Title:EXERCISE COUNTY FAIR, OCTOBER 1974 [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BFM 532
Other titles:AMPHIBIOUS TRIALS AND TRAINING UNIT, ROYAL MARINES [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Amphibious landing exercises at a cove in Devon.
Description: Scenes on board an LCVP (landing craft vehicle personnel) setting off from LPD (Landing Platform Dock) HMS Fearless; it is towing a dracone barge (a flexible tube filled with fuel). The LCVP approaches RFA Tidepool - there are several LCVPs and an LCM(9) in the vicinity. Alongside Tidepool, the dracone barge is filled with more fuel; the LCVP sets off towards land. Close-ups of soldiers on board, including an officer with handlebar moustache smoking a pipe. The dracone barge trails behind, zigzagging as the landing craft makes its way through the water. The LCVP comes alongside a Mexeflote floating platform which is being used as a jetty. The dracone barge is pulled slightly on board; a hose is paid out and attached to the dracone, leading to a pillow tank (on land) being used as a bulk fuel installation.
On the shingle beach in a cove surrounded by cliffs: a Royal Navy helicopter flies in with a stack of short trackway sections. These sections are unpacked and manually fixed together by men of the Royal Engineers. Further sections are flown in. In addition to this, a roll of Class 30 trackway is laid by a Michigan 175 tractor fitted with dispenser. Wide view of the sea, where various craft (Tidepool, Fearless, Sea Trucks, landing craft) can be seen.
Scenes on board LCM(9) moored next to Tidepool: deflated APFCs (air portable fuel containers), empty and flat, are craned on board two at a time. These are topped with filled APFCs, short cylinders marked "flammable", which are secured into place and covered with netting. The LCM(9) sets off; once ashore, the full APFCs are rolled off one by one, attached to Land Rovers; one is picked up by a heavy duty fork lift tractor. The trackway on the beach which was assembled earlier is flipped over by a line of sappers. LCM(9) F1 arrives and disembarks Land Rovers with trailers and also a heavy engineer tractor. Further general views of APFCs (full) being backed onto LCVP H1. Land Rover Prime Mover is backed onto a Sea Truck Mk I (at this point the light is starting to fade). A second Prime Mover backs a light gun onto LCVP.
Alternative Title:AMPHIBIOUS TRIALS AND TRAINING UNIT, ROYAL MARINES [Allocated Series Title]
