Technically poor

Rating: Null/10 (5 April 2003)

I have a few issues with this movie. I can say very frankly that it is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I could go on and on about the problems with U-571, but I don't want to drone on about it. Aside from the mediocre story my biggest problem with it is the submarines. How can anyone expect the viewer to believe that a WWI S class submarine can be disguised as a German WWII Class VIIC U-Boat. The U-571 was a Class VIIC boat (according to historical documents). The S33 skippered by the Americans looks virtually the same. First of all a US Navy class S submarine does not look anything like a VIIC type U-Boat. I would provide examples if I could attach an image, but I can't. Sorry. Secondly the only re-supply boats used extensively in the Atlantic ocean by the Germans were XIV class U-Boats. These were know as Milkcows and were quite large and had a very different conning tower and deck gun arrangement, so did not really resemble a VIIC. The only VII class boats used as re-supply subs were VIIF class. However only four were produced, two of which were stationed in the Pacific. They were ten meters longer than VIIC type U-boats so quite different in appearance. They also were not fitted with 88mm Deck guns like the other VII type U-Boats. Thus it is very unlikely that the German crew of U-571 would have mistaken a modified S class that resembled a VIIC as a re-supply sub.