Naval officers were formerly allowed to use umbrellas only if they were
being held by someone else. However, this rule has been changed.
When the USS Alabama is seen diving, DSRV "targets" are painted on the
escape hatches but are not visible throughout rest of film. Targets are not
normally left on during normal operations.
Several shots of the USS Alabama are not of a Trident (Ohio Class) submarine,
rather a 688 (Los Angeles class) fast attack submarine.
If the Alabama were sent into as tense a situation as depicted in the movie she
would have been escorted by a fast attack sub. Hence, the confrontation with the
Akula would have been handled by an accompanying Los Angeles/Seawolf/Virginia
class boat while the Alabama would escape to launch her missiles.
Capt. Ramsey gives the missile launch keys to only one crewman. Proper procedure
is to have two crewmen receive and deliver the keys to launch control together.
Boomers have two requirements while out on patrol: remain undetected and
maintain communications. To this end they are the quietest subs we have ever
produced and carry as many radios as they do missiles. There is ALWAYS
a backup should one fail.
The orientation of the oncoming torpedoes is always the same when shown on
the sonar scope, yet the crew indicate that the torpedoes' course has
changed drastically.
Smoking is (or at least was, at the time of this movie) permitted on U.S. submarines.
The sonar is not displayed in the "radar" manner that is depicted in the movie. Actual
sonar uses what is a called a "waterfall" display, so called because it shows the different
sound frequencies on a vertical display that moves from the top down. One of these
displays is shown very briefly at the first moment of contact with the Akula.
On 26 October, when Hunter briefs the officers after receipt of the first EAM placing
forces at Defcon 3, he states the last time forces were at that level of readiness was
during the Cuban Missile Crisis, "32 1/2 years ago". The Cuban Missile Crisis was
ALSO in October, so no matter what year in which this film was set, there would be
no half year involved. And, anyway, it was last ordered in 1973, during the
Arab-Israeli War.
The XO is informed that the fire in the galley could not be extinguished because
"the switch was too hot". The galley is equipped with an APC (aqueous potassium
carbonate) system for galley fires. It can be activated by pulling a ring next to the
equipment, which is probably what they were talking about. However, there is also
a remote activation switch outside the compartment and also the system is equipped
with a fuse that melts at 400 degrees and automatically initiates the system. Since
it was "too hot", the fire probably would have been put out long before the XO showed
up. Either way, no one would have to go anywhere near the fire to extinguish it.
The XO, Hunter, gives the order to fire torpedo tubes 2 and 4; the subsequent
shot shows torpedoes firing from opposite sides of the boat. On all U.S. Navy
submarines, torpedo tubes 2 and 4 are located on the same side.
During the Alabama's dive, she is seen with her periscope deployed on the
surface, with decks awash. There is a cut to an underwater shot from above,
that shows her sail with all periscopes retracted, and their doors closed. In the
next shot, the boat is fully submerged, with its scope deployed and visible
cutting through the water.
When Hunter and Ramsey are on the bridge of the sail, the sub is rolling
significantly with the swell. The next shot is of a relatively calm sea with
the sub ploughing through it with no roll.
On the cover of the unrated extended version the submarine appears to be
the USS Silversides (SS-236), a WWII-era sub launched in 1941, and not
the USS Alabama (SSBN-731).
By law, when an actor portrays military personal in a movie or TV show they
are required to be what the military call, out of uniform. For example, ribbons
or medals out of order, or improper insignia on clothing or hats. This is so that
technically they are not impersonating military personal.
When Ramsey reads Hunter's Record, after he has been removed from command,
the last entry says Hunter was stationed as Lt. Commander on the USS Alaska
SSBN-723. The USS Alaska is SSBN-732 not 723.
When the CO is meeting the XO he notes that he has made patrols on fast attacks
and boomers. Fast attack submarines do not make "patrols." They are called
deployments or missions. Fast attack submarine only make patrols in
wartime situations.
There are several incidents of mis-use of sound powered phones, including a
chest set being used for a 1MC. Also, handsets must have button pressed at
all times to talk and listen. Vossler holds his as a normal phone which
would provide no communications.
Several times throughout the film, the importance of launching their missiles
before the Russian missiles have been fueled is stressed. But in reality, they
would have had to launch the missiles well in advance of that deadline in order
to strike their targets before the Russian missiles could be launched, otherwise
the missiles would simply pass each other in the air.
During the galley fire the General Alarm would have been sounded and the
crew would all have to don EAB's (Emergency Air Breathing) masks,
yet none were worn.
During Battle Stations, senior enlisted and junior officers would man the
sensor systems (i.e Sonar, ESM) yet the Sonar Supervisor was a junior
enlisted man.
When the Russian sub is classified by sonar, the screen shows it to be
from the USSR. Since the movie takes place in present day (1995),
this would be obsolete.
The sub commander in "Run Silent, Run Deep" is Clark Gable
During the opening news report aboard the French carrier Foch, the reporter
states that "these French planes are being readied...", but the very next image
shows three U.S. F-14 Tomcats flying in a V-formation.
After the mutiny, while they're waiting for the radio to start working, Capt. Ramsey
is mentioning Lipizzaner horses and the country of their origin, Portugal. Cmdr.
Hunter corrects him and says they're from Spain. While the horses take their name
from the fact that the stud farm where they are bred is located in the village Lipica
(in Italian: Lipizza), near Trieste in Slovenia, today all Lipizzaners trace to six
stallions, all with Andalusian (Spain) blood.
Ohio-class SSBNs have no compartment called bilge bay. Also, there are no
strobing yellow lights, nor are the missile decks made of see through grated
decking, and there are no "crawl spaces" that would allow free clandestine
movement around the boat.
When Captain Ramsey reads the EAM to Hunter, he says "Rebel Controled
Missiles Being fueled, Launch Codes compromised". However, the EAM clearly
states "Russian Missiles being Fueled, Ready to Launch in one hour".
The Chief of the Boat is an enlisted man. In this film the Chief of the Boat is
wearing a hat with a gold chin strap. Only officers' hats have gold chin straps.
Enlisted men's chin straps are black.
When the Captain conducts his first interview of his new executive officer (XO),
the Chief of the Boat is present. This is highly irregular and unlikely to occur
because the Chief of the Boat is an enlisted man. As a subordinate to the XO,
the Chief of the Boat's presence during this interview is improper and
violates protocol.
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