The Cruel Sea

The commander of a Royal Navy corvette and his officers endure years of grueling convoy escort duty against U-boats, storms, and exhaustion. The film follows their evolving bond and the psychological toll of the endless Atlantic war.

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous campaign of the war, with Royal Navy and Allied escorts battling German U-boats to keep Britain's supply lines open from 1939 to 1945.

Based on Nicholas Monsarrat's own wartime service, the film is considered one of the most authentic portrayals of convoy escort duty.

Directed by Charles Frend

Cast: Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden, Denholm Elliott, Stanley Baker

Positioned at 1939–1945 within the Battle of the Atlantic phase of the war, as part of the Battle of the Atlantic. This is entry 21 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• convoy
• corvette
• U-boat
• Royal Navy
• Atlantic

• 

  In Which We Serve

  1939–May 1941

• 

  Action in the North Atlantic

  1941–1942

• 

  Das Boot

  Autumn–Winter 1941

• 

  Greyhound

  February 1942

• 

  Sink the Bismarck!

  18–27 May 1941

• 

  Swing Kids

  1939