Original subtitles

The decisive battles of WWII are on the Eastern Front.

The Allies must get weapons and supplies to the Soviet Union.

This cargo is sent with freighters that sail in formations, convoys.

The crews are civilian seamen.

The Allies protect the convoys with a military escort.

German planes, warships and U-boats are a constant threat.

Summer 1942 Convoy route: Iceland - Murmansk

Estimated crossing time: 12 days

DAY 4

- Ready the lifeboat! - Leave that.

We haven't been hit yet.

The bridge is mine.

Lamp signal from no. 11. U-boat observed.

And more from 21.

- Any updates? - No traffic since last time.

We're dropping astern. Maintain half speed ahead.

Roger.

But I have a piston leak here.

U-boat bearing, 075 degrees.

The bridge is yours.

Only essential crew on deck.

I need tracers.

Just load it.

You should be able to do this with your eyes closed.

Yes.

- See anything? - Nothing worth firing at.

Captain!

Hard to starboard.

Submarine, starboard side!

Box!

Inspired by real events

THE ARCTIC CONVOY

DAY 5

Hi. We received a message last night.

No. 34 was the ship that was lost.

No. 21 has engine trouble and is returning to Iceland.

That was the steamship next to us.

The U-boat was hit with depth charges.

And four Heinkel planes were intercepted before reaching us.

- Good. - The Brits appear to be doing their job.

What's that stench?

- What are you doing? - My apologies.

This is our logbook.

You're making a mess!

The second radio operator is a pig. Can we replace him?

The bosun says he's the seaman who's best at Morse code.

"Pig"?

What does that mean?

What's it mean?

He may know Morse code, but he knows nothing about manners.

That little runt -

went straight from his confirmation to a radio.

- Too much cargo around the gun? - He's just being finicky.

We're moving some crates now, so he'll get his will.

Has everyone met our new first mate?

Tune that, before I toss it.

- I'm trying. - Aren't there enough cabins?

On the last convoy, a torpedo caused the gunner's cabin door to jam.

Then it's better to bunk in the mess.

Otherwise everything is normal.

With the exception of Evensen.

He has crabs.

It doesn't itch anymore.

- Excuse me, you forgot this. - Thanks.

We stayed too long in Iceland. Can't give these boys shore leave anywhere.

But it turned out to be a diversionary tactic.

The entire airbase was made out of wood, particleboard and nails. It was worthless.

Like the Norwegian armed forces.

But from the air it was a tempting target.

So the Germans are excited as the British planes approach.

But they only drop one single bomb.

And when that bomb hits the runway, -

it doesn't explode.

Then the Germans see -

that the bomb is made out of a stump.

And on that stump is written:

"You got wood!"

Why risk sending an aircraft and a pilot -

over enemy territory for something like that?

The temptation was too strong.

Any military leader wants to show the enemy he has the upper hand.

No good leader would let himself be governed by temptation.

It's irresponsible to follow random whims and not think long-term.

- You get cowardly decisions. - You talking about our prime minister?

Hemingway said: "Courage is grace under pressure."

Our prime minister has no idea what that is.

Hemingway also said war is not won by victory.

Maybe that's what the prime minister meant.

That he can choose not to join the war?

He refuses to do the job he was appointed to do.

Sent his wife and kids to Sweden and escaped to London.

Encouraged passive resistance.

People wear paper clips on their lapels and call that resistance.

Know how our prime minister drinks his coffee?

He has to use both hands.

DAY 7

Remember that guy in the galley?

Gundersen?

The one who was a little -

- slow? - Poor thing.

Couldn't tell German planes from British. Terrified, no matter what.

What do you know about the first mate?

Plenty of experience. He's been a captain.

There's something about him.

When he's alone on the bridge, I'd like to know what it is.

You're always so skeptical. Give him some time.

Any news?

Nothing.

I heard what you said to the captain.

I didn't come here straight from my confirmation.

My father taught me Morse code when I was seven.

And I've taken a radio operator course.

My plan was to become an electrician.

But I promise to do a good job.

And I won't ever eat pickled herring in here again. I promise.

What the hell does this mean?

