The US Navy (:19) presents this film “Ready Now and Ready for Tomorrow”, about the three T’s; the Terrier, Talos and Tartar surface to air missile systems, as well as other ship-borne missile systems including Sea Sparrow. This film begins with footage of innovations achieved following WWII. The US Navy sought to better prepare the ships for the world of tomorrow based upon the wars of the past. (Note: This film won a special gold medal award for ‘Best Picture of a National Theme’ as part of the International Film and TV 1968 film and TV Festival of New York.)

It opens with sea to air, anti-aircraft combat footage from WWII (:54). White hot tracer bullets from AA guns fire at Kamikazes during the close of the Second World War. (1:09). A kamikaze zips by close to the camera (1:30) exploding on impact (1:33). Black smoke clouds fill the ship’s deck (1:40). The Navy played a vital role in winning the Second World War. Helicopters peel from an aircraft carrier deck (2:16). A good shot shows Navy soldiers carrying machine guns (2:27). Soldiers wade through deep waters (2:34). A boat cuts through the waters with the gunner at his position (2:49). A Navy doctor delivers a baby an inoculation (2:51). Navy task force at sea (3:16) as the narrator mentions the Navy sought to cover four oceans. The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk zips off (3:25). Sailors flash signals by Aldis lamp (3:30). Weapon systems of the vessels were updated (3:53) as enemy aircraft could now travel at supersonic speeds (4:04). Crew members operate advanced detection devices (4:13). A radar dish (4:22) following signs of enemy craft. An alarm is sounded and the crew grabs helmets (4:44) and man battle stations. A missile is sent off the ship deck (5:08). The airborne target is pictured as a ball of flames in the sky (5:38). Various long range ballistic missiles appear (5:47). Operation Bumblebee (5:51) was a postwar effort to develop surface to air missiles for the Navy. The program delivered the RIM-2 Terrier, RIM-24 Tartar and the RIM-8 Talos (6:12). These were ramjet powered missiles. A solid fuel rocket booster and ramjet engine propels the missile (6:21). A radar system guides the missile to its target (6:34). A good shot shows the empty case falling from the base at booster burnout (6:41). One of the seven cruisers of the fleet appears (6:53) carrying the Talos system (6:57). The Terrier missile system was first introduced in 1956 (7:03). Missiles stick out on the ship at 26 feet long (7:08). One is fired out (7:10). An aerial shot shows the missile shooting from the cruiser deck (7:25). The second portion of the stage is known as the sustainer (7:42). The target is hit here (7:48). This weapons program was to arm 39 warships (7:53). A destroyer rides alongside a cruiser (8:02). Two Tartar missiles shoot up and ready themselves for fire (8:30) on a heavy cruiser. The fifteen foot missiles had a range of 15 miles. The narrator mentions Tartar was also serving Italy, France, Australia, Spain and Japan (8:53). One is fired from the ship deck (8:59). Two of the eighty ships in the service missile fleet appear (9:07). A destroyer (9:13) is pictured carrying the usual anti-submarine warfare weapons. A frigate is pictured (9:25). These were now as large as carriers of WWII (9:25). A cruiser fires off a guided missile (9:29). Point defense is explained (9:39). The launcher is pictured (9:54) holding eight Sea Sparrow missiles. The operator works to center the aim dot on the radar display (10:09). A Sea Sparrow is fired (10:19). A ship is hit and explodes (10:23). The camera pans around the aircraft carrier Enterprise (10:32). A missile shoots up from the deck (10:44). Rear Admiral Gralla (10:55) appears. Commanding Officer Oscar Dreyer is pictured in his office (11:11) at the Naval ship missile systems engineering station at Port Hueneme of California. Engineers provide logistical support to the guided missile fleet (11:22). A missile is lifted by crane (11:29). A standard missile aims directly at the camera (11:58). Standards were interchangeable between terrier and tartar. Another standard missile is fired from the ship deck (12:28). The USS Norton Sound appears (12:40). It was commissioned for weapons research in 1964. She first launched the Sea Sparrow in 1965. Ships burn in the water in WWII (13:14). Guided missiles are aimed (13:37). Crew are pictured hard at work in the plotting room (13:49). The Weapons Officer (13:52) selects a missile which is fired shortly after (14:01). Screenplay and production for this film was completed by William Nash (14:44). Planes explode and missiles are fired off as the film concludes with the credits (14:59).

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