

- Grog oh!

- Oh! - Grog oh!

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 you?

- Come on, one, two.

Come along, comrades, four.

Come along, keep moving, keep moving.

Prisoners, march.

- [Knowles] Just a minute, Corporal.

- Halt.

What do you want, sailor?

- Let's give these poor baskets a tonne of rum.

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

- All communications 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.

(speaking in foreign language)

Stow it, Adolf.

Give the lads a chance.

Go on, it'll do you good.

- Good. - Good?

I should say it is.

Grows hair on your chest.

(group laughing)

Wunderbar.

- Yeah, you know, you fellows made a mistake

Letting those Nazis kid you.

You ought to have joined the real navy.

(group laughing)

(mug crashes)

- 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.

(birds squawking)

(car whirring)

(tyres screeching)

- Charles. - Yes, madam?

- Take a walk, will you, please?

- [Driver] Certainly.

- Steady, darling.

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

- Damn these stiff collars.

- Spit. (David spitting)

- You know, after two years

out of the service running my own show,

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

business 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 10 minutes overdue.

- Never mind, dear, Mr. Chamberlain says

it's gonna be a long war.

(steam whistle wails)

- I'm gonna miss you, darling,

Though I know you're an awful waste of time.

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

- I've lost every minute of it.

- Goodbye, my dear, look after yourself.

- Goodbye, David, and be good.

- Aye, aye, sir.

So long, my puppet.

- Goodbye.

(motorboat engine rumbling)

- Motorboat just leaving, sir.

- Oh, good.

Stand by with the 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.

- [Rating] Watch, Coxswain.

- What do you want?

- Is the oldie going ashore?

- How the hell do I know,

and what's more, if anyone asks me that again,

I'll knock his blasted block off.

- [Rating] All right, all right.

(motorboat whirring)

- Will you be going ashore, sir?

- [Tom] I don't know.

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

- [Tom] Nothing official yet.

- Will you be going into town if we do get leave, sir?

- I expect so.

- Then there's 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, but 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, sir, not exactly mine, it's my 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.

- [Tom] 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, anytime you like.

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

(knocking)

- Come.

- Lieutenant Cranford, sir.

- Who?

- Come aboard to join, sir.

- [Tom] All right, Hawkins.

- From the Admiralty, sir.

Hello, Bates, how's yourself?

- Oh, as well as can be expected.

Thank you, sir.

- Oh, 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

Must have developed a sense of humour.

- 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.

(door thuds)

Hey, Snotty.

- Huh? - What's your name?

- Howard, sir. - Mine's Cranford.

Just come aboard to join.

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.

- [Shorty] The first lord?

Do you actually know him?

- Winnie, one of my oldest friends.

Help him with his hats.

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

But 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 your so anxious about leave.

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

- Well, perhaps we can fix something.

I might take over for you.

- They'd never let you, sir.

- 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 gun room,

I'd rather keep it to myself.

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

- Three?

- Wrong, old son, four.

(group laughing)

- They're on you, Dot.

- It's a pleasure, Sandeman.

Peacock, make them 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.

- Oh, I'm glad to know you, Cranford.

- Oh, (chuckles) I'm Sandeman.

- How do you do? - This is Guns.

- How do you do? - Torps.

- How do you do? - The surgeon commander.

- How do you do? - And Dot and Carrie,

our heroes of the sky.

- I'm happy to meet you all.

- Look, here, I want-- - And to forestall

the inevitable, I haven't the slightest idea

when you're all gonna get leave.

(group 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 straight to town--

- Pancake her on top of the Ritz

and make a parachute drop straight through

into the American bar.

- With rows and rows of gleaming little bottles

And fairy lights all twinkling through 'em.

- And instead of Peacock's ugly old 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.

Give me a drink.

Beer, please, pantry.

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

- Oh, I'll give you a hand.

(knocking)

- 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, (chuckles) not at all.

What on Earth's the matter, Commander?

- Oh, it's an awkward thing to talk about.

- I thought he seemed rather a nice sort of 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, 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.

- [Dot] He didn't marry her, you mean?

- Exactly.

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

But I don't set up to be a moralist.

Still, you know what it is.

- You've got to 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 my 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.

- Thank you, sir. (door rumbles)

- [Shorty] I say, sir.

- [David] 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.

- Thanks all the same.

- Don't mention it.

Have a helmet.

- No thank you, sir.

