HMS TORQUAY, 1967-1968, AND HMS SIRIUS, 1971-1973 [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: HMS TORQUAY, 1967-1968, AND HMS SIRIUS, 1971-1973 [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 5137
  • Other titles: AMATEUR FILM BY LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER RICHARDSON-BUNBURY [Alternative Title]
  • Summary: Amateur film shot by Lieutenant-Commander Roger H M Richardson-Bunbury while serving in «HMS Torquay» and «HMS Sirius».
  • Description: Summary TORQUAY Gunnery exercise in Mediterranean with RAF Canberra; steaming at high power; refuelling at sea; entering & leaving Malta; light jackstay transfer; exercising the seaboat; at Gibraltar: rock apes; A/S mortar firing; Bofors gun firing; arriving Funchal Madeira & scenes ashore; squadron manoeuvres; passing RMS Queen Elizabeth; entering Portsmouth harbour. Summary SIRIUS Gorch Fock under sail; in the Bay of Biscay; helicopter operations; at Funchal Madeira, scenes ashore, sailing from Funchal; helicopter operations; at Amsterdam, tour of canals, sailing from Amsterdam; tracking RAF Hunter; steaming through Med - ship's sports; Heraklion Crete, scenes ashore; arriving Marmaris; helicopter flight over Malta; in company with Ark Royal, flying operations, helicopter flight from Sirius to Ark Royal, refuelling & replenishing stores at sea ( liquid & solids RASs); storing by helicopter (VERTREP); arriving Barcelona & scenes ashore; returning to UK & Devonport Dockyard; leaving Portland; gunnery tracking exercise; crossing the Atlantic: band & small arms practice, ship's sports; approaching Azores and scenes ashore; deck hockey; arrival at Ireland Island, Bermuda, scenes ashore; views ashore of Antigua; search for survivors in sea after sinking; standing by ship aground in the Bahamas; sailing to Barbados: assembling Folboat; arriving Barbados, diversions ashore; arriving San Juan, Puerto Rico: diversions ashore; (Reel 4): At Castries, St Lucia; views of island and locals activity; off Monserrat, bathing over ship's side; aerial view of ship on passage; at Tortola, views ashore; aerial view of ship arriving at Bermuda; coming alongside in Hamilton; "Sunset"; return to UK by RAF 'Britannia'. Minute Scene 00:00 TORQUAY Title sequence 00:11 Gunnery exercise with RAF Canberra aircraft. Director & 4.5" Mk. 6 Mounting. 01:20 Refuelling at sea from RFA OLMEDA. [1st Lieutenant (Lt.Cdr. P Bell) at 01:25; The Captain (Cdr. M E Barrow) & 1st Lieutenant at 01:45] 02:05 Ship steaming at high power* with activity on bridge. [*A piece of equipment floating in the water (which appeared to be an anti-submarine listening device) was recovered and a report made to Admiralty. The ship was ordered to proceed with all dispatch to Malta and land the equipment. ] 03:35 Entering Malta: Fort St Angelo & Dockyard Creek with Senglea in background 03:55 'Making a sternboard' & coming alongside in Dockyard Creek preparatory to a maintenance period. Alongside. Nightfall. 04:55 Departing Malta following EASTBOURNE 06:00 Line being passed by Coston Gun preparatory to a Light Jackstay transfer 06:35 "Captain (D)" (Captain I S S MacKay) being transferred to TORQUAY for visit. 07:15 Seaboat drill ~ Lt. D C W Elliott (with loudhailer) in charge. 08:40 At Gibraltar 08:45 Rock apes at Prince Ferdinand's Battery 10:25 A/S (Anti-submarine) Mortar Mk.10 loading & firing light practice rounds (these were designed to float and be recovered) 11:25 Scenes in Engine & Boiler Rooms. 11:45 Views of TORQUAY from foremast 12:00 Practice Bofors 40mm firing at surface target. 12:50 Arriving Funchal Madeira 13:10 Scenes ashore in Madeira 13:40 At sea returning to U.K.: submarine diving, Squadron manoeuvring in company 14:20 Passing RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH at Spithead as she leaves Southampton on her last voyage. 