All language subtitles for Uomini sul fondo (1941).Eng

produced this naval film

designed and directed by

Film Centre
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

S.O.S. Submarine

Took part in the action:

officers,
noncommisioned officers and crew..

of one of our long cruise submarines.

The following units and
naval authorities also participated:

24 submarines of 1st Group "SMGG".

Relay stations, central control systems
and facilities of the NAVAL BASE CONTROL.

A squadron of torpedo boats.

2 squadrons of reconnaissance seaplanes.

4 Squadrons
of the 2nd group ''Fast MAS".

The rescue vessels Titano and Ciclope.

The lifting pontoon Anteo.

The film - made on the eve of the
conflict with the same men now engaged..

in the fight - has no intention but
to make known the great sacrifice,..

silent heroism and quiet joys
that - to the men in submarines -..

give the supreme privilege
of the impossibility of a distinction..

between their
"life in peace" and their "life in war".

Submarine "A 103".
Day-book.

We are since 72 hrs
on the bottom at 80 meters

Temperature?

30 degrees.

Relative humidity?

98%.

Carbon dioxide?

3%.

Pressure?

Increased by 10mm since the 70th hour.

Ouch!

What is it?

I don't know.
I could not remove my hand anymore.

It remained blocked.

Well...now no longer raise your arm,
and make no more efforts.

Come on, go to bow and rest.

Where is the second in command?
- At bow, commander.

What? You're still hungry, you?
- No, no.

You're no longer hungry?
- No!

How goes it?

Well, in the mountains
you can breathe better.

You're not going to smoke, are you?

Heavens no!
Just trying not to lose practice.

Ghidoni.

Yes, sir.

Come to my quarters for a moment.

Well, commander, I'm coming.

Yes, sir.

How are things with carbon dioxide?

It increases, commander.

In a while, everyone will
have to stand, if they want to breathe.

Come here...
Pull yourself up, you breathe better.

All we needed here is this dog!

For now, they don't feel it, commander.

In the maneuvering room
instead, they feel it already.

And Leandri's right hand
has started to paralyze.

I sent him on bow.

Yes, I have seen.

Bring forth all the people
to the maneuvering room.

Alright, commander.

Everybody to the maneuvering room!

Everybody to the maneuvering room!

Squadron H and squadron M reentering.
- Received.

From the first section: emerged 16.30
hours. Reentering, speed 18. - Received.

H Squadron at berth.
- Received.

M Squadron at berth.
- Received.

Situation at 17.00.
All reentered, minus A-104 and A-103.

Alright.

Through this endurance test
under water, we have exceeded 72 hours.

We can be satisfied.

Now let's go back to the surface,
and return to base.

In place for the emersion.

The crew is in place, commander.

Good.

Attention rooms!
Close the watertight bulkheads.

Lower the rudders.

Lower the rudders.

Rudders lowered.

Engines in motion.

Engines in motion.

Close air vents.

Close air vents.

Attention engines.

Attention engines.

Engines ready.
- All right.

Let's begin to lighten weight.

2.000 sea compensation.

2.000 sea compensation.

Run the engines.
- Engines running.

Doesn't move.

A little air to the emersion.

Air to the emersion.
- Air to the emersion.

It moves.

Stop the air.
Vent the emersion.

Open air vents to the emersion.

Air forward slowly.

Air forward slowly.

Air vents to the emersion opened.

Engines forward slowly.
- Course 270. Rudders to rise.

270.
- To rise.

Start hydrophone listening.

Hydrophones listening.

Maneuvering room?

Maneuvering.

Steamship in the area!

Stop all engines.
- Stop all engines.

35 meters. Rising.

One ton.
Sea compensation.

Sea compensation.

30 meters.

It's stationary.

Hydrophones?

Hydrophones.

Give me
bearing and distance of the steamer.

Received.

Route?
- 270.

Bearing 40.

Distance 2000.

Opposite paths.
Distance 1200.

She's going out of the area.

Alright.
Let's resume to rise.

Rudders to rise.

Go half speed ahead.

Half speed ahead.

Sea compensation 1000.

Sea compensation 1000.

Rising. 25 meters.
- Distance?

