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Warship Life in the Royal Navy S02E06
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00:06Hello and welcome to His Majesty's Naval Base Devonport here in Plymouth.
00:11For hundreds of years this place has been a home to the Royal Navy and around half the
00:15nation's fleet is based here. This is a remarkable place. Thousands of service men
00:24and women pass through here every week. There are billions of pounds worth of warships and
00:29weapons and enough food to feed a Navy. And then there's the staff and crew who live in
00:35and around the base. We're here at a time of serious international tension when the Royal
00:45Navy has never been busier and they've given us access across the fleet. You feel it reverberating
00:58through your whole body. You feel like you can reach out and touch that. That is wild.
01:04Just off our bow is a Russian submarine.
01:09Throughout these special programs we're lifting the lid.
01:12What are you doing?
01:14On what life is really like in Britain's Navy today.
01:18I'm sure you tied that tight correctly before being dragged through a hedge.
01:21You sound like my mum. Get out of yourself and move. Come on.
01:24These boys are fit. This is a different league than a different league.
01:28I do feel in very safe hands. Thank you very much.
01:35This is warship. Life in the Royal Navy. Coming up...
01:40The ship was going over. Fires everywhere. And water was coming in the port side and we
01:45were listing.
01:46JJ finds out about the last British warship to be lost in battle.
01:51I found myself on the deck tied up in wires and I thought that this was my lot. This was
01:56where I'd end my life.
01:59Dwayne's in deep water facing the challenge of his life.
02:02It's a very high-stress environment. What could go wrong?
02:06Trapped underwater with just seconds to escape.
02:10Brace! Brace! Brace!
02:11Before he runs out of air.
02:16And even as HMS Dragon braves a huge storm...
02:20The whole of the upper deck is now out of bounds. The ship will roll heavily.
02:26Below decks, standards must still be upheld.
02:29That is a lot of hair.
02:33Absolutely.
02:49Hello and welcome to warship life in the Royal Navy. We're down on the jetty alongside HMS
02:55St. Albans as she is moored in her home base of Devonport, Plymouth.
02:59Now, just a few weeks ago, I was invited to hop on board HMS Dragon as she was training
03:05for a major NATO deployment. Well, tonight, that story continues.
03:14HMS Dragon is a Type 45 destroyer. One of the Royal Navy's most advanced warships and home
03:21to over 200 men and women.
03:23Harvest stations and to harvest stations.
03:25For the past few weeks, the crew have been preparing for a critical deployment,
03:30leading a large NATO task force to deter Russian aggression in Northern Europe.
03:36Opposition to AWO, warning red, warning red, imminent threat, clear to fire.
03:47But before spending months away at sea, every single bit of the ship needs to be ready.
03:54On HMS Dragon, men and women have separate quarters, and the girls have invited me to hang out in their
04:01mess.
04:05It's actually really nice in here, isn't it?
04:08Yeah, they're not bad at all. They're comfy.
04:10Is there a better bunk to be in, a bottom or a top?
04:13Yeah, a bottom away from the door, so you can't hear the noise, and you get complete as much privacy
04:17as you can get here.
04:18Yeah. Yeah.
04:20So I am looking at light little home comforts.
04:26This is Dario.
04:28Hi, Dario.
04:30Tell me about him.
04:30Um, so it was a Christmas present from my boyfriend.
04:37HMS Dragon is in the North Sea, about to begin intense work before her deployment.
04:45But reports of a storm building have just reached the ship.
04:50Can I come in, George?
04:52Hello, come in. How's things?
04:53Yeah, good, thank you very much.
04:56Ooh, those look dramatic.
04:57Yeah, it's a slightly poorer picture than we were hoping for,
05:00but we'll make it work.
05:02Lieutenant George Tulloch is HMS Dragon's current weatherman.
05:08Usually, the ship would navigate around the storm,
05:11but with the imminent NATO mission, time is of the essence,
05:15so HMS Dragon has no choice but to stick to their current course and go right through it.
05:21We've got quite a large low situated northwest of the United Kingdom.
05:25Yeah.
