Movies and Films
This is the forum for Movie and Film discussions. Again, our topic is naval warfare in WWII for the most part.
Things I learned about submarines and submarine warfare from the movies
Posted by:
Daryl carpenter
()
Date: February 11, 2005 12:25AM
Something I whipped up years back and felt the need to revisit. Add your own if you want 
1. A typical boomer crew will be "on edge" by the 10th day of a 70-day voyage.
2. The Best way to avoid an enemy submarine is to get really close to it, blasting it with active sonar.
3. If sighted by a destroyer by the surface, the appropriate plan of action is to move in front of it and attack.
4. Destroyers will not notice the submarine barreling towards them at flank speed in broad daylight. Unless the ship they are escorting explodes. When that happens, they
MAY notice you.
5. Russian submarines has grapple bars on the ceiling, in case it's sinking to it's doom.
6. A submarine's nuclear reactor is usually four-feet wide, and consists of 20 metal bars in a box.
7. German U-boats had cozy lounges.
8. If you're in a vicious depth charge attack, it's okay to lay down in the forward torpedo room underneath a torpedo.
9. German Steam-powered torpedoes had the explosive yield of a quantum torpedo.
10. If you're onboard a foreign submarine, run around screaming like a Girl "it's all in German/Russian/etc.!"
11. Russian torpedoes have seeker heads that can "see" 2 1/2 degrees to either side.
12. Ohio-class submarines carry enough small arms and bullet-proof vests aboard for an entire platoon.
13. Passive sonar can hear right through the back of the submarine moving at full speed.
14. In order to badly damage a U-boat, you'd need a 20,000 pound bomb to explode within 15 feet of it.
15. Russian submarines are not equipped with fire detectors or sprinklers.
16. Standard "quiet operating" procedures excludes "Boom Box cranked up to 10."
17. You can disguise an American submarine as a U-boat by painting a giant Swastika on it. The Germans will not be fooled by this never-used marking.
18. While on the surface, the commander will boast about how "nobody will detect us now!"
19. Research submarines typically carry enough nuclear weapons to destroy 150 cities.
20. Modern submarines have really big, fully equipped washrooms.
21. You can fix any damage in a submarine by turning a valve. Pressure hull smashed in? Just turn that valve!
22. You don't need a range, course, or speed to fire an unguided torpedo. Just a bearing.
23. A two-ton torpedo can be reloaded manually in about five minutes.
24. 85% of all sinkings by U-boats in WWII resulted in the survivors being killed in a machine gun massacre.
25. The Commander is usually between the age of 50 and 65.
26. Naval regulations state that the Captain and XO MUST hold a grudge against each other.
27. Modern passive sonar displays look like '40s radar screens.
28. Lightbulbs have 500 watts of current surging through them.
29. Depth Charges can crack you spine and knock your teeth out.
30. Chrome plating is stylish and functional.
31. "Test Depth" is merely a suggestion.
1. A typical boomer crew will be "on edge" by the 10th day of a 70-day voyage.
2. The Best way to avoid an enemy submarine is to get really close to it, blasting it with active sonar.
3. If sighted by a destroyer by the surface, the appropriate plan of action is to move in front of it and attack.
4. Destroyers will not notice the submarine barreling towards them at flank speed in broad daylight. Unless the ship they are escorting explodes. When that happens, they
MAY notice you.
5. Russian submarines has grapple bars on the ceiling, in case it's sinking to it's doom.
6. A submarine's nuclear reactor is usually four-feet wide, and consists of 20 metal bars in a box.
7. German U-boats had cozy lounges.
8. If you're in a vicious depth charge attack, it's okay to lay down in the forward torpedo room underneath a torpedo.
9. German Steam-powered torpedoes had the explosive yield of a quantum torpedo.
10. If you're onboard a foreign submarine, run around screaming like a Girl "it's all in German/Russian/etc.!"
11. Russian torpedoes have seeker heads that can "see" 2 1/2 degrees to either side.
12. Ohio-class submarines carry enough small arms and bullet-proof vests aboard for an entire platoon.
13. Passive sonar can hear right through the back of the submarine moving at full speed.
14. In order to badly damage a U-boat, you'd need a 20,000 pound bomb to explode within 15 feet of it.
15. Russian submarines are not equipped with fire detectors or sprinklers.
16. Standard "quiet operating" procedures excludes "Boom Box cranked up to 10."
17. You can disguise an American submarine as a U-boat by painting a giant Swastika on it. The Germans will not be fooled by this never-used marking.
18. While on the surface, the commander will boast about how "nobody will detect us now!"
19. Research submarines typically carry enough nuclear weapons to destroy 150 cities.
20. Modern submarines have really big, fully equipped washrooms.
21. You can fix any damage in a submarine by turning a valve. Pressure hull smashed in? Just turn that valve!
22. You don't need a range, course, or speed to fire an unguided torpedo. Just a bearing.
23. A two-ton torpedo can be reloaded manually in about five minutes.
24. 85% of all sinkings by U-boats in WWII resulted in the survivors being killed in a machine gun massacre.
25. The Commander is usually between the age of 50 and 65.
26. Naval regulations state that the Captain and XO MUST hold a grudge against each other.
27. Modern passive sonar displays look like '40s radar screens.
28. Lightbulbs have 500 watts of current surging through them.
29. Depth Charges can crack you spine and knock your teeth out.
30. Chrome plating is stylish and functional.
31. "Test Depth" is merely a suggestion.
Things I learned about submarines and submarine warfare from the movies