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Quiz about The Cruel Sea
Quiz about The Cruel Sea

The Cruel Sea Trivia Quiz


Monsarrat's novel depicts life aboard a World War II warship and the impact of combat and months at sea on its crew. This quiz is based on the editions published after the 1953 film, and incorporate the minor changes made for the film.

A multiple-choice quiz by sancho_pft. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
sancho_pft
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
249,403
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
206
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. The story opens with a Reserve Captain being assigned command of a new Corvette. What is the ship called? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The new Captain is the only officer with any sea experience. What is his name? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The first officer, Bennett, is a cruel and boorish man, who enjoys pulling rank and passing the buck. What was his peacetime occupation? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Once Bennett has left the ship, the Captain promotes one of the sub-lieutenants to First Officer. What is his name? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Lockhart finds love ashore, when he meets a lovely and dutiful Wren. What is her name? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The ship manages to sink only one German U-boat, and in tragic and awful circumstances. What happened? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Petty Officer Bob Tallow invites a colleague, Petty Officer Jim Watts, to stay with him during shore leave. What happens ashore? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. What eventually happens to the ship? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The Captain is promoted to Commander, and offered command of a new escort ship. What is the name of the new ship? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. They continue their escort duties throughout the remainder of the War. How do they end their War? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The story opens with a Reserve Captain being assigned command of a new Corvette. What is the ship called?

Answer: HMS Compass Rose

Although "Compass Rose" is a fictitious name, in the hectic early years of the War, some very odd names were given to the new ships being rapidly built to meet the threat of the German Navy.
2. The new Captain is the only officer with any sea experience. What is his name?

Answer: George Ericson

George Ericson was called up from the Merchant Navy at the outbreak of war, and initially struggles with the demands of commanding a fighting ship.
3. The first officer, Bennett, is a cruel and boorish man, who enjoys pulling rank and passing the buck. What was his peacetime occupation?

Answer: Used car salesman

Bennett is work-shy and sadistic; he doesn't last long, however, as he is taken violently ill, and taken ashore where a ruptured stomach ulcer is diagnosed.
4. Once Bennett has left the ship, the Captain promotes one of the sub-lieutenants to First Officer. What is his name?

Answer: Lockhart

Lockhart rapidly adapts to his new role, and soon appreciates the many qualities of Ericson, and proves an able and adept First Officer.
5. Lockhart finds love ashore, when he meets a lovely and dutiful Wren. What is her name?

Answer: Julie Hallam

Julie Hallam works in the Admiralty, and Lockhart meets her when he goes to enquire about ship movements. Sadly, she is killed when a stray bomb hits her barracks during air raid.
6. The ship manages to sink only one German U-boat, and in tragic and awful circumstances. What happened?

Answer: The U-boat was under a group of survivors in the water

The ship's sonar shows the precise location of the U-boat, which is exactly underneath a group of survivors from a sunken merchant ship. Ericson has to make the agonising decision as to whether to attack and risk killing the men in the water, or to let the U-boat escape.

He attacks, and in the depth-charging attack, the survivors are killed. Evidence of the sinking of the U-boat is scant consolation.
7. Petty Officer Bob Tallow invites a colleague, Petty Officer Jim Watts, to stay with him during shore leave. What happens ashore?

Answer: Jim falls in love with Bob's sister

Jim, a lifelong bachelor, is smitten with Glad, Bob's sister with whom he lives. After a slow and gentle romance Jim finally tells Bob that he intends to ask Glad to marry him on their return ashore. However, when they do finally return, they find the entire street demolished in an air raid, and Glad has been killed.
8. What eventually happens to the ship?

Answer: It is suddenly hit by a torpedo and sinks

Compass Rose is torpedoed during the night; only a handful of crew survive, including Ericson and Lockhart. The few survivors cling to life on a pair of inflatable liferafts. It is too dangerous for rescue to be attempted during the night, but they are finally picked up the next day.
9. The Captain is promoted to Commander, and offered command of a new escort ship. What is the name of the new ship?

Answer: HMS Saltash Castle

Ericson tells Lockhart that he, also, has been promoted. Although Lockhart could now take his own command, Ericson asks him to be his First Officer onboard Saltash Castle. Because of his friendship with, and respect for, Ericson, Lockhart instantly accepts.
10. They continue their escort duties throughout the remainder of the War. How do they end their War?

Answer: Accepting the surrender of U-boats in Italy

The U-boats that surrender to them in Italy are the only ones they actually see throughout the entire war. Their only success was in sinking one U-boat, and that in tragic circumstances.
Source: Author sancho_pft

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