From "The Other Side"

Sailor Steve · 03-21-09, 02:02 PM

The best part of Destroyer Command was the adversarial multiplay with Silent Hunter II. We had some great times at the Sub Club back in those days. Many of us have complained that there is no DC2 on the boards. That kind of multiplay in today's graphics environment would be my dream - that plus a realistic convoy escort sim, which would have to be part of the same game.

As for movies, I have a taped copy of this one:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035757/

I'm amazed that no one has ever released it on DVD.

Henry Wood · 03-21-09, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

The best part of Destroyer Command was the adversarial multiplay with Silent Hunter II. We had some great times at the Sub Club back in those days. Many of us have complained that there is no DC2 on the boards. That kind of multiplay in today's graphics environment would be my dream - that plus a realistic convoy escort sim, which would have to be part of the same game.

As for movies, I have a taped copy of this one:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035757/

I'm amazed that no one has ever released it on DVD.

Hi Sailor Steve,

I have delayed my re-entry to "The Cruel Sea" once again after seeing your post. I had not heard of that movie but it is now in my evergrowing notes of things to watch for.

As you say, today's graphics could cope well with that sort of "game". I have just bought a new computer solely to be able to play SHIII + every available mod I might wish to add to it in the numerous copies I have installed. I installed a few other games on it as soon as I got it, including Destroyer Command, Fighting Steel and some others. When I told the supplier my only interest in "games" was SHIII he said I would be well over-equipped, but I don't know what's coming next, after watching GW grow and grow over the years so I bought the best I could afford.

Anyhoo! I only took a break a while ago to pour another beer. I just poured another one - and a whisky too - so I better get back and pay attention to my movie.

'Til later!

Sailor Steve · 03-22-09, 03:17 PM

I presume you're familiar with The Enemy Below. Not only a fun movie presenting both sides of the battle (except these days I can't get away from that awful fake 'u-boat' interior). Still, one of the all-time greats.
http://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Below-Ro...7752582&sr=1-1
It was also the inspiration for the Star Trek episode that first introduced the Romulans!

But back to The Cruel Sea. I finally saw the movie for the first time while at the Houston Subsim meet back in October. I thought it followed the book nicely, but had to leave a lot out. I've also read Monsarrat at Sea, a collection of short stories and actual wartime accounts from the author, who actually was the First Lieutenant in the book and film. Unlike his fictional counterpart, he went on to become a corvette captain in his own right.

Here's the review I wrote back when I read it:
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...9&postcount=90

RoaldLarsen · 03-22-09, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I presume you're familiar with The Enemy Below. Not only a fun movie presenting both sides of the battle (except these days I can't get away from that awful fake 'u-boat' interior). Still, one of the all-time greats.
...

I read the book before I saw the movie. As often happens when one does this, the movie was a disappointment, not only because the movie transfomed a RN Western Approaches destroyer into a USN DE, and the u-boat into something almost the size of a cruise ship. Even the book required a fair amount of suspension of disbelief.

In contrast, Monsarrat's works have an aura of authenticity that I have yet to see matched for the allied navies of that era and theatre of operations.

Pepe le Moko · 03-22-09, 09:43 PM

I read the book recently, not a masterpiece but yes it is interesting to see the whole thing from the other side.

I am reading Iron Coffin now while playing SHIII and it is funny to see the difference between the two, how the escorts, destroyers etc thought the U boats were like predators trying to hunt the flock of hapless sheeps they are trying to protect and how it was unfair and disheartening to see them sunk one after the other.

The U boats captains on the other hand like Werner in his book thought they were getting persecuted. He uses this word a lot and it is kinda ironic when you think about it because basically they were trying to sunk helpless ships, well in the begining at least.

I thought the name of the first ship was a bit silly though, it was the Compass Rose or something i think.

UnterseeBoogeyMan · 03-22-09, 10:27 PM

Haven't read the book yet but just saw the movie tonight. Overall, it was a good film. Heartbreaking moment when the captain had to drop depth charges on top of the men in the water. It'd be nice to see a re-make of this in the near future.

One of the many reasons why this forum rocks; I had never heard of the title until I saw it on the boards. Thanks all for sharing about this. If you get a chance, read SubKiller by Donald Mcintyre (not hi-jacking the thread,just sharing back). He was a DD captain that actually patrolled with Walker a few times. Good for understanding their experiences and the tactics that evolved.

Puster Bill · 03-23-09, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pepe le Moko

I read the book recently, not a masterpiece but yes it is interesting to see the whole thing from the other side.

I am reading Iron Coffin now while playing SHIII and it is funny to see the difference between the two, how the escorts, destroyers etc thought the U boats were like predators trying to hunt the flock of hapless sheeps they are trying to protect and how it was unfair and disheartening to see them sunk one after the other.

