Large number of U.S. Destroyers tied up close to one another in a harbor. Sailors engaged in routine duties. Clothing and gear hung along railings. One of the Destroyers is the USS Evans (DD-78). Sailor using semaphore flags on one ship. A battleship tied up at a pier. A bi-wing float plane descends to land near a ship. Heavy black smoke pouring from aft stack of a U.S. warship. U.S. Navy support vessels of various kinds. Footage date unknown; circa 1921.
Experiments on the aerial bombing of water crafts off Virginia Capes in the United States. July 13, 1921: Destroyer G-102 under bombing attack. Explosions in water around the ship. Two 300lb bombs, a direct hit on the ship. Smoke from the explosions. The destroyer on fire. Sinking by the bow.
Experiments on the aerial bombing of water crafts off Virginia Capes in the United States. July 18, 1921: The ex-German cruiser Frankfort (Frankfurt) at sea. The ship under bombing attack. Explosions near the ship. Aerial view of the attack. Explosions on the cruiser. A mushroom cloud of black smoke. Fragments of the vessel. 600lb bomb loosens all her bow plates. The cruiser going down. Turbulence and debris cause bubbles on the water surface as she sinks completely.
Experiments on the aerial bombing of water crafts off Virginia Capes in the United States. July 20 and 21, 1921: Latest type First Line battleship, the heavily armored Ostfriesland at sea. Specifications of the ship. Handley Page 0/400 bombers in flight. The Ostfriesland under bombing attack. Explosions on and around the ship. Three 1,100 bombs hit the ship directly. View of the deck and bow. A 2000lb bomb caves in the starboard quarter. The ship tilted to one side and sinking. A final bomb dropped on the ship. Brigadier General William Mitchell congratulates the pilots and bombers. Secretary of War John W Weeks and U.S. Army General John J Pershing inspect Langley Field with other officers. Brigadier General Mitchell explains the NBS-1 bomber to Secretary Weeks. The group of Air Service pilots pose for a photographer in front of hangers.
Special tests on USS Alabama off the United States coast. September 1921: USS Alabama at sea. 50 lb Navy type smoke bombs used to obscure the attack by heavy bombers. Smoke trails all around the ship. Phosphorus bombs explode around the ship. 100lb high explosive bombs dropped on it. The ship under attack of 300lb demolition bombs. Smoke clouds over damaged parts. Three NBS-1 in flight over Langley Field. Bombers drop four 2000lb bombs in the final attack. Ship tilted to one side. Three Martin Bombers drop two 1,100lb bombs to finish the attack. A mushroom cloud rises from the explosions. The ship lies half submerged in water due to anchoring in shallow water. Wrecked hull, damaged deck. Soldiers inspect the damage. Brigadier General William Mitchell stands with a group of Air Service officers.
Aerial view of target ship sinking after being bombed during tests of bomber capabilities against warships, in 1921, as part of General Billy Mitchell's demonstrations of airpower. Views of U.S. Navy battleships firing heavy guns at sea.