Title:TRIALS OF CHURCHILL AVRES AND MODIFIED UNIVERSAL CARRIERS [Allocated Title]
Film Number:ADM 999
Other titles:INVASION EQUIPMENT TRIALS [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Amphibious trials of British armoured vehicles at Instow Beach, North Devon, prior to the Normandy landings of June 1944.
Description: I. Bulldozer clears sand from before bows of LCT 340. The vehicle ramp is lowered, and a Churchill II equipped with AMRCR (anti-mine reconnaissance castor roller) disembarks.
II. MLS broad on the starboard bow of LCT(4) with lowered vehicle ramp - Churchill Mk VI carrying chespaling on Twin Bobbins, disembarks into 6 ft of water and wades ashore. Cut to a different trial - a vehicle comes ashore from LCT 340. Final MS of the tank parked on the beach.
III. LA.MS-CU as Churchill comes ahead onto deck of LCT. Cut to sequence showing disarmed Mk II crossing rocky shore below sea wall - CU of track and road wheels as the tank goes over a rocky ledge.
IV. Trials with amphibious carriers: Blackburn rigid float carrier drives across flat sandy beach into a calm sea, swims about, and returns to shore; Kapok carrier repeats procedure - MS of carrier lying stationary in the water, emphasising the very low freeboard; Loyd carrier disembarks from LCT(5) into 3 ft of water and wades ashore; Bren gun carrier wades ashore, a tarpaulin splash cover stretched over the crew compartment; Straussler float carrier enters the sea obliquely from the beach - film cuts before the carrier begins swimming, and a caption notes that the trial was unsuccessful.
V. Austin light utility attempts to drive up a sand slope to some dunes, but fails. Carrier equipped with TLC (tank landing craft) laying device then puts down carpet, and the Austin successfully negotiates the slope, followed by a Mack 5-ton 6x4 heavy breakdown truck.
VI. MS as LCT(4) disembarks AEC Matador armoured command vehicle, which drives parallel to the shore and circles in shallow water.
Alternative Title:INVASION EQUIPMENT TRIALS [Allocated Series Title]