The Cruel Sea

In late 1939, Lieutenant-Commander George Ericson is recalled to the Royal Navy and given command of HMS Compass Rose, a new Flower-class corvette intended for convoy escort. His sub-lieutenants Lockhart and Ferraby are newly commissioned and inexperienced at sea. The ship’s first lieutenant, James Bennett, is introduced as an abusive martinet, highlighting the初 shaky leadership at the start.

The crew gains hard-won experience as weather becomes their primary adversary. Meanwhile, German submarines lack the range to threaten convoys far into the Atlantic, giving the sea some reprieve as they learn their trade.

With the Fall of France, French ports fall under German control and U-boats can hunt convoys anywhere in the Atlantic. Italy joins the war, and Franco allows Axis submarines to use Spanish harbours, expanding the menace facing Merchant Navy convoys.

The first lieutenant is put ashore due to illness, forcing the junior officers to mature under pressure. Compass Rose crosses the Atlantic many times escorting convoys, often under brutal weather as they prove their resilience.

They witness the sinking of numerous merchant vessels under their protection and endure the tragic deaths of merchant navy crewmen. The brutal realities of convoy duty underscore the stakes of every voyage.

A key scene has Ericson deciding to launch a depth charge despite the risk that the blast could kill merchant seamen in the water. The decision highlights his willingness to take calculated risks for the greater strategic aim.

After close to three years of service, Compass Rose sinks one U-boat. The ship is then torpedoed, and the crew is forced to abandon ship, marking a crucial turning point in Ericson’s career.

Ericson survives the torpedoing in a liferaft along with his first lieutenant Lockhart and a handful of remaining crew, including Ferraby. They are picked up the following day, after a perilous night afloat.

Ericson is promoted to commander and, with Lockhart as his Number One, takes command of a new Castle-class frigate, HMS Saltash Castle. The transition marks a shift from escort duties to leading anti-submarine operations with a more modern ship.

Leading an anti-submarine escort group, Ericson and his crew continue the monotonous yet vital duty of keeping convoys moving. They rely on their hard-won experience to confront constant threats and brutal seas across long routes.

Late in the war, Saltash Castle operates with Arctic convoys, pursuing and ultimately sinking another U-boat, U-53. This single kill stands as a hard-earned milestone in their anti-submarine campaign.

As the war ends, Saltash Castle returns to anchorage to guard a number of surrendered German submarines. The ship’s later role highlights the transition from combat to stabilization after years of conflict.