05:25Which is going to be causing most of that unpleasant weather.
05:28Okay, so I'm thinking the kind of redder it is, the nastier it is.
05:33Yeah, the yellows and the oranges aren't going to be particularly comfortable.
05:36Okay, is that Navy speak for it's going to be really nasty and we're all going to be sick?
05:40It's going to be quite unpleasant for those that get seasick, that's fair to say.
05:43Okay, and presumably you have to sort of batten everything down, put everything away.
05:48Yeah, the ship should be secure, everything locked down,
05:50such that when we do hit those bad sea states, nothing's going to go flying around.
05:57While the ship braces for the coming storm, life continues below deck.
06:04With over 200 people living in such close quarters, cleanliness isn't optional, it's essential.
06:13Every mess must be in ship shape condition ahead of today's big inspection.
06:19Oh, hang on a minute. Oh, I know that job.
06:22Just what you do at home.
06:23Yeah.
06:23Well, imagine 30 people using your shower.
06:26Oh, my goodness. Okay, that's not fun. And is that literally a day's worth of...
06:30It's about a week, usually.
06:31Okay, a week.
06:34I'm back in the girls' mess for bathroom clean-up.
06:39That is a lot of hair.
06:42Yeah. Oh, my God.
06:44I thought mine at home was bad with my hair, but...
06:47I'm sort of advocating that you all have short back and sides.
06:52The crew are almost ready for the big inspection.
06:59But outside, the weather's getting worse.
07:02Right, then. I'm going to go and find some seasick pills.
07:07Life on board HMS Dragon is getting more difficult.
07:16I just want to point out, you can't put this on video because it makes us look like we're shit
07:20our jobs.
07:25With the ship now battling some heavy seas, I'm heading to the bridge to speak to Captain Ian Giffin.
07:34I was told to expect some slightly lively weather.
07:38Yeah, just a bit, yeah.
07:39We've got 45, 50 knots of wind at the minute across the upper deck, so it's definitely gale force outside.
07:44With waves rising to 10 metres, anyone on the upper deck risks being swept into the freezing waters of the
07:51North Sea.
07:52We were proceeding out to a location to do some gunnery, but based on the conditions,
07:56it's only going to get worse the further offshore we go.
07:58And we've made the call that we're just going to postpone that to another day.
08:02It's just not safe out there for people in the upper deck.
08:04The ship can weather it, but it's actually putting people on the upper deck to do the activities,
08:08and that's the risk, and it's just not worth it at the minute.
08:11No.
08:11So all we're doing is weathering it at the moment, and we'll slowly make our way down the North Sea.
08:15Well, I do feel in very safe hands. Thank you very much.
08:21Do you hear that? This is P. We're in the operations room.
08:24Due to the inclement seas, the hold of the upper deck is now out of bounds.
08:29The ship will roll heavily. That is all.
08:33Right now, we are absolutely at the mercy of this storm,
08:38and all I and the ship's company can do is ride it out and stay safe until it passes.
08:50The ship's company's company's company's company's company's company's company's company.
08:54Rather you than me, those are some pretty tasty waves.
08:58They were a little bit lively, as the Navy liked to say.
09:01Yes, they've ever understated, aren't they?
09:04They've really understated, but I'll tell you what I did learn.
09:06There's a reason why no sailors wear stilettos at sea, whatever anyone says.
09:11All right, noted. I will not pack them in the future.
09:13Leave them at home.
09:15Anyway, here's what's coming up in the rest of the programme.
09:19The ship was going over, fires everywhere, and water was coming in the port side.
09:24I hear the incredible story of a survivor from the last Royal Navy warship to be sunk in battle.
09:31I found myself on the deck, tied up in wires, and I thought that this was my lot.
09:36This was where I'd end my life.
09:38And Dwayne's in for the challenge of a lifetime.
09:41Freeze, freeze, freeze!
09:44As he finds himself trapped underwater, learning how to survive a helicopter crash.
10:10Welcome back, and welcome to this massive hangar at the back of HMS St. Albans, a Royal Navy frigate based
10:16here in Plymouth.
