# U.S. NAVY WWII COLOR FILM ADVANCE BASE SEABEES Construction Batallions 78214

Narrated by Quentin Reynolds, Advance Base is an extremely graphic, unflinching portrait of the war, the film shows the seizure of a Japanese held island by the Marines, and then the activities of the Naval Construction Battalions, or CBs, constructing a massive supply depot and air strip in the South Pacific. The film also shows Japanese Kamikaze attacks on American ships starting about the 23 minute mark. Deemed too disturbing for general release, the film was hidden from view for decades. It remains one of the most powerful, and important documents of the Pacific War. A Seabee is a member of the United States Naval Construction Forces (NCF). The word "Seabee" comes from initials "CB", which in turn comes from the term "Construction Battalion". The Seabees have a history of building bases, bulldozing and paving thousands of miles of roadway and airstrips, and accomplishing myriad other construction projects in a wide variety of military theaters dating back to World War II. At 12:42 , troops are shown using molotov cocktails, rifle fired grenades, and bazookas in combat, and napalm bombs are shown dropped by aircraft. At mark 15:30 the medical team sprays the insect killing (DDT) that prevents pest and the base should be secure free from disease. At mark 18:04 American naval aircraft, Dauntless dive bombers, take off from the new American base to strike the Japanese. At mark 20: 20 the First Tank Battalion is seen preparing for invasion. At mark 21:10 , a memorial for…

- Kind: Film
- Genres: War, Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/78214AdvanceBase)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/78214AdvanceBase?play=1)