WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 61 [Main Title]
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- Title: WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 61 [Main Title]
- Film Number: WPN 61
- Other titles:
- Summary: An edition of the British official newsreel "War Pictorial News", produced by the Ministry of Information, Middle East.
- Description: I. 'NEWS FROM AMERICA.' The commentary stresses the theme of the "commando spirit" catching on throughout the armed forces of the United Nations. United States Marines march along jungle track during a military exercise. Marines ford a shallow watercourse carrying Garand M1 .30-in self-loading rifles and Browning M1918A2 (BAR).30-in automatic rifles. A United States Marine Corps (USMC) mule train crosses the watercourse at what appears to be the same crossing point. The commentary stresses that "attack" is the essence of the commando spirit over footage of a camouflaged US White half-track driving at speed past the camera, armed with a Browning .30-in machine gun mounted on its hull. US 4x4 Cargo Chevrolet trucks drive along a country road to an undisclosed destination. The commentary outlines the role of the USMC as a spearhead force against the Axis. USMC troops climb into Rubber assault boats and start paddling for shore. The commentary outlines the obvious tactical advantages of such "Pneumatic boats" over scenes of USMC troops carrying out beach assault exercises with the inflatable boats. II. 'ILLUSTRIOUS AT SEA AGAIN.' The commentary announces that the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious has returned to duty in home waters having been extensively repaired in the United States, following bomb damage in the Mediterranean. Views of HMS Illustrious at anchor with Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Grumman Martlet fighter aircraft on her flight deck. The commentary points out that these are the first pictures of the Illustrious since her repairs. A Royal Navy rating dressed in a flame-retardant asbestos suit watches the take-off of a FAA Grumman Martlet Fighter from the carrier's flight deck. A deck landing officer, described by the commentary as the "batsman", indicates to the pilot of a landing Martlet the approach attitude of his aircraft. The Martlet (AM 996) catches an arrester wire on landing as deck crew rush to the aircraft in order to fold the aircraft's wings and manhandle it to the aircraft carrier's lift that will take it to the below-deck hangar area. Off-duty FAA pilots relax and joke in a ward room as the commentary describes them as "The eyes of the Navy." III. 'SUBMARINE.' A Royal Navy submarine commander wearing a civilian anorak uses his periscope to scan the surface for enemy vessels. A 21-in torpedo is fired from the single stern tube of an unidentified Royal Navy S Class submarine. The commentary describes the submarine as "man's most deadly offensive weapon of sea warfare." A T Class diesel/electric Submarine returns to a depot ship in order to replenish supplies. Submarine crews relax aboard the depot ship, smoking pipes and cigarettes and reading magazines. A crane lowers a 21-in torpedo through a supply hatch as supplies are replenished and essential engine repairs are carried out. Fresh vegetables are loaded into the submarine at the last moment prior to sailing. The submarine commander receives final instructions and consults charts prior to joining his crew. A T Class submarine flying the White Ensign leaves its mooring for operations. A Royal Navy rating blows the submarine's ballast tanks as a test dive is made. The T class submarine submerges rapidly as a rating scans depth indicator equipment. The commentary points out that the submarine has reached its "beat", its area of operations and the T Class surfaces at dusk. The commentary highlights the procedures for daily oxygen replenishment and battery charging techniques over internal views of the submarine's electric batteries cells. A Royal Navy officer descends the internal ladder from the conning tower bridge as a convoy is spotted. The submarine dives rapidly as the commentary stresses the submarine role as a lone hunter. The periscope is raised as the submarine commander attempts to identify the sighted surface ships. the convoy proves to be friendly. The commentary highlights the fact that using surface gunfire to sink enemy shipping is less expensive than using torpedoes over scenes of a T Class gun crew firing salvos from their 4-in gun at an unseen target. A T Class submarine returns to base flying the "Jolly Roger" as a sign of successful action against the enemy. IV. 'HAVE YOU HEARD ?' This item shows no visual image. The soundtrack consists of a whispered dialogue, in which secrets are apparently conveyed in a gossip-like fashion. The commentator intervenes to exhort the viewer not to spread rumours.
- Alternative Title:
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised: Yes
- Object_Number: WPN 61
- Sound: Sound
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
- Featured Period: 1939-1945
- Production Date: 1942-06-29
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Ministry of Information, Middle East (Production sponsor) War Pictorial News (Production company) Martin, Charles (Production individual) Keating, Rex1910-02-142005-01British newsreel commentator, WW2 period (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: United States Marine Corps (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Illustrious (regiment/service)
- Keywords: training, United States - specialist: commando (object name) ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Illustrious (object name) ships, British naval - submarine (object name) operations, British naval - preparation (object name) operations, British naval - sortie (object name) propaganda, British - security (object name)
- Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: French & Arabic
- Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 912 ft; Running time: 10 mins
- HD Media:Yes
- Link to IWM Collections page:
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