All Of One Company is a 1980 documentary showing daily life aboard the ill fated HMS Coventry—including daily chores, mock drills, and resupplying at sea—during its ten-day voyage from Portsmouth to Hong Kong via Singapore. In Portsmouth, members of the Coventry’s crew carry supplies off the ship. The gangplank is pushed back and the Royal Navy destroyer leaves the dock. The captain addresses his crew on a street in Singapore on 14 July (01:11). Later, the men board the Coventry, and the ship sails away from Singapore, passing small fishing boats as it moves out to sea. Several men play guitar and sing in their bunks (02:46). The ship sails with the sunset in the background (03:31). One of the ship’s radio DJs puts on music for the ship to start off a morning at sea (03:47). Members of the bridge crew set the ship’s course (04:35); an aerial shot shows the ship as it sails for Hong Kong. A man rushes through the halls of the ship to get down to the engine room where a motor has stopped working; he helps initiate hand-pump steering. Men prepare for a helicopter to take off (07:08); the helicopter leaves the deck and flies over the sea. A man in the communications room talks to the helicopter crew about a torpedo-recovery exercise (07:47). A torpedo is dropped into the sea, and then a diver repels from the helicopter to recover the weapon. Men on the ship watch the exercise off in the distance. The helicopter returns the torpedo to the ship. Men participate in physical training on the deck of the Coventry (09:34). Several men in a band rehearse a rock song for a few of their shipmates (10:26). On Saturday, some of the crew start their day with an exercise simulating an on-board explosion (11:34). Men put on fire gear and oxygen tanks as they prepare for a rescue mission as part of the overall exercise. They evacuate a wounded man. In the evening, the officers enjoy a formal dinner (13:44). The men sing during a church service the following day (14:45). Footage shows a dolphin as it swims and jumps just in front of the bow of the Coventry. Men play volleyball on deck (15:18). A helicopter takes off (15:53), and two men take aerial photographs of the Coventry from the helicopter. Members of the crew kill time by sun bathing, reading, and singing. Another of the ship’s radio DJs puts on a record to end the day at sea. The ship sails as the sun sets in the background (17:23). The next day, the crew prepares to resupply the ship at sea. Men signal to the supply ship. They hook up ropes and cables to connect the two ships (18:18), and then they move supplies and weapons aboard the Coventry. More supplies are brought aboard and the men organize and store them (20:20). The film shows the ship-wide video broadcasting of relevant information and updates for the crew (21:00). The following day, the Coventry prepares for a combat training exercise. A fighter jet flies overhead (22:49); men in the firing room deploy the ship’s anti-aircraft guns (23:13). Men in the ship’s control room communicate with the ship’s gunners and other members of the crew. The Coventry increases its sailing speed. Another of the ship’s guns goes through an exercise firing heavy shells. The crew celebrates their last night at sea with a variety show performance. The ship’s rock band plays for everyone (26:15). The captain is brought up on stage for a magic trick. The men sing a song together. An aerial shot of the ship shows it as it enters Hong Kong’s waters. The Coventry approaches a dock in Hong Kong (28:18), as the crew waits on the deck of ship. The Union Jack is raised and the ship is tied up. The film ends with a shot of the crew posing on and in front of the ship.
The HMS Coventry was a Type 42 (Sheffield-class) destroyer of the Royal Navy. Laid down by Cammell Laird and Company, Limited, at Birkenhead on 29 January 1973, she was launched on 21 June 1974 and accepted into service on 20 October 1978 at a cost of £37,900,000. She was sunk by Argentine Air Force A-4 Skyhawks on 25 May 1982 during the Falklands War. Nineteen of her crew were killed and a further 30 injured. May God rest their souls in peace. Long live England. Long live the Royal Navy. God save the Queen.
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