When some Russian rebels takes control of some ICBM's, the Americans mobilize. Among the vessels sent is the nuclear sub, the Alabama. But before they leave they need a new X.O. and among the choices is Commander Hunter, who hasn't seen much action. But the ship's Captain, Ramsey OK's him. While on the way, there was an incident and Hunter disagreed with how Ramsey handled it, it's evident that Ramsey doesn't think much of Hunter because Hunter was college educated while Ramsey worked his way up. They're given orders to attack but when they were in the process of receiving another order, the ship's communications were damaged, so the entire message was not received. Ramsey decides to continue with their previous order while Hunter wants to reestablish contact first. That's when the two men butt heads that ends with Hunter relieving Ramsey. Later when some men die...
| Denzel Washington | Lt. Commander Ron Hunter |
| Gene Hackman | Capt. Frank Ramsey |
| George Dzundza | Chief of the Boat |
| Viggo Mortensen | Lt. Peter 'Weps' Ince |
| James Gandolfini | Lt. Bobby Dougherty |
| Matt Craven | Lt. Roy Zimmer, USS Alabama Communications Officer |
| Rocky Carroll | Lt. Darik Westergaurd |
| Jaime Gomez | Officer of the Deck Mahoney |
| Michael Milhoan | Chief of the Watch Hunsicker |
| Scott Burkholder | T.S.O. Billy Linkletter |
| Danny Nucci | Petty Officer First Class Danny Rivetti |
| Lillo Brancato | Petty Officer Third Class Russell Vossler |
| Eric Bruskotter | Bennefield |
| Ricky Schroder | Lt. Paul Hellerman |
| Rick Schroder | Lt. Paul Hellerman |
| Steve Zahn | William Barnes |
| Marcello Thedford | Lawson |
| R.J. Knoll | Marty Sotille |
| Billy Devlin | Navigator |
| Matthew Barry | Planesman (as Matt Barry) |
| Christopher Birt | Helmsman |
| Jim Boyce | Diving Officer |
| Jacob Vargas | Sonarman #2 |
| Kai Lennox | Sonarman #3 |
| Michael D. Weatherred | Radioman #1 (as Michael Weatherred) |
| Tommy Bush | Admiral Williams |
| Earl Billings | Rick Marichek |
| Mark Christopher Lawrence | Rono, Head Cook |
| Michael Chieffo | Chief Kline |
| Ashley Smock | Guard #1 |
| James Lesure | Guard #2 |
| Trevor St. John | Launcher |
| Dennis Garber | Fire Control Technician |
| Vanessa Bell Calloway | Julia Hunter |
| Brenden Jefferson | Luke |
| Ashley Calloway | Robin |
| Daniel von Bargen | Vladimir Radchenko |
| Richard Valeriani | CNN Reporter on French Carrier Foch |
| Warren Olney | Anchorman |
| Rad Daly | Lt. Cmdr. Nelson |
| Sean O'Bryan | Phone Talker |
| Victor Togunde | Sailor with Oba |
| Troy A. Cephers | Sailor #1 |
| Armand Watson | Seaman Davis |
| Brent Michael Goldberg | Phone Talker #2 |
| Brent Goldberg | Phone Talker #2 (as Brent Michael Goldberg) |
| Scott Grimes | Petty Officer Hilaire |
| Ryan Phillippe | Seaman Grattam |
| Dale Andre Lee Everett | Firing Key Runner |
| Angela C. Tortu | Ramsey Aide |
| Ronald Ramessar | Mr. Westergard |
| Robin Faraday | Mrs. Westergard |
| Bob Stone | Bob the Magician |
| Henry Mortensen | Henry Ince |
| Chris Ellis | Additional Magician |
| Michael White | Production Designer |
| James J. Murakami | Art Director |
| Dianne Wager | Art Director |
| Jason Robards | Rear Admiral Anderson, Board of Inquiry President |
| Donald B. Woodruff | Art Director |
| Dariusz Wolski | Cinematographer |
| George L. Little | Custome Designer |
| Michael Fottrell | Unit Production Manager |
| Hans Zimmer | Composer |
| James W. Skotchdopole | first assistant director |
| Chris Lebenzon | Film Editor |
| John Wildermuth | second assistant director |
| Matt Araki | Sound Department |
| Bob Baron | Sound Department |
| Kevin Bartnof | Sound Department |
| John Brilhante | Sound Department |
| Fred Burke | Sound Department |
| Kevin Clark | Sound Department |
| Midge Costin | Sound Department |
| Juno J. Ellis | Sound Department |
| John P. Fasal | Sound Department |
| Marva Fucci | Sound Department |
| Eric Gotthelf | Sound Department |
| Matthew Harrison | Sound Department |
| Denise Horta | Sound Department |
| Frank Howard | Sound Department |
| Paul Hulme | Sound Department |
| Suhail Kafity | Sound Department |
| William B. Kaplan | Sound Department |
| Rick Kline | Sound Department |
| James Likowski | Sound Department |
| Victoria Martin | Sound Department |
| F. Hudson Miller | Sound Department |
| Peggy Names | Sound Department |
| Paul O'Bryan | Sound Department |
| Kevin O'Connell | Sound Department |
| Maggie Ostroff | Sound Department |
| R.J. Palmer | Sound Department |
| Charleen Richards | Sound Department |
| Catherine Rowe | Sound Department |
| Greg P. Russell | Sound Department |
| Earl Sampson | Sound Department |
| Christopher C. Schiavo | Sound Department |
| Kim Secrist | Sound Department |
| Dan Sharp | Sound Department |
