Summary: Production of the British 17-pounder. AT gun, presented as a race against first the probability and then the certainty of the development of a new German Tank (the Tiger) which existing 2 and 6-pounders. will not be able to match.
Description: Planning committees, drawings, wooden mock-up; production starts; tension increases as intelligence learns of German progress (captured film of Tigers being tested - progress of 2 weapons schematically compared by animated diagrams) while British are held up by difficulties in the gun (ie not carriage). First gun unveiled in factory canteen, to great applause - test firing (including slow motion film of shell piercing armour). Deliveries of both weapons begin: ironic scene in club as member complains British are always caught napping. Battle of Mareth line represented by compilation of film of German tank, 17-pounders. aiming and firing, armour plates with German Cross and shell holes, triumphant newspaper headlines. Germans tow away knocked-out Tiger.
Production Details: War Office (Production sponsor)
Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Army Film Unit (Production company)
Bull, Donald (Production individual)
Lucas, Leighton (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army (regiment/service)
German Army (regiment/service)
Keywords: armour, German - tank: Tiger & [damaged] (object name)
combat, British (object name)
industry, British - guns: 17-pounder AT guns (object name)
industry, British - vehicles: tanks (object name)
weapons, British - gun [AT]: 17-pounder & [R and D] (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: 1287 ft; Running time: 15 mins
