K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

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  • greenman407
    Junior Member
    • Sep 2007
    • 1186

    K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

    I have a friend who has recently relayed to me his first hand account of working on the K-77 in preparation for the film starring Harrison Ford. Back in 2000 the sub was docked in St. Petersburg Florida near the Coast Guard station. Its owner was preparing to be fined by the city or move it as they considered it to be a liability. As preparations were being made to move it he( my friend Gary Routh) climbed all over the sub and had complete access. He tells me that the radar worked at the flip of a switch. The rotating storable radar dish rotated up and out of its cubicle, also at the touch of a button. With a gleam in his eye he said that its a good thing that no one was up top or it would have crushed and killed them. There were torpedos in the rear of the boat but none in the front. The design of the boat was such that upon firing the missle tubes in the rear of the boat that the force of the missles would almost capsize the boat. So for this reason lead counterweight was added to the keel causing much leeking into the bilges due to electrolicise between the inner hull and the lead. It was then towed to Rhode Island and then to Nova Scotia. In the actual film the K-77 was used for the drydock footage but then only the interior was used for some of the other shots. After all the k-77 Juliet was a different class than the Widowmaker.



















  • greenman407
    Junior Member
    • Sep 2007
    • 1186

    #2
    Re: K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker



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    • robert f.
      SubCommittee Member
      • Jun 2006
      • 161

      #3
      Re: K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

      The "making of" documentary on the DVD includes some nice shots of the fiberglass extensions to the sail and hull.


      Robert

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      • greenman407
        Junior Member
        • Sep 2007
        • 1186

        #4
        Re: K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

        Yes he did mention those. I think im going to look into watching the movie. If its not on HULU then I will try and rent it.

        Comment

        • tom dougherty
          Senior Member
          • Jul 2005
          • 1355

          #5
          Re: K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

          It was then towed to Rhode Island and then to Nova Scotia.
          No, Nova Scotia for the filming, and then to Rhode Island, where the Saratoga Foundation was restoring it (and doing a great job). Unfortunately, it sank two years ago when a Noreaster hit the Providence area. The holes cut in it when it was used as a restaurent in Finland compromised the hull integrity. It was raised off the bottom of the Providence River as an exercise by military divers (Army & Navy). Judged to be unsafe by the Coast Guard, and was cut up for scrap.

          I wrote about it a few issues back in the SCR....

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          • greenman407
            Junior Member
            • Sep 2007
            • 1186

            #6
            Re: K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

            Which issue did you write about it in Tom? Somehow I missed it. As regards to the movie I rented it and watched it Friday night. I must say it was quite good. But after you watch the movie, go into extra features and watch the making of the movie and all the other stuff provided there. Its well worth it and rounds out the whole experience.

            Comment

            • tom dougherty
              Senior Member
              • Jul 2005
              • 1355

              #7
              Re: K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

              Which issue did you write about it in Tom?
              December, 2009. Three issues ago.

              Comment

              • greenman407
                Junior Member
                • Sep 2007
                • 1186

                #8
                Re: K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

                I got to go back thru and check out how I missed that one.

                Comment

                • greenman407
                  Junior Member
                  • Sep 2007
                  • 1186

                  #9
                  Re: K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

                  Tom , I just found the issue of SCR. I recieved the issue in the mail but never took the time to look thru it until now. Oh Im going to hear about it!!! Anyway, Fantastic article! You actually got to go inside and your first hand pictures are awesome. If I had seen this I never would have started this thread, except to say that I had a friend who worked on her when she was in St. Petersburg. The Quality of the article that you put together is what I would expect to find in the SCR. Please keep up the good work!

                  Comment

                  • greenman407
                    Junior Member
                    • Sep 2007
                    • 1186

                    #10
                    Re: K-77 juliet used in filming K-19 widowmaker

                    Apparently my friend was wrong about the K77 only being used in the drydock footage. According to info on the DVD and elsewhere it has been brought to my attention that the k-77 was used in many of the exterior shots after having metal and fiberglass sections added to it to change its shape to help it fit the part.

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