The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
Watertight at Instow
The Army Testing Centre at Instow has some demonstrations lined up for Clive Gunnell.
From the collection of:
Overview
TV reporter Clive Gunnell joins the Royal Marines based at Arromanches Camp at the no. 11 Amphibious Trials and Training Squadron's testing centre at Instow in North Devon on the confluence of the rivers Taw and Torridge. Gunnell is put through his paces as he tests out new amphibious craft at the centre and on the nearby Instow Sands. He interviews Major Payntor.
Royal Marines Assault Groups train at Instow and test the suitability of newly engineered craft on or in the water. The centre employs army, navy and marine personnel as well as civilian experts. Established in 1939 the camp was originally used as a training facility for troops preparing for the Second World War Normandy landings of June 1944, some which targeted the landing site of Arromanches-les-Bains in France. Amphibious DUKW first designed in in 1942 and lovingly dubbed Ducks were in service until 2012 but now armed powerboats have taken over. D-Day Ducks have been modified to be used as tourist buses and go from road to river in various locations around the world including London.