COASTAL DEFENCE [Main Title]


  • Title: COASTAL DEFENCE [Main Title]
  • Film Number: COI 266
  • Other titles:
  • Summary: The rôle of the three forces in the wartime defence of Britain's coastline.
  • Description: All parts of Britain's coastline (White Cliffs, sand dunes, estuaries, seaside resorts) need defending, and all three forces play their part. The RAF's Coastal Command (Spitfires and Hurricanes) keep watch, supported by flying boat squadrons (Short Sunderland seen in detail) whose chief victims are U-boats. Coastal command also provides escort duties for ships at sea and attack enemy shipping when necessary (not an easy task). The coastal defence role of the Royal Navy: mine sweeping, mine laying, boom defence vessels laying harbour boom (anti-submarine measure). The army provides coastal gun emplacements, manned by men "who have had experience in France", and observers, such as the Coast Guard and the Home Guard also play a part. The army has highly mobile units on call, demonstrated by hordes of Beaverettes in action. Conclusion emphasises the strength of our defences, and praises "the United Armies of Democracy".
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM (COI 266)
  • Featured Period: 1939-1945
  • Production Date: 1940
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) British Movietone News (Production company) Sanger, Gerald (Production individual) Snagge, John Derrick Mordaunt1904-05-081996-03-25 (Production cast)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Air Force, Coastal Command (regiment/service) Royal Navy (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: aircraft, British - combat: Hawker Hurricane (object name) aircraft, British - combat: Supermarine Spitfire (object name) aircraft, British - seaplane: Short Sunderland (object name) combat, British - air strike anti-ship (object name) defences, British - emplacement: anti-aircraft (object name) operations, British air - escort (object name) operations, British military - preparation (object name) operations, British naval - mines: laying (object name) operations, British naval - mines: clearance (object name) operations, British naval - harbour: boom defence (object name) propaganda, British - inspirational (object name) society, British military - precautionary: Coastal Defence (object name) GB, England & <coastal regions> (geography) GB, England & Dover, Kent <White Cliffs> (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English Title language: English Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 35mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Footage: 952 ft; Running time: 11 mins
  • Notes: Credits: film is slightly incomplete, having only temporary titling (described as such on the film). John Snagge is the only person credited ("courtesy of the BBC"); other details taken from Frances Thorpe and Nicholas Pronay, "British Official Films in the Second World War: A Descriptive Catalogue" (Clio Press 1980).
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    COI 266

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