Below- The Movie (Historical Question Content)

Suicide Charlie · 07-19-07, 02:34 AM

Has anybody seen this? It's about a US sub operating in the Atlantic. It's actually a sort of horror/thriller/mystery movie.

Anyways, in the movie the sub is hunted by a German destroyer/sub chaser/HK'er at one point. While identifying it they note its weapon systems. As they rap off the usual listing of gun emplacements, and ASW capabilities they say "Grappling Hooks."

At first I didn't pay much attention to it even though it drew a "Grap... Wha?" from me. Within the next few minutes I see what they mean. Apparently the ship was towing these heavy grappling hook like apparatus's behind it. They grabbed a hold of the framing supporting the periscopes and radar and made a mess of them.

Was this a real weapon? I have never heard of it until then.

Torpex752 · 07-19-07, 06:29 AM

There was at least one instance of some sort of hook used on a US Sub in shallow water. Its mentioned in the book "Silent Running". The author discovered after the war that the Japanese idea was to hook the sub and slide down the cable a charge that would detonate directly next to the hull. The movie version is IMHO nonsense.

Frank "Torpex" Kulick
Subsim staff

dean_acheson · 07-19-07, 09:53 AM

Yes, I have read of the Japanese using this tactic, and somewhere in my brain I think I remember reading about the British having discussions on the use of something like this in WWI, the latter I wouldn't want to swear by.

I can't remember off hand the U.S. sub that had this happen to it in the Pacific in WWII.

Sailor Steve · 07-19-07, 10:15 AM

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...rappling+hooks
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...rappling+hooks

Suicide Charlie · 07-19-07, 03:20 PM

Thank you good sir.

Sawyer · 07-19-07, 03:57 PM

The ship used for some of the external shots in the movie, the USS Silversides, is docked in Muskegon, Michigan. Last fall, as part of a Boy Scout outing, my son and I spend the night on the Silversides. We had full run of the ship, which was pretty awesome. For what it is worth, I didn't see any grappling hooks or ghosts...

07-19-07, 05:41 PM

I have the DVD. It´s nonsense but the first 10 min are good with the diving sequence.

Monica Lewinsky · 07-19-07, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barracuda

It´s nonsense but the first 10 min are good

Strongly agree. What a waste of time from the 11th minute to the title of "The End".

07-19-07, 02:34 AM	#1
Suicide Charlie Wild Night in Bangkok Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 179 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Below- The Movie (Historical Question Content) Has anybody seen this? It's about a US sub operating in the Atlantic. It's actually a sort of horror/thriller/mystery movie. Anyways, in the movie the sub is hunted by a German destroyer/sub chaser/HK'er at one point. While identifying it they note its weapon systems. As they rap off the usual listing of gun emplacements, and ASW capabilities they say "Grappling Hooks." At first I didn't pay much attention to it even though it drew a "Grap... Wha?" from me. Within the next few minutes I see what they mean. Apparently the ship was towing these heavy grappling hook like apparatus's behind it. They grabbed a hold of the framing supporting the periscopes and radar and made a mess of them. Was this a real weapon? I have never heard of it until then. __________________

07-19-07, 10:15 AM	#4
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...rappling+hooks http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...rappling+hooks __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-19-07, 03:20 PM	#5
Suicide Charlie Wild Night in Bangkok Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 179 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thank you good sir. __________________

07-19-07, 06:29 AM	#2
Torpex752 Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Deep River, CT Posts: 255 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	There was at least one instance of some sort of hook used on a US Sub in shallow water. Its mentioned in the book "Silent Running". The author discovered after the war that the Japanese idea was to hook the sub and slide down the cable a charge that would detonate directly next to the hull. The movie version is IMHO nonsense. Frank "Torpex" Kulick Subsim staff

07-19-07, 09:53 AM	#3
dean_acheson Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Midwest - USA Posts: 1,057 Downloads: 42 Uploads: 0	Yes, I have read of the Japanese using this tactic, and somewhere in my brain I think I remember reading about the British having discussions on the use of something like this in WWI, the latter I wouldn't want to swear by. I can't remember off hand the U.S. sub that had this happen to it in the Pacific in WWII.

07-19-07, 03:57 PM	#6
Sawyer Bilge Rat Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The ship used for some of the external shots in the movie, the USS Silversides, is docked in Muskegon, Michigan. Last fall, as part of a Boy Scout outing, my son and I spend the night on the Silversides. We had full run of the ship, which was pretty awesome. For what it is worth, I didn't see any grappling hooks or ghosts...

07-19-07, 05:41 PM	#7
barracuda Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I have the DVD. It´s nonsense but the first 10 min are good with the diving sequence.