10:17Now when this warship heads off to sea on operations, this entire space can be filled with a military helicopter.
10:24Now they are supremely impressive aircraft, as our man Dwayne Fields discovered.
10:32When warships go to sea on operations,
10:35State of 207, 45, they often take along one of the biggest helicopters in the Royal Navy's arsenal.
10:44Merlin helicopters are used for everything from hunting for enemy submarines,
10:51to delivering Royal Marines into battle.
10:55And I've been invited to fly in one.
10:58But first, I have to complete a special training course here at their home in Yolvulton.
11:03Now, all I've been told is it can be quite scary, and I should pack some Speedos.
11:08Here goes.
11:16Fellas, I'm looking for a man called Dale.
11:18Yeah, that's me.
11:19Dale, awesome. Good to meet you.
11:22Before I can fly in a helicopter, instructor Dale Glenn must prepare me for the worst case scenario.
11:27This is awesome. This isn't your typical local leisure centre, is it?
11:31No, no. This is a helicopter underwater escape training simulator.
11:36Are we allowed to have a look?
11:38Absolutely.
11:39The training I'm about to undertake is designed to teach people how to escape
11:43if Merlin helicopter crashes into the sea.
11:47So actually, I'm going to be sitting in one of these seats, right?
11:49You are, yeah. You're going to be strapped in.
11:51I'm about to be repeatedly submerged whilst trapped inside this capsule.
11:56I'll be strapped in and need to release the fastenings to make an underwater escape.
12:02How do I prepare for this? What advice do you give me?
12:05Composure is the key. It's a very high-stress environment.
12:08You can't breathe underwater. It's not a natural environment for you to be in.
12:13What could go wrong?
12:15Nothing, I hope.
12:19Just like all helicopter air crews, I must pass this course before I can fly.
12:25So if I don't manage it today, I won't be going up.
12:35All of this feels very unnatural to be strapped into a vessel that's going to be submerged in water.
12:40It all feels really counter-intuitive, but here goes.
12:45You three are going to go out of this window here, you four out of that door.
12:50OK, everyone happy? Shall we give it a go?
12:52Yeah.
12:53OK.
13:00With safety divers in position, as soon as the pods fully submerge, I'll begin my escape.
13:08I need to release my seatbelt, locate the nearest window, and get out.
13:13Brace, brace, brace!
13:14Standby.
13:15All while holding my breath.
13:52join in
13:53It felt like a lifetime.
13:56Absolutely, absolutely.
13:58Terrifying.
14:00All in all, the scariest thing I've probably ever done.
14:04But it's not over yet.
14:06My test is about to get even harder.
14:10This time, once the capsule's underwater,
14:13it will then flip upside down,
14:16replicating the worst possible scenario in a real-life crash.
14:20Now, the key is that you need to do this drill
14:23exactly the same as when you did it upright.
14:25If you decide to become gymnasts
14:27and start flipping yourselves upside down
14:29and back the right way round,
14:31that's when you're going to get into trouble.
14:34Ready in the module.
14:36Brace, brace, brace.
14:50As soon as we're underwater,
14:52we're immediately thrown upside down.
14:56I can't see a thing,
14:58but I need to find the exit before I run out of air.
15:12With my lungs desperate for oxygen,
15:14I managed to find my way out just in time.
15:23This is honestly not a pleasant experience.
15:26That thing is what nightmares are made of.
15:29I'm not going to lie.
15:30I'm glad it's over.
15:31Now the question is,
15:33did I do enough to pass?
15:38It's given me a sense
15:39of how terrifying a real accident could be.
15:42This is in a safe, simulated environment.
15:45Yeah.
15:45And I am honestly terrified.
15:47Yeah.
15:48But I think it's incredibly useful as well.
15:50You've done a really, really good job
15:51and we watched you in there
15:53and you did your drills well
15:55and I'm pleased to say
15:57that you passed the dunker.
15:58Yes!
15:59All right, here's just the dunker.
15:59Thank you so much.
16:00Congratulations.
16:01Well done.
16:05I'm now cleared to fly
16:07on a Royal Navy Merlin helicopter.
