DVD7: PART 7: ... of 7
BRITISH PACIFIC & EAST INDIES FLEETS
This totally unique three hour DVD is a real tour-de-force, being a compilation of the last three volumes of Roland's films, Parts 10, 11, & 12. They are here shown as BP&EIF Phases 1, 2, and 3. They offer the ultimate film record of these fleets, their fighting ships and men. They feature only original archive film from start to finish. During the Second World War, the East Indies and British Pacific Fleets were sometimes disparagingly referred to as the 'Forgotten Fleets', being akin to their fighting army colleagues in the 14th Army. Their contribution to the war effort was somewhat overshadowed by naval actions elsewhere, and both their ships and engagements were comparatively rarely recorded by newsreel and combat cameramen.
Produced and narrated by Royal Navy historian, the late Roland R. Smith, this totally unique three-hour DVD now offers the ultimate film record of these fleets, their fighting ships and men. Drawn from diverse sources, and featuring only original archive film from start to finish, it includes considerable amounts of rare and previously unseen material. People who have never seen these films before, relatives of veterans, are usually truly astonished at their contents.
PHASE ONE: Starting in 1942, this film features a host of British fighting ships including the RESOLUTION, WARSPITE, DEVONSHIRE, MAURITIUS, GAMBIA, FROBISHER, CATTERICK, NIZAM, PALADIN, RAMILLIES, MALAYA, ILLUSTRIOUS, INDOMITABLE, HERMIONE, LOOKOUT, LAFOREY, QUEEN ELIZABETH, VALIANT, RENOWN, VICTORIOUS, HOWE, LONDON and KING GEORGE V. Highlights include royal inspections of the carrier INDEFATIGABLE and battleship KING GEORGE V, coverage of the large scale Fleet Air Arm assault on Palembang, the ILLUSTRIOUS sailing with the US carrier SARATOGA, Japanese air attacks on the BPF and the Sakashima One operations, plus a Refuel At Sea by the British Pacific Fleet, the French RICHELIEU, the HOWE in assault on Sabang, and a visit to Sydney. Detailed look at the Fleet Train Base at Manus. And, of course, much more.
PHASE TWO: Includes colour footage in 1945, with daily air strikes. Fighting ships featured include the carriers INDEFATIGABLE (receives direct Kamikaze attack on the flight deck), IMPLACABLE, FORMIDABLE, and INDOMITABLE, and both VICTORIOUS and ILLUSTRIOUS receive glancing blows from Kamikazes. Escort carriers STALKER and EMPEROR, the battleship KING GEORGE V, cruisers LONDON, NEWCASTLE, SUSSEX AND PHOEBE and destroyers QUADRANT, QUEENSBOROUGH AND WESSEX, and destroyer ULSTER immobilised by a near-hit. Highlights include glorious extended colour sequences, carrier action with Seafires and Hellcats and film of Kamikaze attacks on the BPF. Also footage of the East Indies Fleet, some of the small escort carriers being seen in this programme and many other ships of the fleet. And a great deal more . .
PHASE THREE: Admiral Brind commanding the 4th Cruiser Squadron, SWIFTSURE, comes alongside KGV. The East Indies Fleet features with new flagship NELSON, seen at sea with SUSSEX and two escort carriers AMEER and EMPRESS during operation "Livery". Other fighting ships featured include the carriers VICTORIOUS and IMPLACABLE, plus INDEFATIGABLE with flight deck scenes, also seen taking on light stores and mail, hockey recreation on the armoured flight deck and eventual return to the operational area where she ranges and flys-off her various aircraft and later battling through a typhoon. Light fleet carriers GLORY, COLOSSUS, VENERABLE and VENGEANCE, Battleships KING GEORGE V, HOWE, DUKE OF YORK and ANSON, cruisers SWIFTSURE and BERMUDA and the destroyer UNDAUNTED. Other destroyers TROUBRIDGE, TENACIOUS and TERMAGANT, sail to Guam, plus footage of Australian-manned destroyer NORMAN. US Admiral Nimitz inspecting the KING GEORGE V at Guam. Highlights include air-to-air film of a Fairey Firefly raid on the Japanese home islands.
DVD7: Part 7 ... of 7 ... cat: GU229D . . . 180 mins .... £15.30
plus £1.50 p&p
Buy the whole set of 7 DVD's for £100.00 post free !
[ Individual price would come to £98.90, plus £1.50 each time for postage, being just under £110.00 in total ]
Format: PAL [no NTSC]
Region Code = 0 .. will play on any computer's DVD anywhere
NB: NOTE ON PRICE INCREASES & POSTAGE :
We do apologise for having to increase the prices of these titles. But we must point out the price hasn't changed since first coming out on DVD several years ago now, and with the recent rise in VAT to 20%, plus extra postage costs (which we still have to pay although we do full sets at nil postage, ie, post paid) we've had no choice but to raise prices.
The old basic price of £12.99 has gone to £13.25, and those that were £14.99 have gone to £15.30. That increase is entirely due to the Jan 2010 VAT increase. We hope to hold our postage at £1.50 for now, but that has also risen sharply, and our postage will have to go to £2.00 per separate item by mid-summer.
For 3 or 4 titles on the same order to the same address would get a postage discount; ie we would not charge 4 x £1.50, or the full £6. For 4 together, we would charge £4, which is more realistic including the bag or box they're delivered in.
Even now, at £100 a set, we still think they are great value today. We know Roland would have thought so, as would the many thousands of people across the globe that have already seen these titles and appreciated how different they are. They're a very BRITISH production for a start! And made by a real Matelot with a knowledge of his navy for a second. And the footage is historic .. and tells the visual story of these great ships and the men who manned them. Yes, they were men, just men, and real men ... no girls aboard in those days. And so many paid for their service with their lives. This set honours them here, at whatever price they come out at.
There are no other RN videos quite like these.
These are the Bee's Knees.
Roll On Jack !!
ONLY AVAILABLE NOW ON DVD
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CONFUSED BY OLD VHS and new DVD ?
This is the set of original VHS titles, which many are
now trying to complete, or replace. If so, this list may help
you to identify which DVD you need to complete your collection.
Part 1: BATTLESHIPS AT WAR 1941 - 42
................................................ now order DVD1 KGV BATTLESHIPS
Part 2: BRITANNIA GOES TO WAR
.................................................. order DVD 2 .... DVD2 same title
Part 3: CLOSE UP FOR ACTION STATIONS
..................... order DVD2 .. doubled with BRITANNIA GOES TO WAR above
Part 4: COLOUR CAMERA AT SEA WWII
........................... order DVD3 .. IN COLOUR -- A SAILOR'S VIEW
Part 5: TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH
......................................... order DVD4 ... WAR IN THE FROZEN NORTH
Part 6: PERILOUS WATERS
..................................................... order DVD5 ... BRITISH CONVOYS
Part 7: HAZARDS OF THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS
..................................................... order DVD5 .. doubled up with above
Part 8: THE GREAT ARMADA - OPERATION TORCH
..................................................... order DVD6 ... doubled with next below
Part 9: DAY - REFLECTIONS OF OPERATION NEPTUNE
..................................................... order DVD6 ... doubled with above
Part 10: BRITISH PACIFIC / EAST INDIES FLEETS (1st Phase)
..................................................... order DVD7 .. contains 10, 11 & 12
Part 11:BRITISH PACIFIC / EAST INDIES FLEETS (2ndt Phase)
..................................................... order DVD7 .. contains 10, 11 & 12
Part 12: BRITISH PACIFIC / EAST INDIES FLEETS (3rd Phase)
..................................................... order DVD7 .. contains 10, 11 & 12