Contact bearing 270 degrees.
Fading.
Right full rudder.
Rudder is full right.
To 90 degrees.
Shit!
Second propeller sounds, 76 degrees. Closing fast!
Reinforcements.
Those bastards!
Deeper.
Deeper still.
Bow down 10.
Stern up 7.
190 meters.
200 meters.
210 meters.
220 meters.
230 meters.
The bolts! They`re bursting!
Keep the boat from dropping! Up 10 meters!
All ahead one-half!
Quiet, men, quiet.
Go to 150 meters! All ahead full !
Port 20!
Steer 50 degrees!
Pretty good shootin`, Mister.
Quiet, damn it!
l want proper damage reports!
Permission to check diesel?
Take over the helm!
Gaskets! Half-inch, hurry!
Where are you?
l need those gaskets!
Torpedo hatch taking water!
Tools! Hurry!
The more they throw, the sooner they run out.
Leakage above exhaust vent repaired.
150 meters, all ahead full.
What`s the matter?
Return to your battle station.
At once!
Pull yourself together!
Back!
Go back, Johann.
Take him aft, quickly!
He`s gone, Captain.
Why Johann, of all people?
Despicable.
Shameless.
Forget the headset. We can hear it anyway.
Come on, let`s go!
Boat dropping!
190 meters!
220 meters!
We`re drowning!
Take this down for your log book.
After 6 hours of silent run...
...it seems certain...
...the enemy destroyers lost us.
At 210 degrees...
...very heavy fire blazing.
Assume it to be the tanker we hit.
Surface in 10 minutes.
See, Lieutenant...
They didn`t kill us after all.
Her backbone is broken.
Damn tough ship, won`t drown.
Let`s get to it.
Target optics to bridge.
9 Coup de grâce. Flood tube 1.
Enemy movement nil.
Range: 650 meters.
Depth 4, torpedo speed 30.
Target point... directly before aft mast.
Tube 1 ready.
Fire!
Men still on board!
Why weren`t they rescued?
Damn it!
After all these hours!
They`re swimming for us.
All back one-half!
Can l clear this?
Radiograms.
Read them.
''Three freighters sunk. Convoys dispersed.
Lost contact.
ln pursuit at 30 degrees.''
From U-112.
That`s Wenzel.
Not bad.
Kupsch pursuing same convoy.
Stackmann hit a 6000 tonner.
Quite a battlefield.
Can we get there?
Difficult.
At least 5 hours away.
Our fuel--
-We couldn`t do 5-- -All right, already!
When do we turn back?
When l give the order...
...Navigator!
''Fired at 950 meters. Targeted aft mast.
Crew, assumed rescued, was still on board.
Survivors swam toward U-96.'`
l want to apologize.
You can`t just apologize.
You left your battle station at a critical time.
Also, you disobeyed my order.
Will l be court-martialed?
How many war patrols for you?
lt`s my ninth.
You, of all people, Johann.
lt`s never happened before.
My nerves cracked somehow.
lt won't happen again. You can count on me.
l swear.
All right, Johann.
No court martial?
Go on to bed.
''U-96 with drew from survivors.
Decision : return to base 0700.``
2nd Officer!
You`ll fix it.
lt`s the bulkhead conduit.
lt`ll work.
Morning.
Get moving, signal to decode.
More top secrets.
Another special goose chase.
Not us.
We`re ready for the wharf.
And the fuel... We won`t even make La Rochelle.
-The last 100 miles-- -We`ll set sail.
We`ll be all right, Chief.
How`s it coming?
What you got?
''For Captain`s Eyes Only.``
That`s a first.
Triple coded.
Yeah! Christmas in La Rochelle!
Gonna get laid again!
All of those sexy nurses...
...hot telephone operators... all those warm bodies!
Screwing like mad!
A nice, slow afternoon fuck.
Aftention!
Our master`s voice!
La Rochelle`s out.
We've been ordered fo a new port.
La Spezia...
...in fhe Mediterranean.
Fuel and provisions ouf of Vigo first.
That`s in Spain.
That is all.
Those bastards stuck it to us!
Shit!
No getting laid.
No sexy nurses. No hot telephone operators.
Horse shit!
Christmas with the Macaronis!
Got to get there first, stupid!
What do you mean?
Gibraltar!
Stick a finger up your ass to get the idea!
lt`s as tight as a virgin.
We`ll need Vaseline to get through.
The Mediterranean.
