Title:HMS INTREPID DURING THE FALKLANDS WAR [Allocated Title]
Film Number:FAL 8012
Other titles:AMATEUR FILM BY SERGEANT GRAHAM RANSOM [Alternative Title]
Summary: Amateur colour film shot by Royal Marine Sergeant Graham Ransom of the 6th Assault Squadron on board the assault ship HMS Intrepid during Operation Corporate, between 26 April and 5 May 1982, shows training on voyage south past Ascension Island, Harrier landing on Atlantic Conveyor, scenes in San Carlos Water, Port Stanley after the Argentinian surrender, and voyage home to Portsmouth, between 26 June and 14 July.
Description: Shots over Intrepid's flight deck as she prepares to leave Portsmouth; crew members are lined up against the rails. Senior officers are gathered on the dockside. Tugs accompany her. Various landing craft approach Intrepid, carrying vehicles (bulldozers and Land Rovers) and enter her internal dock.
Rifle practice on the flight deck during the journey. Marines lie prone and fire at targets on the rail; camera pans to show maintenance work being carried out on one of Intrepid's Wessex helicopters. Further weapons drills: Seacat missiles are loaded and unloaded onto their firing platform. Rocket launcher drills.
Physical training on deck; crewmen carry out exercises including running (the theme to "Chariots of Fire" plays on the soundtrack). Hockey match on the flight deck (theme to "Grandstand" playing) and further PT scenes.
Helicopter drills on the flight deck. Two Wessex helicopters are prepared; one takes off and lands on again. Sea King helicopter is prepared, as Marines climb on board second Wessex which takes off. Wessex in flight and coming in to land - Marines deplane.
Anti-aircraft drills: Bofors gun is loaded and fired against target flare. Two Seacat missiles are also fired at target. Chaff dispensers are loaded and discharged. A Soviet "Bear" aircraft flies overhead. Another flare is fired and used for target practice.
Replenishment at sea from the auxiliary vessel MV British Tamar. Activities on deck as the operation is carried out. Wessex helicopter in flight with underslung load.
Scenes off Ascension Island; various vessels can be seen. Union Jack is raised on Intrepid. Sea Harrier aircraft overhead. Atlantic Conveyor alongside: Chinook helicopter with underslung load flies over stern. Sea Harrier comes in to land on Atlantic Conveyor; shortly after this, an RAF Harrier GR3 (with extended nose cone) also lands on.
Scenes after arrival at San Carlos Water on East Falkland including helicopter operations, HMS Engadine and a Townsend Thoresen ferry. Views off Port Stanley (late in the conflict): various vessels can be seen including MV Contender Bezant (later RFA Argos) and an Amazon Class frigate.
"Homeward Bound from 26 June to 14 July". Scenes on the return journey. Marines fly kites on the flight deck. Later, flares are fired from two 105mm guns (again on the flight deck) as a prelude to the Crossing the Line Ceremony: King Neptune and his court walk on. Various sailors are dunked in a large inflatable pool of water.
Arrival at Portsmouth: Intrepid sails past US Navy destroyer and various other vessels, including a Sealink ferry sporting a banner "Welcome Home Task Force". Flotilla of small vessels accompanies Intrepid. People on the shore wave and hold up banners. The shore stations HMS Dolphin and HMS Vernon are passed. Sea King helicopters fly in formation overhead. As Intrepid comes in to dock, a band plays "Land of Hope and Glory" on the quayside.
Alternative Title:AMATEUR FILM BY SERGEANT GRAHAM RANSOM [Alternative Title]
Colour:Colour
Digitised:Yes
Object_Number:FAL 8012
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:1976-1989
Production Date:1982
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Ransom, Graham (Production individual)
