The decisive battle of the war was fought on the Eastern Front.
The Allies must get weapons and supplies to the Soviet Union.
The cargo is sent by cargo ships that go in formations, convoys.
The crew are civilian seamen.
The Allies protect the convoys with a military escort.
German aircraft, warships and submarines are a constant threat.
Summer 1942 Convoy route: Iceland - Murmansk/Arkangelsk
Estimated transit time: 12 days
- Hang out the lifeboat! - Leave it alone.
We haven't met yet.
- I have the bridge. - Light signal from number 11.
- Submarine sighted. - There will be more from 21.
- Something new? - No traffic since last time.
- We are falling behind. Half speed forward. - It is understood.
The pistons are leaking.
Submarine, bearing 075 degrees.
You have the bridge. Only necessary crew on deck.
I need track lights. Just load!
You should be able to do this blindly.
Yes.
- Do you see something? - No, nothing we should postpone.
Captain!
- Hard starboard! - Hard starboard.
Submarine on starboard!
Box!
Inspired by real events
THE ARCTIC CONVOY
Hello. We received messages last night.
The ship that sank was number 34.
21 has had engine problems and is returning to Iceland.
It was the steamer on its side.
The escort took out the submarine with dive bombs.
And four Heinkel planes were shot down before they reached us.
The British seem to have done their part.
What stinks here?
- What are you doing? - I'm sorry.
This is the log book. This is bloody clumsy.
The other radio officer is a pig. Can we replace him?
boatswain says he is the best seaman this morning.
"Pig"?
What does it mean? What does it mean?
Okay, he can tomorrow. But he has not learned folk wisdom.
That boy went straight from the confirmation to a radio set.
- Too much cargo at the cannon? - I heard that. He is so thorough.
We rearrange some boxes now, so he gets what he wants.
Has everyone greeted our first mate?
- Hello. - Hello.
Get that tuned before I throw it in the ocean.
- Not enough cabins? - In case of torpedoing, the door locks.
Then it is better to sleep in the mess room.
Otherwise, everything is as it should be. Except for Evensen.
- He's got lice. - It doesn't itch anymore.
- Sorry, you forgot this one. - Thank you.
We stayed too long in Iceland. I can't send the crew ashore.
...but it was just a dummy goal. It's planks, chipboards and nails.
- The air base is made of wood. Totally worthless. - Like the Norwegian defence back then.
From the air it looks like a tempting bomb target.
The Germans excitedly look on when they see the British open the plane's bomb hatch.
But then only one bomb is released.
And when the bomb hits the runway, nothing explodes.
And then the German sees that the bomb is also made of wood.
A stump. And on the stump it says:
"You got wood!"
Why risk sending a plane and pilot over enemy territory for something like that?
The temptation was probably too great.
All military leaders want to show the enemy that he has the upper hand.
You must not rule by temptation. Then you won't keep a cool head.
You have to think long-term and not go on whims and emotions.
- Then it quickly becomes a cowardly decision. - Are you talking about the prime minister?
Hemingway said, "Courage is grace under pressure."
Nygaardsvold doesn't know what that is.
Hemingway also said that the one who wins the war, is the one who does not participate.
Perhaps that was what the Prime Minister was thinking.
That he thinks he can opt out of the war?
He is not up to the task he is set to do, which he took on.
Sends children and wife to Sweden and flees to London.
The people are urged to passive resistance. In Norway, there is a paper clip on the coat.
Do you know how Nygaardsvold drinks his coffee?
He has to do it with both hands.
Do you remember him...he in the galley? Gundersen.
The one who was a little...slow?
The poor thing. I saw no difference between German and British planes and was terrified.
What do you know about the first mate?
Lots of routine. He was captain before.
There's something about him.
When he stands alone on the bridge, I would like to know what.
You are always so sceptical. Give him time.
Something new?
Nothing.
I heard what you said to the Captain.
I didn't come straight from confirmation.
Father taught me morse when I was seven and I was taking a telegraph course in Oslo.
I was actually going to be an electrician.
But I promise to do a good job. I won't eat any more herring in here.
I promise.
