THE PHANTOM SHIP [Main Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.


  • Title: THE PHANTOM SHIP [Main Title]
  • Film Number: ADM 2152
  • Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Brief introduction to HMS Ark Royal's air group, concentrating on the Phantoms of 892 NAS.
  • Description: The carrier is characterised as "the most powerful surface warship the Royal Navy has ever possessed". This power comes from its aircraft which are introduced over shots of launchings and take-offs - a Phantom FG.1 of 892 Squadron, Buccaneer S.2 of 809, Gannet AEW.3 of 849D (it should be 849B but this clip is from Eagle), Wessex HAR.1 of the SAR Flight and Sea King HAS.1 of 824. Crews and equipment are kept in shape by regular exercises. A well-shot sequence showing Phantoms being launched serves to describe the aircraft and the steam catapult. Buccaneers follow the Phantoms. With the assigned aircraft gone, the fitters and mechanics turn to servicing the aircraft remaining in and on the carrier - Ark Royal must always be ready for instant action. Ark Royal's diplomatic rôle - every member of the crew is in a sense a PR officer for the ship and for Britain. The usual 'interesting facts' about the number of officers and men, their average age (just 21), and the crew's weekly consumption of foodstuffs. The Phantoms and Buccaneers return to the ship to be talked down in a CCA exercise. The end of another peaceful exercise "and in a sense the existence of the Ark Royal and of the other ships of the Royal Navy is one of the reasons why the exercise was a peaceful one." A final aerial sequence shows the carrier replenishing from an O1 Class tanker - such refuelling extends her range, allowing her to be anywhere she is needed, "in fact if any vessel in the Royal Navy could be dubbed 'The Phantom Ship', its HMS Ark Royal."
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (ADM 2152)
  • Featured Period: 1946-1975
  • Production Date: 1970
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Drummer Films (Production company) Harris, Martin M (Production individual) Harris, Martin M (Production individual) Holmes, Danny (Production individual) Morris, John (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 892 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 809 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 849 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Fleet Air Arm, Sqdn 824 (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Ark Royal (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, fleet: Ark Royal (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Blackburn Buccaneer (object name) aircraft, British naval - combat: Fairey Gannet (object name) aircraft, British naval - helicopter: Westland Wessex (object name) aircraft, British naval - helicopter: Westland Sea King (object name) aircraft, United States naval - combat: McDonnell F-4 Phantom & [British] (object name) operations, British naval - routine: replenishment at sea (object name) equipment, British naval air - propulsion: steam catapult (object name) equipment, British naval air - surveillance: CCA radar (object name)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 335 ft; Running time: 9 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Notes: Remarks: this film has much in common with 'The Buccaneers' made by the same company and held as ADM 2150. Some of the same 'interesting carrier facts' are reproduced, and the steam-catapult-a-British-invention and CCA radar (SPN-35 and not British) are given the same careful attention. The sequence showing one of 849D's Gannet AEW.3s being launched off Eagle actually comes from the earlier film, and its inclusion is curious for Ark Royal's 849B flew identical aircraft and there seems no reason why the correct material should not have been obtained. Mercifully, the 'real action' format of the earlier film is missing, and indeed some virtue is made of the fact that it is all just a "peaceful exercise"
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    ADM 2152

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:
Register