MovieChat Forums > U-571 (2000) Discussion > Why did the resupply sub shoot a torpedo...

Why did the resupply sub shoot a torpedo?

posted 16 years ago by dawgpoundjohn
15 replies | jump to latest

Something that has bothered me about this movie is what prompted the skipper of the German resupply sub to shoot a torpedo at the S-33? If the shipyard workers ("yardbirds" as the chief states!) did a good enough job to fool the crewmen of the U-571 into thinking it was a real German sub, shouldn't that have also enough for the resupply U-boat? Maybe the resupply sub's captain could have thought that it was actually another U-boat that just happened to find the disabled U-571. If so, firing a torpedo at a fellow U-boat would have been a mistake.

Did it see what was going on (capture of the U-571) and then back off to fire a torpedo?

How did it know which sub to shoot at first?

Why continue to try to sink the second sub (U-571)? If they realized the S-33 was actually a US sub, once they hit it, the U-571 would now be safe.

One answer could be that it shot only one torpedo at the S-33 knowing it was not German. Then, after seeing the other sub (U-571) dive, the resupply sub's captain knew something wasn't right and tried to sink it.

Your thoughts...

[–] DJ_Ziploc 16 years ago

The supply sub knew there wasn't any other German sub in those waters. Otherwise they wouldn't have sent the supply sub.

[–] dawgpoundjohn 16 years ago

OK, but how did they know to shoot at the S-33? Like I wrote in my first post, the crew of the U-571 thought they were Germans, why not the resupply sub, too?

As for no other subs in the area, what if another U-boat had left its assigned patrol area and just happened to find U-571? In "Das Boot", two U-boats found each other in the middle of the Atlantic.

I know it made for a good plot point, but I still don't buy it.

Also, why keep trying to sink U-571? Did the resupply sub know it was now in Allied hands? If so, how?

[–] CGSailor 16 years ago

OK, but how did they know to shoot at the S-33? Like I wrote in my first post, the crew of the U-571 thought they were Germans, why not the resupply sub, too?

They knew one of the Subs was a fake German Sub because there was ONLY to be ONE sub in that particular Kreigsmarine Gridsquare. The only Sub that was to be there was the U-571.

So how did they know which one was fake? The transfer of men and equipment was already taking place. Common sense would have told the captain of the resupply boat that the one the equipment being transferred to was the fake, and the one having men and equipment being taken off of was the German U-boat.

Also,(its been awhile so I might be mistaken) U-571 and the disguised S-33 were different type Uboats. The S-33 was desguised as a Type IX, and the U-571 was a Type VIIc I think. The Resupply boat would have discerned the difference.

As for no other subs in the area, what if another U-boat had left its assigned patrol area and just happened to find U-571? In "Das Boot", two U-boats found each other in the middle of the Atlantic.

In Das Boot, the two Subs who ran across each other were operating as part of a Rudeltaktic (Wolfpack)

Also, why keep trying to sink U-571? Did the resupply sub know it was now in Allied hands? If so, how?

The actions of U-571 gave away that it was in allied hands. Also remember that the resupply boat would have seen the transferring of men and equipment, not something the German boat would have done had it not been in allied hands already.

The question I would have had would be: Why didnt the Resupply sub (knowing the U-571 was disabled) not just back off after destroying the S-33 and radio that Enigma was compromised, Then it could have waited and sunk or retaken U-571 at leisure. Without Desiel engines, U-571's batteries would have been flat (as they were) and the Resupply Captain would have known that. U-571 could not stay down for very long.

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

[–] No_Battery_Included 16 years ago

You know the funny thing about that is,resupply subs of the Type XIV class aka Milchkuehe 'Milk Cows' weren't even armed with torpedoes. Oh well...

[–] CGSailor 15 years ago

It was never confirmed the the "resupply sub" WAS a Milk Cow. Milch Kows were designated and purpose built for resupply but that does not mean that in an emergency the German's sent a team of mechanices and spare parts along with a regular U-boat that was already preparing to sail.

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

[–] obbie 16 years ago

They intercepted the coded messages from the Americans, so they knew the plan all along.

[–] QuietScreamer 15 years ago

They intercepted the coded messages from the Americans, so they knew the plan all along.

That would've been hilarious to have them get back after all that trouble just to find out the germans had changed the codes anyway.

You're not allowed to have conspiracy theories when you're in the employ of the conspiracy.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] CGSailor 15 years ago

I think that Bletchley Park would have intercepted that transmission if they had. They may not have understood the content, but they would have DF'ed it to the location of the subs and guessed its content, just as they did the U-571's request for help originally

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

[–] cuidich-965-296910 14 years ago

My question is this. If the supply sub did realize that U-571 had been captured, would it not make more sense to torpedo it before the disguised sub??? The whole purpose being to make sure that the enigma was destroyed.

[–] CGSailor 14 years ago

The answer to your question has 2 parts.

1) The resupply sub was approaching from the far side and would have wasted time attempting to gain a shot on the U-571.
2) How did the resupply sub know the enigma was not already transferred to the S-33?

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

[–] ncsudude8605 13 years ago

Would you rather torpedo a sub you knew to be crippled before one you could safely assume to be fully operational? It would be like punching a guy on crutches instead of his healthy friend first. Someone who knows more about sonar can correct me if I'm wrong, but I would imagine the resupply sub might have been close enough to detect the sound of automatic weapons fire and hand grenades exploding inside the hull of the U-571 to figure out something wasn't right and sneak in for a look before firing a torpedo.

As far as the Milk Cow supply subs not being able to fire torpedoes: Depending on where U-571 was located in terms of proximity to enemy territory it would make more sense to send a regular sub with a few mechanics as passengers and extra parts that can fight and begin normal patrol duties after meeting U-571. It would be an unnecessary risk to send an unarmed sub more than halfway across the Atlantic to do a job that an armed sub could just as easily accomplish.

[–] linksys5 13 years ago

Here is something else.. how come they did not radio back in that they blew up the S-33?

[–] CGSailor 13 years ago

Order of events.

The Resupply sub fires upon and sinks the S-33 while submerged

The U-571 submerges, clearly under Allied control.

The resupply sub and the U-571 duke it out with torpedoes being fired at each other submerged (not realistically)

Resupply sub was sunk.

Just when was the resupply sub supposed to have had time to surface and radio that report off?

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

[–] CGSailor 13 years ago

As far as the Milk Cow supply subs not being able to fire torpedoes: Depending on where U-571 was located in terms of proximity to enemy territory it would make more sense to send a regular sub with a few mechanics as passengers and extra parts that can fight and begin normal patrol duties after meeting U-571.

Other than a few who agreed with me when I commented on that very thing, you are the first I've seen to independently post this very thing.

I had IMDb correct the goofs list on this very topic to incorrectly regarded as a goof.

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