DARTMOUTH TO THE FLEET [Main Title]

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  • Title: DARTMOUTH TO THE FLEET [Main Title]
  • Film Number: COI 1110
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: Recruitment film showing the training rôle of Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon, and the qualities which it develops in the seamen it graduates.
  • Description: All the crew of the Type 22 frigate HMS London, seen here in fireproof suits during a damage control exercise, have different ranks but all had started out at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth (shown). Second Lieutenant Steve Cooper (officer under training, HMS London) is interviewed about his impressions of life there. During the first term, everyone takes the same course - outdoor entry exercise, navigational training, leadership training (another outdoor exercise on Dartmoor). Naval and academic staff monitor progress and meet (for coffee and for divisional dinner). PLX: practical leadership exercise - 72 hours outdoors on the moor in camouflage gear. Lieutenant Neal Yates (London's Flight Commander describes his experience on this tough course). During the second term, cadets travel on a ship of the Dartmouth training Squadron to get a feeling of life on board: radar, navigation and gunnery training shown, as are shore visits in Florida and Nassau, where a children's barbecue is held and an evening concert takes place on board the ship. (During a port visit the ship represents Britain and must be friendly with the locals). Captain Robert Fisher (CO, HMS London) is interviewed. Back at sea, training continues: officers on watch in bridge, gunnery training. Back at Dartmouth, some of the cadets go to university, some to fleet training, those who remain at Dartmouth proper become 'seniors' with some responsibility over junior cadets (drill shown). Training is now primarily academic (various brief classroom scenes); Lieutenant Commander Jerry Bearne (Ops Officer on London) describes his training. Beyond Dartmouth is the fleet: HMS London again, undergoing sea trials. Marine engineers (including Lieutenant Alan Denison) are shown at work. Towed array sonar undergoes trials. Lynx helicopter prepared. Neal Yates is interviewed again about life on board and below decks is shown: the "Burma Road" corridor, Chinese laundry, galley, shop. Second Lieutenant Rick Marshall shows his tiny cabin which combines bed, washbasin and office, and is also seen at work as Ops Room Flight Controller. Steve Murdoch, Chief Supply Officer and Captain's Secretary, talks about his various roles, including Flight Deck Officer (guiding the Lynx on take-off). Social life on board: the wardroom where a film show takes place. Talk of shared loyalties, comradeship, adventure as reasons for staying. Final shot of London sailing into the sunset.
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: COI 1110
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (COI 1110)
  • Featured Period: 1976-1989
  • Production Date: 1988
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Defence (Navy) (Production sponsor) Central Office of Information (Production sponsor) World Wide Pictures (Production company) Brinton, Roland (Production individual) Brinton, Roland (Production individual) Hale, Nick (Production individual) Crisp, Leigh (Production individual) Morgan, Ken (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: U-matic Running time: 23 mins 34 secs
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    COI 1110

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