The U boats captains on the other hand like Werner in his book thought they were getting persecuted. He uses this word a lot and it is kinda ironic when you think about it because basically they were trying to sunk helpless ships, well in the begining at least.

I thought the name of the first ship was a bit silly though, it was the Compass Rose or something i think.

You have to remember a couple of facts:

1. The events in "The Cruel Sea" happen from 1939 to 1943 when the Germans had the upper hand, for the most part.

2. Werner's "Iron Coffins", on the other hand, is mostly about the war from 1942 to 1945, when the Allies had the upper hand. Werner didn't get a boat of his own until 1944.

What really strikes me as incongruous is the defeatist tone of the movie "Das Boot". It is supposed to happen in October of 1941, when the U-bootwaffe was near the height of it's power. It should have been set in October of 1943, when the tide had quite clearly turned against them.

Oneshot/Onekill · 03-24-09, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puster Bill

You have to remember a couple of facts:

1. The events in "The Cruel Sea" happen from 1939 to 1943 when the Germans had the upper hand, for the most part.

2. Werner's "Iron Coffins", on the other hand, is mostly about the war from 1942 to 1945, when the Allies had the upper hand. Werner didn't get a boat of his own until 1944.

What really strikes me as incongruous is the defeatist tone of the movie "Das Boot". It is supposed to happen in October of 1941, when the U-bootwaffe was near the height of it's power. It should have been set in October of 1943, when the tide had quite clearly turned against them.

I couldn't agree with you more about Das Boot, I was just thinking the same thing yesterday, or the day before.

That is the ONLY problem i have with this movie. ASW tatics were getting better by 1941, especially the way aircraft were being deployed against the U-boat, but by no means had the allies got even close to equal or more footing. I do think that the movie hit the defeatist attitude right on the head, when they found out they were ordered to La Spezia by way of the Gibralter straits, especially after spending over 2 months at SEA already.

03-21-09, 02:02 PM	#1
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	The best part of Destroyer Command was the adversarial multiplay with Silent Hunter II. We had some great times at the Sub Club back in those days. Many of us have complained that there is no DC2 on the boards. That kind of multiplay in today's graphics environment would be my dream - that plus a realistic convoy escort sim, which would have to be part of the same game. As for movies, I have a taped copy of this one: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035757/ I'm amazed that no one has ever released it on DVD. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-22-09, 03:17 PM	#3
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	I presume you're familiar with The Enemy Below. Not only a fun movie presenting both sides of the battle (except these days I can't get away from that awful fake 'u-boat' interior). Still, one of the all-time greats. http://www.amazon.com/Enemy-Below-Ro...7752582&sr=1-1 It was also the inspiration for the Star Trek episode that first introduced the Romulans! But back to The Cruel Sea. I finally saw the movie for the first time while at the Houston Subsim meet back in October. I thought it followed the book nicely, but had to leave a lot out. I've also read Monsarrat at Sea, a collection of short stories and actual wartime accounts from the author, who actually was the First Lieutenant in the book and film. Unlike his fictional counterpart, he went on to become a corvette captain in his own right. Here's the review I wrote back when I read it: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...9&postcount=90 __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

03-22-09, 09:43 PM	#5
Pepe le Moko A-ganger Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 73 Downloads: 126 Uploads: 0	I read the book recently, not a masterpiece but yes it is interesting to see the whole thing from the other side. I am reading Iron Coffin now while playing SHIII and it is funny to see the difference between the two, how the escorts, destroyers etc thought the U boats were like predators trying to hunt the flock of hapless sheeps they are trying to protect and how it was unfair and disheartening to see them sunk one after the other. The U boats captains on the other hand like Werner in his book thought they were getting persecuted. He uses this word a lot and it is kinda ironic when you think about it because basically they were trying to sunk helpless ships, well in the begining at least. I thought the name of the first ship was a bit silly though, it was the Compass Rose or something i think.

03-22-09, 10:27 PM	#6
UnterseeBoogeyMan Ensign Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: The Land of Cholla Cactus and Red Chile Posts: 224 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Haven't read the book yet but just saw the movie tonight. Overall, it was a good film. Heartbreaking moment when the captain had to drop depth charges on top of the men in the water. It'd be nice to see a re-make of this in the near future. One of the many reasons why this forum rocks; I had never heard of the title until I saw it on the boards. Thanks all for sharing about this. If you get a chance, read SubKiller by Donald Mcintyre (not hi-jacking the thread,just sharing back). He was a DD captain that actually patrolled with Walker a few times. Good for understanding their experiences and the tactics that evolved.