This 1957 black and white propaganda film MN 8328 is by the U.S. Naval Photographic Center for its Sea Power for Security series. Frogmen lie in a raft tied to a boat traveling at high speed. They roll off one-by-one into the water (:28-35). A Korea beach has multiple detonations, planted by the underwater demolition team (:37-:49). Frogmen sailors experience “hell week” crawling through mud and crossing a river by overhead wires (some fall) during explosions (1:04-2:07). The training tower at New London, Connecticut is 110 feet of water set upright (2:09-2:23). Soldiers in bathing suits are put into a pressurized chamber. A sailor equalizes his ears by pinching his nose (2:24-2:51). At the tank top, wearing goggles, they hold their breaths and sink to the 50’ marker and rise, blowing out bubbles. From the 100’ marker, a soldier rises, hands on hips (2:52-4:15). They don a Pirelli Lung oxygen rebreather (4:16-4:44). Men sit on the edge of the tank wearing an Aqua Lung, which is left at the bottom (4:45-5:23). Sailors are transported to the Virgin Islands for advanced training. They swim in two-man teams; their locations marked on the surface with a buoy (5:33-6:48). A rescue boat rushes to an exhausted diver and pulls him aboard (7:00-7:29). The men exercise on the beach, followed by steak for breakfast (7:33-8:05). They practice entering the water from a raft tied to a fast-moving boat. A looped rope snags them and they’re pulled back on (8:07-9:10). The men enter a submarine hatch and are briefed. They begin to lock out from the sub, set their compasses, and begin swimming with one arm always outstretched. They find the sub coordinates and the U.S. flag waves below the water (9:15-13:00). Training next involves a maximum security swim at night. The men don their Pirelli Lungs, exit the sub, swim, and return (13:01-15:07). The men practice judo underwater while wearing Aqua Lungs (15:09-15:42). Dressed in service dress white uniforms, the sailors explore Saint Thomas (16:06-16:45) before spear-fishing. Views of the ocean floor coral and fish are shown (16:46-20:20). The men stand at attention for the details of the final qualifying swim. Tanks are checked and the frogmen walk to the boats. The UDT222 is shown taking them far from shore. A final wrist compass check is made, buddy ropes tied, and the pairs of men enter the water (20:21-22:32). A pair swim together, one arm outstretched, with an eye on the compass. A stingray and schools of fish are shown, as is coral. The men swim, a long line of bubbles following each one (22:34-26:00). Their heads rise up out of the water as they reach shore. More heads pop up as the teams arrive. A record keeper notes each team’s accuracy. The men head back by boat (22:34-27:04). Advanced training is shown under simulated combat conditions where the men quickly exit the raft. They practice planting charges on a beach and quickly getting back to the pick-up boat before the charge explodes (27:05-28:05).

We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: “01:00:12:00 — President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.”

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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com