description
Object description
Petroleum Warfare Department instructional film showing the layout and operation of a petroleum flame barrage.
Content description
Caption: "Flame Barrage (Land) is a device to check the advance of enemy forces either inland" (shown being deployed across a stream) "or on beaches" (example of a beach flame barrage). The installation consists of a tank, a pump and a manifold that feed a series of pipes leading to the jets." Sepiatone footage of pumping station where a soldier opens the valves to the pipes to allow the petroleum to pass to the beach. An animated diagram shows the pumping station, layout of the pipes and the arrangement of the barrage on the beach. The installation is buried for the purposes of camouflage and protection. "The barrage may be ignited by placing 5 gallon fougasses behind each jet. A trickle-fed pot can be set undereach jet to provide a constant burning that will effect re-ignition." Examples of fougasse ignition and pot igntition are shown. Various views show the barrage burning furiously. Diagrams give statistics regarding the placement of the jets, the pressure used and other data. Panning shots show the barrage in full force. Caption notes a recent development, the hot element igniter, and electrical device attached to the jet itself: this is shown in close-up. "To insure against failure, alternate jets are fitted with another form of ignition, such as the one-shot Birch Burster, fixed to a branch oil-pipe beneath and in front of the jet." Shots of an installation covering an anti-tank ditch shows both hot element igniters and birch bursters in action, laying a massive carpet of smoke and flame across the ditch.
Physical description
35mm