https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/c36c80f4-f84d-44c9-90b4-40192bb0c533 “Command of the Seas” is a 1952 U.S. Navy Korean War-era promotional film, and one of a series produced in that year (the others include Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic films). Focusing on naval operations in the Pacific Ocean, the film’s narrator stresses that because of the warm water in the region, a threat of an attack from under the water is a real danger. Although submarines proved themselves more than capable during World War II to handle any enemy on or below the the sea, Seabees (members of the Navy’s Construction Battalion) also constructed airfields for aviators across the Pacific to protect the sky. After WW2, Navy personnel helped modernize native islanders, teaching them new methods of farming and providing trained medical personnel. “Naval medical and dental officers … established higher standards of health and to lower the rate of infant mortality,” the viewer is told starting at mark 02:32 as scenes of physical exams of adults and children are shown. The Navy encouraged self government by the people, and following a directive by the United Nations, built schools. “The Navy was committed to establishing and maintaining democracy in the Pacific,” we are told starting near mark 03:00. “The days of the Navy and Marine assaults on the enemy had ended — we were told.” A foreboding note and one that restates the potential for conflict in the region. Mark 04:00 introduces us to the Korean War, as an aerial view of the USS Antietam (CVE-36) is shown at sea. “The peace in the Pacific had been shattered.” Submarines protected shipping and supply lanes while above destroyers and aircraft carriers remained vigilant, backed up by repair ships as well as fueling and supply ships, as noted at mark 06:23. Operating the lifeline for the combined Navy and Marine forces was the Navy’s Military Sea Transportation Services (MSTS), which transported over one million military personnel,15 million tons of food and ammunition, and 50 million barrels of fuel across the Pacific Ocean during the first year of the Korean War, it is explained starting at mark 07:15. Offshore artillery bombardment also softened inland targets, either in preparation for United Nations’ invading forces or in support of them, the viewer is informed at mark 07:40. The narrator cites a comment by General Matthew Ridgway, who commanded all UN forces in Korea, that such efforts by the Navy kept the enemy off balance by keeping pressure on them. To underscore the statement, the film shows repeated rounds being fired from gun turrets at night for full visual effect. The war effort also relied on spiritual support, as a Navy chaplain is shown conducting a worship service on the front lines at mark 11:20. Chaplains also aided corpsmen as they treated the wounded and had them transported to hospital ships, as shown at mark 12:20. “The Navy takes care of it own,” says the narrator. They also take care of business, as we see Navy and Marine pilots taking off from aircraft carriers starting at mark 12:27 to conduct bombing and strafing missions to support ground troops. Footage from cameras mounted on the aircraft capture all the action. “Wherever the Navy may be, it’s mission is command of the seas,” the announcer says. And with a volley of gunfire, the film draws to a close. Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. We collect, scan and preserve 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have films you'd like to have scanned or donate to Periscope Film, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the link below. 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 and 2k/4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1KRAsXP1YQ Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:01:50 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/c36c80f4-f84d-44c9-90b4-40192bb0c533 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.