History Film / U571

** The Enigma was cracked as early as 1928 by the Polish.
*** AN Enigma was cracked as early as that. 'The Enigma' is actually not one machine but a family of machines all employing the same basic mechanics/electronics and undergoing several upgrades and changes.

** Which can also imply, conversely, that it wasn't a resupply boat to begin with, and was instead sent to ''destroy'' U-571 in the first place rather than help it. The crew could've just been ''told'' it was a resupply boat to prevent them from surrendering or defecting to the Allies.

** When captured U-Boat is being buzzed by a German plane, the order is given for everyone to act like they are the German crew and not raise any suspicion. The sailor manning the deck gun decides he is going to shoot the plane down and has to be physically restrained from doing so. A submarine crew, especially during WWII, are highly trained and disciplined to remain calm under fire and to immediately follow orders (think of Das Boot with the depth charges exploding around them). There is no way in hell a crewman would even think of disobeying orders in such a situation.

Released in 2000, this UsefulNotes/WorldWarII movie VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory is about a submarine crew who board a disabled German sub to [[ReadingTheEnemysMail steal an Enigma Machine]], a secret German encryption device used to send coded messages. Caused a degree of controversy as the film places the [[AmericaSavesTheDay Americans in center role as the heroes...]] except that in real life, the first to capture the submarine-based ENIGMA machine was the [[BritsWithBattleships British.]] Although the film is also partly based on the American action that led to the capture of the U-Boat now on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, though by “partly,” we mean “altered so much as to be unrecognizable.”

Released in 2000, this UsefulNotes/WorldWarII movie VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory is about a submarine crew who board a disabled German sub to [[ReadingTheEnemysMail steal an Enigma Machine]], a secret German encryption device used to send coded messages. Caused a degree of controversy as the film places the [[AmericaSavesTheDay Americans in center role as the heroes...]] except that in real life, the first to capture the submarine-based ENIGMA machine was the [[BritsWithBattleships British.]] Although the film is also partly based on the American action that led to the capture of the U-Boat now on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

** Messmen (later stewards) were the only black sailors allowed to serve on U.S. submarines during the war. Seventy-four black messmen/stewards went on "eternal patrol." EO9981, segregating the U.S. military, was issued in 1948.

** That said, in the film, [[EveryoneHasStandards the German captain seems to hold distaste for this policy]], [[PunchClockVillain and his men are just as unhappy as he is when he is forced to order them to murder the helpless survivors of a British ship they just sank.]]

** That said, in the film, [[EveryoneHasStandards the German captain seems to hold distaste for this policy]], [[PunchClockVillain and his men are just as unhappy as he is when they are ordered to murder the helpless survivors of a British ship they just sank.]]

Released in 2000, this WorldWarII movie VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory is about a submarine crew who board a disabled German sub to [[ReadingTheEnemysMail steal an Enigma Machine]], a secret German encryption device used to send coded messages. Caused a degree of controversy as the film places the [[AmericaSavesTheDay Americans in center role as the heroes...]] except that in real life, the first to capture the submarine-based ENIGMA machine was the [[BritsWithBattleships British.]] Although the film is also partly based on the American action that led to the capture of the U-Boat now on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

* OldSoldier: Chief Gunner Klough, who served on submarines during WorldWarI.

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* AmericaWonWorldWarII - [[invoked]] Infamously so. In RealLife, the Enigma Machine ''was'' stolen from a German submarine... by the British.

* AmericaWinsTheWar - [[invoked]] Infamously so. In RealLife, the Enigma Machine ''was'' stolen from a German submarine... by the British.

->''"They did get one thing right: there were U-boats in the North Atlantic turning the war."''

* FalseFlagOperation: In addition to boarding the ship, they have to pretend to be Germans in order to avoid being attacked by German forces in the area. At one point this involves cheerfully waving at a Messerschmidt fighter that spots them and makes a low pass.

Released in 2000, this WorldWarII movie VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory is about a submarine crew who board a disabled German sub to [[ReadingTheEnemysMail steal an Enigma Machine]], a secret German encryption device used to send coded messages. Caused a degree of controversy as the film places the [[AmericaSavesTheDay Americans in center role as the heroes...]] except that in real life, the first to capture the submarine-based ENIGMA machine was the [[BritsWithBattleships British.]] (Although the film is also partly based on the American action that led to the capture of the U-Boat now on display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Generally, a submarine could not be within of a destroyer without getting ripped to shreds.

Released in 2000, this WorldWarII movie VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory is about a submarine crew who board a disabled German sub to [[ReadingTheEnemysMail steal an Enigma Machine]], a secret German encryption device used to send coded messages. Caused a degree of controversy as the film places the [[AmericaSavesTheDay Americans in center role as the heroes...]] except that in real life, the mission was carried out by the [[BritsWithBattleships British.]]

** Many have stated the film could have been better had it been about the historical capture of U-505 by American forces.

* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: Generally, a submarine could not be within 1000 meters of a destroyer without getting ripped to shreds.