The Doombolt Chase
Encyclopedia
The Doombolt Chase is a naval-themed British science fiction
/action television series aimed at a teenage audience. It was broadcast between March 12 and April 16, 1978, as a six-episode series. It was also broadcast in Canada on TVOntario
in 1978 and in Germany
in 1979 under the title Geheimprojekt Doombolt ("Secret Project Doombolt").
, naval
Commander David Wheeler (Donald Burton) receives a message encrypted in Spens Code, a code unknown to the Navy operators. Soon afterwards, Wheeler orders the ship to go about and deliberately rams a small fishing vessel, sinking it completely. He is immediately court-martialled, but he offers no explanations for his actions – neither to his defending counsel and friend, Commander Jeffrey Vallance (Frederick Jaeger), nor to his only son, Richard (Andrew Ashby).
Richard is of course troubled by the way things are going and decides to investigate the matter, together with his friends Lucy (Shelley Crowhurst) and Pete, the latter a junior seaman who had witnessed the incident first-hand (Richard Willis). Richard happens to know about the Spens Code and its creator: a former Naval Intelligence operative named Hugh Spencer (John Woodnutt), a friend of his father’s, who lives in Braxtet. The trio immediately set out in Wheeler’s sailing yacht, relentlessly dogged by the Navy watchdogs assigned to watch over Richard. In order to cut time, they sail through the Navy’s Forbidden Zone in the Channel, where they encounter a boat with radio-controlled operations and a strange set of aerials mounted on top – just like on the boat Wheeler had sunk.
Finally arriving at Spencer’s house, they find him missing and signs of a struggle. Piecing together the few clues left to them, they stumble upon the word “Doombolt” and a map overlay of the Bristol Channel area which has several points marked. One of these is a manor named Scudmore, where the youths suspect Spencer has been brought to. Arriving there, they find the place heavily guarded and its occupants marching around in strange silver suits and helmets, which turns out to be protective gear against ultrasonics
. They also come to witness a demonstration of a new super weapon, directed by a man called Doctor Franz Bayard (George Coulouris).
The Doombolt system turns out to be a top secret advanced missile guidance
system the Royal Navy has been working on. It consists of a concentrated radio beam which is meant to guide a missile unerringly to its target; by use of a special, inconspicuous sonar emission vessel, defence missiles buried in the sea bed around the British main isle are fired into the air, where the Doombolt beam takes over. However, the Navy’s design was faulty, resulting in the destruction of the transmission beacons and the subsequent self-destruction of the missiles. Bayard, a former Navy scientist, has perfected the system by basing it on a two-beam transmission, which are then collected and amplified at a central control station; but he intends to work for his own profit by selling it to a foreign power. For a demonstration, he intends to target the Fiddig Brey, a new nuclear-powered supertanker. Commander Wheeler’s actions were motivated by the need to prevent Bayard from taking over the Navy’s sonar trigger vessel (the vessel Wheeler sunk), which, however, has already been replaced by the mystery boat in the Forbidden Zone. Only a few naval officers, including Wheeler and his superior, Captain Hatfield (Peter Vaughan), were privy to the project; but there is suspicion of a mole inside the Navy’s Doombolt project. Hugh Spencer worked as an undercover spy against Bayard, but he was discovered and captured.
With this information, Richard, Lucy and Pete try to inform Navy HQ in Bristol
, where they happen to run into Vallance, who offers to take them to the CEO’s cottage in the Brecon Beacons
. However, during the ride Vallance lets slip some clues that suggest that he may be in cahoots with Bayard (as it turns out, he is Bayard’s mole in the Navy Doombolt project). Richard and his friends flee immediately, with Vallance and Bayard’s men, who are about to set up the first transmission beacon in the area, in pursuit. Distraught at learning that his son had just been nearby and is now in danger, Commander Wheeler asks Hatfield for permission to find his son by himself.
In the Beacons, Wheeler stumbles upon Bayard’s operation and briefly frees Spencer before they are both recaptured, and later, after a long chase through the area, Richard, Lucy and Pete are also added to the list. As the captives compare notes while the second beacon is transported to its destination (the Mendips
, also called Devil’s Jaws, in the southern part of the Channel), they learn the transmission angles for the beacons. Also, the youths have left some clues behind about what they know of the Doombolt project, but even with this information the Navy is helpless: since the beacons are small, locating them in these extensive areas proves to be nearly impossible, and Bayard has taken steps to ensure that the Fiddig Brey remains ignorant to the danger.