- Another one for you, then, Jenkins.

- [Jenkins] Thank you, sir.

(triumphant trumpet music)

- Lower deck clear.

Ship's company mustered off, sir.

- Thank you, Master-at-Arms.

(birds squawking)

Lower deck cleared, sir.

Everybody aft.

Ship's company, stand at ease!

- I want to thank you all of you

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 must have split.

- Oh, pack it up.

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

- This looks good to me.

- Sounds like a week a least.

- But I don't have to remind you we're at war

And have to make sacrifices.

The orders I've 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 that 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 acting against enemy surface craft.

- That'll be 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 that 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.

- Thank you, Brandon.

- 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, see? - I been in the service

30 years and-- - Oh, shut up!

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

- Let him have his say. - I'll tell you why

there's no leave, 'cause firstly,

We sunk a blooming German submarine.

- Grub up! - And secondly,

We're due for boiler cleaning.

And thirdly, we ain't have any leave

for a long time and maybe we--

(splats loudly)

(group 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 then 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 around, 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?

- Everything, sir. - Absolutely, sir.

- 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 tub

That was running the blockade in the Spanish war, wasn't it?

- Yes, and she had that old blackguard

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, Mr. Cranford.

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

- Official or personal, sir?

- Purely personal.

You care to smoke?

- No thank you, sir.

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

- Oh, 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 even bothered to find out

If she managed to get away from Germany?

- Lucy always preferred looking after herself.

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

- Look here, sir, I thought you said

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've reason to be.

What is this, a ship or a Sunday school?

I've been treated like a leper ever since I came on board,

thanks to your influence, I've 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 other officer in this ship.

Please take these charts to the bridge.

We're sailing as six tonight.

(bell tolling)

(bell rings)

(elegant music)

- Signal just received from the Admiralty, sir.

- Read it, will you?

- "All merchantmen of the convoy reported to have left

"For rendezvous, except for Seaflower.

"Present whereabouts unknown."

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

(people 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, but 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 here,

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

Yes, Mr. Matthews, we've performed a real work of mercy.

- Yeah, 20 quid a head.

- That's beside the point.

We saved them.

(sombre music)

(man vocalising)

(singing in foreign language)

(head thuds) - Blast.

Hey, Mary.

Mary, will you 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 motorcar with you,

chased by hordes of murdering German, but now, at last,

I'm on me way to England in a British ship,

there's nothing on God's Earth

Will make me get out of the safety of me bed.

(booms loudly) (Mary yelps)

What was that?!

(people screaming)

- [Lucy] You stay here, I'll go report it.

- What was it, Captain?

- Shot across our bows.

(speaking in foreign language)

Not a light nor a sound, Mr. Mate.

Go down and stand by amidships with a neutral flag.

(speaking in foreign language)

- Can I help, Captain?

I understand German.

- What's he saying?

- He's been asking, "What ship are you,

"And where are you bound?" - Oh, you leave him to me.

(speaking in foreign language)

That's Spanish, picked it up in Bilbao.

(speaking in foreign language)

(speaking in foreign language)

(man speaks in foreign language)

- Cross your fingers, Captain, here it comes.

(speaking in foreign language)

"Carry on neutral, best wishes for a safe journey."

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

Oh, 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 can fool a pack of a square heads like that.

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

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 the old Seaflower

are not joining any convoy,

catch us tacking across the 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.

(machine beeping)

- [Rating] Message from the U37.

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

Signal to U42.

- [Rating] Very good, Herr Kapitan Leutnant.

(gentle music)

- Jolly cold, sir.

- Yeah.

Shocking weather for monkeys, Mr. Sutton.

(Mr. Sutton laughs)

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

Your relief will be here 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.

- Take it up to the bridge.

What I want is sleep.

(bosun whistles)

- Heave ho, heave ho!

Lash up and stow!

Wakey-wakey!

All the red watch!

Come on out of it.

Come on, what is in here?

- Shut up.

- Come on, show a leg here.

Come on, show a leg here, will you?

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

Come on, the red watch.

Come on, lash up and stow.

- 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, sir.

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 marvellous to talk to.

You're a man of the world,

what do you think about marriage

when a fellow's in the service?

- Oh, well, that depends.

How old is she?

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

- Uh-huh.

What does she feel about it?

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

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

But she says that'll 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?

- Yes, she did.

- Why, must give me 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.

