OPERATION SHOWPIECE [Allocated Title]
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- Title: OPERATION SHOWPIECE [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: ADM 3514
- Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
- Summary: During Operation Showpiece, held in Singapore, the Wessex helicopters of Bulwark's 845 Squadron ferry marines and their supplies and transport ashore. HMS Bulwark exercises with HMS Eagle and HMAS Melbourne and a force of frigates and destroyers.
- Description: Reel One. The Wessex helicopters of 845 Squadron return to Bulwark after landing troops ashore (see Reel Two). They land on in a neat line down the portside of the flightdeck and are chocked up. A Wessex pilot wearing bright orange overalls walks away from his aircraft. One of the squadron's Hiller HT.2s also lands on. Bulwark steams out to sea with HMAS Melbourne and HMS Eagle and escorts. The frigates manoeuvre and exercise their Limbo ASW mortars. This is followed by a demonstration with bombs and rockets from the carrier aircraft, and a flypast by formations of Fairey Gannets and Sea Vixens and Buccaneers. Two Buccaneers fly past with Supermarine Scimitar 'buddy' tankers. A lone Sea Vixen makes a high-speed low altitude fly past, followed by a Buccaneer which passes at deck-level height. LS off the port quarter of Eagle as Buccaneers and a Sea Vixen land on. Reel Two. Squads of marines wait on Bulwark's deck waiting to be lifted ashore by the Wessex HAS.1s of 845 Squadron. Wessex 'C' picks up a Land Rover. A squad boards helicopter 'M'. Wessex 'F' is loaded with supplies - cargo platforms ready for air lifting stand along the edge of the flightdeck, along with waiting transport and jerry cans with cargo nets. More troops are flown ashore. Helicopters 'O' and 'N' pick up Land Rover trailers laden with supplies. 'K' climbs away with a full cargo net. The marines' personal luggage is packed on trolleys. CU of the Flight Deck Officer, arms outspread. Fuel drums are hosed down - to keep them cool or help disperse some spillage. Another laden trailer is lifted off. CUs of air- and deckcrew. A Wessex takes off. A crewman enjoys a Pepsi. Ship's officers watch air operations from the bridge. Cut to aerial LS of Bulwark at sea, after lift down, and Wessex and transport parked on deck. The camera aircraft circles the carrier. HA from almost directly above Wessex 'D' as it runs up. Onboard sequence as the helicopters return. 'K' lands on and disembarks a squad with their kit - the men have blank firing attachments on their rifles. The men are logged in and go below. Reel Three. HMS Bulwark gets underway to form up in line ahead of HMAS Melbourne and HMS Eagle. Escorting the carriers are three Leanders, three Type 12s, a Type 61 frigate, a Battle Class radar picket and a County Class destroyer, steaming in two columns.
- Alternative Title: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
- Colour: Colour
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: ADM 3514
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (ADM 3514)
- Featured Period: 1946-1975
- Production Date: 1965
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations (Navy) (Production sponsor)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, BULWARK (HMS), aircraft carrier (regiment/service) Royal Navy, EAGLE (HMS), aircraft carrier (1946) (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 845 (regiment/service) Royal Australian Navy, MELBOURNE (HMAS), aircraft carrier (regiment/service)
- Keywords: ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Eagle (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: Bulwark (object name) ships, Australian naval - aircraft carrier, light: Melbourne (object name) aircraft, British naval - helicopter: Westland Wessex (object name) aircraft, British naval - helicopter: Hiller HT.2 (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: De Havilland Sea Vixen & [-] (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Blackburn Buccaneer & [-] (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Supermarine Scimitar & [-] (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Fairey Gannet & [-] (object name) training, British naval - combat: anti-submarine (object name) training, British naval - specialist: amphibious (object name) training, British naval air - combat: air strike anti-ship (object name)
- 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: 3 Footage: 730 ft; Running time: 20 mins
- HD Media:
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