ALLIED AIRCRAFT AT DHAHRAN AND THE VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE TO HMS BATTLEAXE [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: ALLIED AIRCRAFT AT DHAHRAN AND THE VISIT OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE TO HMS BATTLEAXE [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 6388
  • Other titles: THE ROYAL NAVY IN THE GULF, 1990-1991 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Views of Dhahran airbase concentrating on recently arrived Tornado GR1s. Tom King visits HMS Battleaxe for a photo-opportunity (28 August 1990).
  • Description: I. Dhahran airbase. LS along a range of desert-pink Tornado GR1s belonging to 31 Composite squadron - one of the aircraft is on a hitch and a tractor is manoeuvring it into line with the others. MS of a parked VC 10 tanker - US C-130 transports are taxiing in the background. A Saudi soldier stands guard over the Tornadoes, while British service personnel wander about. A VC 10 tanker passes over the field with aircraft in company. LS across the field to two parked C-130s - one flies the skull-and-crossbones flag of the Marine squadron VMGR 352. GR1 Tornadoes taxi down the field towards the camera. C-130 flies right to left, climbing after take off - camera pulls back to show VC 10 tanker parked up, crew moving in and out. Saudi sentry again. LSs of parked RAF DC 10 and VC 10 transports. MSs of the range of GR1s. LS as RAF Hercules takes off. II. HMS Battleaxe. HA from frigate as the Minister gets out of a black BMW drawn up on the quayside and mounts the gangway. Large numbers of press and TV men are onboard his arrival. He inspects honour guard. CUs of ship's marines with Enfields 'looking alert' for the camera. Mr King - who has shed his jacket - reaches upper deck, escorted by Commander Gordon-Lennox. King takes up gunner's position on starboard GAM-B01 gun - a rating explains to him the operation of the sights. MS as the Minister talks to the crew of twin 30mm mounting - when the gunner, AB Trevor Nixon, invites him to sit in the cupola he comments that he dines out too frequently. Nevertheless he squeezes into position and under instruction elevates and trains the gun. Prompted by the camera crew he trains the gun round towards them. King then moves on, commenting to the captain that he is "melting". Next on the tour is the Sea Gnat decoy system where, for the photographers, the Minister briefly puts on one of the crew's 'Battleaxe' baseball caps. King asks if the chaff works, and is assured that it does "extremely well". On the bridge King is introduced to Petty Officer Yeoman Morrin, then looks out of the windows at the other ships secured alongside - ahead of Battleaxe is the command ship USS La Salle, and on the other side of the quay is the frigate USS Taylor.
  • Alternative Title: THE ROYAL NAVY IN THE GULF, 1990-1991 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: ADM 6388
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (ADM 6388)
  • Featured Period: 1990-2000
  • Production Date: 1990-08-28
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations (Navy) Film and Photographic (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: King, Tom Jeremy (person) Gordon-Lennox, A C (person) Nixon, Trevor (person) Morrin, Joseph (person) Royal Navy, BATTLEAXE (HMS), frigate (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Composite Sqdn 31 (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - frigate: Battleaxe (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Panavia Tornado GR1 (object name) aircraft, United States - transport: Lockheed C-130 Hercules (object name) aircraft, British - transport: Vickers VC 10 (object name) weapons, British naval - gun: 30mm BMARC GCM-A03 (object name) weapons, British naval - gun: 20mm BMARC GAM-B01 (object name) equipment, British naval - decoy: Sea Gnat (object name) delegations, British national - political: Minister of Defence visits HMS Battleaxe (object name) 12/7(536.8) (event) Saudi Arabia & Dhahran (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: Beta-SP; VHS Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Running time: 15 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 6388

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