16:10It's incredible what these men and women
16:12have to go through
16:12just to do their daily job.
16:14I do have to say, though,
16:16I feel a little bit more prepared
16:17for my flight on a Merlin.
16:19That said,
16:20I'm going to go and find a nice warm shower.
16:28Amazing stuff.
16:29I can't wait to see how he gets on
16:31later in the programme.
16:32Now the British Navy have warships at sea
16:34all over the world
16:36but thankfully their missions
16:37rarely see them thrust into battle.
16:40In fact,
16:40the last time the Royal Navy lost a warship
16:43was during the Falklands conflict.
16:48On the 2nd of April, 1982,
16:52Argentinian forces invaded
16:54the Falkland Islands,
16:55a remote British overseas territory
16:58in the South Atlantic Ocean.
17:04Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
17:06ordered British military forces
17:08to retake the islands.
17:10At precisely 10.15 this morning,
17:13the operation and Britain's commitment
17:15to this task force had begun.
17:19Within days,
17:20the Royal Navy assembled
17:21a task force of 127 ships.
17:25Godspeed, they shouted,
17:27and then more softly,
17:29come back safely.
17:39Part of the flotilla steaming 8,000 miles south
17:42through the Atlantic Ocean
17:43was HMS Coventry,
17:45a destroyer with a crew of nearly 300,
17:48none of whom knew
17:49that they would be involved
17:50in one of the most infamous events
17:52of the entire conflict.
17:57Chris, nice to meet you.
17:58Hi.
17:59Good to meet you.
17:59Such a pleasure.
18:00Shall we take a wander around to the exhibition?
18:04One of the sailors on board HMS Coventry
18:07was Chris Howe,
18:09back then,
18:09a 25-year-old petty officer.
18:12Can you remember
18:14how you heard about
18:15the Argentinian invasion
18:16of the Falklands?
18:18Well, yeah,
18:18on the 2nd of April,
18:19Captain Hartdyke
18:20told us that the Falkland Islands
18:22had been invaded
18:22and we had to sail
18:24immediately
18:25down into the,
18:26what was first called
18:27the Maritime Exclusion Zone.
18:29You were a well-drilled ship,
18:31but did this feel different?
18:33It didn't really feel different
18:35until we actually got
18:36into the thick of it.
18:37You realise then
18:38this is for real.
18:42HMS Coventry
18:44sailed across the Atlantic Ocean,
18:46arriving at the north side
18:47of the Falklands.
18:49Chris's job
18:50in the ops room
18:51was to detect
18:52any incoming attacks
18:53from the Argentinians,
18:55but information
18:56on their air force
18:57was scarce.
18:59My position
19:00in the operations room
19:01was the eyes and ears
19:03of the ship.
19:03Is something coming?
19:04What is it?
19:05Analyse it
19:06and then start making
19:07your countermeasures
19:08to evade that threat
19:10or indeed take it out.
19:14HMS Coventry
19:15was ordered
19:16to sail close to the shore
19:17and lure enemy aircraft
19:19away from the advancing
19:20British forces
19:21landing on the east
19:22of the island.
19:23So Coventry
19:24was being used
19:26as a sort of decoy
19:27whilst troops were landing.
19:29We were called a missile trap
19:31and it was a bit
19:31of a suicide mission.
19:33But nobody really believed
19:35that we would get
19:35into a situation
19:36that we would get
19:37attacked by Argentine aircraft.
19:39And on the 25th of May,
19:41that's what was to happen.
19:47HMS Coventry
19:49was attacked
19:49by two Argentine jets
19:51flying low
19:53to hide
19:53from the ship's radar.
19:57Three bombs
19:58struck
19:59the British warship
20:00with devastating consequences.
20:03One blast
20:05destroyed the operations room
20:06where Chris
20:07was working.
20:11This is big, isn't it?
20:15Just outside the Fleet Air Arm Museum
20:18is this military cemetery
20:20where some Falklands heroes
20:22have been buried.
20:26What's your memory
20:27of the ship being struck?