- It's cold up here.

- This ought to warm the cockles of your heart.

- No need for them, man.

I use me imagination.

- Here they come.

(gentle music)

Bridge.

20 merchantmen on the port bow.

(device whistles)

(Tom yawns)

- Yes?

- [David] Convoy in sight, sir.

- I'll be up right away.

(yawns)

- Your cocoa, sir, I've made another lot.

- No time for it now, Bates.

Later.

Right, Mr. Cranford.

Signal the two leading destroyers to form up convoy.

Main line in advance 260.

Speed, nine knots.

- [David] Signalman.

(device clacking)

- "Form up the convoy."

Ha, he means sort out this ruddy mess.

- They look like the grand national field, sir,

Second time around.

- Better see what we can do about it.

Bring her up to 20 knots.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Engine Room!

(horn wailing)

- Scruffy looking lot, aren't they?

(Shorty chuckles)

- 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 the ropes coiled and everything trim and taunt,

and that sort of thing, sir.

- Huh.

This is a convoy, gentleman, 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,

zig-zag 20 degrees either side of mean line

Of advance every 15 minutes, first leg 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!

- Oh, I chuck it up, sir.

I can't make head or tail of it.

- Take no notice of them, Mr. Mate.

We'll play follow my leader and hope for the best.

- [Martin] Ahoy!

Are you in trouble with these signals, Skipper?!

Can we help you?!

- [Skipper] Yes, you can!

I haven't seen so many flags since the Coronation!

- [Martin] It means zig-zag!

First leg to starboard!

- Starboard your wheel.

Thanks, Captain!

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

- What's she saying, Mr. Cranford?

- All ships are in position, sir.

There's only one absentee, the Seaflower.

- Yeah, I thought as much.

- [Bates] Got your 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.

- [David] Aye, aye, sir.

(elegant music)

(speaks in foreign language)

- Here they are.

Tell the U42 to stand by.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan Leutnant.

- Yeoman of Signals, Flag Deck.

- Flag Deck.

- "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 it down to the captain myself.

SOS from the Seaflower, sir.

- Oh.

I wished that old scoundrel had obeyed orders,

then he wouldn't be in this mess.

- Shall I detach an escort destroyer to help them, sir?

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

On no account whatever must a naval vessel

be divided from the convoy.

I can't lay myself open to enemy attack.

- Very good, sir.

- They'll have to take to their boats

And trust to the destroyer patrol picking them up.

- Another SOS from the Seaflower, sir.

- Oh, all right, Chief Yeoman.

- [Yeoman] Very good, sir.

- Signalman. - What did the captain say?

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

(Shorty whistles) Make a signal,

leading destroyer.

Leave convoy, proceed immediately.

Latitude 52.30 north.

- Stand by with your torpedoes there.

- Stand by with your torpedoes.

(speaking in foreign language)

- 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 got to 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 wailing)

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 here till I send for you.

Yeoman, make a signal.

Recall the destroyer and the plane.

- [Yeoman] I can stop the destroyer, sir,

but I can't stop the plane.

- [Tom] Carry on!

- [Yeoman] 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.

(plane whirring)

- Looks as though they've abandoned her.

(gun firing)

(plane screeching)

(water splashes)

- Bravo, boys!

Good shooting!

Hello, U37!

- [Navigator] Nice work, Herr Kapitan!

Have the convoy made any reply to the SOS?!

- Not yet!

Keep a sharp look out!

- Did you save anyone from the plane?

- They were dead before they hit the water, madam.

- Poor devils.

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

- Ah, the women and kids you shelled and wounded

In my ship weren't part of our navy.

- You should have 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.

(dial clacks)

(device clicking)

(machine beeping)

(gun fires)

(gun clacks)

(gun fires)

- 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.

(gun firing)

- Sir, intercepted SOS from the Seaflower.

(gun fires) (explosion booms)

(explosion drowns out speaker)

- Number One, full speed ahead, hard a-starboard.

Steer 100 degrees.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Full speed ahead, hard a-starboard.

(bell rings)

- Keep on signalling.

- There will be no reply.

- You British are always telling the rest of the world

how humane your sailors are,

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

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

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

- What do you mean?

- My submarine isn't a 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 no boats for 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

Told 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 ran 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 endeavours

"For serving my country faithfully.

"To him, I resign myself,

"And the just cause entrusted to me defend.

"Amen."

