- The diesel submarine used in the movie is the USS Pampanito (SS 383), a WWII submarine currently (2000) on display to the public at Pier 45 in San Francisco, California.
- At the very end of the movie, when the U.S.S. Stingray is tied up to the pier and the crew is marching off, a white-hulled vessel is visible in the background. This vessel is a 95 foot retired Cape-class U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (U.S.C.G.C. Cape Romain), which was at the time operated by Sea Scout Ship 17 (youth program similar to Boy Scouts), based out of San Mateo, CA. The ship was requested to be on-location at a pier in San Francisco (most of the harbor footage was shot in the Bay Area; the mothball fleet depicted early in the movie really exists and is near Benicia, CA) to make it appear more like a military base. The Cape Romain is currently operated by Sea Scout Ship 51 (S.S.S. Intrepid), based out of Palo Alto, CA.
- The USS Stingray in the movie was actually the USS Pampanito, a WWII era Balao class submarine. In the Pacific Theatre, it sunk or heavily damaged ten ships.
- In the scene towards the end where Lt. Lake enters LC Dodge's cabin and kisses him, Lauren Holly hits her elbow backing out the doorway. This was unintentional and Kelsey Grammer's reaction almost ruined the take. As a noticeable bruise developed during later takes and they (Grammer and Holly) couldn't stop laughing, this was the take used.
- Dodge objects to Lt. Lake's assignment to the Stingray, citing the U.S. Navy's rule against women on board submarines. The film was released in 1996, one year after Norway became the first naval power to promote a female officer to command of a submarine.
- The USS Pampanito could not move under her own power. The underwater shots were scale models. The surface shots actually were the Pampanito, however she was being towed.
- CPO Howard, Chief Engineer says at one point "This is what I live for, DBF!". DBF stands for Diesel Boats Forever.
- Harry Dean Stanton - playing the veteran Chief Engineer, Howard - actually served in the navy during WWII.
- While it has been criticized for some of its concepts, many of the underlying ideas of the movie are accurate. Modern diesel submarines (not a retired World War II submarine) using their electric batteries are capable of being notably quieter than nuclear submarines. Many navies operate modern versions of the submarine shown, and their vessels are quite effective in their roles. Experts have criticized the U.S. Navy at various times for not employing a few of this type of submarine in the force.
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- SPOILER: When the crew takes the 'Stingray' on its test dive after renovating the boat, Commander Dodge orders a depth of 500 feet. On the way down, as they pass 400 feet, Lieutenant Lake remarks that this was "crush depth". 400 feet was, in fact, "crush depth" rating for the 'Balao'-class submarines. It might also be noted that there are several reported and accepted instances during WWII in which submarines went below their "crush depth" for short periods and survived relatively unscathed.
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