MovieChat Forums > U-571 (2000) Discussion > Anyone can explain hitting the pipe with...

Anyone can explain hitting the pipe with the pointy side of the hammer?

posted 10 years ago by mike_71
2 replies | jump to latest

Can someone with some knowledge of submarines explain why the guy was hitting the pipe in the control room of u571 with a hammer? And more specifically, why the hell was he using the pointy side?

To refresh, its the scene where he is going along the pipe, hitting it (fairly softly) every foot or so. He hits a rusted spot and the hammer goes right through and the captain tells him to put a pipe patch on it.

Every time I watch this movie I scratch my head on that. I am sure there is some kind of reason they do this, and would love to know.

[–] CGSailor 10 years ago

He was specifically looking for those very rusted out weak points where the hammer punched through. Better to find and patch them then, than have them burst under pressure during a deep dive in combat.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

[–] mike_71 9 years ago

Thanks!