The distance decreases.
- Bearing?

It's constant.

20 meters.
- Rising.

Hydrophone?
- Distance 600. Buzz increases strongly.

She changed course.
She's coming on us.

Rudder hard left.
- Rudder hard left.

Hard left.
- Starboard full speed.

Doesn't go down!
- Tail 7 degrees.

Distance 300.

He doesn't feel the rudders.

Flood the rapid compartment.
- Flood the rapid.

Distance 200!

Water compensation. Sea bow.
- Sea bow.

All the way open.

All the way open.

Distance 100.
- Commander, he won't go down!

Water in the bow launch room!

Water in the bow launch room!

Air to bow!
- Air to bow.

20 meters. Goes down.

Air all open.
- Air all open.

Rudder all to rise!

Rudder all to rise.

40 meters. Goes down.

Bow summit locked to down.

Hand operation.
- Hand operation.

50 meters.
Still going down.

Hand control locked!

Stop the engines!
- Stop the engines.

Reentering, speed 17.
- Received.

A 104 emerged in the high zone.
Will be in port at sunset.

And A-103?

Remained connected underwater
with A-104 until 16.30.

Should have emerged already, commander.

The radio
has not received any signals yet.

Tell the radio to call her.

Okay, Commander.

God, how the plate bangs!

But it doesn't seem damaged, to me.

The pin is in place, sir.
- Okay.

Water?
- No, it's dry.

The pin holds, commander. - How much
water passed into the hydrophones room?

20 centimeters.
About a ton and a half.

Water will have entered
down in the accumulators.

The deck has felt the impact.
The plate is hunched but,..

for now, we can't see any bubbles.

Nothing, commander.
The submarines must be all reentered,

no one is listening
to the underwater signaler.

Call again.
- Yes sir, commander.

I told them to continue to call.
- Alright.

A-103 did not respond
to the radio, commander.

He's still on the bottom,
and has already exceeded 73 hours.

Communicate to A-104
to submerge immediately..

and to call A-103
with the underwater signaler.

Alright, commander.

Radio?

Maneuvering room?
Clear the hydrophones room.

Clear the room.
Operators come away at once.

Hurry.

Close the watertight bulkhead.
Away from the bow.

Hydrophone? Let me know
straight away when A-103 answers.

Pay attention, all.

The staff of the bow launch room,
remain in the NCO quarters.

The others, at their places.

The wounded and
the male nurse in the officers quarter.

As soon as the circuit will be repaired,
we'll try to surface again.

There is little air
left for maneuvering.

Anyway, should be enough to get us out,
even with the bow launch room..

completely flooded, and although
we can not use the engines..

because the bow rudders
remained locked on down mode.

Do not worry. If we managed so far,
we'll get even further.

The worst is over.

Ready, captain.
- Give light.

Hydrophone, no signal from A-103?
- No, not yet, commander.

Keep on calling.

Air to emerge.
- Air to emerge.

Air to double bottom 4.

Air to double bottom 2.

Stop everything.

Close air.

This way we throw air in the sea.

At bow, have we lightened everything?

Everything, commander.

That means
that the bow got stuck in the mud.

We can try and lighten the bow
by giving air in the flooded room.

The air outlet pipe passes by starboard?

Yes,
at the level of the hole, commander.

It certainly broke,
and the air gets out through the tear.

No signal from A-103?
- Nothing, commander. Nobody's listening.

Don't call anymore. Let's not waste more
time. Ascend immediately to the surface.

Let's inform Group Command at Taranto.
At your places for the emersion.

Well, let's do the last attempt.
Give all the air remaining.

Full air to bow.
- Air to bow.

A-103 is not answering.
- Received.

Commander, A-103 is not answering.

The ships have all reentered?

Only the base torpedo boat squadron
is out, and it is returning now.

Let A-104 return to base.

I shall inform the chief command.
- Very well.

To all units and naval authorities.

The command in chief takes over
the research for submarine A-103.

To the second torpedo boat squadron,
reverse your route.

Head maximum speed beta area.

Start research submarine A-103.

Exclude on-line communications.

Hello? Connecting seaplanes group.

