Opening Scene | THE ARCTIC CONVOY (2023) Movie CLIP HD

[@MarkMatthews-eh5gb]

My uncle Pat did this run for two years, Royal Navy escort destroyer. After that he was transferred to HMS Quorn as part of D-day landing escort. He and all but some six of the crew lost their lives on 3rd of august when hit by a marder torpedo. Super brave men all of them. I find it sadly ironic that he survived possibly the most dangerous run all that time to be transferred and lose his life. Lest we forget.

[@lotuselise4432]

Respect Sir, my Father was a Stoker in the RN and did the runs and also was at D Day and the invasion of Africa and Italy. Churchill said "the worst journey in the world" about the convoys.

[@eddieharcourt6049]

🙏

[@AceBanana100]

My grandad Griff did this run also, he was on HMS Norfolk. Nan once told me he came home on leave once and couldnt stop blinking his eyes because of his job as a gunner

[@anthonygerace332]

My great uncle (my grandmother's brother) was a Merchant Marine seaman whose ship was torpedoed and sunk in the Indian Ocean in the middle of the night in June of 1942. He survived in not piece and lived for another 51 years. Convoys and naval escorts were stretched thin at that time, so his ship was alone and unprotected except for a deck gun. For the rest of his live he had his life vest from that day hanging in his basement, because the vest had saved his life.

[@samdumaquis2033]

My Great Uncle did it in a destroyer, I have the Union Jack that flew on his ship

[@Brian-nm1om]

My dad sailed on the Arctic convoys. He said it was absolute hell. RIP dad.

[@raythomas8259]

My late Father joined the British Merchant Navy as a Cadet Officer at aged 16 in 1941 and was on the Atlantic Convoys within 3 months. God knows how he survived on a ship with a top speed of 6 knots with 2 Machine Guns as their only means of defence............

[@michaelbruce1847]

My Dad was in the Canadian Merchant Marine. I'll watch this movie if we can get it.

[@lawrencewood289]

@@raythomas8259 Kudos to his brave service. He was probably part of the SC convoys. Yup you guessed it "slow convoys". No need for armament. Subs with torpedos.

[@marviwilson1853]

We will remember him.

[@davidlightfoot8965]

My dad too

[@pat23668952]

When I started work in the 50s, I went to sea on a trawler. Three of the crew served on the Russian convoys, their stories were terrifying and I have nothing but respect for those men.

[@stefanschleps8758]

They be real men! Respect is right.

[@JohnHill-k6p]

When I was in the Coast Guard, I was on board Coast Guard cutter Westwind. She was built, for North Atlantic convoy duty. At the end of World War II, she was given to the Russians on the land lease program. They had her for I can’t remember exactly how many years and then we took her back a ton of repairs had to be done and major cleaning when I got on board 1970 there were still some of the fittings were in Russian. Went to the north pole with her once and then the south pole a heck of an experience for a 17-year-old.

[@I_Lemaire]

Mr Pat, you are the legend now.

[@ste2442]

My Grandad served in the Royal Navy and was on the Arctic Convoys , He was a Pom Pom gunner and also on the depth chargers . He was born and raised in Liverpool and was an orphan by the time he was 8. He was 18 years of age in 1942 and joined up . He was and will always be my hero . God bless our greatest generation.

[@christianh.4512]

how's Liverpool looking now? do they still speak English there?

[@ste2442]

@@christianh.4512 a very strange question , why wouldn’t we still speak English ?

[@MrSummerblade]

@@ste2442Ignore the bellends

[@BrunoPadovani-t7g]

@@ste2442 He's just being an a$$. Ignore.

[@davidcarter1013]

American here,fascinated with the Royal Navy,Actually will be starting to build HMS Hood and HMS Rodney - 1-700 scale models.

[@peterfrazer1943]

One of my old Friends Jimmy "Bomber" Harris did this run 7 times on an Escort Vessel. He was awarded the DCM aged 17, after being severely wounded but stayed at his Post, feeding the Gun. He received his Medal from King George 1V. This made him the second highest decorated Boy Seaman in the History of the Royal Navy, Jack Cornforth VC, WW1 being the highest. These men should never be forgotten, Heroes each and everyone of them. This was the most dangerous and arduous Convoy run of WW11 and who in the Modern World would do it now.

[@jackryder-sw9rk]

They are never forgotten.

[@pkassies]

Thank you for sharing his story. 17 years. Younger than my eldest son...

[@allseeingotto2912]

The country gives us no encouragement to do this now , quite the contrary in fact .

[@deaddocreallydeaddoc5244]

I think your fingers transposed the King George Vl to lV by accident.

[@as_dust_dances]

Jack Cornwell VC I think you meant to say.

[@jaywalker3087]

I knew a merchant seaman that did those runs.. Whenever it was mentioned, he would have the thousand yard stare and be right back there. It was chilling to experience his grief.... He didn't just fight the War , he fought it every day till he died...... Bless them all.

[@frankgercas1392]

I agree with your story. My dad served in the Merchant Marines. He said he had flashbacks and nightmares every time he heard the phone ring, the bell reminded him of "general alarm". His Liberty ships and one tanker (empty), were sunk on different occasions, (3 times). Its a miracle that on all 3 sinking's there were no casualties, all crewmen survived.

[@majoco1929]

🙏🏼

[@TA-ne4nh]

My grandmother who was a teen in Russia, had a little tin salt shaker that was sent on one those convoys.. Those convoys saved a lot of lives.

[@stefanschleps8758]

Those convoys kept Russia in the fight allowing for the defeat of the Third Reich.

[@Nerezza1]

They honestly did more than that, they kept Russia in the war. Russians and westerners alike (Soviet propaganda did a good job here) like to downplay how crucial those convoys were to the Russian war effort and civilian population. Germany had, despite it's logistics, steamrolled Russia if those few convoys not gotten there with jeeps, trucks, tanks, ammunition, fuel, food, clothing and blankets.

