COMMAND OF THE SEAS

"Command of the Seas" is a 1952 U.S. Navy Korean War-era promotional film, and one of a series produced in that year (the others include Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic films). Focusing on naval operations in the Pacific Ocean, the film’s narrator stresses that because of the warm water in the region, a threat of an attack from under the water is a real danger. Although submarines proved themselves more than capable during World War II to handle any enemy on or below the the sea, Seabees (members of the Navy’s Construction Battalion) also constructed airfields for aviators across the Pacific to protect the sky. After WW2, Navy personnel helped modernize native islanders, teaching them new methods of farming and providing trained medical personnel. "Naval medical and dental officers … established higher standards of health and to lower the rate of infant mortality," the viewer is told starting at mark 02:32 as scenes of physical exams of adults and children are shown. The Navy encouraged self government by the people, and following a directive by the United Nations, built schools. "The Navy was committed to establishing and maintaining democracy in the Pacific," we are told starting near mark 03:00. "The days of the Navy and Marine assaults on the enemy had ended — we were told." A foreboding note and one that restates the potential for conflict in the region. Mark 04:00 introduces us to the Korean War, as an aerial view of the USS Antietam (CVE-36) is shown at sea. "The peace in the Pacific had been shattered." Submarines protected shipping and supply lanes while above destroyers and aircraft carriers remained vigilant, backed up by repair ships as well as fueling and supply ships, as noted at mark 06:23. Operating the lifeline for the combined Navy and Marine forces was the Navy’s Military Sea Transportation Services (MSTS), which transported over one million military personnel,15 million tons of food and ammunition, and 50 million barrels of fuel across the Pacific Ocean during the first year of the Korean War, it is explained starting at mark 07:15. Offshore artillery bombardment also softened inland targets, either in preparation for United Nations’ invading forces or in support of them, the viewer is informed at mark 07:40. The narrator cites a comment by General Matthew Ridgway, who commanded all UN forces in Korea, that such efforts by the Navy kept the enemy off balance by keeping pressure on them. To underscore the statement, the film shows repeated rounds being fired from gun turrets at night for full visual effect. The war effort also relied on spiritual support, as a Navy chaplain is shown conducting a worship service on the front lines at mark 11:20. Chaplains also aided corpsmen as they treated the wounded and had them transported to hospital ships, as shown at mark 12:20. "The Navy takes care of it own," says the narrator. They also take care of business, as we see Navy and Marine pilots taking off from aircraft carriers starting at mark 12:27 to conduct bombing and strafing missions to support ground troops. Footage from cameras mounted on the aircraft capture all the action. "Wherever the Navy may be, it’s mission is command of the seas," the announcer says. And with a volley of gunfire, the film draws to a close.

Complete catalog record

Transcription

[Music] in the vast expanse of the Pacific stretching to the shores of Asia the United States Navy maintains command of the Seas the Menace of a potential enemy may be greater here than elsewhere because of the numerous warm water ports from which an underwater war might be waived part of the mission of the Navy is to combat such a possibility the record of our submarines during World War two leaves no doubt of their ability to handle any enemy upon or below the surface to ensure peace and protect our outer perimeter in case of war in the Pacific the Navy's work battalions the Seabees constructed bases and airfields from which our planes could operate a chain of these was laid across the Pacific in Hawaii on Midway in the Marshall and the Mariana Islands in the Philippines in Japan the Navy has constructed airfields in many parts of the Pacific and kept them ready for operation naval aviators are trained in both land-based and carrier based operations the Pacific area might hold the key to the Peace of the world for years to come and so the Navy remained its watchdog [Music] the Navy remained in this vast Pacific Command following World War two here she brought modern civilization to the island natives [Music] [Music] the Navy built water towers to provide a steady supply of pure water the Navy aided in bringing many kinds of protection in a long-range plan prepared with our interior department and other government agencies agriculture was modernized insect control provided new methods of farming were introduced by the Navy to assure more certain sources of food for the natives Navy dental and medical officers were provided to establish higher standards of health and to lower the rate of infant mortality self-government was introduced and the development of a system of law and order was encouraged to strengthen the rights of the individual acting under the auspices of the United Nations the Navy built schools and introduced educational methods fitted to the needs of the natives or based on the charter of the United Nations the Navy was committed to establishing and maintaining democracy in the Pacific [Music] the days of the Navy and Marine assaults upon the beaches of the enemy were entered we were told never again with this country ever have to exert its mighty armed force in another war these men have fought for peace and had won it [Music] and then it happened and the Marines loaded their combat troops and planes and equipment aboard Navy ships on the west coast and headed for trouble out in the Pacific true to their great traditions the Navy and the Marines were ready the Navy gave its Marines the fastest crossing the Pacific that ever witnessed and with other countries of the United Nations our ships headed for the combat zone in Korea to transport and supply our troops to engage the enemy where he could be found and to patrol nearby trouble zones the Peace in the Pacific had been shattered our underwater fleet was on patrol - our shipping and supply lanes had to be kept clear and safe [Music] the possibility of intervention had to be blocked and our own and the UN ships protected the task force carriers were never far away from the Battlefront ashore in Korea shifting from one combat zone to another along the coast their planes were armed with everything we had including rockets [Music] [Music] search-and-rescue patrol was also carried on by our submarines maintaining a lookout for fliers who might have to ditch their planes [Music] [Music] the navy's fighting ships were backed up by her own refuelling and rearming and supply ships permitting the fleet to go anywhere at any time and take its own replenishment requirement to long repair ships also accompanied the fleet [Music] mine sweepers moved ahead of the fleet intercepting the floating mines that the enemy released in coastal waters new equipment and new techniques were being tried out to provide maximum protection for our own and the UN ships [Music] operating the lifeline for the combined forces the Navy's military sea transportation service the M s TS transported over 1 million military personnel more than 15 million tons of food ammunition and supplies and over 50 million barrels of fuels across the Pacific during the first year of the war in Korea Navy ships offshore many of them recently out of mothballs supported the marine amphibious assaults softening up the areas ahead of them upon and beyond the beaches from the general Ridgway came the report that Navy ships and planes were keeping the enemy off-balance disrupting his lines of communication and relieving pressure on the UN front the Navy was displaying the finest kind of inter-service cooperation [Music] [Music] [Music] Navy and Marine planes operating from their mobile landing fields the carrier's provided close air support where and when it was most needed [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] a marine pushed on inland the refugees sought security behind the lines [Music] Navy chaplains serving ashore with Marines in combat areas gave their spiritual support to the man near the front Navy chaplains also aided the Navy medical officers in corpsman in caring for the wounded in the field [Music] [Music] the navy's hospital ships were never very far away bringing the solace of all the Navy takes care of its own bombing and strafing missions were carried out by Navy and Marine planes in steady support of marine and army ground troops [Music] the targets railroad yards trains highway British anything that moved in enemy territory the Navy hit them card [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] wherever the Navy may be its mission is command of the Seas [Music] [Music]

Sources

YouTube channel: PeriscopeFilm · video ↗ — title, year, format, description, catalog record, video

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