20:30So we stood in the ops room
20:32and then the next thing
20:33was a low, dull thud
20:38of something hitting the ship
20:40and the impact
20:41and then everything
20:42went into slow motion.
20:50I found myself on the deck
20:51tied up in wires
20:52because there was
20:54thick black smoke
20:55everywhere.
20:56My arm was on fire.
20:57I was putting my arm
20:58out with my hand
21:00and I was in a lot
21:01of distress and pain.
21:06The adrenaline must have been
21:07really running hard
21:08and I pulled the wires away
21:10and realised
21:11I was seriously injured.
21:12So the whole
21:13of my back, legs,
21:14my arms and my face
21:16had been badly burnt
21:17and I thought
21:19that this was my lot.
21:20This was where
21:21I'd end my life.
21:27They managed to get me
21:29into one of the higher decks.
21:31The ship was going over,
21:32fires everywhere.
21:36And water was coming
21:37in the port side
21:38and we were listing.
21:46I saw a picture of my wife
21:47and my boys
21:52and that's where I said
21:53my life wouldn't end here.
21:59The attack on HMS Coventry
22:02claimed the lives
22:03of 19 Royal Navy sailors.
22:06To this day
22:08she remains
22:09the last British warship
22:10to be sunk
22:11in conflict.
22:14What do you think
22:15looking at these?
22:1743 years ago now
22:20it's sometimes hard
22:21to believe
22:21that he went through that
22:23and when I look
22:23at my pictures
22:24of my injuries
22:25and my burns
22:26I sometimes think
22:28that must be somebody else.
22:29Yeah.
22:31And you get through
22:32don't you?
22:32Yeah, you do.
22:33With support
22:34from your friends
22:34and family
22:35and other veterans.
22:43Just 20 days
22:44after Coventry's demise
22:46on the 14th of June
22:481982
22:49Argentinian forces
22:51surrendered
22:51marking
22:53a decisive
22:54British victory.
22:55As the British
22:56celebrated their victory
22:58Argentina's soldiers
22:59returned to a country
23:00shamed by its defeat.
23:09To us
23:10and to the Navy
23:11the story
23:12of HMS Coventry
23:13is history
23:15and it's important
23:16that it's remembered
23:18particularly
23:18those that served
23:20aboard her
23:20but to Chris
23:22it's his life
23:25and to hear
23:26that story
23:26first hand
23:27that was a privilege.
23:35What?
23:36a remarkable story
23:38and so courageous
23:39of Chris
23:39to tell it to us.
23:41Yeah, he's been
23:42through a lot
23:42and hats off to him
23:44as you say
23:44for being able
23:45to share that story
23:46and helping us remember
23:47all of those brave men
23:48who didn't come home
23:49that day.
23:50Well, thank you Chris.
23:52Here's what's coming up
23:53on the rest
23:53of the programme.
23:55I take the wheel
23:57of HMS Dragon
23:59And ship does look
24:00like it's coming
24:00straight for us.
24:03And do my best
24:04to avoid
24:04a head-on collision.
24:06I'm now quite nervous.
24:10And Dwayne
24:11must conquer
24:12his vertigo
24:13Now will be a time
24:14to tell you
24:14that I'm a great height.
24:16As he joins a mission
24:17on a Merlin helicopter
24:18that leaves
24:19no room for error.
24:20Let's go for it.
24:43Let's go for it.
24:45Hello and welcome back
24:46to Warship Life
24:47in the Royal Navy
24:48we are inside
24:49HMS St Albans
24:51this is two decks
24:52the main corridor
24:52that runs pretty much
24:53the length
24:54of the entire ship.
24:55Now with around
24:56200 personnel
24:57living and working
24:58in such close proximity
25:00it's important
25:00they keep up the standards
25:02as Kate found out
25:03on board
25:03HMS Dragon
25:04as it geared up
25:05for major operations.
25:14in the North Sea
25:15HMS Dragon
25:16is battling
25:17enormous waves
25:21despite the tricky conditions
25:23outside
25:24below decks
25:25life must continue
25:26as normal.