[@IndieVolken]

did it have a series of smaller salt shakers inside it

[@Armis71]

@@IndieVolken brilliant

[@187Rajah]

@@Nerezza1 Nope , all supplies were like 10% of army etc needs, there is no need to overpraise this help? ppl like you just make their dangerous and heroic work to humilate USSR\ Russia , better know the fact 80% German and their allies armies were destroyed at Eastern front

[@Unity-v3f]

My uncle Les was in the merchant navy and did this convoy many, many times (Archangl route). He told me it was horrific and every time they set sail they did so in the knowledge that thay may never return. He was 18yrs old! RIP Uncle Les you were a total hero to me.

[@frankgercas1392]

I agree with your story. My dad served in the Merchant Marines. He said he had flashbacks and nightmares every time he heard the phone ring, the bell reminded him of "general alarm". His Liberty ships and one tanker (empty), were sunk on different occasions, (3 times). Its a miracle that on all 3 sinking's there were no casualties, all crewmen survived.

[@ianforsyth2090]

My father served on the Artic Convoys, his Frigate was HMS Fitzroy. He very, very rarely spoke about his time in the Navy, he actually lied about his age to join up, he joined up at 15 or 16. When he passed i found all his meadals and more importantly leots of photographs of his ship escorting surrended U boats back to Scapa Flow, there is a few photographs of him in Jack Dempseys bar on Christmas Eve 1944, i thought how can he be there is he was on the Artic Convoys, investigation showed his ship had lost one engine and had to go to dock on New York for a few days and he got to spend Christmas Eve onshore; there are pictures of him and a shipmate with two American GI's. I think that bar is still there so im hopin to frame a copy of the photograph and take it to the bar. RIP Dad.

[@TheMick777777]

36 W. 33rd St. NYC. NY.

[@davidlightfoot8965]

My dad was on the same ship , and he lied too about his age signed up with a mate from the same town . They had never seen the sea before so they joined up . Like you he really talked about it and I too got his medals when he passed away . I have his picture taken in NewYork with his uniform on , so proud of him . One day I want to sail into New York as a tribute to him and all the other brave sailors on those convoys .

[@IamScoHo]

@@davidlightfoot8965 Sounds like you two should make a trip. I'd bet there's others.

[@MegaBloggs1]

@@davidlightfoot8965 legends both of them

[@comealongcomealong4480]

@@IamScoHo You likely know that most Royal Navy ships have 'Family and Friends of HMS Fitzroy' (for example) these days. Just as their sons and grandsons are describing here, these men often did not talk about their years of service. Some are Facebook groups, some have newsletters and gatherings. Giving family members a chance to walk in the shoes of their relative. Often there are photos, letters and official reports that help flesh out those years.

[@dewindoethdwl2798]

It grieves me that many Merchant Seamen were not recognised at the time for the bravery they displayed working these convoys.

[@IamScoHo]

I get you. But medals and ribbons mean nothing, the enemy earn them too. They served the greater good.

[@OrbitFallenAngel]

I Agree With You. But Medals Will Eventually Fade. But Memorial That Are Kept Alive By Family And Friends Recounting What They Did During WW2 Continues To Ensure That Their Legacy Will Never Ever Be Forgotten!! 🙏🇺🇲🇬🇧🇨🇦❤ God Bless The Merchant Marines!! They Will Never Ever Be Forgotten!!!

[@wessexdruid7598]

An ex-MN neighbour of mine was awarded the Ushakov medal by the USSR in the mid-80s, but they were still being issued by Russia this century.

[@maplerice6226]

@@OrbitFallenAngel The Lifeline of the World.

[@SiennaContor]

My grandad was on the convoys. He sailed to New York and back, from Liverpool, then to Murmansk (he went to Murmansk twice), and received the Arctic star.

[@frankgercas1392]

I agree with your story. My dad served in the Merchant Marines. He said he had flashbacks and nightmares every time he heard the phone ring, the bell reminded him of "general alarm". His Liberty ships and one tanker (empty), were sunk on different occasions, (3 times). Its a miracle that on all 3 sinking's there were no casualties, all crewmen survived.

[@ZootZoots-ks9wx]

My grandfather was a captain of a merchant ship and went down with it after being torpedoed in the Atlantic. These films are remarkable testaments to these men’s bravery. Well done it looks superb. Will be watching this.

[@MERISI001]

My Dad served in the Royal Navy on HMS Ashanti and experienced first hand the horrors of the Arctic Convoys. In freezing weather they were bombed, torpedoed and fired upon night and day. While chipping ice the ship dipped down below the waves and dad was washed overboard. As the ship rose up he found himself back on deck. Before he had a chance to get dry they spotted a sub which fired two torpedoes, both of which went under the ship. He said it was the luckiest day of his life.....all at the ripe old age of 19.

[@robertdempster7408]

My late father-in-law was on an Arctic convoy taking ex-RAF Hurricanes to Russia. It took the British Government almost 70 years to recognise these brave men and award the Arctic Star. The Russians had tried for many years to award their medals, he subsequently received the Order of Lenin from the Russian Ambassador in a lovely ceremony. His Arctic Star came by post in a jiffy bag...He also received the Burma Star for service in the far east after returning from Russia. RIP Jack.

[@well9179]

May I asking? Why?

[@robertdempster7408]

Why what?

[@HarryCouchman]

Sounds exactly like my Dad's story. He attended the Riussian Embassy to be awarded his Russian medal by the Ambassador. His Arctic Star was sent to him by ordinary post by the British authorities.

[@DrzBa]

@@HarryCouchman I remember. The British Government could at least have had a ceremony - perhaps at Buckingham palace - with the Russian and American Ambassadors there to honour these brave men.

[@TheOwlsarewatching606]

Yes - my father had already passed so he didn’t get his. I always feel the Navy was very short changed of recognition. Dad was on the arctic convoys, Malta and to the US. Long busy war, out to the East. Navy through and through. We are lucky we had such parents. Best wishes to you

[@richardcoward6803]

My Grandad was on the aircraft carriers HMS Trumpeter and HMS Tracker. Went in several arctic convoys. I wish l had asked him more about his experiences. Such a kind man. Received his arctic star after his passing.