- That 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.

(speaking in foreign language)

- [Rating] British destroyer approaching.

- Destroyers?

It can't be from the convoy yet.

British patrol destroyers!

Stand by to take us off!

- [Officer] Very good, Herr Kapitan!

- [Commander] Tell them to batten down the forward hold.

(speaking in foreign language) - But you can't sink

women and children like that.

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

- You are wrong, Captain.

Your destroyers will have all their work

cut out picking up survivors,

While we attack them and then get away.

- Come up on deck right away.

Batten down the hold.

(group speaking in foreign language)

(group chattering)

- [Rating] Batten down the hatch.

(women screaming)

(thudding loudly)

- [Lucy] Kick the lock.

(kick thuds) (people screaming)

- Here, the 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.

(footsteps pattering)

- What's the range?

- 7,000 yards, sir.

- Right. Open fire.

- Right, sir.

Open fire!

(cannon fires)

(water splashes)

(cannon fires)

(water splashes)

(cannon firing) (water splashing)

(group yelling) (group cheering)

- [Matthews] Come on, the Navy, give them hell!

(water splashes)

(explosion booms)

(water splashing)

(explosion booms)

(explosion booms)

(group cheering)

- Hey, that's a go...

(elegant music)

(gentle clicking)

- Merchantmen with destroyer escort on the starboard bow.

- [Sutton] North Sea patrol say they're bringing in

The Seaflower to join the convoy.

They've 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 the sickbay ready.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- Howard. - Sir.

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

and give him a message.

- Very good, sir.

- Morning, sir. - Morning, Parker.

Your patients are coming aboard now, sir.

- Oh, thank you, Shorty.

- [David] Ah, the midshipman of the watch.

- Hello, sir.

I've a message for you from the captain.

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

- The captain said I was to tell you

that the Seaflower has 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, my 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 going to get properly married.

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

(knocking)

- Time for our little trot round, Cranford.

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

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

- That's all right, Mrs. Armitage,

but be careful with it for the 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 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.

- I feel all right.

- Maybe, but I've got to find out

Whatever that's a fracture or not.

You'll have to stay on board for a bit.

(bandage scratches) - Hey!

- How's all the family, Bates?

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

- Congratulations. - And the captain's promised

to stand godfather.

- Good.

(door thuds)

How are you, Tom?

- Hello, Lucy.

(laughs)

- I've been worrying about you

Ever since this awful war started.

Has Bates been looking after you properly?

- Of course he has.

Can find 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 have got a bit of a shock when you found out

I was in the Seaflower.

- I had.

Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one.

- [Lucy] Oh?

- David Cranford's in this ship.

- David?

- Yeah.

- Must have 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 wrong, David didn't leave me.

- What are you talking about?

- Well, it just didn't work out,

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

- I don't understand you people.

Run away together, make me look a damn 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 hang about you.

But when he hears you're in a spot of trouble,

he tries to send half the British fleet

to get you out of it.

All he does is to get himself court-martialed.

God.

- Did David do that for me?

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

- I can do nothing about it.

It's out of our 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)

- Oh, maybe you're right.

It's queer, Lucy, how I 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.

It's when I go ashore, Lucy, oh, I don't know,

sitting about in clubs, buying evening papers,

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 everybody else's inefficiency.

At a permanent loose end, just waiting for the moment

when you could get back to your ship.

- Well, 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.

- Oh, no, Mrs. Armitage.

You're not staying in my ship.

- Hey, 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 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.

- Oh, that's a grand idea.

- Could 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.

- Another of my gestures, Lucy, dashing but ineffective.

- You always were a lunatic.

- Yeah.

- [Both] Well...

- Well, there's a party waiting for you.

Goodbye, my dear.

- Goodbye, David.

Good luck.

- [Harvey] Time's up, Cranford.

- Yes.

- [Announcer] Here is our news in English.

A successful attack has just been launched

By our gallet U-boats against the British North Sea convoy.

It is firmly established that many vessels

Were sunk and damaged.

The convoy itself dispersed and thrown in confusion,

while the surviving warships are still being actively hunted

By our indomitable U-boats.

An eye witness 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 war monger,

First lord of the Admiralty, W. Churchill, Esquire.

- Sunk my ship?

The ruddy liar.

- [Announcer] Finally, it is believed

that the flagship Apollo herself has been torpedoed

And sunk with the loss of all hands.

