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This color educational/promotional film (from the collection of Jeff Vilencia) is about the SCAT or Submarine Classification and Tracking System. This anti-submarine warfare system and the film are circa the 1960s, probably about 1964-65. SCAT was a mechanical noisemaker affixed to large magnets which, when it attached to the hull of a moving submarine, generated noise that allowed the sub to be easily tracked. The SCAT was to be delivered using the already existing Hedgehog system. SCAT was the brainchild of inventor Frank Dobson, who also patented and developed a hovercraft and aircraft as well as children's toys. It's unclear exactly what the fate of the system was, but apparently it was never deployed, most likely because the odds of having the device successfully attach to the hull of a moving submarine at sea were very low. Studies were performed in 1962 and 1964 on both sea-launched and aircraft launched delivery of the SCAT, but the actual test results do not appear on the Internet. The film was made by the Ford Motor Company's Aeronutronic Division, based in Newport Beach, California.
Opening: a submarine under the sea. Navy personnel track the submarine on radar. Tracking device is fired into the air that lands on the sub. Title: SCAT (Submarine Classification and Tracking) (:07-1:50). The SCAT device tracks the submarine and gives its location via its loud acoustic signature after it lands on the submarine. SCAT is simply designed with a magnet and a pivot arm. The SCAT is shown and explained. Sonar operators on the Navy ship locate what they're looking for (1:51-2:56). Engineers discuss the anti-submarine mission of the Navy They show slides about submarines and sonar. Engineers sit and discuss. One man draws on a chalkboard. SCAT idea is presented to the Navy. Navy men sit with engineers (2:57-5:11). Engineers and experimental SCAT units do a test exercise. A submarine underwater. Engineers demonstrate that their idea does work. A proposal is presented to the Chief of Naval Operations. In July 1960, the program is developed. At 6:10, a scientist uses an underwater listening device or hydrophone to monitor the SCAT. At 6:19, the Aeronutronic Division's proposal is shown being reviewed by a Navy officer. An experimental or prototype SCAT is shown underwater (5:12-7:49). A SCAT vibrator tube is designed. Men review film footage of the device underwater. Engineers show the SCAT design. A hammer hits a plastic tube and breaks it. Aluminum seems to work the best over plastic. Engineers review notes (7:50-9:38). New designs are tested. SCATS are tested in a tube with water. The Hedgehog Delivery System is being tested. Four SCATS per Hedgehog seems to work best (9:39-11:15). Men test the Hedgehog with SCATS in it. At a test site's water tank, the system is put through its paces. The SCAT Hedgehog Delivery System is close to being done after tests. Navy divers go into the water to look at patterns. Men write on the devices (11:16-12:45). At 12:58 the life preserver shows the name of the ship, U.S. Navy Minesweeping Boat MSB-30. Navy test the device at sea. Navy men and engineers test the device on the open sea. Ina submarine the device is looked at. Nay helicopters drop SCATS onto the ocean. Engineers and Navy men do a test off Key West, FL. The submarine USS Blenny (SS/AGSS-324), dives underwater (12:46-14:35). The submarine is tracked by a Navy ship. Compass. SCATs are fired. Navy men listen with sonar. The submarine rises, the SCATS were on the sub (14:36-16:00). Engineers talk to Navy men. Engineers at sea. Design plans on a wall are pointed at. Navy men look over pictures and plans. Navy ASW Patrol Plane flies SCATs. A SCAT being put together by hands. A plane takes off from a Navy aircraft carrier USS Yorktown CV-10. SCAT on the side of a submarine (16:01-18:20). End credits (18:21-18:27)
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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com
8 окт 2020