After the second beacon is set, Bayard intends to have his captives brought to his central control as hostages. But as they are to be taken away, Lucy slips out of her bonds and flees. After a long, desperate run, she manages to contact Naval Headquarters and provide Hatfield with the necessary information to track down the Doombolt control centre: Cragfest Island, in the middle of the Channel. A company of Royal Marines
is dispatched immediately to take down Bayard’s Doombolt.
Meanwhile, on Cragfest, Bayard receives his ‘guests’, gloating about his achievements in working on the Doombolt and about the demonstration he is undertaking. The final sequences are initiated when the Marines attack the island; just then Pete manages to free himself and Commander Wheeler from their bonds. With only seconds left, they attack Bayard and Vallance; the scientist fires at Wheeler with his pistol but manages to hit the Doombolt controls instead, shorting out the system before it is activated. Just before central control self-destructs, Bayard and Vallance manage to escape in a mini submarine.
The series ends with the beginning of a sailing tour on Commander Wheeler’s yacht, where Pete’s reservations about having a woman on board seem justified when Lucy inadvertently causes him to land in the bay.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/action television series aimed at a teenage audience. It was broadcast between March 12 and April 16, 1978, as a six-episode series. It was also broadcast in Canada on TVOntario
TVOntario
TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO , is a publicly funded, educational English-language television station and media organization in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is operated by the Ontario Educational Communications Authority, a Crown corporation owned by the Government of Ontario...
in 1978 and in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1979 under the title Geheimprojekt Doombolt ("Secret Project Doombolt").
Episodes
- Court Of Shame
- Escape To Danger
- Death Beacon
- Alarm At Gareth’s Peak
- Devil’s Jaws
- Assault on Cragfest
Plot
During a night-time patrol in the Bristol ChannelBristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
, naval
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Commander David Wheeler (Donald Burton) receives a message encrypted in Spens Code, a code unknown to the Navy operators. Soon afterwards, Wheeler orders the ship to go about and deliberately rams a small fishing vessel, sinking it completely. He is immediately court-martialled, but he offers no explanations for his actions – neither to his defending counsel and friend, Commander Jeffrey Vallance (Frederick Jaeger), nor to his only son, Richard (Andrew Ashby).
Richard is of course troubled by the way things are going and decides to investigate the matter, together with his friends Lucy (Shelley Crowhurst) and Pete, the latter a junior seaman who had witnessed the incident first-hand (Richard Willis). Richard happens to know about the Spens Code and its creator: a former Naval Intelligence operative named Hugh Spencer (John Woodnutt), a friend of his father’s, who lives in Braxtet. The trio immediately set out in Wheeler’s sailing yacht, relentlessly dogged by the Navy watchdogs assigned to watch over Richard. In order to cut time, they sail through the Navy’s Forbidden Zone in the Channel, where they encounter a boat with radio-controlled operations and a strange set of aerials mounted on top – just like on the boat Wheeler had sunk.
Finally arriving at Spencer’s house, they find him missing and signs of a struggle. Piecing together the few clues left to them, they stumble upon the word “Doombolt” and a map overlay of the Bristol Channel area which has several points marked. One of these is a manor named Scudmore, where the youths suspect Spencer has been brought to. Arriving there, they find the place heavily guarded and its occupants marching around in strange silver suits and helmets, which turns out to be protective gear against ultrasonics
Ultrasonics
Ultrasonics is a term meaning the application of ultrasound. It is often used in industry as a shorthand term for any equipment employing ultrasonic principles....
. They also come to witness a demonstration of a new super weapon, directed by a man called Doctor Franz Bayard (George Coulouris).
The Doombolt system turns out to be a top secret advanced missile guidance
Missile guidance
Missile guidance refers to a variety of methods of guiding a missile or a guided bomb to its intended target. The missile's target accuracy is a critical factor for its effectiveness...
system the Royal Navy has been working on. It consists of a concentrated radio beam which is meant to guide a missile unerringly to its target; by use of a special, inconspicuous sonar emission vessel, defence missiles buried in the sea bed around the British main isle are fired into the air, where the Doombolt beam takes over. However, the Navy’s design was faulty, resulting in the destruction of the transmission beacons and the subsequent self-destruction of the missiles. Bayard, a former Navy scientist, has perfected the system by basing it on a two-beam transmission, which are then collected and amplified at a central control station; but he intends to work for his own profit by selling it to a foreign power. For a demonstration, he intends to target the Fiddig Brey, a new nuclear-powered supertanker. Commander Wheeler’s actions were motivated by the need to prevent Bayard from taking over the Navy’s sonar trigger vessel (the vessel Wheeler sunk), which, however, has already been replaced by the mystery boat in the Forbidden Zone. Only a few naval officers, including Wheeler and his superior, Captain Hatfield (Peter Vaughan), were privy to the project; but there is suspicion of a mole inside the Navy’s Doombolt project. Hugh Spencer worked as an undercover spy against Bayard, but he was discovered and captured.
With this information, Richard, Lucy and Pete try to inform Navy HQ in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, where they happen to run into Vallance, who offers to take them to the CEO’s cottage in the Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons is a mountain range in South Wales. In a narrow sense, the name refers to the range of popular peaks south of Brecon, including South Wales' highest mountain, Pen y Fan, and which together form the central section of the Brecon Beacons National Park...
. However, during the ride Vallance lets slip some clues that suggest that he may be in cahoots with Bayard (as it turns out, he is Bayard’s mole in the Navy Doombolt project). Richard and his friends flee immediately, with Vallance and Bayard’s men, who are about to set up the first transmission beacon in the area, in pursuit. Distraught at learning that his son had just been nearby and is now in danger, Commander Wheeler asks Hatfield for permission to find his son by himself.
In the Beacons, Wheeler stumbles upon Bayard’s operation and briefly frees Spencer before they are both recaptured, and later, after a long chase through the area, Richard, Lucy and Pete are also added to the list. As the captives compare notes while the second beacon is transported to its destination (the Mendips
Mendip Hills
The Mendip Hills is a range of limestone hills to the south of Bristol and Bath in Somerset, England. Running east to west between Weston-super-Mare and Frome, the hills overlook the Somerset Levels to the south and the Avon Valley to the north...
, also called Devil’s Jaws, in the southern part of the Channel), they learn the transmission angles for the beacons. Also, the youths have left some clues behind about what they know of the Doombolt project, but even with this information the Navy is helpless: since the beacons are small, locating them in these extensive areas proves to be nearly impossible, and Bayard has taken steps to ensure that the Fiddig Brey remains ignorant to the danger.
After the second beacon is set, Bayard intends to have his captives brought to his central control as hostages. But as they are to be taken away, Lucy slips out of her bonds and flees. After a long, desperate run, she manages to contact Naval Headquarters and provide Hatfield with the necessary information to track down the Doombolt control centre: Cragfest Island, in the middle of the Channel. A company of Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
is dispatched immediately to take down Bayard’s Doombolt.
Meanwhile, on Cragfest, Bayard receives his ‘guests’, gloating about his achievements in working on the Doombolt and about the demonstration he is undertaking. The final sequences are initiated when the Marines attack the island; just then Pete manages to free himself and Commander Wheeler from their bonds. With only seconds left, they attack Bayard and Vallance; the scientist fires at Wheeler with his pistol but manages to hit the Doombolt controls instead, shorting out the system before it is activated. Just before central control self-destructs, Bayard and Vallance manage to escape in a mini submarine.
The series ends with the beginning of a sailing tour on Commander Wheeler’s yacht, where Pete’s reservations about having a woman on board seem justified when Lucy inadvertently causes him to land in the bay.
Goofs
In episode four, Alarm At Gareth’s Peak, Captain Hatfield and the admiral watch a video showing the failure of the Navy's Doombolt system. The explosion of the test missile, however, is depicted with a clearly (and crudely) animated drawing rather than the use of real-life footage.External links
- http://imdb.com/title/tt0166038/
- http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/27470
- http://www.mjnewton.demon.co.uk/tv/doombolt.htm