What the hell does this mean? It is not possible.
- Are you absolutely sure? - Yes. Wait, there's one more.
Close the door.
"Convoy to disperse and proceed to Russian ports."
And then there was that right after.
"Convoy to disperse."
Shall we proceed one by one?
And the escort is withdrawn.
And there was no...no explanation?
No. No report of storm or bad weather.
The damn Brits should be using their ships elsewhere.
Yes. There is a third reason for breaking up a convoy.
Military superiority. If the escort has no chance, they withdraw it.
Could German warships be headed our way?
Yes.
The convoy will now spread out in all directions to the east.
If we don't have any stragglers, the whole convoy is around here.
Our biggest challenge is the German air bases in Northern Norway.
Regardless of which course we choose, we are within the reach of the plans.
Why should we disperse?
We don't know what the British are thinking. It's radio silence.
Fuck the radio silence! We have been let down here!
If I transmit something now, I will reveal our position and that of all the other ships.
We ran into wreckage, but it went well.
- Do they sleep on watch up there? - No, it's thick and poor visibility.
I walk up.
In the second telegram, there is nothing about continuing towards Murmansk.
There is no doubt about what our task is.
Captain? We have engine problems. Best is to return to Iceland.
We will not be the first ship to return.
What do you think, Mørk?
- I don't know. - You don't know? You have to think something.
If I'm taken out of the game, you make the decisions yourself. What will you do?
- Yes, then we return to Iceland. - Yes. I agree with.
- Why? - To avoid engine breakdown.
We have no armament in the stern or on the bridge wings.
We are not equipped to go alone.
Our allies who need the supplies then?
The Soviet Union? A year ago they were best friends with the Nazis.
You are right. The British have failed.
We don't. We stay the course. This is the last thing the Germans expect.
- When we go by ourselves, we can increase the speed. - No.
If we go faster than half speed, the engine give smoke.
The condenser cracks if I run it at a higher pressures.
That's enough.
We do so.
- What do we say to the crew? - Only what they need to know.
- Where is the boatswain? - He was on deck just now, Captain.
Captain?
The convoy has dispersed. So we switch to double lookout.
- The escort then? - They follow us with aeroplanes and cruisers.
But there will be greater distances, so I want to be on the safe side.
Come in!
- Did you ask for me? - Just sit down.
I have read your papers
that you were captain of D/S Jutland.
- Yes. - And so you are at sea again already?
It is impressive.
Did you end up in the water?
No.
It's nothing to be ashamed of.
A little fear of water is just fine. It keeps us sharp.
Many of the best naval officers have a fear of water.
So if you have something to say, it's best to just get it out.
Yes... We were torpedoed.
But you've read that, right?
It took half an hour before the ship sank, so we...we had plenty of time.
Everyone got in the lifeboat. There were 16 of us.
So you could keep a cool head?
It wasn't as bad as people say.
Good. But you never say that again.
Everyone knows that a captain, who has lost his ship, brings bad luck.
And if fear is allowed to spread, it will spread like the plague.
I see this ship as a coffin.
Every time I board, I die. Then there is nothing left to fear.
It's the coffin lid.
We have received emergency messages.
Torpedoing. All indications are that she was sunk.
There are distress messages from four ships. The last one is from 18.
They sink and they go into the lifeboats. All four seem to have been hit.
What do you think? We can still turn around.
It will be a detour if we are going to Murmansk.
Stay on course and speed. Call me if it is anything.
I have the bridge.
Did you bring ammunition into the cabin? You can blow up the entire cabin!
Get into the mess room. Say you practice keeping quiet before you get the Swede's cabin.
Give me that one.
What kind of cannon did you have on the ship you came from?
- I don't know. - You don't know?
No, I was a mess boy. We were never near any enemy.
If you have managed to avoid the enemy until now, you are in any case lucky.
If there's one thing you don't get too much of in this damn place, it's that.
Chief mate?
- What is it? - Ship on the port bow. Stay the course.
It could be the tanker that sent the distress message.
Evensen? We launch the lifeboat. Get hold of the boatswain.
- Set course for the ship. - Setting course for the ship.
