THREE-DAY MEDITERRANEAN BATTLE : the Navy smashes sea-air attack on Malta convoy [Main Title]

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  • Title: THREE-DAY MEDITERRANEAN BATTLE : the Navy smashes sea-air attack on Malta convoy [Main Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 527
  • Other titles: MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Malta supply operation MG.1, March 1942. Cameraship is HMS Cleopatra.
  • Description: Convoy MW.10 at sea with a screen of Hunt Class escorts and cruisers and destroyers of the covering group, Force B. Raiders - mainly Ju 88s - attack the convoy, and obtain a near-miss on cameraship HMS Cleopatra. Flak speckles the sky. Cleopatra opens fire. HMS Dido fires B and Q. The battle continues as evening draws on - low light sequence shows a Dido Class cruiser firing off forward turrets, creating a spectacular smoke ring and reflection effects. Night firing sequence - multiple 2-pounder on Cleopatra fires off. The next day finds Force B closed up in rough sea, with Dido and Euryalus steaming ahead of Cleopatra. Cameraship makes smoke. HMS Zulu (G.18) lays a smokescreen. Force K from Malta has joined during the night - LS of HMS Penelope (flag, Force K) in heavy sea. HMS Euryalus and Cleopatra make smoke. General shots as Force B lays screens. Smoke floats burn on the water. After further attacks, signalman makes the all clear. When the escorts return to port they are feted by merchantmen which are dressed overall - including a three-funnelled CPR passenger liner, either Princess Kathleen or her sister Princess Marguerite. CUs of Admiral Vian, commanding Force B, on the quarterdeck of Cleopatra, and newsreel cameraman P John Turner of Gaumont British News posing 'close up'. Intercut with the naval material are shots of Grand Harbour and bomb damaged streets in Valletta, and a map showing Malta's position in the Mediterranean.
  • Alternative Title: MEDITERRANEAN OPERATIONS OF THE ROYAL NAVY [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: B&W
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: ADM 527
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1942-03
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor) Gaumont British News (Production company) Turner, P J (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Vian, Philip Louis (person) Turner, P J (person) Royal Navy, CLEOPATRA (HMS), cruiser (regiment/service) Royal Navy, DIDO (HMS), frigate (regiment/service) Royal Navy, EURYALUS (HMS), cruiser (1939) (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Penelope (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Zulu (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - cruiser: Cleopatra (object name) ships, British naval - cruiser: Dido (object name) ships, British naval - cruiser: Euryalus (object name) ships, British naval - cruiser: Penelope (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: Zulu (G.18) (object name) combat, British naval - anti-aircraft (object name) operations, British maritime - sea: convoy (object name) Malta (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 898 ft; Running time: 10 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 527

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