This 1952 U.S. Navy film entitled ICE BREAKER shows a U.S. navy ship the USS Burton Island traveling from San Diego to Kodiak, to Alaska, St. Lawrence and King island in the Bering Sea. USS Burton Island (AG-88) was a United States navy wind-class ice breaker that was later decommissioned in the U.S. Coast Guard as the USCGC Burton Island (WAGB-283). Burton Island’s mission was supposedly to survey the ice conditions in the Bering Sea, but the ship was also part of an effort by the U.S. Navy to establish a presence in the Arctic during the cold war against the Soviet Union.

We watch the skyline of San Diego as the ship pulls off from the harbor and heads north. The crews are all set back on board. The sailors and the crew are all busy for the traveling. The traveling was due north to the King Island in the Bering Sea. As seen at the 1:05-1:30 mark the sailors are seen planning the route on the map from San Diego to Kodiak island, to Alaska, St. Lawrence and finally the king island the northern post point to be visited on the crew.

At the 01:38 mark we see the helmsman who is been directed by the captain on what course to steer. He is to steer the ice breaker either through the rough water and ice whether by wheel or the autos, he is an experienced and responsible man. They had a rough ride as the ice breaker find its way through the heavy seas. At mark 2:20 they made their first stop at Kodiak Island, the Gulf of Alaska. They had a glimpse of a Navy air station beyond the harbor. They saw the air field and hanger, and some collection of houses. At mark 2:45, they continued their journey and here they have a submarine pulling ahead of them, a Regulus missile submarine, likely the USS Tunny but possibly USS Cusk with a hangar on the deck. One reason for their stop at Kodiak was to take on equipment specifically a helicopter which helps them to navigate after been stuck.

At mark 3:25, the sea becomes colder and practically every exposed part of the ship becomes frozen with ice and at mark 3:35 we see the crews breaking off ice from the ship. At mark 4:05, the submarine became held up by the ice formation and turns back south. At mark 4:15-4:31 we have a full description of the ice breaker, the Burton Island. The Burton island is a ship that can sustain comfortable living, it has all rooms available, the bathroom, the bar room where food are been served, the sick bay with all needed equipments, the laundry, also the ship store where things are kept. You see, the ice breaker travels alone in the arctic for a long period of time and you can’t communicate on radio with other ships, making patient transfer difficult, hence, all officers are right on board; the sailor, medical team with medical skills. At mark 6: 48 they saw sea creatures weighing up to 4000 lbs. At mark 6:52, the ice becomes larger and obviously the ice breaker pushes through.

At mark 7:15, they reach St. Lawrence Island, the largest island in the north Bering Sea. They were welcomed by the Sabunga, one of the two Eskimo villages on the island. The villagers were invited to come on board. At mark 8:20, the crew leaves the island behind and head north east. The ice becomes heavier and the powerful engines drive the ship through easily following a path where the ice field has cracked and reformed. Nothing seems to bother the Burton Island. At mark 9:00 the ice finally stops the ship only temporary however. The crew set on a lead with their helicopter. Here at mark 9:27 the crew saw a polar bear and decided to chase the bear to have fun. At mark 9:39, the helicopter heads back reporting no lead so the engine must take over, the sailors are in the engine room and the starts the ship again. The ship starts running slowly at first and there it goes breaking the ice asides. Burton Island possess a hull of unprecedented strength and structural integrity, a cut away forefoot, rounded bottom, and fore, aft and side heeling tanks which helps it to push through sea ice.

At mark 10:40, the Burton Island approaches the high point of their trip, King Island, one of the famous islands ever visited by the U.S. navy. Here they met the villagers who had come to welcome them. The villagers were also invited onboard the ship. Here we see the women waiting onshore with their children while the men went onboard making sure it’s safe. They showed their hospitality to the crew. In this village they have a short wave radio which helps them to communicate and small boats. At mark 12:40, they left off on their trip where they took their time fishing through the ice for the famous king crab which is much larger in the arctic region. At mark 13:05 they headed south leaving the King Island behind.