INLAND WATER TRANSPORT ON THE RIVER CHINDWIN [Allocated Title]

Film showing the construction and launching of river vessels on the Chindwin at Kalewa, Burma, by men of 5 Inland Water Transport Group, Indian Engineers.

Reel 1: A Ramp Cargo Lighter (RCL) being launched. A man paints an identity number (N-226) onto a Higgins barge with a stencil. An engine is lowered into a Unicraft tug. A Higgins barge launching. An Indian Engineer marks another vessel completed on a progress chart. Loading drums of POL (Petrol, Oil and Lubricants) onto a Higgins barge. Dumps of engineer stores. A bulldozer at work building a road near new oil storage tanks with the river harbour in the background. An ammunition dump. Men at work on a road. A low-loader carries a small railway locomotive (a tank engine). Jetties. Signals and ordnance stores are put aboard RCLs and barges. The locomotive is carefully loaded aboard an RCL. Road scenes near Kalewa, emphasising the difficulty of road communications in Burma with dusty roads, jungle, obstacles, burnt-out vehicles etc. A sign reads 'Main Road - Ye-U'. Shots from a river craft on the Chindwin. The pilot gives directions to the helmsman. A member of the crew checks the depth of the river with a pole. A local boat carrying Burmese civilians draws alongside. Local children in the boat. The crew barter with the Burmese civilians.

Reel 2: A tractor crane is used to position the stern section of an RCL. Rivets are heated in a portable forge before being hammered home by Indian Engineers. The bow, stern and central sectons of a Unicraft barge are riveted. A vessel is launched and more prefabricated sections are placed onto the now-vacated slipway for assembly. Various further construction scenes with engineers screwdriving, welding, painting, and riveting. Close-ups of riveting and the use of a power drill. An RCL undergoing speed trials on the river. Work on a Unicraft tug. A bow section for an RCL is positioned. Placing an RCL centre section in place. Launching a Unicraft tug and barge. Deckwork on an RCL.

35mm