MAS Flotilla. Ship Titano.
Ship Ciclope. Pontoon Anteo.

Pay attention all.

We no longer have any hope of returning
to the surface with the submarine.

There remains a reserve cylinder
in each room for breathing air.

We can hold out for 30 more hours.

Not really hygienic ... but safe.

Enough time to do things calmly.

At the base,
our silence must have meant something.

They will come looking for us.
Do not worry everyone.

Now I will send up
the stern telephone buoy.

When I'm positive that the buoy has been
sighted, and that relief is in the area,..

I will start individual saving
from the stern booth.

Do not tire yourselves,
and move as little as possible.

Release the buoy.

Release the buoy.

Ask the north semaphore
the weather condition of beta area.

Received.

Location of research means in relation
to eastern limit of the beta zone.

Torpedo boat at 36 miles.

First group hydro at 38 miles.

First group MAS at 44 miles.

From northern semaphore beta zone.

Calm seas. Dense
fog bank moving from the northwest.

From hydros.
Remains dense fog.

Null visibility on the east side.

The first group of MAS
has reached the area of mist.

Alright. Communicate
to all the seaplanes to return to base.

Received.

At least the seaplanes
should be in the area,..

and since some time, too.

Then
they would have already seen the buoy.

Well, there will be a bit of choppy sea,
with sunset's low light it's hard to see.

Well, let's listen to the buoy.
- Okay, Commander.

It's stationary.

There must be calm.
You can just hear some swashing.

Could there be some haze, commander?

Maybe.

With a calm sea, and sunset,
it is not difficult in this area.

Send up the raft.
- Well, commander.

Be careful.
I'm sending up the raft.

The first operators,
to get ready for its release.

Ready Commander.
- Release it.

Ready at stern.

Okay. Out the first operator.

Flood the booth.
- Flood the booth.

40 meters.

He's outside.

Ready to recall the elevator.
- Turn.

Turn.

60 meters.

50 meters.

How long to sunset?
- Five minutes, commander.

Give us glory, and power to our ensign.

Order that storms waves be her servant.

Put on the enemy the terror for her.

Let forever gird in her defense stronger
steel than that which girds this ship.

To her, and forever, give victory.

Bless, O Lord,
our far away homes, the dear people.

Bless, in the falling night,
the repose of the people.

Bless us, who
keep watch for them, in arms on the sea.

Bless.

It's empty.

Go.

A-103? A-103?

We are liaising
with the rescue units and the base.

Calm seas.
Dense haze in motion.

The MAS already are in the haze area.

Oh, finally.

The torpedo boats are about to reach it.

The rescue ships Titan and Cyclops
will reach at hour 1.00 tonight.

MAS 531
has a medical officer on board,..

and directs on us, guided in the fog
by the radio signals of the raft.

MAS 531 is close,..

but we don't hear the engine noise yet.

Come to starboard.

Stop!

Stop!

A-103?

A-103.

The captain doctor is coming down
into the cylinder. - Okay.

Pump?
- Pump.

Ready to recall the elevator.

30 meters.
- Gently.

The elevator is back.
- Very well.

Start individual rescue
in the order of rooms,..

starting with stern launch room.

Will go up as last the torpedoists
who are in the NCO quarters.

Those waiting for their turn,
remain where they are.

Leandri however,
goes up out of turn and immediately.

Hello?

We interrupt broadcasts
for an urgent statement.

We discontinued the program.

The Navy Department announced.

The steamship Ariel,
forced to change course..

to avoid a fog bank,..

collided today with the submarine A-103.

The ship, not having had
any perception of impact,..

continued her route.

The A-103 is sunk.

It lies 98 meters deep.

The admiral in command
of the submarine squad,..

arrived on site by seaplane,..

took over command
of the rescue operations.

Until now, 21.00,
eight torpedoist sailors..

have reached the surface
with the elevator cylinder.

We have been assured that,
by 2:00 am, all 50 men will be saved.

All up to the last one, because..

the exiting maneuver can be carried out
from the interior of the cylinder..

by the last man inside.

Meanwhile, with the same cylinder,..

the submarine
is restocked with oxygen tanks,..

beverage and fresh food.