Further report-- (dial clicks)

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

(group laughing)

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

Back to the ruddy mess decks.

- This fellow's a regular Annanias.

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

- We don't take any notice of him.

- Poison gas?

Once had a cargo of fertiliser,

I'll admit that whiffed a bit.

(group chuckling) (man whistles)

- B and Y turrets close up!

B and Y turrets close up!

(whistles loudly) - What's up this time,

Bosun's mate?

- I don't know, but the old man

Must be expecting a bit of trouble.

Oh, Skipper, the captain would like to talk to you

In his sea cabin.

- Me, oh, all right. - Yeah.

- Anything serious, sir?

- I've just had a signal from the Admiralty.

Things are looking up.

They've information one of these pocket battleships

has slipped through the cordon on a raid.

- After us? - Yeah.

- We might have some fun, then.

- I don't think they want us to.

They're making their dispositions now.

They're sending out operation orders.

- [Announcer] 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 operation to aircraft carrier Aquila.

Admiralty operations to aircraft carrier Aquila.

Locate enemy battleship attempting raid on North Sea convoy.

Admiralty operations to aircraft carrier Aquila.

Admiralty operations to minesweeper flotilla, position X.

North Sea convoy due position X two hours earlier.

Sweep entrance to minefield before 18:00 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 the new course in a few minutes.

- Aye, aye, sir.

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

- Aye, aye, sir.

Come right in, Captain.

- [Tom] Please take off your cap in my cabin.

- Captain Armitage,

I hear you've shifted passengers from my ship.

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

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

She's subject to my orders.

I want you to understand that.

- I suppose so.

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

- I 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 a raider out.

Had orders from the Admiralty

To alter course and increase speed.

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 this will ruin me. - There can be no argument.

I'm detailing a destroyer

To take off her crew and torpedo her.

- Captain Armitage, I've been master of the 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, will you let me go aboard her for the last time,

and open the seacocks?

I'd like to finish her off myself.

- Someone told me the other day that all sailors

Were incurably sentimental.

Maybe they were right.

You can go aboard her, Captain.

- That's right good of you, sir.

(bell ringing)

- Well, there they go, Skipper.

- Aye, bucking their way to harbour.

It's a grand feeling, Mr. Mate,

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

I'll never know it anymore.

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

- [Number One] Seaflower, ahoy!

Seaflower, ahoy!

- Taking a darn long time about it.

They ought to be in their boats by now.

- Shall I tell them to hurry up, sir?

- Yes, go on.

- [Number One] Seaflower, ahoy!

Get a move on!

- Well, it's got to be done.

- Aye, Mr. Mate.

What's got to be must be.

- You go forward, sir, and I'll go aft.

- Aye.

(Eckersley sniffing)

Do you smell what I smell, mister?

- Why, yes, Captain, fog.

She'll be down on us any minute.

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

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

With them seacocks any longer.

We'd be a sight better off on our own

Than with that blasted sea circus over there.

- We're taking a great risk, Skipper.

- Oh, well, we'll take it.

You stay there.

- Tell the old fool to hurry up.

This fog will be down any minute.

- Seaflower, ahoy!

Hurry up!

- Stand by with your engines, Chief.

- [Number One] Seaflower, ahoy!

- Tell him I've gone below.

- Skipper's gone below, for the logbook!

Won't be a minute, sir!

- [Number One] Seaflower, ahoy!

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

We've done it.

Put her astern.

(bell ringing)

(water splashing)

- He's started his engines, 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.

- [Number One] 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 stream their fog buoys.

- Signalman.

- [Number One] Seaflower, ahoy!

Seaflower, ahoy!

Seaflower, ahoy!

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

- [Number One] Look as though she's clean away, sir.

- [Martin] If I could get my hands around

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

♪ Stand by your weather mainbrace, ease away your lee ♪

♪ Hoist your jib halyards and let your sheets go free ♪

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

♪ God bless the Navy, but a merchant ship for me ♪

- Oh, there's something in that song, Skipper.

- There's naught like freedom.

It's one of our war aims, isn't it?

(Eckersley chuckles)

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

♪ God bless da diddle dee dee, dee dee ♪

Hey.

You hear something?

- Yes.

What's that?

(soft rumbling)

- [Officer] British merchantmen on port bow, Herr Kapitan.

- [Commander] Hard a-part.

Slow your engines.

- Look!

By god, the Deutschland.

