HMS DUCHESS [Allocated Title]

Scenes on and around HMS Duchess.

Boys messdeck with boys at instruction (Coder/E). HMS Diana fuelling abeam of RFA Blue Ranger. Duchess approaches Blue Ranger's stern to pick up fuel line; marker float visible. Hands on Duchess's forecastle; ratings heave grappling hook and fuel line is hauled in. Diana comes alongside Blue Ranger to recommence fuelling; semaphore from RFA. Bridge shots: Captain, Officer on Watch, officer gives orders down voice pipe, telephoto shot of three Darings, OOW takes bearings and navigator shoots the sun with sextant; Chief Yeoman relays orders to Captain, ratings signal with 10-inch light. Algiers: views of ships upper decks after arrival. "Side Boy" cleans Duchess' nameplate, "cash bins" are brought down the gangway, jetty sentry at his post, Darings in background. "Horace" (the ship's dog) arrives onboard and turning in in his own hammock. Chaos on the forecastle as Horace runs over wet paintwork (painters at work). Views of Algiers. Ship's routine: signalling exercise, rum ration, eight bells. Torpedo practice: drill: torpedo being fired from tubes, party in boat picks up torpedo from sea and brings it back on board. Low level aircraft attacks: sweeps over the ship by Sea Hornets and Meteors. STAAG firings at drogue. Interior scenes: cooks in the ship's galley, meals prepared (curried meat and potatoes, duff); mess at mealtime; engine room with Stoker and Engine Room Artificer, turning wheel, logging call from boiler room, testing salt content of water.