GUERRA DE LAS MALVINAS: BIM 5, BOMBARDEOS, BUQUE FORESTS, DISPARO DE EXOCET (title on box)

This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: 13K 1039-1).

Synopsis

I. British Marines based in the Falklands, taken prisoner during the Argentine invasion on 1 April 1982, shipped first to Argentina and repatriated to Britain. Includes footage of Lieutenant Keith Mills, head of 22 Royal Marines sent to South Georgia to get rid of the scrap men and the Argentine Marines: being interviewed for Argentine television.

II. Shots of captured British Marine weapons found at the Moody Brook Barracks - rifle with sniperscope, Sterling 9mm sub-machine gun, grenade launcher, mortar etc.

III. Interview in the open on Mount Tumbledown with Carlos Robasso, Captain of 5th Marine Infantry Unit, 27 April, describing the situation at that moment, preparation for battle, with Argentine troops in their emplacements. Shots with the troops as they describe their first contact with the enemy; includes shots of map showing their positions around Port Stanley (with close-ups).

IV. Later shots of anti-aircraft fire and smoke billowing as a result of bombing raids in and around Port Stanley. Shots of Argentine troops and vehicles in camouflaged positions on Mount Tumbledown. Interview with soldier (5th Marine Infantry Unit) in dug-out, "wet but happy".

V. Saturday 1 May - interviewer addresses camera then speaks with soldier about casualties after gunfire from three British ships. Shots of damage from direct hits. Interview with mortar crewman. Area of the Controlled Zone around Port Stanley - shots of Westinghouse TPS-43 portable radar system used by Argentine forces. Further interview with Carlos Robasso discussing the worsening situation.

VI. Interviewer addresses camera (possibly on 25 May, Argentine National Day) standing at the Met Centre of the Air Force, 300 metres south of the Port Stanley airfield, with radar. Description of naval attacks the previous night against the area.

VII. Port Stanley airfield in distance - civil aircraft still taking off. Low flying military transport aircraft skims water.

VIII. Live action during an air attack on Argentine positions near Port Stanley airfield - explosions in distance, troops running. Distant shot of Macdonnell Douglas Skyhawk of 3rd Attack Squadron (Lieutenant Marquez Benitez, pilot) - later shots showing close-ups of the wreckage with commentary from interviewer, who then speaks with Argentine pilot Jose Cesar Arca (3rd Attack Squadron) outside the hospital (22 May) who had made a forced landing the previous day after being attacked by Harriers. Further interview with another helicopter pilot describing air-sea rescue mission.

IX. Interviewer describes airfield attack by Harriers - interview with Frigate Captain Frigini (?) describing possible unexploded bomb in distance. Scenes 25 May - being bombed by two Harrier aircraft - three wounded and three unexploded bombs - one blows up spectacularly on ground.

X. Interview with Captain Hector Silva, in charge of anti-aircraft around Port Stanley (in fire control centre at Port Stanley airfield). It is 6pm on 22 May: radar plotting. Interviews with other personnel.

XI.Saturday 5 June - piece to camera outside radar emplacement. Attacks have increased over the previous hours including the first attacks by Shrike missiles. Damage to fire control vehicle which had been hit (with fatal casualties).

XII. Shots of Forrest (86 ft motor vessel, with its own radar system, seconded from Falkland Islander Jack Sollis and used by the Argentines as a troop transporter). Interview with Forrest's new captain about activities.

XIII. Shots of radar screen; also Exocet missile being fired from land position at night (at HMS Glamorgan?).

Several sequences of Argentine footage of the Falkland Islands.

 

Titles

  • GUERRA DE LAS MALVINAS: BIM 5, BOMBARDEOS, BUQUE FORESTS, DISPARO DE EXOCET (title on box) (Allocated)
  • FALKLANDS WAR: BATALLON DE INFANTERIA DE MARINE 5; SHELLING, "FORREST" SHIP, EXOCET LAUNCH (Translation)
Series Title:
PRODUCTION MATERIAL FOR THE FALKLANDS WAR: THE UNTOLD STORY
 

Technical Data

Year:
1982
Film Gauge (Format):
U-matic
Colour:
Colour
Sound:
Sound
 

Production Credits

Production Countries:
Argentina