This can't be right.

- Are you sure? - Yes.

Wait, here comes another one.

Close the door.

"The convoy is to disperse -

and proceed to Russian ports."

And then we got this one.

"The convoy is to scatter."

Are we meant to sail alone?

The escort is being withdrawn.

And there's no...

- No explanation? - No.

No indication of inclement weather.

Those damn Brits must want to use their ships elsewhere.

Yes.

There's also a third reason to disperse a convoy.

Military superiority.

If the escort doesn't stand a chance, they'll withdraw it.

Could German battleships be on their way toward us?

Yes.

The convoy will disperse in all directions eastward.

If no one is lagging behind, the entire convoy is in this approximate area.

Our biggest challenge is -

the German air bases in Northern Norway.

No matter which course we choose, we're within range of their planes.

- Why disperse? - We can't read the Brits' mind.

- Message them. - We can't. Radio silence.

Damn the radio silence! We've been betrayed here!

If I send a message now, I'll reveal everyone's position.

We hit some wreckage. We're okay.

- Are they sleeping on duty up there? - No, the fog is thick.

I'll go up.

The second telegram says nothing about continuing toward Murmansk.

Our mission is crystal clear.

Captain?

We have engine trouble. It would be wisest to return to Iceland.

We wouldn't be the first ship to turn back.

What do you think, Mørk?

- I don't know. - You don't know?

You have to have an opinion.

If I'm incapacitated, you have to make the decisions here. What say you?

I say -

we return to Iceland.

I agree.

Why?

To... avoid engine failure.

We have no stern or bridge-wing weapons.

We aren't equipped to sail alone.

And our allies who need supplies?

The Soviets? A year ago they were best buddies with the Nazis.

You're right. The British have failed us.

But we aren't failing anyone.

We'll maintain our course. That's the last thing the Germans expect.

- We can increase our speed. - No.

Half steam is the fastest we can go.

The condenser will fail if I increase the pressure.

That's enough.

It's settled.

What do we tell the crew?

No more than they need to know.

Everything is changing much too fast

If it continues like this, where will it end?

Where's the bosun?

He was on deck earlier, captain.

Captain?

The convoy has dispersed. Double the lookouts.

They're dispersing the freighters? And our escort?

They will remain, but at a further distance.

So I want to be on the safe side.

Aye, aye.

Enter.

You asked for me?

Have a seat.

I have read your papers.

You were captain on D/S Jutland.

- Yes. - And you are already back at sea.

Impressive.

Did you end up in the water?

No.

It's nothing to be ashamed of.

A little fear of water is good. Keeps us focused.

Many of the best naval officers have a fear of water.

So if you have anything to tell me, say it now.

Yes.

We were torpedoed.

But I assume you've read that.

It took 30 minutes for the ship to sink.

So we had plenty of time.

Everyone made it into the lifeboat. There were 16 of us.

You managed to keep your wits about you?

It wasn't as bad as people say.

Good.

But never share that story again.

Everyone knows a captain who has lost his ship, is bad luck.

And if fear is allowed to spread, it will spread like the plague.

I consider this ship a coffin.

Every time I step on board, -

I depart this life.

Then there's nothing more to fear.

This is the coffin lid.

DAY 8

We just got a distress signal.

Torpedoed. Everything indicates she went down.

Distress signals from four ships.

The last was no. 18.

They're going down.

It looks like all four have been hit.

What do you think?

We can still turn back.

That would be a detour, if we're going to Murmansk.

Maintain same bearing and speed. Keep me posted.

The bridge is mine.

You brought ammo into the cabin?

You can blow the whole cabin sky high!

Go sleep in the galley.

Tell Lars you have to learn to shut up before returning to the Swede's cabin.

Give me that.

What kind of a gun did you have on your last boat?

- I don't know. - You don't know?

No, I was a mess boy.

We were never anywhere near the enemy.

If you've managed to evade the enemy this long, you've been lucky.

That's one thing you can't get enough of in a place like this.

First mate?

- What is it? - Ship to port. Maintain bearing.

Could it be the tanker that sent those distress signals?

Evensen?

