The Cruel Sea Page #2

which had to be enough

'to turn a raw collection of men

into an effective fighting unit. '

Anti-submarine detector.

Asdic for short.

A device under the ship here

sends a series of sound impulses

out through the water like this...

Ping! Ping!

Right? Now, if there's nothing

within range, there's no echo.

But if there is something...

...you hear the impulses

echoing back from it like this...

Ping-ah! Ping-ah! Ping-ah!

"Ah," you say.

"We've found a U-boat."

"Oh, have you?"

That echo may also be

a submerged wreck, a shoal of fish,

or the empties the wardroom steward

has chuck ed over board.

How do you tell the difference?

Well, it's just a matter of practice.

Lots and lots of lovely practice.

Now, once again:

Pingah! Pingah!

Stop that laughing!

- Bearing drawing left, sir.

- Bearing still drawing left, sir.

Steer 340.

Range 400. Bearing steady.

No, it isn't. Watch it.

Right cut off. Green 40, sir.

Sorry. Bearing drawing right.

Green 40.

That's better.

Stand by, throwers!

Drop a grenade. We'll get her

exact position this time.

Stand by!

Instantaneous echo, sir.

Fire one grenade!

Submarine smok e candle, sir.

One submarine, sir.

"You're getting too good.

Go away, and try it on the... Germans!"

Yes. You won't find them

nearly so obliging.

Snork ers! Good-oh!

- Here's the wardroom, sir.

- Thank you.

What's this? Visitors?

My name's Morell, sir.

I'm joining the ship.

Ah, a new sub at last, eh?

Extra for watch-k eeping duties.

You should've been here weeks ago.

Been taking your time.

I only left King Alfred on Tuesday.

I've been travelling ever since... sir.

Another one still wet

behind the ears, eh? That's fine.

- What were you in Civvy Street?

- I was a barrister.

A lawyer, eh? That's all we need.

You better sit down and have

some snork ers before they're cold.

Carslak e! By the way,

this is Lockhart. This is Ferraby.

- How do you do.

- Sir?

- Another officer for lunch.

- Aye-aye, sir.

And I'm the first lieutenant.

- Officer of the day wanted, sir.

- OK.

I do all the work around here!

Very glad to see you.

Hang your coat up out there.

I expect you'd lik e a drink,

wouldn't you?

- Oh, I'll get it. Gin?

- Beer, please.

- Welcome to Compass Rose.

- Thank you.

He sounds a very experienced officer,

the first lieutenant.

Very. Until four months ago,

he was a second-hand car salesman.

Ah, I see.

We were hoping

you'd get here for the exercises.

Thank you. I shall have to try

and catch up. What was it like?

Three weeks of purgatory.

We don't know.

We haven't come out of the ether yet.

The skipper's ashore

with the admiral now.

- What about your gear?

- It's outside.

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