Title:OPERATION GRAPPLE RUSHES - ROUND ONE [Allocated Title]
Film Number:AWE 79
Other titles:BRITAIN'S ATOMIC WEAPONS RESEARCH PROGRAMME COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Rushes from round one (codename Short Granite) of Operation Grapple, conducted at Malden Island in 1957.
Description: Reel one: Filmed using a Cameflex camera using a 25mm lens, features a perfectly shaped sphere at the point of detonation, followed by a gradual change to fireball doughnut effect. Then inversion proceeds and stalk of column grows to join fireball, followed by ballerina skirt effect.
Reel two: Filmed using a Vinten 300 camera fitted with a 3 inch lens, features complete record of detonation, as filmed from Site 'A' on the east of the island.
Reel three: Filmed onboard HMS Narvik using a Cameflex camera using assorted lenses including a 28mm, 150mm, 75mm and 40mm. As the burst occurs out of frame, the camera operator pans until the burst is picked up on camera. Subsequent mushroom cloud formation is tracked with camera.
Reel four: Filmed onboard airborne Shackleton and by camera on the ground at unidentified location. The camera at ground level shows the fireball and the build up of the mushroom cloud, stem and column. Filmed at high altitude the Shackleton camera shows the 'ice cap' at the top of the cloud.
Reel five: Filmed using a Cameflex camera onboard airborne Shackleton. View from camera along aircraft wing. Burst occurs in right hand upper quarter of frame.
Reel six: Two sections filmed using two Cameflex cameras in different locations. The first appears to have been shot through a porthole or camera pod at ground level, focusing on the cloud formation. The second features further air to air footage from an airborne Shackleton.
Reel seven: Filmed using an unmanned camera, features fireball and mushroom cloud formation. Camera appears to have been positioned at the centre of the detonation point/column formation.
Alternative Title:BRITAIN'S ATOMIC WEAPONS RESEARCH PROGRAMME COLLECTION [Allocated Series Title]
