HMS RAPID AND HMS CAVALIER RACE FOR THE TITLE OF 'FASTEST SHIP IN THE FLEET' [Allocated Title]

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Media files

  • Title: HMS RAPID AND HMS CAVALIER RACE FOR THE TITLE OF 'FASTEST SHIP IN THE FLEET' [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 4487
  • Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: A race in the Firth of Forth, the object being to cover the greatest distance in two hours. Reel One shot onboard HMS Rapid and Reel Two onboard HMS Cavalier.
  • Description: Reel One. Interior of Cavalier's boiler room. The Revolution Counter stands at a little over 270 RPM. Engineers check gauges, peer through scissor plates to boiler to examine oil fuel spray. Views of HMS Rapid and Cavalier's wake. A Lieutenant fires a flare - marking half-time ? Commander Snell takes a bearing - Cavalier's badge is emblazoned on the canvas covers of the Type 275 receiver and transmitter nacelles of her Mk VI director. HA of Cavalier's bow wave and further shots of Rapid, now pulling away. In the still air the funnel smoke of both ships leave dark trails back to the horizon. MS to crewmen on the quarterdeck cheering and waving. On the bridge there is general jollity and Commander Snell makes a short statement - presumably this is at the end of the race when it is evident that Cavalier will win. Aerial sequence shot from a Wasp helicopter circling the two ships. Reel Two. LS broad on the starboard quarter of Cavalier. Lieutenant-Commander Jones takes a bearing. Various shots of Rapid's spectacular bow wave and wake. Cavalier falls astern. The half-time flare is fired. CU of Rapid's badge, a winged wheel, and her battle honours. A group of rather puny boy sailors amuse themselves by trying to climb a rope. HA.MS aft to Rapid's quarterdeck, crowded with crewmen, and her splendid wake streaming out towards the horizon - the crowded quarterdeck represents an attempt by Rapid's captain to make up the leeway by giving the screws more depth. A movie cameraman is busy filming.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (ADM 4487)
  • Featured Period: 1946-1975
  • Production Date: 1971-07-06
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations (Navy) (Production sponsor)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Snell, C A (person) Jones, M J (person) Royal Navy, Rapid (regiment/service) Royal Navy, CAVALIER (HMS), destroyer (regiment/service) Royal Navy, CALEDONIA (HMS), training ship (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - frigate: Rapid (F.138) (object name) ships, British naval - STR: Rapid (F.138) (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Cavalier (D.73) (object name) GB, Scotland & Firth of Forth (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 690 ft; Running time: 19 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Notes: Summary: At the time of this race Rapid was serving as the seagoing training ship for HMS Caledonia at Rosyth, the establishment responsible for the training of engine room artificers. Her armament had been removed. During the race against Cavalier over a 64-mile course Rapid led for most of the time, but a boiler safety valve lifting allowed Cavalier to creep ahead to win by 16 yards. The verdict was decided upon measurement of the Rapid's bearing from the Cavalier by a neutral adjudicator, Inst Lieutenant S Salt
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 4487

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