Are you sure about this?
Dead slow!
We were supposed to stay the course. Why are they clearing the lifeboat?
People in distress ahead. We're picking them up now.
It is forbidden to stop in the convoy.
We are no longer a convoy.
- Hard starboard - now! - Hard starboard!
What the hell was that?
Damn. Mines. They have drifted all the way out here.
See those mines? Between there.
Come on.
Can you confirm full stop in machine?
That is correct. We have mines ahead.
- We need the steering speed. - We are not to steer.
Get hold of boatswain. Send down people who clear the mines that are too close.
Use the youngest lads.
Lars. We need ship hooks, ropes and climbing nets at the bow.
I need you, Evensen. And...
...Bergvik.
The Isaksen. - And you, Sigurd.
Put on your life jackets and go out on deck. Come on!
Okay, get over the railing now. We are still moving forward.
Come on!
Clear the starboard side!
Sigurd.
This one is yours.
You can do this. Just don't bloody hit the horns.
Calm, calm, calm.
The Isaksen, it's yours.
Good good.
Come on. I've got you.
Good.
It's fine.
Isaksen. There's one more to come.
- Isaksen! - Rope, rope, rope! Man overboard!
- Man overboard! - Isaksen!
- Give me a rope!
- Help him! - Isaksen! Take the rope-end!
Help me!
Help!
Mørk?
Did someone go overboard?
- Skar? - The second radio officer.
We will manage.
You have the bridge.
The next time you want to thin the crew, you can select them yourself.
- We saved the ship and the cargo. - The boy did.
My job is to make unpleasant choices. Yours were to not to steer into minefields.
If we had kept my course, the seaman would never have ended up in the water.
I'll help you with the shirt.
- Where are Isaksen's things? - This is his.
This too?
No. It's Olof's.
Try to keep a little better order here.
I have to get off this ship.
- What is the status of the engine? - I can't stand to stay.
Now you listen to me. No one is here voluntarily.
Erik, you have the most important job. If the engine smokes, we're done.
If you get us to Murmansk one more time, I'll help you.
I know a doctor there. You get a leave of absence if he says you are ill.
Yes.
Syphilis, maybe?
So what is the status?
If we stay below half machine, this should go well.
Fine.
Eat Now.
- Why are you here anyway? - What do you mean?
Sweden is neutral. They do not help in the war.
There is a German...
...wood processing company in München.
It is called Koch and Seidelman.
Do you know it?
They make the piston for Mauser's Karabiner 98k and other German rifles.
The wood comes, among other things, from a forest in Härryda outside Göteborg.
From trees I played in as a child.
We haven't had much, but we have had some woods.
When the Germans cut off all trade routes, so…
You have to live on something. But it's not something I'm damn proud of.
So I want it to be something else to say about my family too.
If it was me, I would have stayed home.
I would have done anything to avoid being here.
- I have to have his things. Isaksen's. - Here are his books.
I talked to the other lads. No one else can morning, so you get…
Okay.
There is a commotion in the crew mess.
Then I usually send my mate to clean up.
If it's something you think you can handle.
Word of the escort has spread. They deserve an explanation.
We lost a man today. Do you think they need more bad news?
A man?
- You don't even know his name? - I don't know what any of them are called.
His name is Isaksen. And I think you should take this.
"Distress message. Torpedoing. A ship is sinking."
"Bombing. The oil tank exploded. We're going into the lifeboats."
They send us straight to hell without even blinking!
Now I have informed your crew. They know they don't have escort
and that our own captain has taken us on a bloody suicide mission!
Listen. Our situation is indeed a little worse.
That knowledge is a burden that should not be placed on the crew.
You have failed your responsibility. You chose to spread fear and worry instead.
And it benefits none of us. Sit down.
Fortunately, boatswain is wrong.
Dispersing the convoy has great advantages.
Now we can determine our own course and our speed.
When we go full ahead, there is no German submarine catching up on us.
The Soviet Union is our ally and they need help.
Thousands of Russians die every day to stop the Germans on the Eastern Front.
Shall we have it easier? Do you expect others to do the work for you?
