Other titles:MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Bombardment of coast defence batteries north-east of Reggio by battleships HMS Nelson and HMS Rodney, part of the softening up operation prior to Operation Baytown, the British landing in Calabria. Cameraship is "HMS Nelson".
Description: Three men look out over the side rail to distant Italian coastline - two six inch barrels intrude from frame right. LS of HMS Rodney as she passes astern of HMS Nelson. HA onto focsle as A and B turrets train from starboard bow onto port beam. Bombardment sequence - camera shooting to distant coastline, with only barrels of main armament visible in lower frame - dense smoke swirls into camera after each salvo. LA of smoke ring from 16-inch gun, white against sky. XLS of Rodney and escorting destroyer screen - Rodney is bombarding and dense clouds of smoke drift away astern as she fires 16-inch and 6-inch guns. Night firing sequence. Daylight - signal hoist is broken out - signals crew wearing anti-flash. LS of Rodney astern of cameraship. XLS of destroyer screen. Crewmen refresh themselves, drinking from an earthenware jug, while CPO wearing anti-flash and steel helmet scans the horizon with a telescope. Two crewmen admire a cage bird. LS over eight-barrelled 2-pounder AA at stern to Rodney steaming in cameraship's wake. CU of Navigation Officer and colleague plotting position on chart of the Straits of Messina and Calabrian coast. Sequence showing crew wheeling 16-inch shells along the deck and one being lowered to magazine.
Alternative Title:MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
Production Details: British Movietone News (Production company)
Humphries, J (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Nelson (regiment/service)
Royal Navy, Rodney (regiment/service)
Keywords: ships, British naval - battleship: Nelson (object name)
ships, British naval - battleship: Rodney (object name)
combat, British naval - bombardment (object name)
Second World War & Operation Hammer & 31/8/1943 (event)
