The Imperial War Museum Collection features rare and fascinating original films preserved in the Museum's archives. Many have never been released to the public before and are presented here, complete and uncut, for the very first time. These films are of great historical importance and are essential viewing for anyone interested in maritime history. This extensive collection of wartime Naval Instructional Films prepared for the Admiralty offers a detailed and truly diverse look at the skills expected to be mastered by the men of the Royal Navy and their duties on board ship.
Duties of a Helmsman (1940) Made in 1940 and set largely in a typical destroyer's wheelhouse, this dramatisation features an experienced seaman teaching a new helmsman the 'tricks of the trade'.
Raising Steam (1942) A fascinating look at how a destroyer 'raises steam' in its boiler room and gets underway from port.
Ship Safety (1944) This very dramatic instructional film shows how simple mistakes made by several men led to severe damage being inflicted on their cruiser during an air raid.
Duties of a Lookout (1943) This very detailed, multi-part account of the duties of a lookout covers everything from the red/green position reporting system to the different types of lookout employed during day and night.
Ships Internal Communications (1944) "For success in fighting your ship it is essential that orders and information are communicated swiftly and accurately". This film covers the diverse methods on a typical fighting ship.
"Sam Pepys Joins the Navy" (1941): A salute to great naval traditions in support of the War Savings Scheme
"Sea Cadets" (1941): Made for the Ministry Of Information, Bernard Miles advises boys too young for the regular navy to join the Sea Scouts and train for future service now
Three extracts from other unseen films covering weighing anchor, naval gunnery and smokescreens: 1. Excerpts from 'Anchor Work' (1942), 2. Excerpts from 'Introduction to Naval Gunnery' (1943), 3. Excerpts from 'Smoke Screens at Sea' (1944)
More like The Royal Navy at War: Naval Instruction Films
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