We're launching the lifeboat. Find the bosun.

Set course for the ship.

Are you sure about this?

Slow ahead.

I said stay the course. Why are they readying the lifeboat?

A ship is in distress. We're rescuing them.

It's illegal to stop in a convoy.

We're no longer in a convoy.

Hard to starboard.

What the hell was that?

Damn.

Mines. They've made it all the way out here.

See those mines? In between there.

Come on.

Can you confirm full stop?

That is correct. Mines dead ahead.

- How will we steer? - We aren't steering.

Find the bosun. We have to lower someone down -

to push aside the mines that come too close.

Use the youngest boys.

Lars, we need boat hooks, rope and climbing nets on the bow.

I need you, Evensen, and...

Bergvik.

Isaksen.

And you, Sigurd.

Don your life vests and get out on deck. Move!

Over the gunwale. We're still drifting forward.

Come on!

Prepare starboard side!

Sigurd?

This one is yours.

You can do it.

Just don't hit the firing pins.

Easy, easy.

Isaksen, that one is yours!

Well done.

Come on.

I've got you.

Good job.

You're OK.

Isaksen?

Here comes another one.

- Isaksen! - No!

Bring the rope! Man overboard!

Man overboard!

Get me a rope!

Isaksen!

Help him!

Isaksen, grab the rope!

Help me!

Come back!

Mørk?

Did someone fall overboard?

Skar?

The second radio operator.

We'll make it.

The bridge is yours.

Next time you want to thin the ranks, do it yourself!

- We saved the ship and the cargo. - He was a boy!

My job is to make tough decisions.

Yours was not to steer us into a minefield.

If we had held my course, he never would have ended up in the water.

Let me help you with your shirt.

Where are Isaksen's possessions?

Is this his?

And this?

No, that's Olof's.

Try to keep things tidier in here.

I need to get off this ship.

- Engine status? - Are you listening? I can't...

You listen to me!

No one is here of their own free will.

Erik, you have the most important job on board.

If the engine fails, we're done.

If you can get us to Murmansk one more time, I'll help you.

I know a doctor there.

You'll be discharged if I tell him you're sick.

OK.

Syphilis, maybe?

So, what's the status?

If we can keep it under half steam, we should be fine.

Good.

Now eat.

What are you doing here, anyway?

What do you mean?

Sweden is neutral.

They aren't part of the war effort.

There's this -

German -

wood-processing company.

In Munich.

Called Koch & Seidelman.

Ever heard of it?

They make stocks for the Mauser Karabiner 98k and other German guns.

And that wood comes from, among other places, -

a forest in Härryda, outside Göteborg.

From trees I played in as a child.

We didn't have much, but we had a small forest.

And when the Germans cut off all other trade routes...

You have to earn a living.

But no one's exactly proud of it.

So I wanted another story about my family as well.

If it were me, I would have stayed home.

I would do anything not to be here.

I need Isaksen's possessions.

Here are his books.

None of the other boys know Morse code, so you'll have to...

Fine.

There's trouble in the crew mess.

I usually send my first mate to take care of that.

If you think you can handle it.

Rumors about the escort have spread.

They deserve an explanation.

We lost a man today. Do they really need more bad news?

"A man"?

- Don't you even know his name? - I don't know any of their names.

His name was Isaksen.

And I think you should deal with this.

"Distress signal. Torpedo. Ship sinking."

"We have been bombed. Abandoning ship now."

They're sending us straight to hell without batting an eyelid!

Yes.

I have informed your crew that we no longer have an escort -

and that our captain is leading us on a goddamn suicide mission!

Listen up.

It's true that our situation has taken a turn for the worse.

That knowledge is a burden that should not rest on the crew.

You have failed in your duty.

Chosen to spread fear and anxiety.

That benefits no one.

Sit down.

Fortunately -

the bosun is wrong.

There are advantages to the convoy dispersing.

Now we can choose our own bearing and speed.

At full speed, -

no U-boat can catch us.

The Soviets are our allies. They need help.

Thousands of them die every day fighting the Germans on the Eastern Front.

Should we have it any easier?