25:27We are in
25:28sea state
25:29four or five
25:30Yeah something like that
25:31and there's a man
25:33piping
25:33mashed potato
25:35onto a cottage pie
25:38that's
25:38artistry
25:39it's beautiful.
25:42Chief Petty Officer
25:43Lee Rushworth
25:44is one of
25:44HMS Dragon's
25:4512 chefs.
25:47Just because we're at sea
25:48doesn't mean
25:48that the standards
25:49should drop
25:49this is our job
25:50this is our pride
25:51and what goes out
25:53on that counter
25:53is a visual representation
25:55of this compartment
25:57on board the ship.
25:58With everyone around
25:59me working so hard
26:00I can't just stand by
26:02and watch.
26:03I know lunch
26:03is about to go out.
26:06We've got 25 minutes
26:07before watch keepers
26:08put me to work.
26:14This close to service
26:15the only job left
26:16involves the piping
26:17on the cottage pie
26:19I saw earlier.
26:20No.
26:20I haven't got
26:21the gist of this.
26:22You need to squeeze
26:23quite hard.
26:23As it goes down
26:24just wrap it around
26:25your thumb.
26:28That's better.
26:29You make it look
26:30so easy
26:31and it really isn't.
26:33Look at he's biting
26:34it he's literally
26:35biting his tongue
26:36he's going
26:36how can anyone
26:37be so inept.
26:46At meal times
26:47Lee and his team
26:48feed over 200
26:49members of the crew
26:51in less than an hour
26:56which also serves
26:57as the only break
26:58in between
26:59their long shifts.
27:01There's gravy
27:02there's beans
27:03and jackpotatoes.
27:04Sounds lovely.
27:05He doesn't mind
27:06that my mashed potato
27:07piping was a
27:08tightly rubbish.
27:13How's the shepherd's pie?
27:15Oh it's lovely
27:15thank you very much.
27:16Was it the best
27:17piping you've ever seen?
27:18Oh definitely
27:19without a doubt.
27:24Sadly for the crew
27:26meal time is soon over
27:29and thankfully for us all
27:31so too is the storm.
27:36Steer 207
27:37port 5
27:37200
27:39On the bridge
27:40able seaman
27:41Blake Curley
27:42is the helmsman
27:43the person
27:44steering the ship.
27:45A much easier job
27:46now the seas are calm.
27:50How are you?
27:51Very good yourself?
27:51Yeah not too bad
27:52thank you very much.
27:53So you're in charge?
27:55I am the helmsman.
27:56Right.
27:56So how old are you
27:57if you don't mind me asking?
27:58I'm 17.
27:59You must be one of the
28:00youngest people on board
28:01are you?
28:02Yeah the youngest.
28:02You are the youngest?
28:04Yes.
28:04So you are physically
28:06steering this ship?
28:07Yeah.
28:08And how is it to steer?
28:09It's a bit scary.
28:10Yeah.
28:11Because I mean
28:11I can't drive so.
28:13Hang on a second
28:14what do you mean
28:15you can't drive?
28:15I don't know how to drive.
28:17So you haven't got
28:18a driving licence?
28:19No.
28:19So you can't drive
28:20a small family car
28:22but you can drive
28:24a warship?
28:25Yeah I guess so.
28:28Now I'm not 17
28:30but I do have
28:31a driving licence
28:32although I'm not
28:33qualified to drive
28:34a billion pound warship.
28:39But this is an opportunity
28:40I can't resist.
28:42You were right
28:43it's quite daunting
28:43in this seat.
28:47Check quarters.
28:50Clear port.
28:51Port 10.
28:53Port 10
28:53so just put that to there.
28:56All the way.
28:57All the way.
28:57There we go.
28:58Right there.
28:58OK.
28:58So we're going to look
28:59at these up there.
29:00So we see 10 degrees
29:02port wheel on.
29:02Yeah OK.
29:03OK.
29:0410 degrees port wheel on.
29:05Very good.
29:06Starboard five.
29:09Five degrees starboard on.
29:13That ship does look like
29:14it's coming straight for us.
29:18Moments after sitting
29:20in the hot seat
29:21something looms
29:22on the horizon.