- She's after the convoy.

- We've got to warn them, that little cruiser

Wouldn't stand a chance against her.

Where's that blasted destroyer?

Just like the Navy, 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.

- Can't help that, we've got to signal that destroyer.

How do you spell Deutschland?

- D. (horn wailing)

U. (horn wailing)

T. (horn wailing)

C. (horn wailing)

- 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.

- Merchantmen in sight, Herr Kapitan.

- Open fire.

- [Officer] Secondary armament, open fire.

(cannon fires)

(water splashes)

(cannon fires)

(water splashes)

(cannon fires)

(explosion booms)

(cannon fires)

(explosion booms)

(cannon fires)

- Skipper.

Skipper.

- It's all right, Mr. Mate.

Leave it.

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

- Oh, 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.

- [Matthews] I'd sooner sail under you than anyone, Skipper.

- Thanks, lad.

(cannon fires)

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

(cannon fires)

(horn wailing)

(cannon fires) (explosion booms)

- Cease fire.

- [Officer] Cease fire.

- That's someone calling us.

- It must be the Seaflower, sir.

- What the hell's she doing?

Bring her up 20 knots and steer towards the siren.

- [Number One] Engine Room.

200 revolutions.

(bell rings)

(horn wailing)

- It's Morse, sir.

- What's she saying?

- D-U-T-C-H-L,

they must mean Deutschland.

- Deutschland?

That was her guns firing.

- [Number One] 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 can blow the whole damned lot out of the water.

We must give them a chance to scatter.

Full speed ahead.

(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 the ship around.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

- Bring her up to 20 knots.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

(dramatic 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, fog's lifting a bit.

- Hm, I'll be a great deal easier

When we've got 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.

- [Signalman] Aye, aye, sir.

(device clacking)

- Destroyer signalling, 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.

Got to hold her till the convoy's safely there.

Make a signal to the Admiralty.

Am about to engage Deutschland.

Give them our position from the chart.

- Aye, aye, sir. - Signaler.

Signal Commander Martin to take charge of the convoy

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

- Officer of the Watch, starboard 25,

Steer 030 degrees, full speed ahead.

- Aye, aye, sir.

(bell rings)

- Action stations, Commander.

Launch number two plane for reconnaissance.

- Aye, aye, sir.

(lively trumpet music)

(plane whirring)

(dramatic music)

(lively trumpet music)

- 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 realise that I might interpret

That indiscreet gesture as striking a superior officer?

- You wouldn't do that, sir.

- I'm not so sure, I'll think about it.

Stand to attention, don't leave your post.

(lively trumpet music)

- 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.

(Tom chuckles)

- David, Lucy told me a lot of things.

I think I overdid it.

- I know I did, sir.

- Good luck.

- Thank you, sir. (Tom chuckles)

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 3-0, enemy battleship, sir.

- Bridge.

- Enemy cruiser sighted, Herr Kapitan.

- Right.

Range?

- 20,000 metres, Herr Kapitan.

- Main armament, open fire.

- Gun Control, main armament, open fire.

- Main armament, stand by.

- Deflection eight right.

- Steady, salvo.

- Salvo!

(cannons firing)

(water splashing)

(explosion booms)

- Good for a first go, sir.

- Not so bad.

What's the range now, Sutton?

- 13,000 yards, sir.

- Hold your fire, Hawkins.

- Aye, aye, sir.

(cannons firing)

(cannons firing)

(explosion booms) (water splashing)

(explosion booms)

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

- You'll get that medal yet.

When are we going to 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.

(explosion booms)

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

(explosion booms) (people chattering)

- God help them, and God help us.

- Shh, Mary, be quiet.

- I will not be quiet. - Look, silly.

- And after hearing one of the sailors say

The little cruiser doesn't stand a chance.

Why did she go away like that and leave us

With only them destroyers to look after us?

I tell you, we'll all get sunk.

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

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

You leave this to the Navy to decide.

They know what they're doing. (explosion booms)

- The Germans won't come and shoot 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.

(cannons firing)

(explosion booms) (water splashing)

- First blood to the Boche, eh?

- Yes, it's got the range all right, sir.

- What's the reading now?

- 17,000 yards, sir.

- Looks as if we've got to take it for another 2,000 yards.

- [Tom] Yes.

(cannons firing)

(explosion booms) (water splashing)

- [Officer] Got them again, direct hit.

