Summary: Documentary comparing and contrasting the work of Royal Navy radio operators with that of their civilian counterparts.
Description: Radio 1 DJ Mike Smith stresses the similarities between a professional radio station and the communications onboard a Royal Navy vessel (frigate used here - HMS Charybdis). RN radio operator uses similar equipment to that at Radio 1; it's "a job that puts you in the forefront of the action". Trainee ROs are seen at HMS Mercury School of Maritime Operations Communications and Navigation (shore station at Portsmouth) undergoing morse training, typing and printer skills, signalling. Social aspects of naval life are shown. "On the job" training at sea; submarine ROs. Prospects for promotion, even up to officer training. HMS Charybdis helps control tanker fire - sends communication to Radio 1 for news broadcast.
Production Details: Royal Navy (Production sponsor)
Central Office of Information (Production sponsor)
O'Mara, Tim (Production individual)
Eddon, David (Production individual)
Grech 'Ellul, Paul (Production individual)
Sharp, Ivan (Production individual)
Anderson, Simon (Production individual)
Nevard, Michele (Production individual)
Saunders, Brian (Production individual)
Russell, Xavier (Production individual)
Morris, Nic (Production individual)
Smith, Mike (Production cast)
Markham, Jane (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Smith, Mike (person)
Royal Navy, CHARYBDIS (HMS), frigate (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Mercury School of Maritime Operations Communications and Navigation (regiment/service)
British Broadcasting Corporation, Radio One (regiment/service)
Keywords: communications, British naval - electronic (object name)
journalism and record, British - radio: Radio 1 (object name)
propaganda, British - practical: recruitment, Royal Navy (object name)
ships, British naval - frigate: Charybdis (F.75) (object name)
training, British naval - specialist: radio operators (object name)
GB, England & Portsmouth, Hants <HMS Mercury School of Maritime Operations Communications and Navigation> (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Technical Details: Format: U-matic
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Running time: 10 mins 21 secs
