HMS MANCHESTER - SCENES FROM HER BUILDING AND FIRST COMMISSION (REEL ONE) [Main Title]

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  • Title: HMS MANCHESTER - SCENES FROM HER BUILDING AND FIRST COMMISSION (REEL ONE) [Main Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 1934
  • Other titles: AMATEUR FILM BY COMMANDER GEORGE ROSS [Alternative Title]
  • Summary: The building, launching and first commission of the Town Class light cruiser HMS Manchester. The film is a mixture of sepiatone and full colour, and is captioned throughout.
  • Description: "The River Tyne, Northumberland, January 1937". Views of boats and quayside; the camera-boat passes close by HMS Sheffield, also a Town Class cruiser. Cranes at the nearby shipyard. (Sepia) "HMS Manchester Laid Down at Hebburn 28th March 1936. Launched by the Lady Mayoress of Manchester 12th April 1936". HMS Manchester in dry dock at the yard of her constructors, Hawthorn Leslie. Dignitaries gather for the launch ceremony; a group of pressmen with their cameras can be seen. After launch, Manchester slides down the slipway into the river. (Sepia) "Next Month was the Coronation. Scenes in Parliament Square". The streets are lined with spectators for the Coronation parade. Sepia footage turns to full colour for scenes of the parade passing. Views from two angle, ssuggesting footage from a second camera has been added. "Returning to the Tyne, a view of the Factory at St Peter's Works with some of Manchester's Machinery". (Sepia) Interior of the factory where many of the large components for HMS Manchester are under construction. Many large pieces of machinery are situated on the factory floor. "View of the ship in August. Decks still open". Exterior shots of HMS Manchester under construction. "September. The bridge under construction. Later you will see a High Pressure Turbine being lowered into the engine room". Scenes on board; the structure of the upper deck is still quite open. Bridge is under construction. View of the dock. The turbine is lowered into the engine room space by dockside crane. "The Rush Hour". Workmen (most in jackets, ties and flat caps) leave the ship in large numbers at the end of their shift. "November. The second funnel in place. Next to arrive is B turret and its guns". Construction continues. On deck, the bearings on the base of B Turret are checked before the turret itself is craned into position. Later, each gun is monoeuvred into place. "March 1938. The ship docks before trials". The (almost complete) vessel docks at the quayside on the Tyne; men wind rope onto capstans. "Steam is then raised and Manchester puts to sea". Smoke pours thickly from one of her funnels as Manchester sets off on her first commission; she is guided down the Tyne by a tug. The crew are lined up on deck as she departs, wives and families wave the ship off. Scenes on board, including the captain on the bridge, and general deck views. "End of Part One".
  • Alternative Title: AMATEUR FILM BY COMMANDER GEORGE ROSS [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: B&W (part Colour [Kodachrome])
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: MGH 1934
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1937
  • Production Country:
  • Production Details:
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W (part Colour [Kodachrome]) Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 400 ft; Running time: 11 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MGH 1934

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    MGH 1935 (HMS MANCHESTER - SCENES FROM HER BUILDING AND FIRST COMMISSION (REEL TWO) [Main Title])
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