They`re nuts.
lt`s swarming with English combat ships.
Stand by for calculations!
Zero...
25 degrees, 43.3 minutes.
Gibraltar.
Excellent prospects for drowning.
You and the Chief will go ashore in Vigo.
How`s that?
l`ll radio it in a minute.
l`ll have to find a replacement for the Chief.
They`ll smuggle you through Spain somehow...
...even if you have to dress like gypsies.
-But I was on for the whole-- -No heroics!
lt`s already settled.
One guy alone would be tough.
We`ve got agents to get you through.
Chief`s wife is very ill.
He`s got to go ashore.
Aye, aye, sir.
Pretty bad, huh?
l`m going ashore at Vigo...
...with the Chief.
Captain`s orders.
Want me to take your letters?
But it`s a big pile.
Well, it`s a big love, right?
Equalize pressure.
All quiet!
White light.
Watch where you stomp.
Quiet, man !
We`ve got to find the right tub here.
The ''Weser``...
...a German merchant vessel, is interned here.
With a bellyful of torpedoes, fuel and provisions.
Just for us.
Yeah, 1st class service.
Starboard engine stop.
We`ve arrived.
Port engine stop.
Officers to bridge.
Watch out on deck.
Gentlemen!
We welcome our heroic German U-boat crew.
A wholehearted welcome...
...Captain!
No, please...not me.
This is the Captain.
My apologies.
Welcome aboard the ''Weser,`` Captain.
A real hero, in person. l am most delighted.
Well, gentlemen...
...here they are...
...heroes of the deep.
The famous grey wolves...
...with us, inside our modest cabin...
...so to speak.
Captain, alIow me.
A warm welcome!
Nice tugboat you`ve got here.
We`re well prepared...
...in all modesty, of course, but not bad at all.
Like a taste of home, so to speak.
Fresh bread, cakes from our own bakery...
...bacon, fresh sausages, stuffed just today, naturally.
You`ve got to tell us your news.
You can`t imagine our curiosity.
lt`s not an easy life here, appearances to the contrary.
There`s plenty of fuel and food to eat...
...but torpedoes are difficult to come by.
But we aIways have our ways.
The Spaniards tolerate us, but there`s no love lost between us.
Christmas bread!
So, tell me...
...how many ships have you sunk?
Let me guess--
The champagne!
How forgetful of me!
Please.
Gentlemen!
We drink to your health.
We are so proud of you.
We toast the German U-boats...
...and our beloved Füh--
l forget we`re not at home here...
...if you know what l mean.
Cheers!
To your health!
Come on, dig in!
Let`s dive into this stuff.
Come, Captain, tell us alI!
We`re so very curious.
Those are fresh figs.
Never had one before.
Quiet, gentlemen.
They almost had us this time.
Phenomenal!
You see, that`s the language of a hero.
To-the-point. Simply phenomenal!
But you can`t get away that easily.
Hand me that. Herring salad.
Our cook`s specialty.
You must try it.
Come on now, taste it.
How`s it feel beneath the surface...
...submerged...
...while the enemy lurks above?
Dark.
And real quiet.
As long as nobody farts.
Pardon me?
-As long as-- -He means, on silent runs...
...the crew must show extreme discipIine.
And that`s why nobody can fart!
Herr Seewald, we`ve been expecting you.
The delegate of the Naval Attaché.
l have messages from headquarters.
But first, your orders for Gibraltar.
And this radiogram.
Chief, Lieutenant Werner!
We`re taking a stroll.
What`s going on?
Bad news.
Request was denied by headquarters.
You`ve got to stay on board. You, too, Lieutenant.
l`m sorry.
lt`s probably just as well.
Who knows who they`d replace me with?
Might be one of those wet-behind-the-ears kids.
Very well couId be.
They should`ve put some pussy in storage for screwing.
Yeah, you`d be fighting Spanish crabs by now.
Better than blue balls!
Move it and clear the chart table.
l can`t navigate on bananas.
Are you nuts? Move that fruit.
The depth controls are blocked.
That`s a Christmas tree?
lt ain`t camouflage for the bridge.
We`re staying on board.
Orders from headquarters.
Sorry, UlIman.
7 miles between coasts.
A tight squeeze, l`d say.
These are the British docks.
Their only port for repairs in the western Mediterranean.
lt will be well protected.
All kinds of defenses.
Anything floating will be on the water.
We`ll have to maneuver through it.
