I guess, percentage wise, the German could have come out ahead, given the size of a destroyer escort crew compared to a U-Boat crew.
Also, many times a board of inquiry of the Navy Department, (not admiralty you bloody Brit!) might after looking at the facts give the skipper of a lost ship a pass. "You couldn't have forseen this", or, "Anyone could make that mistake."
As to the second point, yes, it was sporting of the U-Boat captain to give warning. I guess he's a "Good German" and not a Nazi. Remember, there was the "Laconia order" in which U-Boats were not allowed to pick up survivors after two of their boats were deliberately attacked by US planes while engaged in a rescue.
I'm not superstitious 'cause it's bad luck-- Mark Grace
reply
share
CmdrCody
17 years ago
Interesting question posed by this thread.
It's mentioned early in the movie by the German captain that the U-Boat must maintain course 140 degrees to meet up with "Raider M" to deliver a British codebook. This would be a strategic mission of some importance to the Reich.
Of course, the American destroyer captain doesn't know this. But, he's keenly interested that his quarry returns to that same base course after each engagement...140 degrees. He suspects that this U-Boat is up to something special.
So, while the movie audience knows that while a simple tradeoff of a destroyer for a U-Boat would favor the Germans, we know the outcome stopped their strategic mission.
A Navy Board would want to look into the final battle between the sub and the destroyer. But I think Mitchum would have been exonerated since he certainly made the best of a bad situation. In my opinion.
CmdrCody
reply
share
mangle81-1
17 years ago
The US built some 500 of those little DEs (Destroyer Escort, navsource.org) specifically to hunt down Germany's U-boats. Losing a DE was much less of a blow to the US Navy and war effort than the loss of a U-boat for the Kriegsmarine. Germany was under heavy pressure for resources, man-power and manufacturing capability.
My concern is why was the DE out alone.. it should have been in a task group: Jeep carrier and 4-5 DDs/DEs.
reply
share
CmdrCody
17 years ago
mangle...you raise all good points.
reply
share
Col_Hessler
17 years ago
You said "deliver" the code book to Raider M. He was supposed to pick up the code book and go home with it.
"This is the important thing, Heinie. Not that we get the book, but when we have it, we can go home."
I'm not superstitious 'cause it's bad luck-- Mark Grace
reply
share
CmdrCody
17 years ago
Nerka: Oh man! Now that's an inexcusable error. There is only one punishment for me...
"...I WILL HAVE YOU BEATEN FROM THIS FORT !"
Please remember me fondly in my disgrace.
(Must be creeping senility...how could I mess up the crucial part of one of my favorite movies?)
CmdrCody
reply
share
silvercometred1
8 years ago
"I guess he's a "Good German" and not a Nazi."
Very few German Naval officers joined the Nazi party - which is one the reasons that Hitler didn't entirely trust his own navy. Notice how in one scene the German captain and his first officer were rolling their eyes at the young officer reading "Mein Kampf."
reply
share