TRIALS OF THE FIRST PRODUCTION SEA VIXEN [Allocated Title]

Four unrelated items: I. Trials of Sea Vixen XJ 474. II. HMS Bulwark at sea. III. The launch of a Porpoise Class submarine - probably HMS Grampus. IV. Construction work on Britain's first nuclear submarine, HMS Dreadnought.

I. HMS Victorious on Sea Vixen-Scimitar trials. LA.MS of pilot in cockpit of Sea Vixen. CU of the aircraft's painted serial, XJ 474 - the first production Sea Vixen FAW.1. LA aft along the starboard side of the flightdeck as the aircraft lands on, and HA as it is launched from the starboard catapult. Parked forward is Scimitar F.1 512 (XD 221) of 700X Scimitar IFTU (Intensive Flying Trials Unit) out of Ford air station.

II. Aerial LS off port quarter of HMS Bulwark (R.08) steaming at sea, the camera-aircraft closing to run past on the port side.

III. A Porpoise Class submarine goes down the slip. After launching it is taken in tow by a tug. Cut to interior of control room on HMS Grampus - fully manned, it is rather cramped. MS as Grampus (S.04) surfaces - in the background is the steep wooded shoreline of a loch. Interior of mens' mess. Cameraboat runs past Grampus, hove to with officers and men fallen in on the foredeck and along the saddle tanks for a group 'photo opportunity'.

IV. Work on the submarine Dreadnought. A section of hull stands surrounded by scaffolding, its open ends protected by canvas sheets. HA track over part of the propulsion machinery and single shaft of Dreadnought assembled in a shed for testing. Workmen carry up timbers to brace the interior of the prefabricated hull sections.

35mm