HMS Vigil - any fans out there?

[simonineaston]

I read in the Guardian that the BBC's latest thriller is keeping audiences on tenterhooks (whatever they are!). It occurs to me that filming in a real sub - let alone a Trident-equipped nuclear jobbie - must have its challenges... Anyone watching it? Anyone care to comment on how realistic a portrayal of life in the Senior Service, or life abourd a sub. is?

[Jdsk]

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

Anyone care to comment on how realistic a portrayal of life in the Senior Service, or life abourd a sub. is?

Turbulent's former captain:
https://metro.co.uk/2021/08/30/how-accu ... -15174565/

Jonathan

[mattheus]

Let's be clear - being a "fan" is a very different issue to nit-picking (or not) over factual details.
(I hope you realise it's not a documentary about life aboard a nuclear sub?)


Please decide which one you want to discuss!

[simonineaston]

Of my old team, two served in the Senior Service, one a submariner. I can only imagine what his comments are like, the day after each episode !!

[Ben@Forest]

I read in the Guardian that the BBC's latest thriller is keeping audiences on tenterhooks (whatever they are!). It occurs to me that filming in a real sub - let alone a Trident-equipped nuclear jobbie - must have its challenges... Anyone watching it? Anyone care to comment on how realistic a portrayal of life in the Senior Service, or life abourd a sub. is?

None of it is filmed on a real submarine. According to real submariners it's far too roomy inside - but of course the makers want dramatic effect; so a passageway is made so two people can walk side by side talking, whilst in reality that isn't the case. I'm enjoying it anyway...

[simonineaston]

I thought it unlikely to be shot in a real Trident sub - imagine the opposition's delight - they'd be glued to it if it were real!

[DaveReading]

To quote the director:

"We had to create a big enough space to contain the action and be big enough to work in yet retain all the claustrophobia of a real submarine."

[reohn2]

We've been watching and enjoying it and treating it as a TV drama,we're under no illusions as to whether it's filmed on a real submarine.

[Mike Sales]

If it is claustrophobic you are after you must watch Das Boot.

[philvantwo]

Watched the first episode and that was it.

[axel_knutt]

If it is claustrophobic you are after you must watch Das Boot.
Das-Boot.jpg

Or you could have gone for a look over the U475 when it was a museum at Woolwich. It was the biggest class of (conventional) submarine in the Russian fleet, but you wouldn't think so to look inside.
https://londonist.com/london/history/re ... -submarine

[rjb]

My dad a submariner just after WWII was hooked by "Das Boot". He told me it was pretty realistic of life on a submarine. His first posting was on a goodwill visit to the med and this is what he told his M&D. As soon as they set sail and dived below the Captain called them all into his cabin individually and got them all to write their Wills before informing them they were heading to Murmansk to record Russian shipping movements and if caught the gov would deny all knowledge of the venture. Life in the Cold War.

Rob Bell is currently showing a documentary on Channel 5 showing life on a trident submarine. It's a lot more confined than the BBC offering.

[Mick F]

I had to look it up what HMS Vigil was all about.
Not seen it, and I doubt I'll bother.

Modern submarines aren't claustrophobic. They are bigger than most of the frigates I served in!
Also, on one ship, we would spend weeks at see up the Iceland Faeroes gap in atrocious weather and unable to see any daylight or get any fresh air. Rocking, pitching and rolling and sleep was difficult.

Submarines on the other hand, are away from all that on the surface, and bigger than my frigates too.
Vanguard Class submarines are huge.

[CliveyT]

I had to look it up what HMS Vigil was all about.

Also, on one ship, we would spend weeks at see up the Iceland Faeroes gap in atrocious weather and unable to see any daylight or get any fresh air. Rocking, pitching and rolling and sleep was difficult.

Father has a story of when he was (possibly on Andromeda) off Iceland. He was on the bridge and remarked "It's dark out there Skip". The reply was "No Chief, that's a wave, the skies up there"

I don't think he left the boiler room after that