A 1940's UK War Film

[brianl]

Does anyone recall a B & W film/documentary about Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) and/or Motor Gunboats (MGBs) that came out in the early to mid 40s? I think that they were operating in the Dover Straits/North Sea areas. Not to be confused with "The Sea Shall Not Have Them" made in 1954.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to everbody.

Brian L

[Steve Crook]

name='brianl'] Does anyone recall a B & W film/documentary about Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) and/or Motor Gunboats (MGBs) that came out in the early to mid 40s? I think that they were operating in the Dover Straits/North Sea areas. Not to be confused with "The Sea Shall Not Have Them" made in 1954.

Thanks and Merry Christmas to everbody.

Brian L

Do you have any more clues? There were quite a few about small boats at sea that could be the one you're thinking of.



Like Action in the North Atlantic (1943) with Humphrey Bogart & Raymond Massey.

I doubt if it is that one, I just mention that as an example.



Steve

[maturin]

For Those In Peril has a lot of small boat action, including an MGB, and there's a bit at the start of The Ship That Died of Shame of course but that's MTB vs. gasworks.

If it's a documentary, could it be The Broad Fourteens (1945)?

"A dramatised account of the first posting, and eventual first action, of a newly-trained motor torpedo boat (MT crew. ('The Broad Fourteens' is the name given to an area of the North Sea off the Dutch coast.)

The film joins the boat and crew at the end of their training (probably «HMS Bee», the Coastal Force working up base at Weymouth). The Training Commander offers last words of advice to the Commanding RNVR Lieutenant. «MTB 181» sails to join a North Sea operational base («HMS Terrier»). Despite the crew's enthusiasm, however, their first several operational sorties bring them no action (but film of the men excited, disgruntled, relaxing etc. develops "characters" for the purposes of the plot). Eventually, the flotilla is briefed for an attack on "the best target you've had for several weeks", a convoy on the Dutch coast. In the ensuing action, «MTB 181» sinks the tail escort (a flak trawler) with torpedoes, but then runs foul of two S-boats; one is disposed of by dropping depth charges in its path, but the MTB suffers damage and casualties, and as the second S-boat closes in is saved by the return of the rest of the flotilla."

Rikky

[Nick Dando]

For Those in Peril is about the RAF Air Sea Rescue launches, as is The Sea Shall Not Have Them. The former is far more documentary in tone as it was made under wartime conditions. David Farrar says in his autobiography No Royal Road that they were under threat of attack at any time by the enemy.



Nick

[brianl]

name='maturin']For Those In Peril has a lot of small boat action, including an MGB, and there's a bit at the start of The Ship That Died of Shame of course but that's MTB vs. gasworks.

If it's a documentary, could it be The Broad Fourteens (1945)?

"A dramatised account of the first posting, and eventual first action, of a newly-trained motor torpedo boat (MT crew. ('The Broad Fourteens' is the name given to an area of the North Sea off the Dutch coast.)

The film joins the boat and crew at the end of their training (probably «HMS Bee», the Coastal Force working up base at Weymouth). The Training Commander offers last words of advice to the Commanding RNVR Lieutenant. «MTB 181» sails to join a North Sea operational base («HMS Terrier»). Despite the crew's enthusiasm, however, their first several operational sorties bring them no action (but film of the men excited, disgruntled, relaxing etc. develops "characters" for the purposes of the plot). Eventually, the flotilla is briefed for an attack on "the best target you've had for several weeks", a convoy on the Dutch coast. In the ensuing action, «MTB 181» sinks the tail escort (a flak trawler) with torpedoes, but then runs foul of two S-boats; one is disposed of by dropping depth charges in its path, but the MTB suffers damage and casualties, and as the second S-boat closes in is saved by the return of the rest of the flotilla."

Rikky

Yes, this is probably the one that I had in mind, is it available on DVD?

Thanks to all for your help

Brian L

[maturin]

There was a VHS issue of For Those in Peril - I have it and I think I put it on DVD, so if you want that PM me.

The Imperial War Museum have The Broad Fourteens and they have (or used to have) a very liberal access policy. It can be accessed on-line through Edina: Film & Sound Online - Broad Fourteens if you have institutional membership.

It may be in one of the Imperial War Museum DVD collections, which I'd love to get if I could persuade a retailer to ship out here! Someone in the Forum will probably know what's on the IWM Royal Navy at War discs.



Cheers,

R