OPERATION MUSKETEER [Allocated Title]
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- Title: OPERATION MUSKETEER [Allocated Title]
- Film Number: ADM 1608
- Other titles: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - SUEZ [Allocated Series Title]
- Summary: Scenes onboard HMS Ocean, carrying the helicopters of the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit (Army and RAF), and at Casino Wharf in Port Said, where Centurions of the 6th Tanks are disembarked by HMS Puncher.
- Description: I. Reel One. In Port Said. MS from Ocean's flight deck as four Whirlwinds fly right to left, carrying men of 45 Commando into Port Said. Cut to MS of a line of prisoners, several of them Egyptian naval officers, squatting beside the railings of the Casino Hotel - they are watched over by a Marine holding a Sten - two 3-inch mortars have been dug in - smoke drifts across the scene. LA.CU of the bows of the landing ship HMS Puncher (L.3036) at Casino Wharf - her bow doors are open and the inner door to the tank deck is being lowered - a group of RTR officers consult maps in the foreground. II. Onboard HMS Ocean. MS to sister ship HMS Theseus - Theseus passes onto Ocean's port quarter and as camera pans right across the flight deck to keep her in frame, RM motor transport can be seen parked aft on the cameraship - Bedford 3-tonners, Land Rovers etc. Theseus also carries a MT park. HA.MS to JEHU Whirlwind No 9 parked before lowered after elevator - the rotors are turning slowly and deck crew are checking the helicopter's power winch. MS broad on the starboard bow of Theseus as she flashes a signal, and pan right over ships of the Anglo-French fleet - HMS St Kitts (D.18) and another Battle Class destroyer pass in line ahead - in XLS on the horizon is the French battleship Jean Bart. CU 3/4 frontal of Whirlwind No 7 at the head of a centre-line range of helicopters on Ocean - the rotors are tethered and the aircraft chocked up. Cameraman changes to telephoto for a close-up of the bridge front - lookouts are at their positions - in the foreground helicopter rotor blades bisect the frame. MS broad on the starboard bow of Theseus, Whirlwind helicopters parked the length of her deck, and pan right to the HQ ship HMS Tyne (?), bows on to camera - a ship in the background flashes a signal. LS to Port Said, obscured by smoke - a huge black pall rises from burning oil tanks. Royal Marine officers cluster along the ship's side observing the port through binoculars - the Whirlwind helicopters and a Sycamore parked on deck are still tethered and chocked. III. Reel Two. Casino Wharf. MS of the Egyptian prisoners again, but the pan away is continued over the mortar positions to show distant blocks of flats. LS to lorries passing a mortar position. MS pan over mortar pits and fox holes - a steel helmet emblazoned with Red Cross symbol stands on the lip of one dug out. View along the hotel railings to the De Lesseps statue by the harbour - the upper works of ships are visible in the background. Cut to CU of the bows of HMS Puncher as she disembarks a Centurion of 6th RTR. The film then reverts to a view of Theseus, seen from Ocean, and then repeats material seen in Reel One.
- Alternative Title: POST-WAR NAVAL OPERATIONS - SUEZ [Allocated Series Title]
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: ADM 1608
- Sound: Silent
- Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
- Featured Period: 1946-1975
- Production Date: 1956-11-06
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Admiralty (Production sponsor)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Ocean (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Theseus (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Puncher (regiment/service) Royal Navy, St Kitts (regiment/service) Royal Navy, Royal Marines, 45 Commando (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Tank Regiment, 6 (regiment/service) British Army, Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit (regiment/service) Royal Air Force, Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit (regiment/service)
- Keywords: ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, light: Ocean (object name) ships, British naval - aircraft carrier, light: Theseus (object name) ships, British naval - destroyer: St Kitts (D.18) (object name) ships, British naval - amphibious: Puncher (L.3036) (object name) aircraft, British - helicopter: Westland Whirlwind (object name) aircraft, British - helicopter: Bristol Sycamore (object name) armour, British - tank: Centurion (object name) prisoners of war, Egyptian - custody (object name) Suez Affair & Operation Musketeer & 6/11/1956 (event) Egypt & Port Said (geography)
- Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
- Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 2 Footage: 1519 ft; Running time: 17 mins
- HD Media:
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