- Shan't be long now, Herr Kapitan.

- Forward turret, direct hit.

(cannons firing)

(plane whirring)

- Oh, ho, ho!

Talk about haystacks, Jim!

- Yeah, I don't think even I could miss this 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 cock, here she goes!

(cannons firing)

(cannons firing)

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

- I can't keep my guns going.

Check fire.

(plane whirring)

(cannons firing)

- That's finishes me for today, Carrie!

- All right, Jim, let's get out of here.

I'll buy you a nice cup of tea.

- They're coming back, sir.

- Nice work.

- 15,000 yards, sir.

- Thank you, Sutton.

Hawkins. - Sir?

- You can open fire.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Open fire!

- Target's nice and clear, sir.

- Right, all guns stand by.

- Salvos, right gun commencing.

- Right gun ready, sir.

- Salvos, left gun commencing.

- Left gun ready, sir.

- Salvos, right gun commencing.

- Right gun ready, sir.

(device clacking)

- Range 149, deflection four left, salvos shoot!

(cannons firing)

- [Officer] They've begun.

(explosions booming)

- Gun Control!

That must have been a direct hit, Herr Kapitan.

There's no answer.

- Tell the turrets, we must carry on under local control.

Get them firing as quick as you can.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

(cannons firing)

(explosion booms)

- [MacGregor] You hear that, Donald?

- Aye.

- There's a fight on.

And it sounds like the big fellows.

- Aye.

- I wouldn't be surprised

If that's why they changed the time of the convoy.

- [Donald] Aye.

- There's no sign of them yet,

And they ought to be here soon.

(water splashes) Have I not told you

that you're in the Navy now,

And I'll no have that fishing in my boat.

Have you got one?

- Aye.

(cannons firing)

(explosions booming)

- Bill.

Bill!

- It's all right, Tom.

- We'll get you below, old man.

Look out! (explosion booms)

(explosions booming)

What's the matter, put your wheel amidships.

- Quartermaster, put your wheel amidships!

Quartermaster, put your wheel amidships!

No reply, sir.

Looks as though the voice pipe's gone.

- Message from the quartermaster, sir.

Ship won't answer her helm.

We think the transmission's been shot away.

- Sutton!

Are you all right?

- Yes, sir. - Make contact with the chief.

I'll get her steady by the engines.

- Aye, aye, sir. - Cranford.

Get the after steering position connected up.

Organise a chain of men to relay my steering orders.

- Aye, aye, sir.

(explosions booming)

- Hawkins! - Sir?

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

I'm going to retire behind a smoke screen

till she's steady on her course again.

- Aye, aye, sir. - Mortimer.

- Sir? - Tell the engine room

To make smoke. - Aye, aye, sir.

(explosion booms)

(loud thudding)

- Cup of cocoa, sir?

- What?!

Yes, Bates, why not?

- Aye, you can do with it.

- [Tom] Thank you.

- Smoke screen, Herr Kapitan.

- They're in trouble.

Keep firing into her.

She'll have doubled on her course.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

(cannons firing)

(explosion booms)

- [Officer] Check, check!

- Check fire.

(coughing drowns out speaker)

- He looks pretty bad, sir.

(Walker breathing loudly)

- How you feeling now, Walker?

- Shocking, hurts like hell, sir.

- I'll get him below to the sickbay, sir.

- Oh, no, you don't.

My left arm's still all right.

Now, I'd rather stay here, and be a hero.

- All right, we'll patch you up and leave you here.

- Still after that medal, eh, chum?

- Yeah. - Grub up!

- All right, boys, carry on.

- That's right.

Feed your faces while you still got 'em.

- Ah.

(cannons firing)

- Sounds as if only the Deutschland's firing, sir.

I can't hear our guns.

- Don't like it.

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 will be time for us to get back

and have a go at them ourselves.

- Maybe.

(explosions booming)

- [David] 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. (explosion booms)

- Everything under control.

(sparks crackling)

- Everything under control.

(explosions booming)

- [Rating] How are you, chum?

- I'm all right.

- Everything's under control.

(explosions booming)

- [Rating] Everything under control.

- Message from Mr. Cranford.

Everything's under control, sir.

- Good.

Tell him I'm leaving the smoke screen.

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

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

- Very good, sir.

(explosion booms)

- Any news of Commander Blount?

- He's dead, sir.