15:00 Entering Portsmouth Harbour: Sally Port, VICTORY, VICTORIOUS & T.S. FOUDROYANT (originally HMS TRINCOMALEE) & miscellaneous views. ----------------------------------------------------- 16:20 SIRIUS Title sequence 16:40 Steaming south & passing the German Sail Training Ship GORCH FOCK 17:20 Scene depicts cameraman Maurice Picot filming GORCH FOCK[SIRIUS had embarked a professional film crew to make a recruiting film aimed at school sixth forms. This film was later released as "Frigate" (C.O.I. 1972).] 17:30 Heavy weather crossing the Bay of Biscay. [ Lt. Steve Roche R.M. taking bearings at 18:15]. 18:15 Ship's 'Wasp' helicopter operations. Pilot: Lt Ian Parkinson. [Lt. D Lockyer on bridge at 18:30]. 18:30 At Funchal Madeira et seq Scenes ashore [inc. l to r: Marine Engineer Officer (MEO): Lt Cdr A T C Bottomley, Supply Officer (SO): Lt. P Merricks, & 1st Lt: Lt Cdr M T H Styles at 18:35.] 19:20 Sailing from Funchal [Gunnery Officer Lt. D W Lockyer at 19:25] 19:45 Helicopter Launch. [FDO (Flight Deck Officer) Lt P Merricks at 20:40] 21:00 Rotors running turn round of helicopter for film sortie by documentary film team. 21:50 At Amsterdam. Trip through canals in ship's boat with 1st Lt. (at 22:00), MEO (at 22:35) & TAS Officer (Lt. R D Guilleret) at 22:40. Miscellaneous scenes including canal craft, city streets & bridges, & barrel organ being cranked. 24:45 Sailing from Amsterdam. Shot of rail swing bridge over canal to sea being opened. 25:15 Off Gibraltar - tracking serial with RAF Hunter aircraft 25:40 Steaming through Mediterranean 26:05 Deck hockey on flight deck 27:35 Tug-of-War (anchor man Chief CEA French) 28:00 Arriving at Heraklion Crete 28:10 Fishermen at Heraklion 29:00 Market in Heraklion 29:50 Arriving at Marmaris, Turkey, with NAVOCFORMED 30:40 Flight over Malta from Hal Far in ship's helicopter 32:15 In company with ARK ROYAL 32:25 Dawn launch of Buccaneer & Phantom aircraft from ARK ROYAL 32:55 ARK ROYAL towing splash target (used for target practice by aircraft) 33:10 Simulated Buccaneer strikes on SIRIUS 33:55 'Wessex' planeguard helicopter operating from ARK ROYAL during aircraft launch. 35:25 Leander class frigate & [at 35:40] ARK ROYAL at twilight. [ SCO OoW at Pelorus: 35:55] 36:00 Helicopter flight transferring author to ARK ROYAL to conduct professional examination. 37:00 Awaiting clearance to land on ARK ROYAL while fixed wing aircraft land on. 37:50 Return flight to SIRIUS 38:40 Distance line (passed preparatory to refuelling at sea). 38:50 Captain of SIRIUS - Cdr. J Penny 39:00 ARK ROYAL & SIRIUS refuelling at sea from RFA OLMEDA [Navigating Officer (Lt. M Williams) at 39:20] 40:00 ARK ROYAL doing double RAS - fuel & solids [S/Lt. M Dance (Gunner) Officer of Watch (at Pelorus) - 40:25] 40:40 ARK ROYAL 'Vertrep' (replenishment by helicopter) at twilight.. 42:00 Arriving at Barcelona 42:45 Replica of Columbus's ship Santa Maria 43:25 Views of Barcelona 45:20 Returning to U.K in company with ANDROMEDA [Type 965 radar aerial at 45:45.] 46:10 Entering Plymouth Sound 46:25 In Hamoaze passing ARK ROYAL 46:35 Securing alongside, [either FEARLESS or INTREPID in background]. PART II 47:00 Title sequence 47:15 Leaving Portland Harbour [Navigating Officer (Lt. M Williams) taking bearings] 47:50 Gunnery tracking exercise. [Lt Steve Roche R.M. on watch on bridge at 48:10.] 48:25 In Atlantic on passage to West Indies 48:55 Ship's informal (dance band) group practising on after superstructure 49:35 Small Arms practice at sea [S/Lt. D Habershon at 50:05] 50:35 Deputy Weapons Electrical Officer (DWEO) S/Lt. J R G Sexton 50:40 Ship's Sports competition - deck hockey 51:05 Approaching the Azores 51:50 Entering Ponta Delgada 52:25 Views ashore in Azores 53:40 Object encountered in mid-Atlantic ~ believed to be remote weather station. 