Rodney Shells Alderney (1944)

The HMS Rodney is seen shelling the German occupied channel island of Alderney in 1944 in this archive footage from World War II.
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(FILM ID:1099.4)
Title reads: "Rodney shells Alderney".
Off French coast, near Channel islands.
L/S of battleship HMS Rodney at sea. Various L/Ss of convoys of ships and barrage balloons crossing Channel. Various shots of below of British destroyer, we see gun crews getting ready (putting on flak jackets and anti-flash helmets etc.). L/S of HMS Rodney off Cherbourg Peninsular, France. Various good shots of gunners on destroyer loading one ton shells into guns. Various shots of shells being fired over peninsula to German occupied island of Alderney. Various C/Us of sailors and officers looking through binoculars and telescopes to see the damage they have done.
Note: cameraman filming gunners at work is Jock Gemmell. Narrator mentions him by name.
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[@tonytye8963]

143 dislikes? Must be saddo lttle Bismark fangirls, Rodney more the KG5 pummelled Bismark into a floating oil drum and left smaller ships to finish her off.

[@hughgrection4205]

I cannot say this is true or not but I recall reading a statement once about both Nelson and Rodney concerning the fact that having all guns up front they couldn't fire backwards. This was pointed out to some upper wonder at the admiralty and he replied "We haven't ruled the waves for 200 years because we learned how to shoot backwards".

[@Miokomata]

when a 77 year old film has better quality then most on youtube.

[@noelmajers6369]

This is nice. This action helped prevent harassment of our American friends attacking Cherbourg.

[@knightowl3577]

My Dad was a Royal Naval gunner, he was my hero and I miss him.

[@paulfastbikes361]

My grandfather also served the whole war on the Rodney. Charles Smith thanks for your service grandad

[@TorontoChannel]

Incredible footage of Rodney firing those massive 16's. You can clear as day hear how loud they are.

[@en8wall69]

My Grandad was on HMS Rodney during WW2

[@rodrollingstone2362]

Great footage! Never seen until today, my 69th birthday. I was named after the Rodney. My Dad survived Dunkirk, one of the last to leave the beach, thanks to a Royal Navy ship, HMS Codrington. He was 10 decks down praying the Germans would not bomb him. He swore if he ever had a son, he would call him after a Navy ship. So that's why I am 'Rodders', after the Rodney (and not 'Codders' after the Codrington!). I did 25 years in the Navy myself but the Rodney was scrapped before I was born.

[@allgood6760]

A 16 Inch shell is a murderous thing... I would not want to be on the receiving end 🤔

[@EagleHawk175]

Rodney is one of the coolest looking BBs to have been built.

[@gambitgirlpsychic810]

My dad was on the rodney I'm so proud, love these videos 1st time I seen them,

[@raynus1160]

Rodney and Nelson were impressive battlewagons for their day.

[@LiamTheLegend]

As an alderney resident I love exploring the old forts, trenches, underground cave systems and German fortifications etc.

[@gaz3097]

My great grandad spent some time on the Rodney in either the late 1920s or early 30s, he served on the Royal Oak for a bit but departed the July before she was torpedod, he then went on and spent most of ww2 serving on HMS Birmingham.

[@ToonandBBfan]

Love this - its an historical bar of gold

[@Rob-on5tz]

Very interesting watching and as a child i grew up on Alderney and as stated below, loved exploring the myriad of Bunkers and fortifications around the island. There's still plenty to see around the island and the museum is a great window into our past.

[@D.AKULA_TK208]

Bismarck: I have no fear

[@mrb6112]

''Smack at Gerry with throbbing engines''

[@richard3004]

17 miles and about a ton per shell, some serious fire power.