HMS EAGLE REPLENISHES OFF FAMAGUSTA [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: HMS EAGLE REPLENISHES OFF FAMAGUSTA [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 1660
  • Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: HMS Eagle takes on stores from RFA Retainer, prior to relieving Ark Royal on station in the Mediterranean.
  • Description: MSs to Retainer as she steams abreast to starboard of the cameraship, HMS Eagle. Men climb a derrick post, ready to receive the jackstay. A Costin gun passes a light line to Retainer. The jackstay is hauled across, secured to its slip, and a man cuts the seizing securing it to the inhaul. A cargo net is transferred - two jackstays are being worked, one rigged before, and one aft of the island. Various shots of stores being moved on trolleys along Retainer's deck to be loaded into nets and hauled across to Eagle. LS to Retainer's ensign - the RFA Blue Ensign bearing a yellow anchor in the fly. HA as a large crate comes across in slings. Eagle has hoisted two black balls, indicating that she is 'not under command', ie that she is not under full powers of manoeuvrability. HA as cargo nets are unloaded, boxes are stacked, barrels are rolled off across the deck. A man carefully picks up fragments of glass where a cardboard box of beer bottles has been damaged - a small mountain of intact boxes (of Guinness ?) stands nearby. Boxes and barrels are now stacked across the width of the flightdeck. The ship's band plays to enliven the replenishment. Sacks of supplies go below on one of the lifts. Eagle has hoisted flag 'R' - go slower ? Retainer flies flag 'B' - I am discharging explosives. HMS Torquay (F.43) approaches port side of Eagle to receive mail. As Torquay departs, her place is taken by HMS Dunkirk (D.09) - a line is fired across, Dunkirk hoists the Preparative pennant, and a bunch of mail sacks are hauled across. A man semaphores from the destroyer's open bridge. Her crew standing at Alert, Dunkirk makes off - she flashes a departing signal. Aerial LSs of Eagle and Retainer steaming together - the camera-aircraft circles the two ships. MS as a cargo net transfers to Retainer, where the load of empty containers is shifted along the deck by roller conveyor. Another cargo net is transferred to the carrier. Empty containers - perhaps spilt from a net - bob about in the gap between the two ships. Cut to Eagle in Cyprus anchorage. HA.MS aft from island to Sea Venoms and Skyraiders parked on deck, and pan right to HMS Ark Royal anchored nearby. Two destroyers are anchored off Eagle's port bow. The forward lift brings up ship's RM band and guard who march off along the deck. A rating secures a signal halyard - the hoist is invisible, the flags flying directly away from the camera. A gun salute is fired. The RM guard presents arms. After the formalities there is a tug of war on deck between a team from the ship and one from the departing Ark Royal. Cut to LS off the port quarter of the tanker Tiderace at sea - she is streaming hose for fuelling astern. Eagle has flown off a SAR Whirlwind.
  • Alternative Title: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: ADM 1660
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1946-1975
  • Production Date: 1958-07
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, EAGLE (HMS), aircraft carrier (1946) (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Ark Royal (regiment/service) Royal Navy, DUNKIRK (HMS), destroyer (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Torquay (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Retainer (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Tiderace (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Eagle (object name) ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Ark Royal (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Dunkirk (D.09) (object name) ships, British naval - frigate: Torquay (F.43) (object name) ships, British naval - supply: Tiderace (object name) ships, British auxiliary - supply: Retainer (object name) operations, British naval - routine: replenishment at sea (object name)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 1133 ft; Running time: 12 mins
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  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 1660

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