Title:HMS GLOUCESTER REPLENISHES FROM RFA FORT GRANGE AND CONDUCTS WEAPONS TRAINING [Allocated Title]
Film Number:ADM 6397
Other titles:THE ROYAL NAVY IN THE GULF, 1990-1991 [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: HMS Gloucester receives Sea Dart missiles from RFA Fort Grange during a replenishment at sea, and exercises some of its close range weapons.
Description: I. Replenishment at sea (cf 8103). MS from forecastle of HMS Gloucester aft to the bridge as hydraulic jackstay transfer arm rises to lift Sea Dart container off the deck for return to RFA Fort Grange. Cut to aerial sequence showing the two ships steaming in calm sea - only light lines connect the two vessels. Break. HA from port bridge wing on Gloucester as Sea Dart container comes inboard and is lowered onto the deck. The container is lifted into a vertical position over the missile hoist and the Sea Dart struck down. A second missile is then loaded back into the container from the magazine, and the container lowered to the deck. Cut to end of the replenishment as a crewman knocks free the rigging slip to the AT wire, men heave in light line, and Gloucester gains speed as she makes off.
II. Close In Weapons serial. Gunner at 20mm GAM-B01 opens fire - after a short burst the gun jams, and the gun casing is opened up to find the fault - another gun can be heard to continue firing. CU of LAS operator. Men in anti-flash 'looking vigilant'. MS aft to starboard Phalanx - after a lengthy pause the mounting elevates. LA.CU of LAS operator. Cut back to the Phalanx - the gun is still in the same position but the ship has gathered way and a considerable wake can now be seen. Finally the gun fires a three-second burst - visually rather unimpressive. Cut to LS down the length of the flightdeck to the ship's wake as she steams at speed - the Lynx is holding station off the port quarter at the beginning of the shot.
III. RM sergeant gives a lesson to some of the crew on the proper use of the Sterling sub-machine gun. CU of the sergeant - he apologises for some foresights on the guns being loose, these will be fixed by the time they get to Jebel Ali for range practice. He goes through the parts, and demonstrates the proper technique for cocking the gun - the sailors stand in a line on the focsle facing out to sea as though for live firing, although none of the guns have magazines. They go through the procedure of checking if there is a round in the breech. Cut to the group sitting down on deck as the sergeant explains how to strip the gun. Pretty, filtered LS over empty sea. The lesson continues - CU of one maladroit sailor reassembling his gun - he pushes the return spring into the body of the gun and fits the back cap, then attaches carry strap.
IV. Cut to two floating side fenders (?) - possibly off an oil installation. The Searider is lowered to investigate.
Alternative Title:THE ROYAL NAVY IN THE GULF, 1990-1991 [Allocated Series Title]
