“This 8mm film shot on board H.M.N.Z.S. PUKAKI whilst taking part in the Christmas Island Hydrogen Bomb tests. It includes some visits to Pacific Islands made whilst taking part in “Operation Grapple”, code name for the five hydrogen bomb explosions at Malden and Christmas (Kiribati) Islands. H.M.N.Z. Ships PUKAKI and ROTOITI acted as weather reporting ships and collected data on the explosions after the advent” - (transcript from filmmaker Dudley Harris)
0:18:45 Scenes as listed by Dudley Harris:
1. Releasing a meteorological balloon as part of the weather reporting and monitoring procedures carried out every four hours.
2. Mail delivery to the ship by helicopter (Westland Whirlwind?) Note the “Operation Grapple” insignia painted on the nose of the helicopter.
3. Visit to Penrynne (sic Penryhn) Island. Pilot directing the ship past the coral outcrop - dark patch in the water. The ship moored with it’s stern tied to coconut palms.
4. Land crab.
5. An islander demonstrating climbing a coconut palm.
6. Island fore shore - ship moored close in.
7. Visiting Rakahanga - Cook Islands - Captain going ashore.
8. Schools and villagers stage welcoming parade.
9. Dancing by the village dancing teams.
10. A SHACKLETON aircraft practices dropping warning leaflets - Any fishing or other vessels in the region were to have these leaflets dropped on them to warn them of the danger.
11. Ships company dressed for the bomb drop.
12. Decontamination teams using Geiger counters to find hot spots on the ship. Small radio active sources were hidden about the upper deck for them to find.
13. The aircraft carrier HMS WARRIOR HQ ship for Grapple at anchor at Malden Island.
14. Shot taken of the bomb burst two minutes after the explosion. The ship was twenty miles from ground zero.
15. Visiting Papeete.
16. Scenes of Tahiti including beach where Cook watched the transit of Venus. Shots of Papaeete Wharf area.
17. Second Hydrogen bomb drop with ship at fifty miles.
18. VALIANT bomber - aircraft used to drop bomb.
19. Shots taken from a helicopter flying over airfield and harbour. Ships include PUKAKI, ROTOITI, WARRIOR and RFA (WAVE PRINCE OR WAVE RULER?) tanker.
20. Lieutenant Herbertson being lowered to the deck by winch.
21. Crossing the line ceremony with King Neptune, Queen Nephertiti, barber and bears enjoying the ceremony.
22. Student teachers from Raratonga entertaining the ships’ company.
23. Commander Richard Hale (SKIPPER OF PUKAKI) trying his dancing skills.