Steampast in line ahead by ships of the Royal Navy, Commonwealth Strategic Reserve, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Reel One. Aerial LSs of the steampast. Spectators stand on the upper deck of the RFA Stromness, which flies the flags of the C-in-C Far East Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burnett, and C-in-C Far East Fleet Rear-Admiral J A R Troup. MS as camera aircraft circles stern of the leading ship, HMS Glamorgan (D.19). LSs of the line with Stromness in the foreground - two Leanders pass, then the Tribal Class frigate HMS Gurkha. HMAS Derwent (49) and Swan (50) go past. LS as HMS Albion approaches Stromness - four fixed-wing aircraft from HMS Eagle fly overhead. Thirty helicopters from Albion and other ships, flying in three columns, pass over Stromness and Triumph. LS as the massed flight recedes - on the sea below are Albion and the line of frigates stretching away into the distance. Reel Two. A rehearsal for the steampast by some of the ships. HMS Glamorgan is in the van, followed by four Arethusa Class frigates, then the two Australian Type 12s, with three auxiliaries making up the rear of the line. The day is dull and overcast.

Notes

Technical: colour balance is blue

Summary: the final review of the Far East Fleet took place on 31 October, 1971, in the Singapore Straits. Nearly 20 ships in three divisions steamed past RFA Stromness. HMS Glamorgan led the review, flying the flag of 2-in-C Far East Fleet, Rear-Admiral D Williams. Some 20 fixed-wing aircraft from HMS Eagle flew overhead, followed by 30 helicopters from HMS Albion and other units of the Fleet. Despite the historical significance of the moment, marking the end of 150 years of independent Royal Naval presence in the Far East, the camera record is of the usual abysmal standard