OPERATION RHEOSTAT ONE - ROYAL NAVY MINESWEEPERS HELP CLEAR THE SUEZ CANAL [Allocated Title]

Metadata


  • Title: OPERATION RHEOSTAT ONE - ROYAL NAVY MINESWEEPERS HELP CLEAR THE SUEZ CANAL [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 4751
  • Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - SUEZ [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: HMS Abdiel and three Ton Class minesweepers help in clearance work at Port Said.
  • Description: LS from onboard HMS Bossington to HMS Abdiel and minehunters Wilton and Maxton moored near the old Suez Canal Co buildings in Port Said. A Gemini inflatable follows in Bossington's wake. The minehunter anchors, hoisting 'at anchor' balls to yardarm. Cut to LS of Bossington at anchor - in the midground is a marker buoy over a mine, and in the foreground the Gemini with men of the Fleet Clearance Diving Team - the inflatable wears flag 'A' (I am operating divers). Eventually an underwater explosion is set off, destroying the mine and buoy. A second countermine is set off, frightening off local seabirds and throwing up a dark mass of turbid water. Final sequence shows a diver onboard Bossington - he dons a special non-magnetic wet suit, attaches a safety line, and puts on a Mk 2 Clearance Diver's Breathing Apparatus.
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (ADM 4751)
  • Featured Period: 1945-1975
  • Production Date: 1974-04
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations (Navy) (Production sponsor)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, ABDIEL (HMS), minelayer (1967) (regiment/service) Royal Navy, BOSSINGTON (HMS), minesweeper (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Maxton (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Wilton (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Clearance Diving Team (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - minelayer, ocean: Abdiel (object name) ships, British naval - minesweeper, coastal: Bossington (M.1133) (object name) ships, British naval - minesweeper, coastal: Maxton & [-] (object name) ships, British naval - minesweeper, coastal: Wilton & [-] (object name) operations, British naval - mines: clearance (object name) operations, British naval - harbour: port clearance (object name) Egypt & Port Said (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: 1 Footage: 206 ft; Running time: 6 mins
  • Notes: Summary: Operation Rheostat was the British code for their part in the joint effort to clear unexploded ordnance from the Suez Canal and its approaches. The other participants were the United States, France and Egypt. The whole force was designated TF 65, of which the British Water Clearance Group was TG 65.2. Overall coordinating control was exercised by CTF 65, Rear-Admiral McCauley, and later Rear-Admiral Carroll, USN. The US code for the clearance of the canal was Operation Nimbus Moon
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 4751

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