Convoy Page #7

Make a signal to the admiralty.

About to engage Deutschland.

- Give them our position.

- Aye-aye, sir.

Signal Commander Martin, take charge

of the convoy, keep her on course.

Officer of the watch,

starboard 25,

- steer 280 degrees, full speed ahead.

- Aye-aye, sir.

(Bells)

Action stations, Commander. Launch

number two plane for reconnaissance.

(Bugle call)

Sir, has Captain Sandeman given you

permission to leave your cabin?

- No.

- May I ask where you're going, sir?

- Into action.

- But sir...

Corporal Parker,

do you realise that I might interpret

that indiscreet gesture,

as striking a superior officer?

You wouldn't do that, sir.

I'm not so sure.

I'll think about it.

Stand to attention,

don't leave your post.

- All ready for action, sir.

- Good.

Come to report for duty, sir.

Good lord,

I'd forgotten all about you.

Yes, sir. May I remind you that

it's usual to release all prisoners,

before a ship goes into action.

Mr Cranford,

you can consider yourself released,

for the period of our engagement

with the enemy.

Thanks very much, sir.

David, Lucy told me a lot of things.

I think I overdid it.

I know I did, sir.

Good luck.

Thank you, sir.

With those 11 -inch guns of hers, sir,

she ought to blow us to bits...

on paper.

Fortunately, Mr Cranford,

we are not on paper, we're at sea -

that evens up the odds a bit.

Blimey, here she comes!

Red 3-0, enemy battleship, sir.

- Bridge.

- Enemy cruiser sighted, Herr Kapitan.

Right.

Range?

Main armament, open fire.

Gun control, main armament, open fire.

Main armament, stand by.

- Deflection, eight right.

- Deflection, eight right.

- Steady salvo.

- Salvo.

(Gunfire)

Pretty good for a first go, sir.

Not so bad.

What's the range now, Sutton?

- Hold your fire, Hawkins.

- Aye-aye, sir.

That was a close one, wasn't it?

You'll get that medal yet.

Why don't we get a start

and give them a basinful, sir?

We've got to get to 15,000 yards,

before we can do any good

with our little Greta.

(Gunfire)

Blimey, reminds you of Guy Fawkes Day,

don't it, chums?

- (Gunfire)

- (Gasps and screams)

God help them, and God help us.

Shh, Mary, be quiet.

I will not be quiet. I'm after hearing

one of the sailors say,

the little cruiser

doesn't stand a chance.

Why did she go away and leave us with

only them destroyers to look after us?

I tell you, we'll all be sunk.

Mary Hogan, you ought to be

ashamed of yourself -

you haven't any idea

what you're talking about.

You leave this to the navy,

they know what they're doing.

The Germans won't shoot at us again,

will they?

No, darling, of course they won't.

Look, here's a bit for his face.

It looks as if it's got a beard.

Perhaps it's Father Christmas.

- First blood to the Bosch, eh?

- She's got the range all right, sir.

- What's the reading now?

- 17,000 yards, sir.

Looks like we've got to take it

for another 2,000 yards.

Yes.

- Got them again, direct hit.

- Shan't be long now, Herr Kapitan.

Forward turret, direct hit.

Oh-ho, talk about haystacks, Jim...

I don't think

even I could miss that one.

Let's have a go. We might check her fire

and give our boys a bit of a breather.

- Concentrate on the bridge.

- Here she goes.

What are they

swinging the ship about for?

I can't keep my guns going.

Check fire.

That finishes me for the day, Cary.

All right, Jim, lets get out of here,

and I'll buy you a nice cup of tea.

- They're coming back, sir.

- Nice work.

Thank you, Sutton.

Hawkins, you can open fire.

- Aye-aye, sir.

- Open fire.

- Target's nice and clear, sir.

- Right. All guns stand by.

Salvoes, right gun commencing.

Right gun ready, sir.

Salvoes, left gun commencing.

Left gun ready, sir.

Salvoes, right gun commencing.

Right gun ready, sir.

Range 149, deflection, four left,

salvoes, shoot.

They've begun.

Gun control?

That must've been a direct hit,

Herr Kapitan, there's no answer.

We must carry on under local control,

- get them firing quickly.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

- You hear that, Donald?

- Aye.

There's a fight on,

and it sounds like them big fellas.

Aye.

I wouldnae be surprised if that's why

they changed the time o' the convoy.

- Aye.

- There's nae sign o' them yet.

They oughta be here soon.

Have I not told you

that you're in the navy now,

and I'll no have

that fishing on ma boat?

- Have ye got one?

- Aye.

Bill? Bill?

It's all right, sir.

We'll get you below, old man.

Look out.

- Put your wheel amidships.

- Put your wheel amidships.

Quartermaster?

No reply, sir.

Looks as though the voice pipe's gone.

- Ah!

- Message from the quartermaster, sir.

The ship won't answer her helm.

The transmission's been shot away.

- Sutton, are you all right?

- Yes, sir.

Contact the chief,

I'll get her steady by the engines.

Cranford, get the steering position

connected up.

Organise a chain of men

to relay my steering orders.

- Hawkins?

- Sir?

Let the gun crew take it easy.

I'll retire behind a smokescreen

till she's steady again.

Mortimer,

tell the engine room to make smoke.

Aye-aye, sir.

- Cup of cocoa, sir?

- What?

- Yes, please, why not?

- You could do with it.

Thank you.

Smokescreen, Herr Kapitan.

They're in trouble.

Keep firing into her.

- She'll have trouble on her course.

- Very good, Herr Kapitan.

- Check.

- Check.

Check fire.

Something's gone wrong

with the interjector switch.

He looks pretty bad, sir.

How are you feeling now, Walker?

- Shocking - hurts like hell, sir.

- I'll get him down to the sick bay.

Oh, no, you don't!

My left arm's still all right.

No, I'd rather stay here and be a hero.

All right, we'll patch you up

and leave you here.

- Still after that medal, eh, chum?

- Yeah.

Grub up.

Al right, boys, carry on.

That's right, feed yer faces

while you still got 'em.

Sounds as if

only the Deutschland is firing, sir.

I can't hear our guns.

I don't like it. I wish to heaven

we were there with them,

instead of pottering along

wet-nursing this lot.

We'll be sighting the minefields

presently.

Maybe there'll be time for us to get

back and have a go at them ourselves.

Maybe.

- Master-at-arms, are you ready?

- Yes, sir, all men in position.

Pass a message to the bridge, tell the

captain, everything under control.

Everything under control.

Everything under control.

Everything under control.

Everything under control.

- How are you, chum?

- I'm all right.

Everything's under control.

(Gunfire continues)

Everything under control.

Message from Mr Cranford.

- Everything under control.

- Good. I'm leaving the smokescreen.

Tell Mr Howard

his is the only turret left in action.

He's to engage the enemy

as soon as possible.

Any news of Commander Blount?

- He's dead, sir.

- Oh!

He asked if all goes well,

would you go and see his wife.

Tell the engine room to stop smoke.

We're going to attack again.

Aye-aye, sir.

Tell Mr Howard's turret to stand by.

Right.

- Shorty?

- Hello, sir.

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