FORCE H PROVIDES COVER FOR TROOP CONVOYS IN OPERATION TORCH [Allocated Title]

Force H at sea, camera on HMS Duke of York.

Reel One. Opening sequence shows HMS Victorious and HMS Nelson in close company with cameraship HMS Duke of York. HMS Renown and HMS Formidable are visible in the distance. HMS Pathfinder (G.10) closes on the cameraship, a line is sent across by Costin gun, and a small despatch bag transferred to the destroyer which then makes off. Further shots of Force H. Victorious flies off an Albacore, and later receives aircraft. The weather freshens. MSs of HMS Penn (G.77) and HMS Boadicea (H.65). Dusk - silhouette of Renown and pan right to Formidable, invasion convoy in the background. Shot of distant coast of Africa framed beneath guns of cameraship. Victorious flies off an Albacore. HMS Penn comes alongside to receive a light line. MLS as an Albacore approaches but aborts a landing on Victorious - a second attempt (or a second aircraft) is successful. Reel Two. XLS of invasion convoy and escorting destroyer. Victorious with HMS Rodney (?) astern. A Grumman Martlet flies past. LS as Formidable fires forward 4.5-inch AA - cameraship and a distant destroyer join in. Night firing by cameraship, the flash illuminating after funnel, mainmast and starboard after HA director. Daylight shots of flying operations by Formidable with Renown in company, and the cruiser HMS Sirius and destroyers in the background - this is interspersed with night firing sequences, in one of which quite a spectacular barrage is put up. Dawn launching of cameraship's Walrus aircraft. Victorious flies off and receives Albacores. LS at dusk as a Colony Class cruiser fires 4-inch AA, and more night firing by the cameraship. Daylight HA onto one of Duke of York's 8x2-pounder AA, the guncrew at their stations. CU of lookout on duty. Formidable receives an Albacore. Study of the ship's wake and fine bow wave. Walrus is catapulted off. Crewmen do PT on quarterdeck. Victorious flies off aircraft. LS of HMS Renown steaming left to right with HMS Sirius passing right to left in the foreground. Shots of lookouts and multiple 2-pounder on cameraship and further studies of the bow wave and wake. LS to Formidable in line astern with Renown and a cruiser. CU study of Vice-Admiral Syfret enjoying a cigar on the bridge.

35mm