[@stefanschleps8758]

Ask them every thing you can before they go, and record their thoughts and feelings for future generations. I did, with my grandparents, who lived under German occupation during WWII. My mothers side fought for the Third Reich, my father served with Third Armored Division with the Allies. All the best.

[@olivernunn1656]

My Grandad was a Swordfish Observer with 816 NAS on Tracker for the Atlantic Convoys August '43 to February '44. 816 transferred to HMS Chaser for the Arctic Convoys, and he was awarded the DSC for sinking U-366 during Convoy RA.57 in March '43. Like you, I wish I'd had the opportunity to talk to him about his experiences, but he developed Alzheimers when I was still a teenager. My Grandmother kindly requested his records from the RN on my behalf, which is the only way we've been able to piece together his service.

[@bluedragontoybash2463]

That submarine have a death wish, surfacing on broad daylight.

[@westerngent]

They attacked from the surface it they could. At that time there were no Allied robust anti-submarine warfare aerial systems in place, so they could do so. Why? Torpedo accuracy first and foremost.

[@westerngent]

@wecanjump7512 Yes. You know I need to look up the caliber of their deck guns. I do not believe they were 8.8cm. Seems big to me.

[@dulls8475]

@@westerngent Not in the day but at night.

[@ervinbratlien8741]

@@westerngent They were 88 mm but not the same gun as the anti-aircraft gun or tiger tank.different ammo and lower muzzle velocity. Some german subs had a 105 mm gun instead.

[@westerngent]

@@ervinbratlien8741 That'll get your attention. Wonder how they dealt with recoil?

[@CanadianSmoke]

My father was an RAF bomber pilot who had a post-war friend who was a merchant mariner... this ex-sailor told me that when they were transporting highly combustible material they slept in their PJs and when they were transporting non-combustible materials they slept in their clothes to give them a small chance of survival. The merchant marine are truly unsung heroes.

[@starcorpvncj]

Those brave merchant seamen went unrecognised after WW2 and received zero benefits. Absolutely shameful.

[@dalek3086]

I thought USSR gave some a medal soon after 1945. Could be wrong .Britain did not . Tower Hill memorial for the Merchant Seamen lost in WW2 - listed by ship.

[@jonathanmatthews7448]

“Follow what may, great deeds are not lessened in worth.”

[@SuperIv7]

There is a monument to the Arctic convoy seamen in the Russian city of Archangelsk where the first convoy arrived. Google: Pamyatnik Severnym Konvoyam

[@SuperIv7]

And yes, the participants were awarded Soviet medals for bravery back during the war. Those medals were not easy to get. After the war they continue to be awarded with Russian commemorative medals.

[@crayzmarc]

Spot on unfortunately. The Royal British Legion didn't want to know the sacrifice the Merchant seamen made.

[@johnhitchen1279]

My father-in- law showed me a photo he had of the ice 4 inches thick on the rails & rigging of his destroyer when on convoy duty to Murmansk, the crew had to use hammers to dislodge the ice because it was affecting the ships stability. He survived all his convoy runs, many perished in freezing waters. May God rest their souls.🇬🇧

[@dovidell]

For those who don't know , and happen to visiting London , there is a monument near the Tower Hill Tube station dedicated to the brave souls of the allied Merchant marine that lost their lives , trying to feed /clothe/arm Britain and her allies during WW 2

[@maplerice6226]

My Dad was a Merchant Seaman he never made it to Murmansk but did the North Atlantic several times, the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. He was torpedoed on his first voyage out of the Thames by E-Boats at the age of 16.

[@WEBB-TECH]

I love it when people share their own personal links with things like this in the comments section on KZbin. I've read some really interesting stories.

[@Alfonse-dm6ht]

Real The Only People That I Havent Read Till Now Are The Family Members Of The Submariners

[@jamesewanchook2276]

My Dad did the Halifax/ Murmansk run in 1943 to 45. He was only 16 and as a Canadian seaman with a Ukrainian last name, he was not allowed to shore leave for fear of being Shanghai'd to a Gulag.

[@maxy073]

I remember going to the premier of this movie, glad that it gets the spotlight it deserves !

[@HarryBarrow-e3u]

My father was an engineer in the Royal Navy. He was on Murmansk convoys, serving on HMS Edinburgh. In 1942, on a return journey, carrying 1.5 tons of gold, payment for arms sent to Russia, the ship was torpedoed by a U-boat. The steering was disabled, so the crew had to be taken off and Edinburgh scuttled.

[@kavasir7042]

My dad was a wireless operator on the HMS Antelope which formed part of the escort for Convoy PQ-1. I still have his uniform, hammock and a grease gun he took as a souvenir from the ship somewhere lol, but someone broke in and stole most of his medals years ago.

[@christiansoltendieck6608]

My uncle went down as well in "The Crossing", first on the HMCS St. Croix on their way back to Halifax to get outfitted with the newly invented sonar, then again on the HMS Itchen 48 hours later which he was picked out of the ocean from. All toll over 300 men lost their lives on both ships and only three survivors, one only from the St. Croix, Bill Fisher, who later lived his life in Black Diamond, Alberta. The Montreal Star did a full color front page weekend article on this story in 1958 which my mother saved. Also noted, the ships doctor on the St. Croix was the Prime Minister of Canada McKenzie King's nephew, by the same name. Probably the worst ship to have been on in the crossing was an oil tanker, much like today's night guard at a Russian ammo dump. Bless you men, who put your lives down for the good of others.

[@filtonkingswood]

A merchant sea mans pay stopped the moment his ship was sunk until he signed on the next one if he survived. Disgusting.

[@HarryCouchman]

Not only that but their "survivor's leave' entitlement started the moment they stepped off the ship and into the water or a lifeboat. My father did the Murmansk run several times.

[@EvoraGT430]

That was not confined to just these convoys, though.