Do you hope someone else will do your job for you?

Norway had no defense.

I was in a trench in Rena when the Germans came.

We had four rifles for 18 men. Ran out of ammo in an hour.

We didn't stand a chance and Norway was lost.

We can thank our government -

for downsizing the military and fleeing the country.

We lost a man today.

Isaksen.

But he didn't die in vain.

He died for the cargo on this ship.

If the Soviets get these reinforcements, -

they will push the Germans back.

We can give them the opportunity our fighters never got.

And this war will end.

Our contribution, -

Isaksen's contribution, makes that difference.

And that is how we will get home.

Captain?

Captain, this is no good. Assemble the officers so we can discuss...

DAY 9

Distress signal from no. 23.

It was cut off.

No coordinates.

Ragnhild, do you see what's happening? Skar's plan has gone wrong.

You may not understand all his decisions.

I'm not the only one.

Soon the crew will turn on him again.

But he listens to you.

He's crossed the Atlantic 15 times. He knows what he's doing.

He's lying to the crew, that's what he's doing.

We have received distress signals from half the ships.

- Doesn't mean they've been lost. - We need to change course.

Captain, I think we can see no. 23.

It was attacked a few minutes ago.

What's so hard to understand?

Even Ragnhild agrees. Why can't you see this is hopeless?

I've heard enough from you, you coward. All you do is whine!

You're terrified and full of crap! You only think about yourself.

- Instead of taking responsibility. - All you can say is "stay the course"!

How did things go the last time you were captain?

Exactly. If you want to save more lives than your own, stay the course.

Airplane starboard bow!

Only essential crew on deck.

Now!

Get below deck.

Move!

Lars!

Get everyone below deck!

Everyone below deck!

Go! Everyone below deck!

Move!

Come on! Everyone below deck!

Below deck!

Get below deck!

Bolt!

Pull!

Take cover!

Evensen!

Remain calm!

Find something to stop the leak!

Here, hold this!

Turn the bow toward the plane.

Flank speed!

You can't mean that.

Flank speed!

Increase the pressure!

As soon as the Swede has fired, hard to starboard!

Magazine!

Sigurd!

Fire on deck!

There's fire on the deck!

Lars! Fire on deck!

Stay down here!

Ready!

Hard to starboard!

Come on, get us around!

One more turn.

Sigurd!

Magazine!

Evensen!

Evensen, get out of there!

One more turn!

There we go.

Sigurd!

Hey!

Evensen, we have to get below deck!

- They're coming back! - Hurry, hurry!

Stay down, stay down!

Come on!

Magazine!

Come on!

Come on, Evensen!

Ready!

Get down!

Come on.

Go, go, go!

The bridge has been hit!

Bring him down to the galley.

Maintain bearing.

Where the hell is it?

It's coming around again. Hard to port!

We have to get this fragment out.

Cut his clothes.

We're giving you some morphine.

OK, hold it open.

I...

You hold him, Lars.

Steer the bow toward the plane.

Easy to starboard.

Straight now. Steady course.

Good job.

Here.

Excellent.

Scissors. Cut there.

Well done. He's sleeping now.

Ready!

Steady course!

Hold it...

Fire!

Fire!

We got it.

- We hit it? - Yes.

We got it.

Are you okay?

Yes.

Evensen?

Will he make it?

If he doesn't have internal bleeding.

- How long will the morphine last? - I don't know.

A couple hours, maybe.

Do we have more?

Yes.

I'll check his condition when he wakes up again.

No.

As long as he's unconscious, I'm in charge.

What do you mean?

We can save the entire crew.

We can return to Iceland.

- You'll be arrested. - I take full responsibility.

I want no part of this.

- You don't? - No.

- I need you on the bridge. - No.

- I need you on the bridge! - Not a chance.

The bridge!

Now.

We won't get this chance again.

Please.

I'm not giving him that shot.

Hey!

I made it very clear we can't run full steam ahead.

The captain was injured during the attack.

Will he make it?

Yes, we think so.

But he's out of commission. I'm in command for now.

- Fire up the engine. - It's dead.

