Description
Object description
Film that depicts the organisational and collaborative effort behind an exercise in Turkey, carried out by ACE (Allied Command Europe) Mobile Force; a small but highly mobile NATO force under SACEUR (Supreme Allied Commander Europe) command. The film was made to celebrate its 25th Anniversary and it is preceded by three other ACE Mobile Force productions.
Content description
Using black and white, negative archival footage of world war conflicts, the narration establishes the birth of NATO in 1949 as a collective security project and multinational deterrence alliance, against the Warsaw Pact forces. Over a map of Europe, key vulnerable areas are highlighted; North Norway, Denmark, Turkey (the borders with USSR and Bulgaria), Greece and the neutral countries north of Italy. To diffuse tensions, NATO's 13th Defence Planning Committee ordered SACEUR to organise the ACE Mobile Force. At SACEUR headquarters, six officials are shown discussing upcoming plans; a training exercise in which ACE Mobile Force will be deployed. The Alpini (Italian mountain troops) are shown training, as well as Dutch Fighter pilots. The sign of the 1st Battalion headquarters appears; "The Prince of Wales' own Regiment of Yorkshire". The complexity of these exercises requires logistical effort, military command and practice. All movements are co-ordinated by several stations, such as the SHAPE Co-ordination Centre, SHAPE Airlift Centre and a field extension of SHAPE in Turkey, where the exercise takes place. Mobilising ACE Mobile force requires the approval of several commanders, such as General Rogers, SACEUR, who signs a classified document in his office, or the Commander of Staff, who is reached by phone at his family home (even off duty). Aircraft re-fuelling somewhere in Turkey. German Alpha Jets take off from Oldenburg Air base. Belgian Mirage jets and Dutch Freedom fighters are sent by the air forces of contributing NATO countries. In this collaborative operation, the US land forces set up the base camp, while radio is operated by British troops. Several groups of officials study the maps of the area. The helicopter force is run by the Germans and the British. A helicopter flies near Istanbul mosque - according to the narrator, the crew are lucky to witness such a monument from an angle denied to most tourists. NATO troops, following a strategic plan, try to mingle with locals of the villages they pass through. Belgian troops talk to locals in a village in Turkey. British troops in Denmark paying their respects to the authorities in a local town hall. A field hospital is set up in the main camp in Turkey. Each battalion brings its own artillery; Belgian 105mm guns, British light field guns and Turkish artillery. A Turkish liaison officer briefs recently arrived German pilots. These exercises often include some light fire. The narration states that ACE Mobile Force keeps the peace, in its own quiet way.
Physical description
16mm