[@as_dust_dances]

My grandfather and two of my great uncles did this. Following the liberation of Antwerp, uncle Jimmy's ship hit a mine on it's return to the UK. Hos body was never recovered and he is commemorated on rhe Tower Hill memorial.

[@pelleban]

"Inget vi borde skjuta på" was translated to "nothing we should postpone" was kinda funny for me as a swede. Translated it means "Nothing we can shoot at" which also can be used as a term for postponing.

[@joycegrenfell]

My grandad Ernest Nelson Setchell (Stoker) was on the runs on HMS Goodall, last ship to be sunk there in 1945. Came up for a smoke break. Torpedo hit the magazine and obliterated the ship. He was one of few survivors off Murmansk. He’d survived the Battle of Crete on HMS York when they were rammed by an Italian torpedo boat. 2 stoker colleagues died in that attack. He went back to the cemetery with my parents, got absolutely hammered with an old Greek fella looking after the cemetery at Souda Bay ❤ ❤. My grandmother received his Arctic Star after he passed. He was a fireman/stoker on steam trains pre war and came back to drive them and diesels after. Rarely spoke of the awful sights. Much respect to him and all who served in all conflicts.

[@knightowl3577]

This is where my Dad fought during WWII. Escort duty in the RN, an AA gunner. I miss you Dad.

[@MandM_IMO]

One of the best books I ever read about the North Sea convoys was "HMS Ulysses" by Alistair MacLean. He himself was a seaman serving in the Royal Navy including being in North Sea convoys.

[@GrahamDyson-h9z]

My late Father's elder brother, my uncle, served on HMS Wild Goose under Cpt 'Walker RN'. He never spoke very much about his experiences until his latter years. I wish I'd have had the presence of mind, as a then teenager, to have recorded is recollections. It would have made a great memoir worthy of print

[@sinenomine9093]

Years ago I worked for a farmer who had been a merchant seaman during WWII, one night when they were sailing along the coast of Africa, he was standing watch at the rear deck gun. He said, "I saw the sub surface in the moonlight, I just started firing and didn't stop until it disappeared." A normally happy positive kind of fellow, it obviously deeply affected him.

[@bilbobigbollix7318]

I knew someone that was in the 'Andrew'' -the Merchant Navy - and could never believe him when he maintained that the moment your ship was sunk from underneath you, your pay stopped. But it was true.

[@glenchapman3899]

I some companies they would round it up to the nearest quarter hour just to be generous. Back in the day on sailing ships, if you fell from the rigging, your pay stopped at the moment your body either hit the deck or the ocean.

[@donbaskerville7311]

Yes, my father was a merchant seaman , torpedoed twice in the Atlantic and sunk by stupas on the Malta convoy. He rowed the lifeboats on his own time. Grim working conditions.

[@evry1sfriend619]

Now thats one heck of an opening scene. Can't wait to see the rest of the film

[@MegaSteve1957]

One of the first books I read as an adult passed to me by my late father, was Alistair Maclean's HMS Ulysses - like him I couldn't put it down.

[@sean_d]

Great book.

[@counciousstream]

I had an uncle that was in the Merchant Marine (USA) before, during and after WW2. He made the "Murmansk Run" as he called it 7 times. He saw dozens of ships go down. Some were attacked and he said a couple of the liberty ships cracked in half and sank. He had collectibles and souveniers from everywhere he went. Later in the war he said you could trade for all manner of military equipment and weapons both German and Russian. Much was sold right on the docks. The man had stories and a far away look in his eyes.

[@frankgercas1392]

My dad told me stories from his Arctic Convoys when he served in the Merchant Marines during WW2. He said he knew where they were going when they boarded the Liberty ship when he saw the cold weather gear in his locker. He made a number of runs to Murmansk. On March 3 of 1944 his Liberty ship split in 2 during a storm in the North Sea. Another ship lagged behind and rescued all the crew.

[@Rustythemouse]

I want to say great thanks for movies like this. Honor to these sailors and God rest their souls.

[@chriswalford9228]

When I started work in 1973 my foreman had served on ships doing the Baltic runs. I can still remember his story of how cold it was when on deck watch. You couldn't take your old man out for a wee as the urine would just freeze in flight, so you just went down your legs inside the many layers of clothing.

[@crayzmarc]

My grandfather was a Merchant seaman stationed out of Iceland. He used to go out in a tug and pick up the survivors who had been torpedoed or had there crafts wrecked or toe boats back to port. His boat was even out looking for survivors of the Hood and let's just say that ordeal haunted him until about his final year when he finally could vocalise what he saw and let it go. Never wore his medals and only got them because I asked him to. I'm not sure but I feel like he was entitled to the Artic Star or one more type medal though he told me he couldn't be bothered to pursue getting it and I was too young to find out what one. Weather scared him more than any German's and he watched that film the Perfect Storm and laughed.

[@stefanschleps8758]

This is excellent! Well done! The direction was superb! Great production. Thanks for sharing. Lets go find that movie. Peace.

[@VenturiLife]

I met a man who had served as a merchant seaman on convoy PQ-17 (Hvalfjörður, Iceland, for the port of Arkhangelsk), out of 34 merchants only 11 made port. They were attacked by u-boats and aircraft after being ordered to scatter, as it was believed the battleship Tirpitz was bearing down on the convoy. This information was not correct, and without their escorts it doomed the convoy. He said it was a terrifying ordeal, I'm not sure how many convoys he was on.

[@stefanschleps8758]

Thanks for sharing.

[@skunk1421]

There is a book, The Captain, written by the Dutch author Jan de Hartog, which describes the journey of a convoy making the arctic passage from the viewpoint of the master of a Dutch ocean going tugboat being used as a rescue ship in the escort. The action described in the book is based on the passage and near total annihilation of convoy PQ-17.

[@mantagoesdownthestreet500]

Here in Russia we have a novel "Requiem for PQ-17 Convoy" written by Soviet author Valentin Pikul in awe of seamen perished during their duty of suppliement Red Army in the most hard and deadly time. Still remember.