That`s the situation.
We'll move under cover of darkness...
...skimming the surface.
We`ll cut right through the English ships.
As close to the Strait of Gibraltar as we can get.
Then we`ll dive...
...and let ourselves drop.
Dive...
...then float with the current through the strait.
No racket.
lt saves fuel.
So, Kriechbaum?
Not bad, Captain.
Let`s go.
All ahead one-half.
Navigator and l stay, everyone else clear the bridge.
Half the English fIeet is here.
2 degrees to port. Switch to electric motor.
Destroyer across port.
Range: 800, running parallel.
What`s he doing?
Closing in?
No, moving ahead.
Very good.
Left full rudder.
All ahead full.
All right, then.
Right full rudder! AlI ahead full !
Damn!
Gibraltar!
We`ll dive in 10 minutes.
Alarm!
Flood tanks!
Watch out, don`t dive!
-Captain`s still on bridge! -Kriechbaum`s wounded!
Both diesels ahead full!
Blow all tanks!
Prepare to abandon ship!
Medic to officers` mess immediately!
Where`s the medic?
Maximum power! Right full rudder!
All men into rescue gear!
Prepare to abandon!
Hold this!
Faster, faster!
Get a compress!
Gotta shut down port diesel. lt`s pulled loose!
Keep full speed!
Give it everything she`s got!
What`s he going to do?
Southern course...
...moving toward the African coast.
Damn!
Flood tanks!
All men to bow!
Down to 90 meters.
-Bow plane jammed! -Use manual rudder!
Bow plane stuck in full down position!
Both engines stop.
AlI men aft!
Hurry! Faster!
Trim all to stern !
Ballast pump down!
Trim with air!
Still sinking.
Load unchanged.
Gotta lose weight!
Pump 1000 litres!
Shut him up, medic!
Main pump down!
Blow tanks?
AIl back full!
Boat not responding.
Blow tanks!
Blow front.
Stop...now.
Why don`t you stop!
Give it whatever she`s got, Chief!
Blow `em all!
Come on up.
Boat is beyond control.
200.
210.
220 meters.
Beyond 230.
240 meters.
250 meters.
My God!
Do not turn...
...Thy face away from me.
A shovelfuI of sand.
God threw a shovelful of sand beneath our keel.
280 meters.
This boat`s amazing!
Torpedo hatch taking water!
Taking water behind control panel !
Taking water in motor bilge!
Tube 5 taking water!
What you need?
-Leakage plugs. -ln the bow.
Exhaust valve?
Leakage plugs! Move!
Give me that lamp!
l need a wrench, damn it!
Where are my reports?
Taking water...at tower frame!
Where are the tools?
-Where is it? -Bilge pump!
Motor control panels down !
Diesel`s all busted!
l demand proper reports!
Where`s it worst?
Shaft valves and housing.
Machinist, battery two...
...determine damages.
Don`t strip the crankshafts!
Can`t see a thing!
Push...harder!
l`m pushing!
Can`t get the wedge in!
Give me that hammer!
Need more men aft?
l`ll find out!
-Damn it! -Can l help?
Hold the light!
Father, don`t forsake us.
Stupid asshole!
Damn idiot!
l need the diesel room toolbox.
Hurry!
Where are the tools?
Bigger wrench!
Leakage in diesel bilge!
Tighten them carefully. Don`t break the bolts.
Cooling pipe leaking!
Get down there and tighten those valves!
Give me that timber!
More plugs...hurry!
Gently, men.
Taking water fast in stern.
All hull valves burst. Cooling system down.
Compressors dislodged. Shaft valves taking water.
What about fuel leaks?
Can`t tell yet.
-Anything else? -Battery cells are cracked.
They can`t take this!
Acid in the bilge.
Neutralize with lime wash. Count drained cells.
Get battery connectors, hurry!
Over here!
l need plugs and a hammer!
-Here it is. -Thanks, Lieutenant.
Calm down.
Tell the Chief!
Taking water in motor room. Rising above torpedo tubes!
Careful!
24 cells drained.
24 cells. Holy shit!
We`re way short of connectors!
He's got to bridge those damaged cells.
Or else we`ve had it.
Can`t tighten it. Can`t see.
Lieutenant, lights!
If we don`t fix this, we`re goners!
To the right, more to the right!
Wire!
l need wire for bridging!
Move it, we need wire! Hurry up!
The Chief needs wire. Look for wire!