In Norway we had no defence. When the Germans came I was in a trench.
18 men shared four rifles. After an hour we were out of ammunition.
We had no chance, Norway was lost. We can thank our government for that.
First they cut down on defences, then they fled when the war came.
A man passed away today.
Isaksen. But he did not die in vain.
He died for this cargo.
Because if the Soviets get their reinforcements, they push the Germans back.
Now we can give them the chance that Norwegian resistance fighters never got.
And then this war will end.
Our contribution, Isaksen's contribution makes that difference.
And that's how we get home.
Captain? This doesn't work. We must gather all officers and discuss.
Emergency message from 23.
It was cancelled.
No coordinates.
Ragnhild, you see what is happening. Skar's plan goes completely wrong.
You may not understand all his decisions.
I'm not alone in that.
Soon the crew turns against him. But he listens to you.
He has crossed the Atlantic 15 times.
He lies to the crew.
We have received several emergency messages. From half the ships now.
- This doesn't mean that everyone is sunk. - No, but we have to change course.
Captain, I think we're seeing number 23.
She was attacked a few minutes ago.
What is so difficult to understand? Ragnhild agrees with me. It is completely hopeless!
Now you stop, you coward. You've been whining since day one!
You are terrified!
You only think about yourself and not about the convoy's objective!
- "Stay the course" is all you can say. - How did it go the last time you were captain?
Exactly. If you want to save lives, not just your own, we'll get the cargo!
Aeroplane on starboard bow!
Only necessary crew on deck.
Now!
Below deck. Go down!
Lars! Get everyone below deck!
All men below deck! Come on, all men below deck!
Move!
Come on! Below deck, everyone!
- Go below deck! - Fast, fast, fast!
The bolt! Drag!
Take cover!
Evensen!
Keep calm!
Find something to stick with! Here, hold!
The bow against the plane.
- Full machine ahead! - You can't mean that.
Full machine ahead!
Get the pressure up in the boiler!
As soon as the Swede has fired, hard starboard!
Magazine!
Sigurd!
- There's a fire on deck! - The deck is on fire!
- Lars! Fire on deck! - Stay down here!
Clear!
- Hard starboard! - Hard starboard!
Come on, turn us around!
One more lap.
Sigurd!
Magazine!
Evensen?
Evensen, get out of here!
One more lap! Come on! So yes.
Sigurd!
Hey. Hey!
Hey! Evensen. We have to go down!
It's back! Fast, fast, fast, fast!
Duck! Duck!
Come on.
Magazine!
Come on!
Come on! Evensen!
Clear!
Duck, duck, duck!
Come on!
Go, go, go, go, go!
The bridge is hit!
Get him down to the mess room. - Stay the course.
Where the hell is that?
- They come around. Hard to port! - Hard to port!
We have to get the splinter out.
Cut up.
You get morphine now.
Okay. Keep it open.
I...
Okay, Lars. Hold on, you.
Steer the bow towards the plane. Turn starboard.
Straighten up. Right, right.
Good work.
Here.
- Very good. - Scissor. Cut there.
Good work. He sleeps now.
Clear!
Good so!
Hold, hold.
Shoot!
- We took it. - Hit it?
We got it.
Is it good?
Yes.
Evensen?
Will he make it?
It depends on whether he has suffered internal bleeding.
- How long does the morphine work? - Don't know. A couple more hours.
- Do we have more? - Yes.
I have to wait until he wakes up, so I can assess his condition.
As long as he's unconscious, I make the decisions.
- What do you mean? - We can save the whole crew.
- We can return to Iceland. - You will be arrested.
- I take full responsibility. - I do not agree to this!
- No? - No.
I need you on the bridge. I need you on the bridge!
- Forget it! Can't you hear what I'm saying? - The bridge! Now.
We won't get this opportunity again.
Please.
I'm not giving that shot.
You! I said clearly that the engine cannot run at full capacity.
Captain was injured during the attack.
- Does he survive? - Yes, we think so.
But he will not be on his feet for a while. I am in charge for the time being.
- We have to get the engine started. - The engine is dead.
