THE SEA IS A SPECIAL PLACE

Year Published: 1966

Format: 16mm

Description: This 1966 U.S. Navy recruiting film shows the responsibilities of command and the demands -- as well as rewards -- for those who operate the Navy's modern, complex machinery. The film opens with a sailor peering through binoculars aboard a cruiser (:22). Sailors are seen donning life vests aboard a 26-foot motor whaleboat constructed of plastic (:50). The craft is seen hanging over the side and being lowered steadily down into the water (1:32). Sailors chip at paint on the ship’s surface (2:04) and the ship’s long-range guns are exercised (2:10) as they are cleaned and inspected (2:30). Inspections continue (2:38). The bridge (3:19). The camera follows a ladder upwards to the Commander at the Captain’s bridge (3:56). The ship’s radar system (4:44) is shown. A close up shot of a magazine provides a Cold War headline: "Soviets may unveil advances in ICBMS" (5:19). The crew is piped awake with a whistle (5:52). After preparing themselves for the day, they are seen unloading supplies down a conveyor belt (6:23). A map showing that nearly 70% of the globe is covered in water (7:06) leads to a scuba diver (7:13) with a shark nearby (7:15). Coral reefs are filmed (7:40) as oceanographers work to evaluate the sea and sea floors (7:47). A rock specimen is pulled from the sea floor as mineralogists and biologists also take part in the effort of understanding our oceans better (7:50). Sonar tracking systems allow operators to take in the sea’s character (8:56). In order to steer the ship, one must take into account the weather as well as the winds and currents (6:11). The aircraft carrier USS Forrestal CV-59 (10:16) and a submarine follow (10:21). At 10:43 a Soviet ship #452, a Kresta II-class cruiser, is shown. Aboard the Forrestal, a sailor uses a signal lamp in morse code (10:50). Shorelines (12:58) and city skylines (13:05) lead into old footage a Soviet parade (13:12). Footage from prior conflicts point to the need of having a strong sea power (13:20). An assault diagram for beach landings are shown to a group of sailors (13:33). A convoy of vessels assembles for a full scale exercise (13:48). Forces of an amphibious operation step onto Higgins boats to be taken to the shore (14:27). USS Rockbridge (APA-228) is shown. Landing crafts near the shoreline (14:55) as escorting warships fire at shore installations in support of the landings (15:02). An F-4 Phantom is launched (15:10) and explosions follow (15:24). Paratroopers jump in succession and their black chutes pop across the sky (15:29). Troops sprint out from amphibious crafts as they hit the shoreline (15:38). Had enemy crafts been heading towards the beachhead to break up the landing, radar screens would have picked up attacking forces (16:24). A panoramic shot is provided of the mobile air base which could be nuclear powered as the Navy was eager to switch to the new power source (17:03). Computerized controls arm the missiles and one is seen fired and spinning through the air (17:26). Targets further in from the shore are hit (17:43). Another missile hits an enemy plane (18:08). As the amphibious operations continue, helicopters are seen landing on the beaches (18:45). Tanks unload (19:10) from USS Lorain County (LST-1177) and a supply line is moved across a long barge (19:18). A submarine periscope peeks up from the water (19:59) and a transport ship for combat troops is seen (20:05). Supply ships follow (20:10) and communication lines are viewed (20:45). Sailors on a ship deck work to tie knots (21:13). The vessel’s radar equipment rotates (21:24). Fueling for a submarine follows which would ideally be unnecessary once nuclear-powered submarines were in full active duty (22:30). At (23:24), an African American hospital corpsman prepares a shot aboard USS Waller (DD/DDE-466). Conventional submarines were considered surface ships with underwater duty as they frequently had to resurface to charge batteries and to refuel (24:16). One nuclear submarine is pictured as being 425 feet long (24:36). 140 men operate the vessel during 60-day intervals (24:40). Ballistic missiles (25:28) carried on the vessel -- probably USS George Washington -- are named Polaris, after the star. For recreation aboard the vessels, sailors play cards (25:47). A jet preparing to land closes out the film (27:32). It had been presented by the Chief of Naval Operations and was produced by Sun Dial Films Incorporated (28:29).

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