SHOCK TROOPS [Main Title]

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  • Title: SHOCK TROOPS [Main Title]
  • Film Number: COI 149
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: British troops train and prepare for offensive warfare, including beach landing and assault exercises.
  • Description: An opening sequence showing a beach-landing rehearsal (infantry in assault boats followed immediately by matériel and lorries, very little armour) lead into shots of training activities: PT, cliff climbing, unarmed combat, river crossing, camouflage and ambush, a long section on bayonet combat ("still the weapon of Britain's shock troops"), use of carriers etc. The trainees are followed through a difficult assault course (allegedly under real fire) which ends in an "enemy" counterattack and the storming of a village. "Training is realistic enough, but it is only a preparation for the real thing" - the film ends with a purported example of that 'real thing' in the shape of a commando raid, but the sequence (unopposed beach landing and demolition film) lacks credibility. "Another job well done, but not the last."
  • Alternative Title:
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: No
  • Object_Number: COI 149
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions:
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-11
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) Spectator (Production company) Kemplen, Ralph (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: combat [simulated], British - amphibious (object name) operations, British military - preparation (object name) training, British - combat (object name) propaganda, British - inspirational (object name) weapons, British - powderless: bayonet (object name)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 956 ft; Running time: 11 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    COI 149

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
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