OPERATION RHEOSTAT ONE - FLEET CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM AT WORK CLEARING THE SUEZ CANAL [Allocated Title]
Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections.
Click here to find out more.
- Title: OPERATION RHEOSTAT ONE - FLEET CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM AT WORK CLEARING THE SUEZ CANAL [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: ADM 4754
- Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - SUEZ [Allocated Series Title]
- Summary: Divers of the Fleet Clearance Diving Team locate and detonate explosives and military hardware left in the Suez Canal. A party of men visit the wreck of the Egyptian passenger ship Mecca, suspected of having limpet mines still attached to the hull.
- Description: MS of Gemini as diver goes over the side. Cut to LS off the port quarter of Abdiel at her moorings near the old Suez Canal Co buildings - both her mine laying doors are open, presumably to help air the lower deck - in centre frame is a Gemini - eventually a countermine is exploded in the water between the two. LS to the Port Said waterfront from HMS Maxton heading out of the harbour - the Johnnie Walker advertisement seen in films of 1956 is still there - an Osa Class fast patrol boat is alongside. A Gemini diving team at work - after an explosion oil appears on the surface. Two Gemini running abreast, cross harbour basin to come alongside near the camera - FCDT men prepare to dive from one, while the other carries Jablex marker buoys and a line-layer - presumably for setting out a jackstay search. Two Gemini dinghies at work in the approaches of the canal - they buoy a contact for countermining. MS of an orange-painted diving helmet fastened to Maxton's bridge front as an unofficial badge. View Of the Osa Class fast patrol boat again - this time the cameraship Maxton is heading in to return to her moorings with the other minehunters alongside Abdiel. Cut back to the scene with two Gemini inflatables alongside in Port Said - divers go over the side, and after a discussion between diver and boat's crew, one is towed out to work in the middle of the basin. Further film of countermining in the extended anchorages in the seaward approaches to the canal. Cut to the Suez Canal Authority launch Nada carrying men of the Fleet Clearance Diving Team - she passes Bossington at anchor in the canal - Nada has a Gemini under tow. The divers suit up and board the inflatable. Cut to one of the FCDT divers standing on the wreck of the 6700-ton Egyptian passenger ship Mecca, scuttled to block the canal. The diver (the name MAC is painted on one of his flippers) talks with an Egyptian liaison officer. The divers investigate the wreck. 'Mac' clowns about, climbing out along one of the funnels of the capsized vessel and then leaping the relatively short distance into the water. CUs of divers working around the Mecca. Further film of countermining in Port Said harbour. Abdiel's funnel badge (the Red Lion of Scotland, denoting a ship of the Rosyth squadron) is replaced by an Arabic device worn by all the ships of TF 65 - the three minehunters alongside also carry this badge. Cut to Maxton - she recovers her Gemini and prepares to get underway - crew wear hard hats as a precaution against being thrown about should a mine explode nearby. A mine disposal charge is brought up from below and a tail assembly bolted on. Maxton leaves her moorings - the Gemini is hoisted out while underway. A rating cleans a signal searchlight. At anchor in the canal, the Gemini is lowered into the water to receive the MDW exploder.
- Alternative Title: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - SUEZ [Allocated Series Title]
- Colour: Colour
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: ADM 4754
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (ADM 4754)
- Featured Period: 1946-1975
- Production Date: 1974-04
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Directorate of Public Relations (Navy) (Production sponsor)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: Paul, Tim (person) 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 (N.21) (object name) ships, British naval - minesweeper, coastal: Bossington (M.1133) (object name) ships, British naval - minesweeper, coastal: Maxton (M.1165) (object name) ships, British naval - minesweeper, coastal: Wilton (M.1116) (object name) ships, British naval - smallcraft: Gemini inflatable (object name) ships, Egyptian naval - light forces: Osa Class FPB (object name) ships, Egyptian civilian - passenger: Mecca & [wrecked] (object name) operations, British naval - mines: clearance (object name) operations, British naval - harbour: port clearance (object name) weapons, British naval - demolition: MDW exploder (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: 1168 ft; Running time: 32 mins
- HD Media:
- Link to IWM Collections page:
- Related IWM Collections Objects: