Made in 1952, “Command of the Seas” is a series of four, full color films that document America’s post-WWII Navy. Intended to promote the important role the fleet could play in Cold War conflicts (such as the recently-stalemated Korean War), the films showcase an era of growth and expansion. As new, nuclear powered submarines and angled deck aircraft carriers take to the seas, helicopters, missiles, rockets and jet fighters take to the skies.
This “Command of the Seas” film concentrates on the Atlantic Fleet and CINCLANT. Since the days of the Constitution, the American Navy had never suffered defeat (:56). The British have remained staunch allies of the Navy, fighting side by side for two World Wars (1:24). Joint training operations are conducted with other allies, the French and Italians to ensure cohesive teamwork (1:53). The US Navy’s efficient productive capacity provides military and economic aide to their oversea allies (2:36). These nations and other Atlantic nations have joined the Naval Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in unison to prevent aggression (2:55).At friendly ports around the world civilian visitors climb aboard ships (3:30). A battleship in Naples, drops anchor while paying the Sixth Fleet a visit (4:01).
A priest from Florence is invited aboard to provide services for the men (4:36). The Eiffel tower is shown as other navy men go ashore in Paris (4:55), and are also welcomed into Denmark (5:36).
An American ambassador in Lisbon, visits one of the large ships (7:22) and the ships Marine Guard stands inspection (7:27). There is an official salute as he departs (8:05). Ranking Portuguese officer’s pay a visit as well (8:19). To contrast and visualize the progress of the power of Navy, a battleship is pictured next to an old time sail boat (8:31). Target practice is drawn for crew training (9:17). In the Mediterranean and Atlantic, the Sixth Fleet conducts training maneuvers with other friendly nations to standardize all operations (9:52).The carriers are capable of holding large planes which carry and transport atom bombs (10:16). The Navy has developed anti- submarine battleships and these employ hunter killer teams composed of aircrafts, surface ships and submarines (11:18).As the carrier is a core piece of the Navy, it enabled planes and Lighter Than Air Crafts to refuel and remain mobile across almost any part of the sea (11:53). A newer type of submarines, constructed to run at high speeds for long periods of time, was one of the largest undersea crafts in the world (13:20). Another development in underwater detection was the helicopter with listening devices (14:04). The Destroyer included special antisubmarine weapons (14:15). The film draws to the conclusion with the notion that so long as the Navy remained alert, no force of aggression would be able to challenges it’s “command of the sea” (15:02).
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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