[@simmybear31]

My Uncle John joined the RNVR in 1938, after Munich and was called up for active service in July 1939 so was already at sea when war broke out. He served on HMS Orion in the med against the Italians and on Arctic convoys. One of the big challenges was removing ice from decks and superstructure as this made ships more liable to capsize if torpedoed.

[@RalpGalland]

My grandmothers 2 brothers and father sailed in the norwegian merchant fleet. Sailing on different ships, each one had been torpedoed at least once. My great uncle, Per, the only one that lived long enough for me to meet him, since all of them turned alcoholics after the war, opened up about his experiences only after I had served in the army. He let me hang out with him and his buddies, wich were a wicked varied bunch, merchant sailors, soldiers, resistance fighters and even one that fought first in the invasion in norwegian uniform, then in finland with SS runes on his collar. The stories those men told when they met and drank the night away were... eyeopening and frankly, nightmare inducing.

[@basmodels]

Although much being inaccurate in this trailer, a big shoutout to smaller nations such as Norway and the Netherlands. They had one of the largest merchant fleets in the world at the time. This addition to the Allies was crucial in shipping all war transport across the entire world. They also suffered tremendous losses, much of them being civilian. This is often overlooked.

[@nerd_in_norway]

The Norwegian Nortraship was the largest shipping company in the world, with its massive fleet of merchant ships transporting fuel, supplies and equipment for the allies it was easily Norway's biggest contribution to WW2.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@basmodels - Many merchant vessels of the occupied nations of Europe ended up re-flagging themselves in essence and working for the Allied cause, because of being caught at sea when their home nations were invaded and occupied. Their choices were to return to their now-occupied home ports and enter into occupation, setting course for an allied nation, or perhaps claiming asylum in a neutral non-aligned nation. Many of these vessels, once under Danish, Norwegian, Dutch, or other flags, joined the Anglo-American convoys for the duration of the war or as long as they survived. Their sacrifices have largely been lost to history, so it is long-overdue for them to get some recognition. My late mother was Danish. One of her brothers was in the merchant marine and took part in the convoys. He's been gone many years now, so there isn't much I remember other than that.

[@matswinberg5045]

@@GeorgiaBoy1961 The gunner speaks Swedish, the rest speak Norwegian. Many Swedish sailors found themselves outside Sweden at the outbreak of war and could not return home. Around 1500 Swedes served in allied convoys. 2000 Swedish seamen died due to acts of war. This figure include both those who died in Allied convoys and those who perished on Swedish merchant ships.

[@Aluminati1]

This was my paternal grandfathers route. HMCS Huron. In fact, the higher ups used one of my grandfathers convoys to lure out the Scharnhorst for the Battle of North Cape.

[@Patrick-yu1hu]

The U-Boats were 'everywhere', especially during the first half of the war. My father served in the US Army Air Forces, 1940-1945. He spent the summer of 1941 to the summer of 1943 in the Caribbean, based on St. Croix. His unit flew in box patterns over the water, carrying depth charges, in case they saw U-Boats surfacing. There were always a few there in those years. He flew with the 25th Bombardment Group, escorting convoys and conducting aerial patrols against U-Boats then attacking Allied shipping coming through the Panama Canal and oil tankers sailing from Aruba, Curaçao, Trinidad, and Venezuela, on their way to the east coast of the USA and to Britain.

[@maconescotland8996]

Fortunately only 1/3 of the U-boat fleet (much the same as other navies) could be on operational patrols at any one time - - the other 2/3 were either in dock being refitted or repaired etc., or on route to/from their home bases. The Kriegsmarine had 10 extra large "milk cow" submarines to replenish operational U-boats at sea, almost all in the Atlantic, in order to spare them having to make the long voyage back to the west coast of France to refuel, restore and rearm. These became priority targets for the Allies and all were sunk. The US east coast merchantile traffic suffered very badly in the early months of 1942 thanks to Admiral King's reluctance to accept UK intelligence reports indicating that long range U-boats were heading there following Germany declaring war on America.

[@rutabega2039]

@@maconescotland8996 It's worth adding that the massive destruction wrought by U-boats on the US east coast in early 1942 was the result of a whopping *five* U-boats. And that they were greatly aided by all the lights on the east coast - including those of Atlantic City, which were never blacked out at any point in the war.

[@maconescotland8996]

@@rutabega2039 Indeed - of course these were not the standard type VII U-boats but the longer range type IX.

[@64MDW]

@@rutabega2039 Nice snark. Real class.

[@briankorbelik2873]

My best friend since kindergarten, his parents were from Toronto, had an uncle who was on Canadian Corvettes during the war and help to guard many a convoy..

[@StephenMcGowan-ly6of]

I saw this movie in the cinema. Excellent. Well worth a look. Recommended.

[@bobmartin9918]

If you ever find yourself on the shores of Loch Ewe, be sure to visit the Arctic Convoy museum. I have been there twice and it is well worth a visit. My only complaint is that the second time I visited, I noticed that a plaque that was gifted to the museum by Russia recognising and thanking the brave men of the British Empire who sailed on those ships for saving their people from starvation and defeat was removed. It is also worth mentioning that Russia recognised their sacrifice decades BEFORE our own government did. It's a shame that modern political events have influenced the museum as it did. I do not even remember if they were even still flying a Russian flag outside on my second visit anymore.

[@garthwick19]

Remembering my other great uncle Fred. He was named after his oldest brother who was killed at the Somme. Young Fred was Royal Artillery and manned the deck guns on the convoys.

[@DIOSpeedDemon]

The History books say 11,000 locomotives, 500,000 Studebaker troop trucks, 16 million pairs of boots, were just a small part sent to Russia to help them. You get the point of How vital and how many ships were sent. Alot of the Seamen were upset they did not receive combat pay, ? for being in a combat area? Great History and Brave men on those ships. My Respects. RH DSD

[@Steve-mz7np]

My dad did the Murmansk run a few times, but after the Newfoundland ferry was sunk in October 42, his boat was sunk at the same time, he survived, not many did.