Move it! Search for wire!
lncredible torpedoes in these tubes!
25,000 Marks apiece.
And we can`t find...
...a piece of wire.
Some old wire worth 50 pennies!
Periscope hydraulics jammed.
Can`t be moved manually, either.
Wire!
Finally, something!
Pliers!
Leaks stopped.
Good, Johann.
Really good.
Now, get out of those wet rags.
Now let`s get it out...
...this water`s got to go!
First, into the control room bilge...
...and then out.
Faster! Let`s get rid of it!
And scoop...and scoop!
Get with it. No falling asleep back there!
3 more cells...starboard.
Where do we stand?
Almost done. 3 cells to go.
Make way for the Chief.
Entire compass system is down...
...probably the sonar, too.
Radio is totally out.
Quite a mess.
Can we surface?
Any chance at all?
Good question.
Some air may be left in the ballast tanks...
...from all that blowing.
That might help us.
With every last bit of air pressure...
...maybe--
We`ve got to reduce our weight.
That water has to get out.
Might work. lt just might!
Aft is almost bailed.
lt could work...
...by hand into tanks...
...then with main pump...
...and air pressure, the water`s pushed out!
Main pump?
Can do.
Then we go for broke.
Blow tanks, and--
We`ll get only one try.
When?
Once everything`s repaired.
In 6 to 8 hours.
-CO2 content? -1.8 percent.
We got enough oxygen?
No.
Pass out oxygen masks as needed...
...men off duty to their bunks.
How`s he doing?
Hard to tell.
Doesn`t look good.
So, Pilgrim...
...all okay?
Yes, Captain.
lt`s all okay.
How are things aft?
Moving along, Captain.
Guess l`ll show my face then, huh?
Be careful.
All right here?
Okay. Doing fine.
Sure, Captain. lt`ll work out.
How`s it going?
Got to change two more bearings.
Do you want some glucose?
Crazy idea...
...to ram us through this strait.
lt was bound to go wrong.
He knew it.
That old fox knew it all along.
Since he got that radiogram...
...ordering us to break through.
That`s why he wanted us off the boat...
...in Vigo.
There was no chance to get through.
He wanted to make us believe it was possible...
...with a simple trick.
''Drop down and glide through``--
Not a bad trick...
...except that it had to work.
Will we ever surface, Chief?
l don`t know.
l'm sorry.
ls it hopeless?
lt`s been 15 hours.
He`s not going to pull it off.
l`m sorry.
l asked for it.
''To be heading into the inexorable...
...where no mother will care for us...
...no woman crosses our path...
...where only reality reigns... with cruelty and grandeur.``
l was drunk with those words.
Well, this is reality.
Reporting to the Captain.
Electric motor fixed.
Main pump fixed.
Water can be pumped into tanks...
...then blown out with compressed air.
Compass ready.
Sonar ready.
Good, Chief.
Take a rest now.
Still got a few small problems.
All you need is good people.
Good people.
Listen up.
We`re going to blow tanks now...
...to see if we can lift our butt.
lf we do...
...it might get uncomfortable again.
Lots of traffic up there.
So, all we can do...
...is pray those diesels start up.
Then full speed ahead and off we go...
...out of this crater...
...and back home.
lf it works...
...half a bottle of beer for everyone!
We just might get lucky.
They`re not expecting us.
Well, men...
...are we ready?
Contact bearings?
No contact.
Prepare to surface, rescue gear ready.
Switch to red lights.
Man your diving stations.
Blow tanks.
Boat rising!
Quiet men ! Calm down !
270 meters.
First watch, get ready.
260 meters.
250 meters.
240 meters.
230 meters.
220.
Hatch is open.
How about the engines?
Both diesels.
Now everything hinges on this.
l think...
...it`s running!
Who says you can`t make something out of nothing?
They won`t get us this time!
Not again!
Hang in there, damn it!
Hang in there!
3 degrees to starboard. Course 320 degrees.
There he goes again !
They don`t notice us.
They`re all asleep in their bunks.
No, you know what?
They`re at the casino, celebrating our sinking!
Cheers, guys! Here`s to getting home!
As long as the diesels hold up...
...and with a little bit of luck...
...we`ll make it home.
The 3rd Submarine Flotilla welcomes our returning sailors.
All engines stop.
Let go aft line.
-Thanks, Hinrich. -Don`t mention it.
The sun`s shining.
Lift it!
All right? Almost there.