History Film / Greyhound

The film recounts the story of Commander Ernest Krause (Hanks), commanding officer of the destroyer USS ''Keeling'' (radio callsign GREYHOUND) who is on his first escort duty run being in charge of convoy HX 25. As the convoy traverses the dread Mid-Atlantic gap region aka "The Black Pit" where the Allies' powerful air forces don't have enough range yet at that time to cover. With Krause's ships now the only protection available until they reach Britain's air range, the voyage turns arduous when a U-boat wolfpack finds the convoy.

''Greyhound'' is a 2020 war movie set in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII starring Creator/TomHanks. Hanks also wrote the screenplay, an adaptation of the historical novel ''The Good Shepherd'' by [[Literature/HoratioHornblower C.S. Forester]].

The film recounts the story of Commander Ernest Krause (Hanks), commanding officer of the USS ''Keeling'' (code named GREYHOUND) who is on his first escort duty run being in charge of convoy HX 25. As the convoy traverses the dread Mid-Atlantic gap region aka "The Black Pit" where the Allies' powerful air forces don't have enough range yet at that time to cover. With Krause's ships now the only protection available until they reach Britain's air range, the voyage turns arduous when a U-boat wolfpack finds the convoy.

* RidingIntoTheSunset: The escorts [[spoiler:minus Eagle]] end up doing a nautical version of this at the end when relieved by another escort fleet.

* TheMainCharactersDoEverything: There are four escort ships in the convoy but, on screen GREYHOUND is the only one to sink any of the attacking German subs, and does so on multiple occasions. However, the three other escorts do claim three subs between them offscreen according to dialogue at the end.

* ShownTheirWork: Krause frequently gives the "Meet Her" command, which is rarely heard in works set on ships. The command is for the helm to use the rudder to check the swing of the ship without steadying onto a specfic course (in that case, the order would be the often-heard "Steady as she goes").

* AmericaSavesTheDay: Surprisingly averted for a film set on an American Destroyer. The film features Destroyers and Escort Ships of multiple nationalities, including British and Canadian. The Flying Boats used for Convoy Escort Duty are marked appropriately, including an RAF PBY towards the end. Although GREYHOUND [[spoiler: manages to sink two U-boats unassisted, a third sunk with the help of DICKIE[[note]] which forced the U-Boat up with depth charges[[/note]], and the final U-Boat was sunk by an RAF PBY which GREYHOUND marked by shooting at its position.]]

* MustHaveCaffeine: Krause refuses to eat but has to keep drinking coffee to keep himself awake.

* BottomlessMagazines: Averted; after a full night of action, the captain is informed they're down to only six depth charges. Krause also has to repeatedly warn the other escorts to conserve their fuel.

* RealMenLoveJesus: Central to Krause's character is his faith and how he seeks comfort, guidance, and strength through prayer.

The film recounts the story of Commander Ernest Krause (Hanks), commanding officer of the USS ''Keeling'' who is on his first escort duty run being in charge of convoy HX 25. As the convoy traverses the dread Mid-Atlantic gap region aka "The Black Pit" where the Allies' powerful air forces don't have enough range yet at that time to cover. With Krause's ships now the only protection available until they reach Britain's air range, the voyage turns arduous when a U-boat wolfpack finds the convoy.

* MoreDakka: The sheer amount of fire that GREYHOUND can put down on a single target is pretty impressive for a Destroyer. Fletcher Class Destroyers had 5 127mm guns, up to 6 40mm Bofors Gun tubs, multiple 20mm and 12.7mm mounts as well. When focused onto a single U-Boat, this amount of firepower easily overpowers said submarine, and they don't tend to last very long.

* SadisticChoice: At one point Krause must decide whether or not to rescue men from a burning tanker or remain in position to cover the other ships. He is able to save a few survivors, only to see an explosion as a torpedo hits one of the unprotected ships.

* FriendOrFoe: Even though a U-boat is plainly visible on the surface, Krause has to order his pom-pom gunners to stop firing as there's another vessel behind it in the line of fire. Moments later that vessel opens fire on them in return.

* SneezeOfDoom: The Talker (the sailor who relays messages sent from other parts of the ship via the sound-powered telephone) pauses to sneeze as they're closing in on a U-boat, so has to ask a message from the sonar operator to be repeated. His superior is ''not'' amused and he's warned he'll be relieved of duty if he does that again.

* SensorSuspense: Everything depends on the Allied escort's SONAR and hydrophone equipment to find the U-boats when submerged and RADAR when they surfaced. Unfortunately for the former, the U-boats have new decoys they can deploy to lure the Allied escorts off target and waste ammunition.

* CueCardPause: The bridge officers are not amused when the Talker pauses to sneeze in the middle of relaying a message, and he's warned he'll be relieved of duty if he does that again.

* CueCardPause: The bridge officers are not amused when the radio operator pauses to sneeze in the middle of relaying a message, and he's warned he'll be relieved of duty if he does that again.

* EvilGloating: Grey Wolf keeps radioing Krause to gloat about how [[YouHaveNoChanceToSurvive he and the Wolfpack are going to kill them all]], even making wolf howls.

* RedAlert: The crew is called to General Quarters repeatedly throughout the film. Usually just after Cleveland has prepared a meal for Krause.

* EvilGloating: Grey Wolf keeps radioing Krause to gloat about how he and the Wolfpack are going to kill them all, even making wolf howls.

* SadisticChoice: At one point Krause must decide whether or not to rescue men form a burning ship or remain in position to cover the other ships.

* MultinationalTeam: As expected from the Western Allies, the escorts consist of one American (GREYHOUND), one Canadian (DICKIE) and two British warships (HARRY and EAGLE). The convoy itself is even more diverse, including one Greek ship.

* AmericaSavesTheDay: Surprisingly averted for a film set on an American Destroyer. The film features Destroyers and Escort Ships of multiple nationalities, including British and Canadian. The Flying Boats used for Convoy Escort Duty are marked appropriately, including an RAF PBY towards the end. Although GREYHOUND [[spoiler: manages to sink two U-boats unassisted, a third sunk with the help of DICKIE for one[[note]] which forced the U-Boat up with depth charges[[/note]], and the final U-Boat was sunk by an RAF PBY which GREYHOUND marked by shooting at its position.]]

* AmericaSavesTheDay: Surprisingly averted for a film set on an American Destroyer. The film features Destroyers and Escort Ships of multiple nationalities, including British and Canadian. The Flying Boats used for Convoy Escort Duty are marked appropriately, including an (RAF) (PBY) towards the end. Although (GREYHOUND) [[spoiler: manages to sink two U-boats unassisted, a third sunk with the help of (DICKIE) for one[[note]] which forced the U-Boat up with depth charges[[/note]], and the final U-Boat was sunk by an (RAF) (PBY) which (GREYHOUND) marked by shooting at its position.

* MoreDakka: The sheer amount of fire that (GREYHOUND) can put down on a single target is pretty impressive for a Destroyer. Fletcher Class Destroyers had 5 127mm guns, up to 6 40mm Bofors Gun tubs, multiple 20mm and 12.7mm mounts as well. When focused onto a single U-Boat, this amount of firepower easily overpowers said submarine, and they don't tend to last very long.