Description
Object description
Unedited and uncensored (?) newsreel rushes showing units of the 7th Cruiser Squadron at sea in the Mediterranean and in action against three Italian destroyers on 28 June 1940 and French and British warships in Alexandria harbour, Egypt.
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Part 1. Light cruisers of the Mediterranean Fleet's 7th Cruiser squadron steaming at high speed through the eastern Mediterranean; probably filmed from the Southampton Class cruiser HMS Liverpool, another Southampton Class cruiser, probably HMS Gloucester, is seen on the starboard bow along with a Leander Class cruiser, probably HMS Orion. Views filmed on both sides of B turret showing spray breaking over the foc'sle each time the bow dips into the sea with HMS Gloucester directly ahead; A and B turrets, each armed with three 6-inch guns, are seen trained on the port beam. An unidentifiable Royal Navy destroyer is seen on the port bow providing an anti-submarine screen. Driven by strong winds, spray showers the bow of the Leander-class cruiser HMS Orion as she slowly overtakes HMS Liverpool to starboard; she is armed with four twin 6-inch gun turrets, four twin 4-inch guns (only her port battery is visible here) and carries a Fairey Seafox seaplane on a catapult aft of her single funnel; steaming in her wake is a sister ship, HMS Neptune, and the Australian light cruiser, HMAS Sydney. Views from either side of HMS Liverpool's B turret as the cruiser steams behind HMS Gloucester; both forward gun turrets remain trained on the port beam. The cameraman uses a long lens with and without a filter to record HMS Gloucester steaming at high speed through wind-swept seas.
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Part II. Views filmed on 28th June 1940 showing HMS Gloucester on HMS Liverpool's starboard quarter steaming at high speed through the Ionian Sea against a strong wind and backlit by the slowly setting sun. She is gradually increasing her distance. A cloud of cordite smoke appears immediately after HMS Gloucester fires a salvo from her forward 6-inch gun turrets at three unseen Italian destroyers, followed just under thirty seconds later by bright gun flashes from her A and B turrets and more cordite smoke as she fires a second salvo; the smoke is quickly dispersed by the strong wind. Her No. 1 funnel briefly emits black smoke as she increases her speed.
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Part III. A single naval gunner is seen manning the quadruple .5-inch machine-gun position on the starboard side of the aft superstructure on HMS Liverpool. For the benefit of the cameraman, he traverses the anti-aircraft gun mounting and squints through the gun sights as if he is about to open fire on an enemy aircraft. A view from the forward part of HMS Liverpool as HMS Gloucester makes a turn to starboard. The crew of the quadruple Mk VII pom pom on HMS Liverpool's starboard side next to No. 1 funnel simulate going to action stations for the camera, taking their places on the large gun mounting and operating its training and elevating gear to bring it onto a target bearing. Filmed on top of the seaplane hangar only feet away from the starboard pom pom, a view looking sternward over the catapult deck, No. 2 funnel and the mainmast and tilting down to one of the cruiser's two Fleet Air Arm Vickers Supermarine Walrus seaplanes ready for launching with its engine running; after several jump cuts, the camera succeeds in capturing the moment the seaplane is propelled into the air on HMS Liverpool's starboard side but cuts quickly afterwards.
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Part IV. Framed by two crewmen on the quarterdeck of HMS Liverpool, the three warships belong to the 7th Cruiser Squadron's 1st Division, steaming in a column on her starboard side, gradually overtake her. The lead vessel is HMS Orion. Framed by the twin gun barrels of HMS Liverpool's S2 4-inch gun mounting, HMS Neptune is seen gradually drawing level, followed by HMAS Sydney, distinguishable by her two funnels.
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Part V. A view of the slowly setting sun behind a belt of cloud over the Ionian Sea and below on the horizon a column of smoke (possibly from the stricken Italian destroyer Espero). Scenes on the bridge of HMS Liverpool during the engagement with three Italian destroyers showing one of the ship's officers (?) using a telescope, the ship's captain speaking down a voice pipe next to the binnacle compass and using his binoculars to observe the enemy and clouds of cordite billowing over the rim of the bridge as the forward turrets fire a salvo. From the top of the seaplane hangar through the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 funnels, views of HMS Gloucester on HMS Liverpool's starboard quarter firing salvoes at the three unseen Italian destroyers together with a glimpse of a splash in the sea nearby from a near miss and a vivid flash and billowing cordite as HMS Liverpool's own X and Y turrets join in.
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Part VI. Two naval ratings man the port side bridge signal lamp; one rating reads out a message and the other operates the shutter mechanism to send the signal. Three sailors are seen peering through binoculars at the lookout positions on the port side of the bridge, wearing their normal caps and then steel helmets. Three lookouts are seen on duty on the starboard side of the bridge; behind them sits the starboard side air defence lookout and next to him a communications rating who is wearing a W/T (Wireless Telegraphy (radio)) headset. Three officers are seen on duty on the bridge; the officer-of-the-watch, a Lieutenant with a beard, is seen standing next to the binnacle compass and using a voice pipe to communicate to the coxwain down below. (783 feet)
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Part VII. Filmed from on top of the seaplane hangar, views of HMS Gloucester, roughly one third of a mile away on HMS Liverpool's starboard quarter, flashing a message from a signal lamp and looking astern along the starboard side, showing the ship's starboard crane, No. 2 funnel, the starboard 4-inch gun battery and the wake left by the cruiser as she steams at high speed. A brief glimpse in the opposite direction showing a member of the ship's crew standing near the port high angle director control tower (DCT). Additional views looking along the length of HMS Liverpool's midship section featuring also the mainmast towards the stern and HMS Gloucester, back lit by the sun, steaming at high speed on HMS Liverpool's starboard beam. Views through the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 funnels showing cordite smoke from her forward guns during the engagement with the Italian destroyers interrrupted by jump cuts. A shot of a ventilation grill on deck (?).
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Part VIII. At the entrance to the outer harbour at Alexandria, two French Adroit-class destroyers or Torpilleurs are seen returning from a naval patrol; the anchorage is fairly crowded with small boats, merchant ships and French and Royal Navy warships, notably a Southampton-class cruiser (either HMS Gloucester or HMS Liverpool), the old aircraft carrier HMS Eagle and three French cruisers. Travelling shots filmed from a Royal Navy motor launch around the French battleship Lorraine as it passes her stern and heads along her port side past her X and Y 34cm gun turrets and her port side 13.8cm gun battery; the French Tricolor flying from the battleship's ensign staff appears to be at half mast (in acknowledgement of the French capitulation a few days earlier on 22nd June 1940?) and sailors line her railings to gaze upon the cameraman's craft. A view of Lorraine slipping astern as the motor launch continues on its way.
Physical description
35mm