Submarines: In Enemy Depths
Cold War tensions were perhaps most acute below the freezing waters of the ocean. This little-discussed component of the conflict between the East and West – a period of time that was marked by the threat of massive casualties and nuclear annihilation – is the foundation for the intriguing documentary Submarines: In Enemy Depths.
For those who are unfamiliar with the subject, the insights regarding submarine warfare are particularly enlightening, and they portray the horrors of war to which many have remained oblivious. The movie relies on the testimonies of the surviving crew members from both sides of the conflict to a large degree, this is accomplished through the use of moving speeches that relate to the conflict. They discuss the numerous top-secret assignments, dangerous encounters and tragic events that characterized their dangerous time on the water.
The history of the mission that failed called K-19 is one of the stories they have in common. The Soviet sub was one of the country’s first to have nuclear weapons, the premature addition of nuclear capabilities led to numerous deadly accidents. Soviet Navy veterans recall the bravery of their brave comrades who attempted to rectify a fault in the cooling system of the sub’s reactor. These men paid the ultimate price for their devotion. The radiation exposure caused them to have damaged skin, damaged vocal chords, swollen necks, and a limited number of days to live.
Today, the specifics of some missions are still a mystery to the main participants. This is the case with K-129. The movie chronicles the mysterious destruction of it in 1968, which may have been the prelude to its attempt to launch missiles into Hawaii, as well as the unsuccessful attempt by the U.S. to reclaim it six years later.
Also, viewers are privy to the mysterious NR-1, a small research vessel that was specifically built for espionage by the U.S. to perform missions.
Submarines: In Enemy Depths contains a vast amount of information regarding the militarized nature of conflict and warfare during this troubling time in history. Others will be moved deeply by the haunted expressions of those who served, and risked their lives in cramped vessels that could have easily become their final resting places.
Directed by: Dirk Pohlmann