We have multiple steam leaks and the propeller shaft is about to fail.

We can go slow for a few miles, -

but we need a full shutdown for 12-14 hours to get this mess working again.

Why has the engine stopped?

It needs to be repaired. The chief needs at least 12 hours.

12 hours?

I'm still receiving distress signals. I don't know how many are left.

And you want us to drift around like a sitting duck for 12 hours?

We can go a few more miles at slow speed.

What's your plan?

I don't know.

- You don't know? - No, I don't know!

I need us to stand together now.

Give me everything you've got for as long as you can.

Change course. 340 degrees.

340 degrees.

DAY 11

We lost Evensen.

The captain is seriously injured.

The engine is about to fail.

We have significant damage -

to the hull and deck.

I know this isn't what you needed to hear.

But all hope is not lost.

It isn't. We are sailing north.

Out of range of German planes.

The drift ice is so thick that U-boats are of no use.

That will give us time -

to make the necessary repairs.

So we can remain afloat.

Jesus, help me feel peace

Let me rest in your comfort...

You don't have to do this for me.

Do it for each other.

And for those waiting for us -

back home.

When Satan wants me to stray

Let me hear Your voice

One line for every downed plane. Give me your arm.

I haven't shot down any planes.

It applies to both gunner and gunner's mate. I learned that at the naval academy.

We were just attacked by two German planes and almost blown sky high.

This is a little needle.

With some ink.

Sit still.

You okay?

My mom will kill me if she sees this.

I'm sure she'll forgive you.

I got my first one -

at a tattoo parlor -

in Halifax, Canada.

The tattoo artist was shitfaced.

But so was I. So I figured, -

dammit, -

I might as well do it myself.

Now there's no longer any doubt that you have met the enemy.

To Evensen.

And Isaksen.

And Olof.

Who is Olof?

The man who had your job -

before you.

My brother.

So, nine lines.

No matter what, -

I want at least one more before this war is over.

That's just how it is.

DAY 12

The ice is too thick.

It's frozen solid.

Can't even load it.

No problem. We're far enough north anyway.

How much time do you need?

I don't know.

It'll take as long as it takes.

In the meantime we're keeping the boiler warm.

Just enough to heat the ship.

Without any visible smoke from the funnel.

Mørk?

I just wanted you to know -

that I have an agreement with the captain.

He promised that I'll get discharged as soon as we arrive in Murmansk.

No.

I wouldn't believe everything he says.

It looks like this might just work.

If the chief can fix the engine and the crew can rest, -

we may get past the North Cape without being spotted.

After that, we'll have Russian support.

I wouldn't count on that.

Why not?

I've waited for help from the Russians before.

In a lifeboat with 15 other men.

We were so close to Murmansk, -

we expected help at any minute.

Half the men froze to death the first night.

Two of them were frozen to the lifeboat. We couldn't get them overboard.

Three ships passed us the next day.

No one picked us up.

On the last ship, they stood waving on deck.

Only -

four of us survived.

We won't get any help.

We are all alone.

Maybe that's to our advantage this time.

They won't be expecting one lone ship several days after the others.

DAY 13

Skar is missing.

I'll search down here, you go up.

Skar?

How are you feeling?

You remember you were injured, right?

I remember there was trouble in the crew mess.

And that I armed myself.

Then I woke up, locked in my cabin with no gun.

I had to...

I locked it in your safe.

And I didn't want the crew to disturb you, so I locked your door.

The Swede managed to down the plane.

But the ship sustained significant damage.

And we lost a seaman.

Evensen.

I saw that.

It was surprising to look outside.

White, as far as the eye can see.

We appear to be significantly off course.

Yes, we have stopped between Spitsbergen and Hopen.

To have time to repair the engine undisturbed.

It broke down.

Mørk?

- Yes? - Another plane.

There's a plane to starboard.

Far away. Impossible to determine its course.

There's a chance it won't see us.

East of Spitsbergen is well within range of German planes.

What were you thinking?

They'll come.

Have the Swede man the gun.

It's frozen.

What?

We have three Bofors guns in the cargo bay.

Know how to use it?

A Bofors 40 mm L/60.