[@MrLudvigsen]

Many norweian sailors lost their lives or came home in 45, 46 or 47 as wrecks...I remember some of them...with their bottles...😢

[@johncraggs3658]

My dad was a stoker in the merchant on the convoys. George Craggs. Would like to have known more but he died when I was young. Great footage.

[@johnf.kennedy7339]

After 80 years of not knowing what happened to my Uncle, Jimmy during WWII, the U.S. Navy finally forwarded information to me unknown to the family all this time. Jimmy was on anti-submarine patrol in the Bay of Biscay. He disappeared in March of 1944 and was never recovered. The entire Liberator crew was lost. And the Navy’s reports highlight events, ironically, similar to this scene. I just did not know the Liberator’s carried depth charges. And the enemy in the skies were the Junker 88’s. The detailed reports are telling, but leaves open a lot of questions of Jimmy’s journey. The Liberator’s number was 32209. No picture has yet been discovered. And it was extremely ironic, I came across this video here and another recent realistic film about Pearl Harbor as highlighted in the official Navy reports paralleled actual events. It’s been known for a long time that these type of war movies continually portray the events more and more realistically. What’s portrayed in this film is clearly the British version of the Liberator, however. Addendum: What’s ironic for me is that I just very recently received the official Navy reports from the U. S. Navy directly at the time of this comment and KZbin served up this film entirely unknown to me. That’s what was ironic. There is some sort of divine intervention. Most of the people that would have been interested in knowing Jimmy’s fate have all now passed. All Jimmy’s siblings are gone. Jimmy was one of nine who had a sibling that died at age one in 1918. It was about time I shared this story because it seems, after speaking to the Navy, they lost track of their missing Liberator.

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@johnf.kennedy7339 - Thank you for sharing your story. Your Uncle Jimmy was a brave man. Anti-submarine patrols were among the most-dangerous types of missions flown by aviators in that war, not so much from the threat of being shot down by the Luftwaffe but because of the terrible weather and distances involved. Depending on the season and how far north a crew had to ditch their survival chances in the water ranged from slim (a few minutes in the frigid water) to none. If rescue was not rapid, almost immediate, men would succumb to the cold very rapidly. My late father was a teenaged radioman and radar technician in the USN during the war, and we know that he served some time in the North Atlantic aboard a man of war - a destroyer or destroyer escort - but the vessel name has been lost now that he is gone and many of the surviving records were destroyed in a warehouse fire in St. Louis, Missouri in the early 1970s when a national military records facility containing many thousands of records of WW2 veterans, burned and was destroyed. Thanks to some diligent research, our family have some clues, but that's about it. He told me once that his old navy old-weather parka - which he had kept along with a pea-coat after leaving the navy - was very warm, but heavy and would have caused him to sink like a stone if he'd gone overboard, life-jacket or not. The enlisted sailors were fatalistic about their chances of surviving in the water for any length of time at all. Fortunately for his sake, it didn't come to that. Dad did mention that going up the radar-radio mast during an ice storm was scary duty - but it was his job and he did it. Eighteen years old. Grew up fast. There were some laughs about naval service, though: No one but the commanding officer - the captain - was supposed to have armed forces radio in his cabin or berth, but since dad knew how to wire up AFR he was much in demand for that "duty" - unsanctioned though it was - as it got him out of many of the dirty jobs most of the white-hats had to do. The higher ranking petty officers saw to that - as long as they continued to get armed forces radio. Never underestimate the ability of motivated senior petty officers to circumvent foolish regs, right?

[@MegaBloggs1]

@@GeorgiaBoy1961 another legend

[@GeorgiaBoy1961]

@@MegaBloggs1 - Well, that's very kind of you to say, but my late father would have laughed at such a moniker. He always said the real heroes were the boys who didn't make it home. My dad just wanted to do his duty; that word was an important one for men of that time. Thanks for writing....

[@billbergin8953]

The few clips I have seen of this are excellent. Sums up the effort, the danger, the fear, the cold, the bravery so very well. Excellent.

[@WorkingFromHomes]

I grew up in Aultbea in the 70's with little awareness of the significance of Isle Ewe although very aware of the shelters and gun emplacements around the bay. There is now a superb museum there explaining the history of the convoys. An amazing legacy to all those ho servced and lost their lives on what must have been one of the most scary and dangerous tours of duty.

[@TheOwlsarewatching606]

My Dad took me toaultbea and the area, explaining the history. Coming back from arctic convoys he used sometimes to moor in Nigg bay. Many years later he moved to a house on that bay. His next door neighbour was a Dutchman who as a teenager spent years living in the woods and helping as a runner for the resistance. Life came full circle in a beautiful area of Scotland and many memories filled dad’s life. What a hell of a generation…

[@WorkingFromHomes]

@@TheOwlsarewatching606many of the gun in placements are still in place and with the fantastic museum there are many eye witness accounts and stories on display both from the military based her and the folks who took part in the convoys. Walking around the bay it’s easy to imagine the men standing guard in all weathers.. it’s an amazing place to visit.

[@colinr1960]

If you have never read “H.M.S. Ulysses“ by Alistair MacLean then now is the time. One of the all-time great naval novels about WWII. Written in, I think, 1950 so the memories of the war were still vivid in the authors memory. About a Russian convoy, tho’ the author was in the Navy I don’t believe he was on a convoy during his service.

[@Sunny-jj4su]

Sailed with many Merchant mariners that made those runs. One guy sunk twice in on a trip. Ship split in two, with the anchor winches keeping it together.

[@internetstrangerstrangerofweb]

There’s like zero movies about the actual cargo ships in the convoys of ww2. I’m definitely going to look into this movie

[@MrPearlJack]

A U-Boat would NEVER surface the water like that amongst a convoy.

[@FerGarza-q1p]

And never in daytime..

[@TringmotionCoUk]

Wrong, a Wolfpack was commanded by a submarine in the middle of the convoy. Standard practice.

[@maxsparks5183]

Only if it had to.