Depth divers are expected
with the Ciclope and Titano ships,..

which will be on site at 1.00.

Attempts to recover the hull
will begin at dawn,..

at the arrival of pontoon Anteo.

The projectors of the torpedo boats
floodlight the rescue area.

The haze is gone.
The sea is calm.

All operations proceed regularly.

The men still waiting on the bottom
are calm and serene.

They expressed one desire only:

that the radio
brings a greeting to their loved ones.

Maneuvering?
- Maneuvering.

I'm recovering the elevator.
Shortly, I'll send out the 46th man.

Okay.
How are we doing, Navarra?

Carbon dioxide is decreased by 3%.

The temperature by 2 degrees,..

but the ambient pressure
still increased by 30 mm.

60 meters.

55 meters.

A-103?
- A-103.

The Titano and the Ciclope are in sight.

Suspend exiting operations for a moment.

Titano and Ciclope are maneuvering to
dock on the vertical of the submarine.

A-103?
- A-103.

The Titan is sending down the turret.
Resume individual rescue.

Okay.

Stern?
- Stern.

Resume exiting.

Hoist!

Turn left.

Enough!

Slowly.

Hello?
Hello?

Hello?
Yes? Is the phone working?

Yes? Can you hear?

Go with the turrett.
Go with the lamp.

Okay.

Says
to light the lamp at 80 meters.

75 meters.

Okay.

Pull slowly.

Stop the winch.

Pull the hoist.

Come on!

Okay.

Pull slowly 2 meters.

Stop.

Hello?
Hello?

Bring up?
Okay.

Hoist the lamp!
Hoist the turrett!

Maneuvering room?

Maneuvering.

47 men are out.

Besides the officers, who else is left?

The machines accountant,
the chief electrician,..

and 7 men who are at bow
in the NCO quarters.

Okay. Continue.

NCO quarters.
Go to stern to exit.

Come on Doc.
- Oh, at last!

20 meters.
- Slow.

Giuma...it's your turn.

Let go.

Hoist.

Everything happened
at about ten meters from the bow,..

on the starboard side,
by the anchor hawsehole.

This is the hole,
in the light outer hull.

The hull has been touched
upon here, right in the canopy,..

but there is only a crush, here.

The plate cracked alongside.
This is the lesion.

For a meter is very thin,
then below it gets wider.

40 meters.

35 meters.

30 meters.

Matricani, come, what is it?
- Why commander?.

Nothing, nothing.
Your turn to go up. Come on.

Gabrieli?

Nothing, nothing, commander.

Attempting a weld of this section,..

we can send air
from the external outlet,..

and empty the torpedo room,
at least to the level of the tear.

Still about forty tons of water less,..

perhaps sufficient
to overcome the friction of the mud.

...

A-103?
- A-103.

The commander.

Yes, admiral.

Listen well.

You still have some chance
to retrieve the submarine..

with the few men who remained.

We can think
of a partial welding of the tear.

If the welding grabs,
we can send air into the flooded room,..

through the air intake that is
in the canopy of the hydrophones room.

While the Titano divers
are working at the tear,..

those of the Ciclope
could supply maneuvering air.

Yes, admiral.
- No.

Listen well.

At this moment I'm not addressing you,..

I'm addressing to your men,..

to the human limits
of their physical endurance.

The work will require several
rounds of divers and a few hours,..

and could not have any result,
other than to prolong the waiting,..

and increase the risk to your men.

Therefore,
I'm waiting for them to decide.

And make so that they decide freely.

Question them one by one.

All right, Admiral.

Admiral, send down the divers.

Go!

In men still on the bottom,
hope has rekindled their last energies.

The time is 4.00.

At this time, the diver who has supplied
maneuvering air to the submarine..

rises to the surface,..

while is descending
the last shift diver,..

who goes to work
at the tear with the flame.

Thirteen men,
stuck in the hull since 82 hours,..

and crushed by the pressure
that is increasingly growing inside,..

are waiting confident and determined
not to abandon the submarine,..

until the last hope.

Who is that? Your girlfriend?

No, sir.
It is my mother.

