MALTA CONVOY : The Greatest Escort Action Ever Fought [Main Title]

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  • Title: MALTA CONVOY : The Greatest Escort Action Ever Fought [Main Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 502
  • Other titles: GAUMONT BRITISH NEWS ISSUE 901 (item) [Alternative Title] MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Newsreel episode depicting the large supply convoy to Malta, Operation Pedestal.
  • Description: I. Reel One. After an opening map showing the position of Malta there are establishing LSs over the convoy and its escorts - including the three carriers Furious, Victorious and Indomitable. Good MS off port bow of HMS Rodney. HA onto the focsle of cameraship Nelson and CU of Syfret on the bridge. MS to Rodney and Furious in line astern of Nelson - Furious signals. LS as Victorious flies off aircraft. CU of signal searchlight on cameraship. Sequence showing a dusk attack on the convoy - streams of tracers rise into the sky, standing out vividly in the dying light. Night firing sequence - HMS Manchester fires 4-inch AA, Nelson joins in. Daylight - MLS broad on port bow of HMS Victorious. CU as gun crew load multiple 2-pounder AA on Nelson. LSs of bombs falling amidst the convoy and a flak-speckled sky - some of the attacking aircraft are hit. HA as 2-pounder on B turret fires off. LS of Colony Class cruiser (Nigeria or Kenya) as forward turrets fire at an approaching raider - Rodney in the background. A stick of bombs explodes in the water ahead of a destroyer. Further LSs of bombs exploding among convoy vessels, high altitude aircraft in a flak- filled sky, one raider flying low over the convoy. XLS as one of the Illustrious Class carriers puts up AA barrage as bombs explode near her - the carrier is then obscured by further explosions, including a possible hit. The attack temporarily over the gun crew of a 6-inch turret emerge to remove anti-flash and relax. Starboard 8x2-pounder is surrounded by empty cases. Further film of air attacks - bombs explode, blurred image as a SM 79 passes right to left past cameraship. A merchantman is highlighted against white spray from exploding bombs. Nelson fires tracer at another SM 79. LSs of exploding bombs and a damaged ship wreathed in smoke. Back in Gibraltar after the conclusion of the operation Vice-Admiral Burroughs visits Vice-Admiral Willis. CU of the cameraman A E Candy. Divine service onboard Nelson and transfer of wounded ashore. HMS Furious enters port with survivors from torpedoed HMS Eagle. Final shots of sailors receiving their hard-earned pay. II. Reel Two. A shortened version of Reel One. A few shots differ from those used previously, eg that showing Syfret on the bridge of Nelson Some shots differ very slightly, eg the early LS pan over the carrier force is held a little longer to show Eagle in addition to the other three ships. However most of the material is the same as Reel One but cut into a different order.
  • Alternative Title: GAUMONT BRITISH NEWS ISSUE 901 (item) [Alternative Title] MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: ADM 502
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-08-24
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Gaumont British News (Production company) Candy, Edward A1920-01-022007 (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Syfret, Edward Neville (person) Willis, Algernon Usborne (person) Burrough, Harold Martin (person) Candy, A E (person) Royal Navy, Rodney (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Nelson (regiment/service) Royal Navy, FURIOUS (HMS), light cruiser (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Victorious (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - battleship: Rodney (object name) ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Furious (object name) ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Victorious & [-] (object name) combat, British - air strike anti-ship [D] (object name) Second World War & Operation Pedestal & 8/1942 (event)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 1299 ft; Running time: 14 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 502

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    UKY 425 (MALTA CONVOY [Main Title])
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