[@mdrumt]

Maybe the fd up

[@ellin67]

In 1941, when the movie takes place, nighttime surface attacks using the e-engines were commonplace. The tactic is also recommended by the U-boat Commander's Handbook of the Kiriegsmarine. But NOT in daytime.

[@MerleDoughty-yw6cl]

I met a New Zealand merchant sailor that was on these convoys, he told me he was on watch and he saw a small boat, he told is officer that they were waving. They were not they were dead, frozen to death.

[@Flyinghigh888]

Wow that was creepy 😢!

[@colinnorth1082]

My uncle Stan was on these convoyes when his ship fired a torpedo at a sub but the giro on the torpedo malfunctioned and came round and sunk them, he was picked up by another shop which was bombed by a German plane and sank with loss of all life, Rio Stan.

[@DuncanMcCreadie-bw5hv]

Brilliant acting and realism. Ex-serviceman who detests the sea therefore applauds all mariners.

[@199gSauerkraut]

In total, the USA deliveries to the USSR through Lend-Lease amounted to $11 billion in materials over 400,000 jeeps and trucks; 12,000 armored vehicles 11,400 aircraft 1.75 million tons of food. Between June 1941 and May 1945, Britain delivered to the USSR: 7,411 aircraft 27 naval vessels 5,218 armored vehicles 5,000 anti-tank guns 4,020 ambulances and trucks 323 machinery trucks (mobile vehicle workshops equipped with generators and all the welding and power tools required to perform heavy servicing) 1,212 Universal Carriers and Loyd Carriers (with another 1,348 from Canada) 1,721 motorcycles 1,474 radar sets 4,338 radio sets 600 naval radar and sonar sets Hundreds of naval guns 15 million pairs of boots

[@archimedesscrew3710]

My dad served on HMS KENT a county class cruiser on the arctic convoys. Royal Marine and manned the main guns. My hero.

[@cecilwilson5442]

My grandfather was on the HMS Somali and got torped on a russian convoy escort,the survived and lived until his80s Thomas Henry Brownlee ,,1936 /48 Royal Navy,, ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland

[@nuclearrabbit1]

My best friends Dad was a U.S. Merchant Marine in the North Atlantic. He said he never got torpedo'd, but he saw torpedoes streak past his ship three times. Some really brave men in that generation.

[@MegaJackpinesavage]

Your gunner's the ringer for a young Graham Chapman --- RIP.

[@Kevin-mx1vi]

My wife's father served aboard destroyers and other escort warships on the Arctic convoys. I wish I'd known more about his service, but I do remember him telling me about hacking the ice from the ship to prevent it from capsizing. Can't have been great being out there on a slippery deck, swinging an axe, while getting drenched by freezing spray.

[@peterhewson3216]

This was the norm on deep sea trawlers in the fishing industry in war and peace. My uncle served on armed trawlers in the war and all they had as a defence was 1 old WW1 rusty Lewis gun for anti E boat and aircraft defence. His father in law was lost when his ship was run down in the dark by a larger vessel when their East coast convoy was hit by E Boats and scattered. That is another aspect of the war which is never mentioned.

[@eddieharris6004]

Shame our government never honoured the British merchant seamen....the Russians were grateful and did.

[@Bob-Horse]

Yes indeed, I was glad my uncle lived long enough for me to obtain the Arctic Star for him. May he and his fellow sailors rest in peace.

[@seamusmon]

My grandfather did this.. he was a purser on the Vindex..

[@YesYes-xb6he]

Chaps Balls of steel the lot of them. The bit that really shocks and surprises me is the number of merchant shipping & personnel that took part in the Falklands war, that there were more merchant ships and personnel involved than RN amazed me when I found out. Massive nod and kudos to the red ensign guys

[@knoxyish]

we had the largest merchant fleet in the world look up anchor line and see how many ships they ran there were many others as well .

[@DressedForDrowning]

When the camera follows a person and showing her back, in this case walking through a ship, it's mighty impressive.

[@chrisbarrett8817]

My father led an ASDIC team transferred from the Royal Canadian Navy to a Royal Navy destroyer escort on the Murmansk convoys. The stories of the horrific conditions remain with me. Cold, ice and rough seas were a constant danger, unlike German attacks. His team drew straws for one of them to volunteer for the commandos (considered a certain death) so that the other two would be re-trained with a new lead and reassigned. My father ‘lost’, and served in the commandos before being bombed while on fire duty in London, eventually being sent back to Canada to recover. His team mates ended up reassigned to another arctic convoy escort, and are believed to have perished.

[@iancalvert3192]

My late grandad was on PQ17 and lived through it.

[@pm1395]

My uncle Greg did this for a few years during the war, merchant marine, he was an engineer on one of the ships. Atlantic crossings. Died at 92, Shropshire. What he saw... my god. And my grandad was also engineer on a ship in the royal Navy, he was assigned to take a captured ship back to Liverpool, died because a booby trap on the engine exploded.

[@NeilUpfold]

My grandfather served, I believe on HMS London. It's a shame his efforts weren't recognised until 2013 with the issue of the Arctic Star which was 27 years too late for him. His medal was given to my Mum's younger brother and we have a nice commemorative photograph recognising his service.

[@mortenBP]

Sometimes It's hard being a nerd on details like those going on in this clip. I am Norwegian, I haven't seen this movie yet, but only from 5 minutes I can detect a whole bunch of flaws which the director could have avoided, had he listened to his historical advisors. But I am not gonna list them and ruin your experience. ;)

[@Moamanly]

Tusen takk.😆

[@frenchycanada]

Many of those convoys originated in Halifax, Nova Scotia. All parked and gathered in Bedford Basin until the sub nets were lowered at the entrance of Halifax harbour and off they went with Canadian Corvettes covering them until mid-A tlantic....fantastic seamen all of them. Respect

[@darkhistorytours]

My gramps had a strange relationship withe the Germans. His ship caught fire in 38 and they put into Montevideo for extensive repairs. He was there when Langsdorf put in for repairs following his mauling. You'll know that he got 24 hours then had to leave port - the Graf Spee would be scuttled and Langsdorf would commit suicide. Not a few of the Matelots were billeted at the same place as my grandfather: the YMCA. Neutral territory and sailors being sailors, they hit the booze and bars. Later, on the Atlantic run, he said he knew us or them, but he never took pleasure when a U-Boot went down. I suppose having had that sort of up close and personal with the enemy makes them more human.