We're leaking steam, the pressure is too low, the propeller shaft is about to fail.
Slow speed works. With a full stop for half a day, we can fix the shit.
Why is the engine not running?
It needs to be repaired. The Chief needs half a day.
Half a day?
I still get emergency messages. I don't know how many are left.
And we're going to lie around like a target? For half a day?
We can go at a slow speed for a few more miles.
- What is your plan then? - I...I don't know.
- You don't know? - No I don't know.
I need us to stick together now.
Give me all you've got while you can.
We change course. 340 degrees.
340 degrees.
We lost Evensen.
The captain is badly injured.
The engine is smoking.
We have extensive damage to the hull and deck.
I know this is not what you needed to hear now.
All hope is not lost.
It is not. We have now set course north.
There we are beyond the range of the German aeroplanes.
The drift ice is so thick that the submarines are useless.
That gives us time to make the necessary repairs.
So we can stay afloat.
Jesus, make me still, still
let me rest in your comfort
You don't have to do this for me. Do it for each other.
And for those who are waiting for us at home.
When Satan wants to mislead me
let me hear only your voice
One dash for each plane shot down. Hit with your arm.
I haven't shot down any aeroplanes.
This applies to both shooters and loaders. I learned that at shooting school.
We were just fired upon by two German planes and nearly blown up.
This is a small needle. With ink.
Still.
Is it going well?
Mum will kill me if she sees this.
She'll forgive you, you'll see.
My first...
...I did at a tattoo artist in Halifax, Canada.
He was shit.
I was there. So I thought that...
...no, what the hell. I might as well do it myself.
Now there is no doubt that you have met the enemy anyway.
- For Evensen. - And Isaksen.
And Olof.
- Who was Olof? - The one who had your job before you.
My brother.
Yes...nine dashes.
Whatever happens, I'll have another one before this shit is over.
That's how it is.
The ice is too thick.
It is completely frozen. Can't charge even once.
It doesn't matter. We're still far enough north now.
How much time do you need?
No, I don't know. It takes the time it takes.
In the meantime, we only have a little warmth in our foreheads.
It should probably provide heat to the ship without smoke coming out of the funnel.
Mørk!
I just wanted you to know that I have an agreement with Captain.
He promised that a doctor will call me sick as soon as we arrive in Murmansk.
No.
I didn't believe everything he said.
It might look like this works.
If the chief gets the engine fixed and the crew gets a rest,
we can round the North Cape without being discovered.
And to the south we get support from the Russians.
- I wouldn't count on that. - Why do you say that?
I have waited for help from the Russians before.
In a lifeboat with 15 others.
We were so close to Murmansk that we...
We thought help would come at any moment.
Half of us froze to death the first night.
A couple of them got stuck in the lifeboat and couldn't be tipped overboard.
The next day three ships passed. No one picked us up.
On the last ship they just stood on the deck and waved.
We were...
...four men who survived.
There will be no help.
We are alone.
That might be an advantage now.
They don't expect a lone ship several days after the others.
Skar has disappeared. I'm looking down here, you go up.
Skar?
How are you?
You remember meeting, right?
I remember there was a commotion in the mess room.
And that I armed myself.
Then I wake up locked in my cabin without a gun.
Yes, I locked it in your safe.
I didn't want the crew to disturb you, so I locked your door.
The Swede shot down the aeroplane.
And then we suffered major damage to the ship.
- And we lost a seaman. - Evensen? I saw it.
Surprising to look out.
White as far as the eye can see.
We seem to be severely off course.
Yes, we are located between Spitsbergen and Hopen.
To repair the machine in peace.
We had a full stop.
Mørk?
Mørk? I have discovered a plan.
We have a plan about the starboard bow.
It is far away. It is impossible to see which course.
It is not certain that they will find us.
East of Spitsbergen is well and truly within range of German aeroplanes.
What were you thinking? They will come.
Get the Swede to man the cannon.
- It's frozen. - Huh?
We have three Bofors cannons in the cargo.
- Can you use it? - Bofors 40 mm L/60. Swedish.
Who said that Sweden does not contribute to the war?
