This unclassified 1960 United States Navy training film outlines and demonstrates the defensive measures for a civilian vessel to take in order to prevent or reduce radiological exposure in the event of a nuclear blast. The film features what appears to be the USNS Upshur (originally named SS President Hayes) T-AP-198 transport vessel being used as an example for the defense exercise, along with crew, informational animations, and footage of nuclear blasts. USNS Upshur was part of the Military Sea Transportation Service from 1952 to 1973, and scrapped in 2011.

(0:00) Title sequence. (0:32) Starboard side shot of transport vessel at sea. (1:00) Dummy ships line the lagoon of an atoll as air burst detonation of a nuclear bomb occurs (likely footage taken as part of the Bikini Atoll tests conducted in the Marshall Islands between 1946 and 1958). (1:19) Diagram of air burst nuclear explosion (1:37) Diagram of surface burst nuclear explosion. (1:53) Bikini Atoll test footage of underwater nuclear burst with a variety of dummy ships along the horizon. (2:24) Underwater burst diagram. (2:43) Listed effects of nuclear bursts, emphasizing nuclear radiation. (3:10) Animation of radiation hazard particles and behavior against different forms of protection. (4:24) Text information on lifetime exposure to radiation (4:37) Aerial footage of Bikini Atoll underwater nuclear burst. (5:19) Two crewmembers discuss Station Bill. (5:36) Overview demonstration of protective measures. (5:42) Crewmembers fastening covers to hatches and closing door for shielding. (5:59) Aerial footage of ship under protective washdown and evasively maneuvering. (6:13) Crewmembers in radiation protection suits using RADIAC (Radiation Detection, Indication And Computation) detector to measure radioactive contamination. (6:21) Crew swabbing the ship’s deck with decontaminating salt-water detergents. (6:32) Text overview of protective measures. (6:45) Officers discussing Station Bill, delegating responsibilities. (7:49) Crewmember reading emergency assignment card. (8:01) Radio operator receiving and handing off attack warning message. (8:08) The ship’s Master receives warning and communicates orders to Senior Watch Officer. (8:17) Senior Watch Officer sounding alarm, warning crew of atomic attack over ship’s Public Address (PA) system, and interacting with ventilation control panel. (8:57) Officers in Damage Control Central. (9:04) Passengers and troops retreating below deck to sheltered areas. (9:20) Crew members “buttoning up” ventilation ducts, windows on ship, fire screen doors, and manual watertight doors on ship. (9:52) Crew rigging fire hoses in fog spray position on ship. (10:36) Crew starting emergency diesel generator and cutting out unnecessary power. (10:49) Crew securing fresh water pump, sanitation system, laundry system, and evaporator. (11:05) Main fire pumps temporarily shut down while hoses are rigged, and opening hydrant. (11:19) Crew stowing portable gear. (11:28) Bridge control shutting water tight doors. (11:59) Ship washdown system being started. (12:19) Aerial views of ship washdown curtain. (13:22) Crew moving to more protected locations. (14:05) Crew in blast minimizing position. (14:43) Emergency control of physical damage and injured personnel. (15:05) Crewmember with RADIAC checking radiation level. (15:41) Ship washdown being stopped. (15:49) Crewmembers in radiation suits with RADIAC performing initial check on ship’s exterior radiation levels, marking areas for decontamination. (17:44) Decontamination team in protective gear washing deck with salt water detergents. (19:29) Crew monitoring radiation and cleaning food areas of ship. (20:19) Decontaminating crewmembers. (22:42) Review of preparations for nuclear attack. (25:17) Sea Power for Security logo, film numbers, and THE END.

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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 and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com