Other titles:POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: The story of HMS Belfast's 1961-1962 Far East commission.
Description: The World's Fair at Seattle holds no surprises for the men of HMS Belfast - since they were flown out to their ship at Singapore in March, 1961, they have visited many of the nations represented there. Belfast is Flagship of the Far East Fleet but life onboard is far from quiet. The arrival of Captain Giles - lowered from a USN Kaman liaison helicopter onto the quarterdeck of Belfast - heralds weeks of "backache and blisters" for the crew. The 4-inch guns conduct a practice shoot - bringing to mind the ship's famous engagement with the Scharnhorst at North Cape. Belfast enters Sydney after exercises with the Australian Fleet. At sea again she rendezvous with HMS Tactician (S.74) for a transfer of mail to the submarine. At Hong Kong for HRH Princess Alexandra's review of the Far East Fleet, the crew take part in Remembrance Day parade and meet the legendary laundrywoman Sampan Jenny. Replenishment at sea. A Shackleton MR.1A of 205 Squadron RAF drops mail. The Captain awards long service and good conduct medals to some of the Chinese cooks and stewards. Belfast visits Dar-es-Salaam for the celebrations of Tanganyikan Independence on 8 December, 1961. (Belfast provided the guard at the hauling down of the Union Jack and the first hoisting of the Tanzanian flag.) Belfast begins the journey home, touching at Japan, San Francisco and Vancouver. At sea again she is in company with the destroyer HMS Cassandra. Routine test of pre-wetting equipment. Belfast works up to full speed to go to the rescue of a crashed Sea Vixen (from Ark Royal's 890 Squadron) - the carrier's SAR Whirlwind is there before them, but the ship's boats rescue the aircraft's observer and recover debris for later analysis. The constant training has paid off in an emergency. Pleasant memories of the commission include swimming off the ship's side in the Pacific, a fleet regatta at Trincomalee (HMS Yarmouth is just distinguishable in the background), the day the Electrical Division was invited to lower a whaler and managed to sink the boat. Belfast passes through the Panama Canal, and heads for home. Back at Plymouth, after a trip that would have cost a civilian vacationer three or four thousand pounds. Next time the men leave Britain it could be in a destroyer, a carrier or a frigate, headed for any of the five foreign stations. "And you could come and see the world with us if you want to."
Alternative Title:POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: Personnel of HMS Belfast (Production company)
Moss (Lieutenant) (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Giles, Morgan (person)
Royal Navy, BELFAST (HMS), cruiser (1938) (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Tactician (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, CASSANDRA (HMS), destroyer (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Hermes (regiment/service)
Royal Air Force, Sqdn 205 (regiment/service)
Keywords: ships, British naval - cruiser: Belfast (object name)
ships, British naval - destroyer: Cassandra (object name)
ships, British naval - submarine: Tactician (S.74) (object name)
aircraft, British - combat: Avro Shackleton (object name)
aircraft, United States naval - helicopter: Kaman HOK-1 (object name)
operations, British naval - routine: replenishment at sea (object name)
Singapore (geography)
Tanzania & Dar-es-Salaam (geography)
Hong Kong (geography)
Japan (geography)
San Francisco, California, United States of America (geography)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (geography)
Sri Lanka (Ceylon) & Trincomalee (geography)
Panama & Panama Canal (geography)
Plymouth, Devon, England, UK (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 466 ft; Running time: 13 mins