54:00 Taking sun sight 54:05 Deck hockey. [Captain of SIRIUS (Cdr. D B Nolan, superseded J Penny ca. beginning 1972) - in overalls, back to guard rails at 54:30] 54:45 Captain presenting champagne to winners of deck hockey competition. 55:15 Arrival in Bermuda at (late dockyard) Ireland Island. 55:45 Boat trip to capital, Hamilton 56:05 Views ashore 56:45 St John's Antigua et seq Views of Antigua, inc. the old dockyard at English Harbour 58:05 Search for survivors of merchant ship LINCOLN EXPRESS which was reported sunk; a group of survivors was found (on a large raft) by SIRIUS. These were recovered by the US Coast Guard vessel 'SAGE BRUSH' shown in company 58:50 SIRIUS was then sent to stand by the LAGO MAIHUE which had gone aground on a reef off Castle Island in the Bahamas. A salvage crew from SIRIUS with pumping equipment was landed aboard LAGO MAIHUE by helicopter. They reported the ship in v. poor condition despite her (reportedly) being only 18 months old. Admiralty salvage experts were flown out to SIRIUS, and she stood by for several days, until an ocean going salvage tug arrived (shown). 60:25 Sailing south to Barbados 60:35 Assembling a Royal Marine 'Folboat' on the flight deck 61:25 Arriving Bridgetown Barbados for Christmas 61:50 Views of east coast of Barbados 62:00 "Sam Lord's Castle" 62:15 Bathing party ~ Captain emerging from surf. 62:55 Scenes ashore 63:05 At the yacht club Barbados 63:30 Alcoholic bird imbibing [Ship's M.O. in background]; bathing & water skiing 64:45 Coconut Beach Club on west (leeward) coast of Barbados, scenes of horse riding, sailing, steel band playing, miscellaneous beach activity. 66:20 Views of Bridgetown inc. Nelson monument, diving for coins, "Jolly Roger" tourist boat etc. 68:15 Steaming past islands St Kitts & Nevis en route to San Juan, Puerto Rico; porpoises playing around bows. 70:15 Entering San Juan early a.m. 70:30 Inter island amphibian aircraft (Grumman Goose) landing on water in San Juan harbour and taxiing ashore. 71:00 Girl walking on beach & water skiing 71:35 En route & stopping for coconut refreshment on the way to beach party. 71:55 Beach party with the assistant British consul on north coast east of San Juan . 73:35 -----------------------------------------------------------------------** 00:00 At Castries, St Lucia. 00:55 Fish sale 01:05 Market on dockside at Castries 01:40 Views of St Lucia, including cannon at Morne Fortune 02:25 Native village scenes 03:25 Locals launching boat 03:45 Author bathing at St Lucia 04:10 Tour of Island of St Lucia: The Pitons; volcanic activity, coastal scenes. 05:25 SIRIUS off Monserrat: Panning shot of ship in close-up 05:50 Bathing over ship's side 07:35 Armed sentries on shark watch 07:50 Steaming down coast of Monserrat 08:30 Aerial view of SIRIUS on passage 08:40 At Tortola: views ashore 09:10 Aerial view of SIRIUS arriving Bermuda 09:25 Entering Bermuda 09:35 Coming alongside in Hamilton 10:15 Packing for return to U.K. 10:30 "Sunset" - ensign lowered. 10.50 Return to U.K. in RAF 'Britannia' aircraft via Lages in the Azores THE END "the end"
  • Alternative Title: AMATEUR FILM BY LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER RICHARDSON-BUNBURY [Alternative Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: MGH 5137
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: NON-IWM
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1967 1968 1971 1972 1973
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details:
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Silent
  • Technical Details: Format: Super 8mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 4 Footage: 1200 ft + 400 ft; Running time: 60 mins (ca)
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MGH 5137

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