- Oh. - He asked, if all goes well,

will you go and see his wife?

- Tell the engine room to stop smoke.

We're going to attack again.

- [Mortimer] Aye, aye, sir.

(explosions drown out speaker)

- Mr. Howard's turret to stand by.

- Right.

Shorty!

- Hello, sir!

- [David] You're to engage the enemy

As soon as we leave the smoke screen.

- Aye, aye, sir.

- And you'd better shoot straight,

yours are the only guns left.

- Very good, sir.

- [David] Tell the engine room to stop the smoke screen.

(speaks in foreign language)

- They are hard, these British.

They are attacking again.

(cannons firing)

(explosions booming)

(screeching drowns out speaker)

(explosion booms) (metallic clattering)

- Tell the captain there's been a direct hit

on Mr. Howard's turret.

I'm going aft to investigate.

- Aye, aye, sir.

Mr. Cranford's gone aft!

- Howard!

Where's Mr. Howard?

- Went below to the magazine, sir.

- [Gates] It's on fire, sir.

- Whole ship will go up in a minute, sir.

(explosion booms)

(fire crackling)

- Get that gun working again.

Shorty.

(Shorty coughing)

- I was trying to flood the magazine, sir.

(Shorty coughing)

(fire crackling)

(water splashing)

(Shorty coughing)

- [Master-at-Arms] Are you all right, sir?

- Yes.

Mr. Cranford, he's down there.

Easy now, easy.

- Magazine, must get, (mumbling).

Hello, Shorty.

- [Shorty] Hello, sir.

- Listen, there's something I want to tell you.

If I were you, old man,

I wouldn't marry that girl,

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.

(cannons firing) (explosions booming)

- Howard's turret still out of action?

- There's a message coming along, sir.

- [Yeoman] Right gun of the after turret

ready for action, sir!

- Then what the hell's he waiting for?!

Tell him to open fire as soon as he can!

I'm still engaging the enemy.

- Aye, aye, sir.

(cannons firing)

(explosion booms)

(speaking in foreign language)

- She's still firing.

- Shall we steer a new course, Herr Kapitan?

- Yes! Close in!

(cannons firing)

(explosions booming)

(cannons firing)

(explosion booms)

(cannons firing)

(explosions booming)

(cannons firing)

(explosion booms)

- 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 metres.

- Will you stop to pick up survivors?

- I've no time.

I've got to get that convoy. (high-pitched screeching)

(explosions booming)

(speaking in foreign language)

- Bridge.

British battleships approaching.

(triumphant music)

(cannons firing)

(explosion booms)

- The battle cruisers.

That ends it, (speaking in foreign language).

This is no place for us.

Cease fire and steer for home at full speed.

(cannons firing) (high-pitched screeching)

(explosion booms)

- Well, we held her.

I think we can cease fire.

- Cease fire!

- Anybody got a handkerchief?

- Yes, sir.

- Thank you.

(lively trumpet music)

- Cease fire.

(Shorty sighs)

- Easy now. (Walker sighs)

- Come on, come on.

- The end of a perfect day.

(both laugh)

(cannons firing)

(group cheering)

(explosion booms)

(cannons firing)

- Blimey, chums, the old Deutschland's off

Like a scolded cat.

Oh, aren't they giving her a pasting.

- Who's firing?

- It's the big boys.

- [Group] Hooray!

Hooray!

- Well, Doctor, how did we get on?

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

(Tom sighs)

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

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

- When are we gonna get home, sir?

- We'll hold church in harbour tomorrow.

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

isn't he, Doctor?

- That's right, sir. (group laughing)

(elegant music)

- Very soft job this convoying.

Nothing to do.

Just steaming along with a lot of merchantmen.

- Aye.

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

- Aye.

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

When I set me foot on dry land,

nothing will get me out of England again,

Except to go home for me holidays, of course.

Aren't you glad it's all over?

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

- [Skipper] Wireless message for you, ma'am,

from the Apollo.

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

♪ O, O trinity of love and power ♪

♪ Our brethren's shield in danger's hour ♪

♪ From rock and tempest, fire and foe ♪

♪ Protect them wheresoe'er they go ♪

♪ And ever let their rise to thee ♪

♪ 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. - Shut it.

- That they may be a safeguard

unto our most gracious sovereign lord, King George,

and his dominions and a security for such as pass

on the seas 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.

- [All] Amen.

(triumphant music)