At start of film, several American transport ships are seen manuevering in waters surrounded by some of their landing craft (Higgins Boats) on a foggy day off Slapton Sands, England during World War 2. They are participating in Exercise Fabius I, a rehearsal for the invasion of Normandy. Several Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) are seen approaching the shore. Troops of the U.S. Army 16th Infantry Regiment have already landed and are making their way inward on the beachhead. Higgins boats maneuver about as well. One, from the transport ship, USS Samuel Chase (APS-26) is seen approaching the shore. Views of troops leaving beached LCIs and Higgins Boats at the shore. Troops boarding a Higgins boat. It heads toward the shore.
Film begins showing closeup of the American transport ship, USS Anne Arundel (AP-76) anchored off shore at Slapton Sands, England. A landing ship (LCI-590) passes by her and several Higgins boats maneuver in waters nearby. Stern view of the Anne Arundel from an LCI. Closeup of an LCI pulling up next to the transport ship. Next, troops of the 16th Infantry Regiment are seen descending rope net from the transport ship and boarding the LCI. Closeup from the LCI of the troops reaching the deck of the LCI and walking forward. The number on the LCI is "88." Several views from different angles of the troops descending the rope net from the transport ship. View of the USS Anne Arundel with Higgins boats moving all around her. Closeup of LCI moving away from a transport ship. More views of troops descending from a transport ship to a Landing Craft Infantry.View from an LCI headed for the beach, where many troops have already landed. The LCI continues and beaches. Troops and various exercise markers are seen in the background Troops leave the LCI via her side ramps and join many others already ashore.
Atlantic conference during World War II. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrives after the Atlantic Conference and disembarks from the Royal Navy battleship Prince of Wales at Scapa Flow in Scotland. He takes off his hat and waves to the sailors on board the ship. Sailors on the deck wave back at the Prime Minister.
American troops rehearse amphibious landings at Slapton Sands, England in January, 1944, before the invasion of Normandy, France, in World War 2. American soldiers descend from a troop transport ship and board a Landing Craft Tank (LCT 504) that takes them toward the beach. A group of Higgins Boats is seen maneuvering in the water. Their troop transport ship is seen further offshore. Next, a Higgins Boat full of soldiers is silhouetted against the sky and the sun shining on the water. Closeup of Coast Guardsman at the tiller of the boat. Scene changes to a view from the beach as a Higgins Boat, from Transport ship, USS Samuel Chase (APA-26) hits the beach, drops its front door ramp, and soldiers rush ashore. Complete change of scene shows American troops, carrying full battle gear, coming up a gang plank to a large established port terminal, where they go up another gangplank to board a large transport ship.
View from port side of a U.S. landing ship tank (LST) underway in the English Channel during World War 2. Ahead is another ship and three landing craft vehicle personnel (LCVPs) on the horizon. Scene shifts to stern of a boat in which two U.S. Coast Guard officers are seen, with Slapton Sands in the background. One smokes a cigar. Next, another view from the port side of the LST shows two officers standing on the deck. The ship approaches the shore and beaches at Slapton Sands. Targets and guide flags are seen on the sand along with a large sign designating Beach "B." A huge hill dominates the background. Closeup of the Coast Guard officer smoking his cigar. Next, a landing craft tank (LCT) number 140 and a Higgins Boat from Troop Transport PA-25 are seen hitting the beach. Closeup of U.S. Coast Guard officer observing through binoculars. A truck driving out of a landing craft utility.
Scenes from British feature film "The Somme" made in 1927, about the Battle of the Somme in World War 1. Part of it depicts events involving the South African Brigade in the battle. The extract opens with shells bursting all along No Man's Land among fragments of trees. Explosions and smoke everywhere. On July 18, 1916, Nine German Battalions deploy to drive the South African Brigade from the Delville Wood. Several soldiers of the Brigade seen entrenched in a sand-bagged position as a German shell explodes only yards from them. German soldiers advance through the broken trees and brush, while under fire by British gunners using Vickers machine guns. Some German soldiers falling and others seeking cover in abandoned trench. A line of South African troops firing their rifles from a trench, as several German soldiers reach them and are shot dead just feet away. A British soldier is shot while climbing out of a trench containing several fallen comrades. Other British (or South African) troops scrambling to find a safer place. One crawling across the ground. A British gunner firing a Lewis gun. German troops starting to go over-the-top, from their trench. British soldiers advancing. German gunner firing Maxim gun from fortified position, as shells burst in the distant background. A horizontal line of British troops advancing toward the German position. Some are cut down by the machine gun fire. German gunner firing a captured British Vickers machine gun. British soldiers hunkered down in a deep shell hole behind a ridge. They use their trenching tools to dig in deeper. Several German shells burst in the air. Two British soldiers watch as a tank approaches through the smoke. Large numbers of British troops attack downhill through smoke and haze. German soldiers preparing to defend an occupied structure, as more British troops charge forward. Post-battle view of the area, with fallen soldiers marked by rifles stuck in the ground with helmets on them. (Note: The tanks shown in this film are models Mark V which did not enter service until 1918.)
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