Summary: Dramatised portrait of life on board a Royal Navy frigate, HMS Sirius.
Description: HMS Sirius (F.40) on patrol - shots of bridge, guns, radar room. During an exercise, aircraft are detected on radar. "Engage!" Simulated attack: jet fighters swoop, guns fire, damage, emergency drill. After the exercise, senior officers discuss the success of the exercise. More training: a nuclear submarine is 'stalking' Sirius - shots of interior and exterior of both submarine and frigate (submarine exteriors are largely model shots). Sea King helicopter lowers sonobuoy into the water - sub adopts an "ultra-quiet state". Wasp helicopters search for submarine, anti-submarine mortars fire. The submarine surfaces. Captain of sub sends message by Aldis lamp: "nearly got me that time, have a good trip". Fade to Sirius at sea, and sailing past a tall ship, followed by a sequence showing everyday life onboard: supply officer, engineering officer, weapons training, maintenance, meals, galley. Refuelling at sea - supply ship (A269, Grey Rover) pulls up alongside, fuel line is fed across, fuel is transferred; the operation finishes, the line is taken back and the two ships part. Madeira: Sirius enters harbour, crew lined up on deck. Cocktail party. Crew on shore leave: tourism, waterskiing, shopping in market, drinking, golf. Back onboard Sirius, duty officer relaxing with a magazine (Penthouse) is interrupted by teleprinter relaying message "PROCEED FORTHWITH TO DISASTER AREA... RENDER ALL POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE". Men are recalled, helicopters being readied, preparations underway, stores checked. Sirius sets sail for disaster area. Film closes over the ship at sea at twilight, silhouetted by the sunlight on the water, as her captain (voiceover) radios ahead offering assistance.
Production Details: Central Office of Information (Production sponsor)
Technical and Scientific Films (Production company)
Film Producers' Guild (Production company)
Mitchell, Clive (Production individual)
Tambling, Richard (Production individual)
Mitchell, Clive (Production individual)
Picot, Maurice (Production individual)
Bicker, Ron (Production individual)
Glass, Bill (Production individual)
Dodson, Peter (Production individual)
Holding, Harold (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, GREY ROVER (RFA), tanker (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Sirius (regiment/service)
Keywords: communications, British naval - direct: Aldis lamp (object name)
communications, British - wire: teleprinter (object name)
operations, British naval - routine (object name)
recreation, British naval - general (object name)
recreation, British naval - sport: water skiing (object name)
recreation, British naval - tourism (object name)
ships, British auxiliary - assistance: Grey Rover (object name)
ships, British naval - frigate: Sirius (object name)
training, British naval - combat: anti-submarine (object name)
Atlantic Ocean (geography)
Portugal & Madeira (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 905 ft; Running time: 25 mins