[@יונתןזנטון]

My uncle was in the ww2 merchant marine-volunteered after rejection by the army for heart murmurs. Did PQ17 and other N. Atlantic runs. Sunk 3 times. Also Italy landings and N. Africa. Told me he had to find a way to fight the Germans. Ran the fantail gun on PQ17 until it blew up!

[@jonbell3020]

Always infuriated my dad, a merchant seaman in the fifties that these guys were virtually ignored in UK Remembrance Day ceremonies … shameful.

[@arielfornari6595]

I love reading these comments. Greetings and blessings from the Caribbean.

[@Yidayeoh]

My dad served on convoys, god bless you all 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@jimyoung9262]

This looks interesting. Maybe since it's not Hollywood it may actually be good?

[@windwardhaven]

Reminds me of "The Cruel Sea" (novel) I read as a kid...made it clear how deadly the Murmansk runs were.

[@54blewis]

This movie and “Greyhound “ brought to life the hazards,dangers and challenges of merchant shipping during WWII,these convoys were vital to the survival of both Britain and the Soviet Union at a critical moment in the war,it was imperative that they got through otherwise the allied cause was imperiled…

[@Ahornblatt2000]

Greyhound was cr.p. Showing an U-boat in an artillery duell with a destroyer? Or the mocking over the radio?

[@54blewis]

@@Ahornblatt2000 The Point I was Making is the Little known facts surrounding the efforts of the merchant ships and crews to get the vital supplies to allied ports,whether the picture was accurate or not is another story, but it helped illustrate the dangers the merchant convoys had to endure….

[@Ahornblatt2000]

@@54blewis No doubt about that. They had a dangerous Joy especially at the beginning of the war

[@glenchapman3899]

@@Ahornblatt2000 Tom Hanks said the whole radio thing was just film technique to engage the audience. There was one or two examples during the war of subs trying to get under the guns of a warships so they could escape. It is an absolute last gasp hail Mary play. But it was tried.

[@speelangs7161]

Greyhound is a comic show. Submarines stalking destroyers, surfacing 10 meters of them, speaking like the devil on the radio....hahaha.

[@lawrencewood289]

I would assume this is largely inspired by PQ 16 or PQ 18. No words for what happened on PQ 17...one of the hardest moments of the war. RIP to all the merchant mariners basically left unprotected.

[@keithhallam1155]

The Merchant navy should lead all of the UK remembrance parades, they had a very high (possibly the highest) death rate in WW2.

[@dalek3086]

Fleet Air Arm had high death rates , so did Coastal Command Bristol Beaufort torpedo bombers ...defective planes , their own planes killed more of them ..than the Germans did. 22 squadron and 42 squadron .... Merchant Navy sure got a raw deal

[@madcarew5168]

My cousin is still on duty on the "Lapwing" torpedoed outside Murmask.

[@iliyassarsembaev]

I want everyone present here to know that Russia is grateful for the help of the Allies who came to the aid of the Soviet Union at the most difficult moment of the mortal battle against German fascism. The courage of the Allies who came to the aid of the Soviet Union will never be forgotten in Russia.

[@vaxrvaxr]

Will never be forgotten? Did you listen to your president's remarks lately?

[@acb64]

@@vaxrvaxr Try listening more closely and preferably not the carefully edited versions on western media.

[@joshwaffen88]

Hahahahahaha 😂 you're funny dude

[@vaxrvaxr]

@@acb64 I speak Russian. Do you?

[@acb64]

@@vaxrvaxr Doesn't matter what language you speak if it's wrong.

[@AO840AMSampson]

My mother's cousin was in the merchant navy on the Russian convoys, he told me storys about is service horrific especially he was only 14 years of age

[@johnf991]

The sound of the explosion at 3:18 should have arrived about two or three seconds after seeing the blast Why do the film-makers do this? We KNOW sound travels slower than light, so why break the laws of physics?

[@07foxmulder]

I thought the same thing. Unfortunately very few directors do that. Off the top of my head, Spielberg is the only one I can think of.

[@punkiller666]

I'm a pessimist, so in my humble opinion, they do that because they don't trust the common moviegoer's knowledge of basic physics. They just _know_ some idiot in the audience would notice the 2-3 second delay in the explosion's signature arrival and deem it a mistake. We know those idiots exist but even more knowledgeable nitpickers like us inhabit YT's comment section!

[@johnf991]

@@punkiller666 Let all us pedantic nitpickers of the world unite!!! But still, people, CHILDREN, know that they see the lightning flash before the thunder. If a movie showed a distant fork of lightning and a simultaneous clap of thunder. we'd all laugh at the lack of realism, but somehow for explosions they make a different judgment!! GRRR!!

[@Alfonse-dm6ht]

​​@@johnf991 Not Thar Much People Have Gone To War To Care About It Also I Have Seen Scenes With The Lightning Flashing The Same Time As A Thunder

[@danielgreen3715]

I met a Veteran of the Arctic Convoys from Hull He was in his late 70's at the time and Said it took 3 of his Fingers and half his Toes and Some 50 years later Could Still Feel the Cold in His Bones and Could Never Forget the Hell they went through to Reach Murmansk and Back( it took years of Campaigning for them and their Families to get the recognition that they Deserved from the British Government!)

[@percyprune7548]

Telling of the British govt. and their attitude to the Merchant Navy (and Bomber Command) that it was the Russians (1980's??) who first awarded medals to Merchant Navy veterans, not our own government.

[@The_Daily_Tomato]

My grandfather sailed with the convoy system. He never spoke of it but you could never mention Germany or German products around him without making him angry. Funnily enough one of his granddaughters is about to marry a German.