29:23So we're going to be
29:24overtaking this ship now
29:25so we're coming back
29:25round to port.
29:26We're going to parallel
29:27our base course
29:27but we'll continue
29:29to pass this ship
29:30at a safe distance.
29:31OK.
29:32And a safe distance
29:32is what?
29:33For larger vessels
29:34we like to keep them
29:35outside of sort of
29:361,200 yards.
29:37OK.
29:37Just the most
29:38seaman thing to do.
29:40Midships.
29:42Midships.
29:46Large commercial ships
29:48can take a long time
29:49to turn
29:50so it's vital
29:51that I get this right.
29:53Stair 207.
29:55Steer 207.
29:57So when it gets
29:59to around 8.5
30:00that's when you want
30:00to go a bit more
30:01midships.
30:03Steering 207.
30:04Very good.
30:10Probably just put
30:11a little bit of a port
30:11wheel on
30:12as it's going to
30:12come round
30:13a starboard.
30:15That's port.
30:20I'm now quite nervous.
30:24Five degrees,
30:25port wheel on.
30:27Actually,
30:28it responds quicker
30:29than you expect.
30:30Slowly but surely
30:32we ease past
30:33the merchant ship.
30:38Completely clear of it.
30:40Thank you very much
30:41for keeping us safe.
30:42Thank the ship
30:43and all of you.
30:44Thank you for a really
30:46fascinating insight.
30:55Below decks,
30:56the calmer seas
30:56also mean
30:57the crew
30:58are in
30:58for a tricky afternoon.
31:00Stand by
31:01for evening round.
31:03Conducted by the
31:03EO focused on
31:04heads, flats
31:05and nestings.
31:06That is all.
31:11One of the most
31:12senior members
31:13of the crew
31:13is about to perform
31:14an inspection
31:15of the junior
31:16living spaces.
31:17See that,
31:18look?
31:19Disgusting.
31:20You probably just
31:20want to be a bit
31:21careful about how
31:22much water you
31:22leave on this deck
31:23though.
31:23That needs
31:24sorting like
31:24sharpish.
31:26Executive warrant
31:27officer Eddie
31:28Waring can spot
31:29an issue
31:30from a nautical
31:31mile away.
31:32Absolute
31:33****.
31:34That needs
31:35all pulling out.
31:36It needs cleaning
31:36and it needs
31:37restowing.
31:40It's Eddie's
31:41job to make sure
31:41that every sailor
31:43maintains high levels
31:44of organisation
31:45and cleanliness
31:46at all times.
31:47You're quite scary,
31:48aren't you?
31:49Me?
31:49Don't tell anyone
31:50that.
31:51You go first
31:52though.
31:58One of the first
31:59compartments up
31:59for inspection
32:00today is the
32:01girls' mess.
32:02Guess what I found?
32:04There's going to be
32:05no hair in that
32:05shower trap.
32:06No.
32:08What's my favourite?
32:09Yeah, look.
32:10I'm going to have
32:10to disinfect this
32:12torch tonight.
32:13So that's what I
32:14keep saying to
32:14everyone.
32:14If I can get that
32:15off of a torch,
32:15you can get that
32:16off of Scotch
32:16right.
32:18So anything that's
32:19got paper towel
32:20older, these paper
32:21towels in it,
32:21anything that looks
32:22like a bin,
32:23make sure there's
32:23bags in it.
32:28I wouldn't want to
32:29fire down here
32:29with all these
32:30products.
32:31I want to be as
32:32far away from this
32:33complex as possible.
32:34You're just jealous
32:35because you have no
32:36need for them.
32:39Next up is the
32:40men's accommodation,
32:41home to 30
32:42junior sailors.
32:44That's minging.
32:46You're putting wet
32:47rags on top of
32:48brand new ones.
32:49They're all wet now
32:50and they're going to
32:51stink.
32:52That cleaning
32:53locker needs
32:54sorted out.
32:54All right?
32:56Please don't make
32:57me come back down
32:57here.
32:58OK?
32:59Don't let me
32:59down.
33:00Get that
33:01cleaning gear
33:01locker sorted.