Do not worry.

The base command
informs your families directly.

Ashore, your parents and your family..

are reassured by the minute.

And you?

I have nobody,
commander, I reassure you.

I have a young girlfriend.
She says she'll wait a lifetime.

Tonight she waited a long time.

Look, I do not believe in women.

She probably was consoled by another.

How's your hand?

You wanted to remain on duty
with the others, and I've satisfied you.

You won't make me regret it, right?

How are you?
- Thank you, Commander.

It didn't get stuck anymore.
I just feel some prick sometimes.

Sailor electrician Ubaldi,
emerged at 1.45.

Physical conditions: reassuring.

Sailor gunner Vennarini,
former internal submarine.

Waiting his turn to exit.

Yes, he is the submarine.
But he's no longer alive.

I feel it.

And a mother is never wrong.

No, ma'am, read here.
- What shall I read? I see.

They write these things
right for people who suffer.

I have only him.

You must have confidence.
Come on, don't worry.

I'll try to give you a certain proof.
Let's see if I can.

Hello, operator?
Give me Spezia. Command in Chief.

Yes, right away.

Look, we're in a row as at the
maneuvering post when we return to port.

Lanzani, Vennarini, Nelli,
Tacci, Leandri, Villosio and Giuma.

All seven.

Leave the line to Taranto.
Command in chief.

Hello?
Hello?

Here operator command in chief.
Spezia. Wait.

Communicate Titano ship
to switch telephony to wavelenght 320.

I repeat: 320.

Ask to confirm.

Hello? Hello, Titano?
Hello, Titano?

Say how you hear me.

1, 2, 3, 4.
Say how you hear me.

- K, K.
- Here Titano. Here Titano.

I hear you variable force 4.

Wait. Wait.

We are connecting
to the phone wire of the buoy A-103.

A-103. A-103.

A-103.
Hello? Yes.

Hello? Maneuvering room A-103.

Hello? We can hardly hear. Hello?

Hello? Yes.

One moment.

Vennarini?

Come here.

Hello? Yes.

Yes. Hello?

It's your mom on the phone.

Your mom, yes.

Mom?
- Gianni?

It's nearly ready.
- Furl the diver.

He's going to open the valve.

What is it?
The lever doesn't move?

What's he doing?

I think, commander,
that he's hitting on the valve.

The lever is bucking.
The diver cannot hold out anymore.

A-103?
- A-103.

The valve opening lever doesn't open.

Must have been deformed
in the collision.

Should help the divers
from the inside,..

by applying force
also on the inside lever of the valve.

Say if you can send
a man into the hydrophones room.

But on one condition:

that there is no risk to anyone.

No, Admiral, it is not possible.

The place
is completely invaded with chlorine,..

and, opening the door, there is a risk
of polluting the other areas. And then,..

with the physical conditions
in which we are, I believe that,..

even with the mask,
no man would even be able to reach..

the point where the valve lever is.

Okay, Commander.

Continue individual rescue.

I order everyone to leave the submarine.

Received.

Ghidoni.

Let them return to stern, them boys.

Come on, force it.
Try again.

Don't hit anymore.
Try to pull.

He opened!
- Open up, open all the way!

Give air, give!

The diver has opened.
We are sending air.

At place for the emersion!
- At place for the emersion!

At place for the emersion!

Turn off.
- Turn off the air.

Hoist!

Ciclope and Titano
are leaving their moorings.

Alright.

Quick! That they do it quick!

Ciclope and Titano
have left their moorings.

Take away the ships.
Clear the area.

Cast off the raft.

Close the watertight bulkheads.

Casted off.

All in their place?

Leandri is missing at the pump 7.

And where is he?
- I don't know, commander.

Converters ready?

Leandri? Leandri?

Converters ready.

Air to stern.

Leandri?

All rooms,
pay attention!

Where is Leandri?

Leandri?

Nobody answers?

It moves!
It moves!

Air to bow!

Leandri? Where is Leandri?

Leandri?

Answer.
Where is Leandri?

"I am proud of you"

In memory of the crews that did not
emerge from the depths of the SEA,..

so that it would remain OURS.

OUR SEA