1952 REPORT OF THE U.S. NAVY GLOBAL OPERATIONS / KOREAN WAR 28474

This film, REPORT OF THE NAVY tracks two years of the Navy’s progress (1:03) in the post-WWII era. In October 1952, a fleet from Norfolk, Virginia heads for Scotland (1:16) for operation Mainbrace (1:30). It will test NATO’s ability to operate under a common command for a common purpose. The fleet of 160 consisted of carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, submarines, tankers and supply ships (1:52). After preparations the first part commences (2:30). This will be air support for ground forces defending Norway (2:45) and the fleet engages the enemy at sea (2:49). After the fleet moves south for an amphibious landing for the theoretically beleaguered Danish forces (3:14). The exercise has shown their ability to work together, but also flaws which will be corrected for the following year (3:59). Another part of the exercise is continuing in the Mediterranean (4:24) and the ships presence became a powerful deterrence for aggression. These operations of the Sixth fleet would not have been possible without the aide of the Navy as it’s in constant motion and without a base (5:01). A map is shown depicting American installments of overseas supply base air stations (5:14). In the year, the Navy transported thousands of men from all services to Europe, Japan, Korea, Africa and the Arctic (5:31). Cargo ships carried goods to fighting ships and transported cargo at sea even in rough weather (6:11). The Navy was employed maintence of isolated weather stations and air bases in polar regions (6:19). These convoys required assistance from the Navy's thirty ice breakers (6:35). In Korea they were engaged in warfare against Communist invaders (7:22). The mission was to cut lines of communication and support (7:50) and jet fighters targeted bridges, tunnels and trucks (8:14). Propeller planes were better suited for close support than jets and backed up ground forces (8:27).  UN and Marine Corps soldiers fought together until the war ran it’s course (8:88).Helicopters were introduced in combat delivering troops into action and providing quick transport for injured (9:19). In the spring of 1953, the Navy released a destroyer division (9:51) and as troops returned, America was rearming and retraining (10:45). It  became a force of 750,000 men as well as 1,100 ships (11:06). The Naval Academy in Annapolis and NROTC units trained thousands of men in the Navy and the Reserves (11:41). Ships were also added and research enabled modification of some and redesign of others (12:23). The USS Forrestal continued to progress and work began on one of it's sister ships (12:30). On the USS Antietam, steam catapults, large fuel tanks and an angled flight deck had been installed (12:50). In 1953, the Destroyer Leader was added as a task force command ship (13:54). The submarine Nautilus was launched in 1954 and powered by atomic energy (14:15). Prominent men from business and industry were invited to the 10th Annual Civilian Orientation Cruise and were able to see the products of the work in action (14:51). At air shows, civilians admired the performance and skill of Naval Aircraft (15:00). At test centers, experienced pilots put new planes through trails (15:41). Examples of such are the Skyray (15:56) and the Sea Dart (16:07). In California at the Naval Ordinance Test Center, experts designed weapons, missiles and launchers (16:54) most of which would be classified (17:15).
The Navy welcomed a new Commander in Chief and a new Chief of Naval Operations (17:34).  In the end 50,000 men completed training and 160 vessels were launched (17:55).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com