Created in the post-Korean War era but before the Vietnam War, “Vertical Envelopment” explains the new tactics put in place by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps to land troops by helicopter and secure a beachhead in nuclear and non-nuclear warfare scenarios. The film also examines other aspects of amphibious assault in the present and future, including new amphibious warfare ships, the use of VTOL aircraft and guided missiles such as the Regulus, and above all the use of the helicopter and the speed and flexibility it allows, to outflank and outmaneuver the enemy.

After WW II, the Marine Corps introduced a new dimension

in the mobility of assault troops and logistically resupply

with the advent of the helicopter. Vertical envelopment was

developed at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico and proven

during the Korean War.

As a direct result of the atomic tests at Bikini Lagoon,

in 1946, the Marine Corps sought innovative ways to disperse

assault forces during amphibious landings. The Marine Corps

Schools at Quantico produced the concept for using the

helicopter and helped pioneer the development of HMX-1 as the

vehicle for testing the new vertical envelopment concept.

HMX-1 was the first Marine helicopter squadron and as

such virtually set the pace in the development of combat

helicopter thinking. The laboratory at Quantico would in 31

short months prepare the Marine Corps to go to war for the

first time with helicopters.

HRS-1 helicopters are seen throughout, also known as The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw, or S-55, was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army and United States Air Force. It was also license-built by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Whirlwind in the United Kingdom. United States Navy and United States Coast Guard models were designated HO4S, while those of the U.S. Marine Corps were designated HRS. In 1962, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Marine Corps versions were all redesignated as H-19s like their U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force counterparts.

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