Swedish.

Who said Sweden doesn't contribute?

We can't get it up on deck without a crane.

We'll have to do it through the cargo hatch.

I can no longer see the plane.

But the weather is lifting.

We're too visible. They'll spot us.

- Ragnhild? - Yes.

What color was this ship before it was painted gray?

Lower the foot plate.

I found it!

White paint.

Captain, we have a load of white paint.

Permission to use it on the hull?

It will be harder to spot us if we blend in with the ice.

If that's what you need to calm your nerves, by all means.

Grab everything you can find.

We'll get one chance.

The plane has to pass right over us.

We'll be ready when it comes.

Lars?

Keep lookout. Let us know if the plane starts heading toward us.

I see a Junkers 88.

About five miles away.

It's coming toward us.

Four miles!

Fire as soon as you have a shot.

It's coming from the southeast. Turn the cannon 30 degrees to port.

Sigurd.

Stop.

If they have seen us, -

they will have reported to the other planes.

Not necessarily.

It must have.

Ragnhild?

The Germans will have communicated our position, right?

Lars, are there more planes heading our way?

Negative!

It's heading straight for us!

Positions! Move.

Move!

Lars, are there still no other planes?

No, only the one.

Three miles. Get ready.

They haven't seen us. We're camouflaged. Don't fire!

He's heading straight for us. We're firing.

Captain, I think he's right.

They would have sent more planes.

Miss, and we reveal our position.

Hit it, and we will also reveal our position.

We're sitting ducks. If they drop a bomb, we're done!

But they haven't seen us!

One mile!

- Don't fire. - Shut up!

You aren't in command of this ship!

900 meters!

Pull the trigger as soon as it's in your sights, Johan.

If you fire now, -

we're doomed.

Fire as soon as you have a chance.

The key is to know when to fire.

Lars, it's up to you!

Ready?

500 meters!

300 meters!

Three!

Two!

I think you should wait.

One!

- Now! - Fire!

Status?

The engine is ready.

It should be able to run at full steam now.

Good.

Well done.

Hm?

How are you doing?

Fine.

The engine is ready.

You should rest.

It hurts less when I'm seated.

How long have you been at sea?

Two years -

and three months.

Long time to be away from your kids.

You may not recognize them when you get back home.

They may not recognize me, either.

How old are yours?

Those aren't my kids.

Don't you recognize that little boy on the right?

That's me.

Orphanage.

My family -

is in that picture up top.

I found my family among sailors.

There's one thing you should know -

about morphine.

It works equally well just under the skin or in a muscle.

So there was no point -

in injecting it straight into my carotid artery.

Right.

I...

I would do the same thing again.

I've always thought -

one man should make the calls on a ship.

Or you'll have anarchy.

Now I'm no longer so sure.

I think I'll rest now.

Yes.

Need any help?

No.

Go ahead.

The bridge is yours, Mørk.

Yes.

Still no distress signals?

I haven't seen any planes, either.

That doesn't have to mean that we...

Thank you.

For supporting me.

I didn't support you.

I said what I thought was right.

Right.

How is he?

Last convoy, the route ran so close to the coast that I could have rowed home.

When were you home last?

Four years ago.

August, '38.

What do you think?

Iceland?

No.

You said it yourself.

No one is expecting a lone ship several days after the others.

Half speed astern.

A total of 78 arctic convoys sailed to the Soviet Union during the war.

Four million tons of war supplies were sent by this route.

Only once were the freighters scattered and the escort withdrawn.

The British feared several German warships were headed for the convoy.

This turned out to be faulty intelligence. The German ships never left Norway.

The decision to scatter the convoy is considered -

one of the greatest misjudgments of the war.

35 freighters took part in the convoy. Only 11 arrived at their destination.

But the supply lines to Murmansk and Arkhangelsk proved crucial.

In the winter of 1943 the Soviets won the Battle of Stalingrad, -

turning the tide of war.

Over 30,000 Norwegians were conscripted into the Norwegian merchant fleet.

Around 4000 never made it home.

Civilian sailors stood for Norway's most important contribution to Allied victory.