Other mistake: When attacking the convoy, the crew rushes forward during the crash dive. Just after a crew member jumps through the hatch after the bow crew compartment, you see someone standing still a second before getting pushed in the view of the camera. (01:31:15)
Das Boot (1981)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Starring: Jurgen Prochnow, Herbert Gronemeyer, Hubertus Bengsch, Klaus Wennemann
While crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, the U-Boat is attacked by British cruisers and begins to sink. They sink below 300 metres and just as it seems the boat is about to explode under the pressure, they hit a sand bar and teeter for awhile. With their main tanks capsized and unable to surface, the men start to move water by hand, the work made even more excruciating because of the lack of oxygen. Just as it seems the men are about to die, the Chief's plan works and the ballast tanks kick in, and the boat starts to rise. The U-Boat arrives at the port to a hero's welcome, only to be strafed by British bombers. Lt. Werner runs out after the bombing is complete to find most of the crew dead, among them Johann, 2WO, Ullmann and Preacher. Werner then sees the Kaleun propped up against the docks as he watches his boat sink. Just as the U-Boat slips under the waves, the Captain collapses and dies.
Huge Geyser
More mistakes in Das Boot
Captain: April fool. Practice makes perfect.
Trivia: The movie is based on actual events and some of the characters have existed in real life. One of them, Pilgrim, took his own life after the book on which the movie is based was released.
Question: I know practically nothing about submarines, so this seemed a bit strange to me. When there's that huge storm, why do they keep staying at the surface, only going down for an hour at a time?
Answer: Because that's what the U-boat was designed to do. Unlike modern nuclear boats, they didn't have the capacity to stay submerged for long periods - basically just as long as the air lasted; there wasn't atmosphere control equipment. They would 'snorkel' near the surface, recharge the batteries with the diesel engines, and then dive for a few hours at most before having to come back up and repeat the process.
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Answer: U-boats also travelled much faster on the surface...about 18 knots, vs only 8 knots or so beneath the surface.