Without a crane, we can't get it onto the deck.
It must be through the cargo hatch.
I can't see the plane now. But the clouds are disappearing.
We are too visible. They will see us.
- Ragnhild. - Yes?
What colour was the ship before it was painted grey?
Put your foot down.
I found it! White paint, all of it.
Captain. We have white paint in the cargo. Can we use it on the hull?
If we become one with the ice, we will become harder to see.
If that's what you need to calm your nerves, sure.
Take everything you find.
We get a chance. The aeroplane must fly directly above us.
We'll be ready when it comes.
Lars! Keep a lookout and let me know if the plane is heading towards us.
I see a Junkers 88!
About five miles away!
It's coming at us!
Four miles now!
If you have the opportunity, you shoot.
They come from the south-east! You must turn the cannon 30 degrees to port!
Sigurd.
Stop!
If Junkersen has seen us, surely they must have informed the other plans?
It's not certain.
Is that right? Ragnhild?
Surely the Germans had sent our position?
Lars! Are more planes headed our way?
No! Now they're coming right at us!
Get ready! Move.
Move!
- Lars! Still no other plans? - No, it's only Junkersen.
Three miles now! Get ready!
We are not discovered. We are camouflaged in the ice. Do not shoot!
Wishful thinking. They are heading straight at us.
Captain, I think he's right. There had been more plans.
If we miss, we reveal our position. If we hit, we reveal it too.
What is it that you do not understand?
- If they drop a bomb, we're done! - But they haven't discovered us yet!
- Don't shoot. - Shut up! You are not in charge here!
Approaching, 900 metres!
As soon as you have the plane in sight, Johan, you press the button.
If you shoot now, we're done.
Shoot when you have the chance.
The thing is to know when to do it, Lars! At your signal!
Ready!
500 metres!
300 metres!
Three!
Two!
I think you should wait.
One!
- Now! - Shoot!
What is status?
The engine is ready. It should be able to run at full capacity now.
Good.
Good work.
Hm.
How is it?
Yes, it is good.
The engine is ready.
Do you want some rest?
No, it hurts less when I sit.
How long have you been out now?
Two years and three months.
Long time to be away from the children.
Not sure you'll recognise them when you get home.
Not sure they recognise me either.
How old are yours?
No, it's not my children.
Don't you recognise the little guy on the far right?
That's me.
Orphanage.
My family is in the picture at the top there.
I found it among seamen.
There's one thing you should know...about morphine.
It works just as well directly under the skin or in a muscle.
So there is no point in putting it in the middle of the carotid artery.
Yes.
I...
I would have done the same again.
I have always thought that…
...on a ship, it must be someone who decides.
Otherwise there will be anarchy.
Now I'm not so sure anymore.
- No, I'm going to...I'm going to rest. - Yes.
Need help?
No. Go now.
You have the bridge, Mørk.
Yes.
Still no emergency messages?
No plans either.
It doesn't have to mean that we...
Yes.
Thank you for...supporting me.
I didn't support you. I said what I thought was right.
- Yes... - What about him?
The previous convoy went so close to the coast that I could have rowed home in a boat.
When were you at home last?
Four years ago. August '38.
What do you think?
Iceland?
No. You said it yourself.
No one expects a lone ship several days after the others.
Give me half-speed astern.
During the war, a total of 78 Arctic convoys went to the Soviet Union.
Four million tons of munitions were shipped on this route.
Only once did the ships dispersed out and the escort withdraw.
The British feared that the Germans' largest warship was on its way.
It turned out to be based on false intelligence.
The German warship never left the fjords.
The decision to disperse the convoy is seen as one of the biggest miscalculations of the war.
A total of 35 ships participated in the convoy. Only eleven arrived.
The supply lines to Murmansk and Arkhangelsk turned the fortunes of war.
In the winter of 1943, Soviet soldiers victory in the Battle of Stalingrad
and the war turns.
Over 30,000 Norwegians served in the Norwegian merchant navy
under duty on all seas of the world during the war.
Close to 4,000 of them never came home.
Civilian seamen accounted for Norway's most important contribution
to the Allied victory.