ALL OF ONE COMPANY

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: COI 1175).

Synopsis

Impressionistic account, without commentary, of day-to-day life onboard HMS Coventry as she sails from Portsmouth to Hong Kong via Singapore.

"Monday 19th May PORTSMOUTH" The destroyer HMS Coventry sets off from Portsmouth, waved on by well-wishers. The captain briefs the crew on deck, mentioning that the ship was now "going back to peacetime viewing" (post-Falklands ?). Ship arrives in tropical climes. "FRIDAY" Crew wakes and prepares for day (shaving, breakfast, ships DJ at work). Steering malfunction exercise; hand pump steering used. Anti-submarine helicopter exercise: torpedo dropped and retrieved. PT on deck. Crew relax at end of day - rock music, ludo. "SATURDAY" Combat exercise, including simulated rescue after 'explosion' below deck. Meal in officers' mess: toast to wives and sweethearts. "SUNDAY" Religious service. Recreation: volleyball, pleasure trip in helicopter (ratings take photos of ship), folk singing, sunbathing; station's DJ signs of ('Mars' by Holst).Evening prayer. "MONDAY" Replenishment at sea from RFA Resource. CBC - the ships TV station - in action. Briefing for "Operation Counterstrike", joint exercise between the RN and RAAF. "TUESDAY" Counterstrike gets underway - scenes of ops room and weapons in action (Sea Dart missiles, 4.5-inch gun). Evening concert: rock band, magician, singalong. "WEDNESDAY" Coventry pulls into Hong Kong. Captain (v/o) praises his crew. Union jack is raised as she pulls to shore.

Notes

Credits: end caption states "THE PRODUCERS WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SHIP'S COMPANY OF HMS COVENTRY FOR THEIR HELP AND ENTHUSIASM".

 

Titles

  • ALL OF ONE COMPANY
 

Technical Data

Year:
1980
Running Time:
29 minutes
Film Gauge (Format):
16mm
Colour:
Colour
Sound:
Sound
Footage:
1065 ft
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
GB
Sponsor
Central Office of Information
Sponsor
Ministry of Defence
assistant cameraman
Dean, Dixie
director
Davey, John
photography
Davey, John
Production company
AFP
production manager
Sprague, Christopher
researcher
Still, Colin
script
Still, Colin
sound recordist
John, David