UNITS OF THE FAR EAST FLEET TAKE PART IN EXERCISE WINDY WEATHER [Allocated Title]

Scenes onboard the commando carrier HMS Bulwark as it practises landing a force of Royal Marines.

I. Aerial views of the fleet at sea - HMS Bulwark, with Wessex helicopters parked on deck, Victorious carrying Buccaneers, Albion, her forward lift lowered, a frigate conversion of one of the Ca Class destroyers (with a frigate bridge - HMS Cambrian ?), and the 1st rate conversion HMS Troubridge, the New Zealand cruiser HMNZS Royalist.

II. Onboard HMS Bulwark. MSs along the flight deck to a DUKW and Wessex helicopters ranged aft - some of the aircraft have their engines running. LA of White Ensign. Two helicopters fly off with the Helicopter Control Team, one lifting a trailer. Cameraman embarks on a LCA which is lowered from the carrier and heads in towards the beach. Sequence showing LCAs slipping and leaving the ship for a night assault. Over exposed sequence showing two casevacs brought back to the ship and sent below on the bomb lift. A Wessex is towed aft by a tractor - another (recognition letter 'S') lands on.

III. At the beach-head. Sequence shot from an LCA as it hits the beach - the embarked Land Rover drives off along a wire net track. Another Land Rover and trailer is landed - not without some difficulty. Marines open coconuts with a machete and drink from them. A third Land Rover is brought in by LCA. A 'Noddy' pontoon beaches with three more Land Rovers. Men struggle to free a trailer which has become entangled in lengths of wire from the beach roadway - it is then connected up to a Land Rover which makes off inland. Men dig out a Wombat recoilless rifle which has been guarding the landings, and haul it up a ramp into its Land Rover portee, then pack the rest of their gear before vacating the site. CU of the notice BEACH EXIT - the troublesome wire mat lies tangled up in the background. The cameraman leaves the beach in a Land Rover. LA as a Wessex Mk 5 airlifts yet another Land Rover into open ground at the advance site. Guarded by a GPMG, the Helicopter Control Team sets up radio communications and directs the landings. A mechanic works on the engine of a RN Wasp. Marines relax over some tea and soup - one carries a 3-inch bazooka. A DUKW passes. Bulwark's helicopters, including the casevac Wessex, bring in stores, extra carrying capacity being provided by cargo nets slung beneath the aircraft. The marines busy themselves setting up base - camouflaging vehicles, digging trenches, unloading stores, erecting tents, etc. Mountains of kit are piled on a Land Rover which heads off inland.

IV. Back on Bulwark. Helicopters air lift Land Rovers and trailers, and land on to pick up further stores. Albion and Royalist are in distant company. The scene then shifts to the mess deck of 40 Commando prior to the assault - men relax playing cards, sleeping, reading (Winston Graham's 'Marnie'), drinking tea, packing kit and cleaning weapons (a Sterling SMG).

16mm