33:02So, Dan, a
33:03little bit of a
33:04telly-off.
33:05Yeah, I know.
33:06Yeah.
33:07Didn't go as well
33:08as I thought, but
33:09there's always going
33:10to be pick-ups.
33:11There's always going
33:11to be things you've
33:12missed.
33:12Yeah.
33:13Clearly, we didn't
33:13do enough today, but
33:14hopefully next time.
33:16Sure you will.
33:16Yeah, thank you.
33:17Thanks.
33:20Eddie will spend
33:21hours inspecting
33:22every bunk space,
33:23bathroom, cupboard
33:24and hidey hole
33:25to keep the crew
33:26in check.
33:28The intention to
33:29detail is
33:31extraordinary.
33:33Maintaining high
33:34standards helps to
33:35keep the crew
33:35healthy and the
33:36ship in first-class
33:38working condition.
33:40So, generally,
33:42were you happy
33:43with the rounds
33:43tonight?
33:44Yeah, I am happy
33:45and whilst I'm
33:46probably, it might
33:47seem, I'm being a
33:47bit harsh, it's in
33:49their benefit, really.
33:50I never say the
33:51good, never say
33:52good, apart from
33:53good morning or
33:53good night.
33:54It's always
33:55satisfactory,
33:55generally.
33:56There's always
33:57room for
33:58improvement.
34:00People don't
34:01understand the
34:02pressures that
34:02come with being
34:03at sea.
34:04One of my
34:05responsibilities
34:05really is to
34:06look after
34:07everyone from
34:08the captain to
34:08the most junior
34:09person on board
34:10and everything in
34:11between, and
34:12that's the most
34:13important thing to
34:13me.
34:16What an insight
34:17into the amount of
34:18work and effort and
34:20trials and tribulations
34:21it takes to get
34:23HMS Dragon into a
34:26state of readiness
34:27should it ever be
34:29called into combat.
34:36Top work, Kate.
34:38I'll tell you what,
34:38you are racking up
34:39some sea days.
34:40Aren't I?
34:41But I tell you what,
34:42it was amazing to
34:45just to witness that
34:46step-by-step process
34:48that ship and
34:49company have to go
34:50through to get ready
34:51for something, you
34:52know, as major as a
34:54NATO deployment.
34:55It was fascinating.
34:57I loved every minute
34:58of it.
34:58Yeah, quite the
34:58adventure.
34:59Here's what's coming
34:59up next.
35:02A little bit anxious.
35:04Dwayne straps in for
35:06the ride of his life.
35:07OK, let's go.
35:10As a Royal Navy pilot
35:11on test pushes a
35:13Merlin helicopter
35:14to the very edge.
35:16Now a good time to
35:17tell you that I'm
35:17afraid of heights.
35:40Hello and welcome back.
35:42Now we all know that
35:43life in the Navy can be
35:45dangerous, whether it's
35:46fire, flood or the threat
35:48of war, there are
35:49hazards around every
35:50corner.
35:50But one man who laughs
35:52in the face of danger
35:53is Dwayne Fields.
35:55Now you may recall
35:56that earlier in the
35:57program he was
35:58recruited to fly in a
36:00Merlin helicopter.
36:01Lucky thing.
36:02Let's see how he got
36:03on.
36:06Yeovilton Air Station.
36:11Home to the
36:12Commando Helicopter
36:13Force.
36:18The Commando Merlin is
36:19one of the biggest
36:20helicopters in the Royal
36:21Navy's arsenal.
36:32And I am about to go flying
36:35in one.
36:36OK, good morning and welcome
36:38to Flying Brief, annual pilot
36:39assessment.
36:40It's 9.18.
36:41We'll be on GPS time
36:41throughout.
36:42Every year, Commando Merlin
36:44pilots must be assessed to
36:46prove they still have the
36:46skills to fly on the front
36:48line.
36:49And today, Cal Fitzsimmons is
36:51the pilot under scrutiny.
36:53We're going to launch from
36:54Yeovilton.
36:55Cal will be tested on his
36:57skills at lifting a military
36:58vehicle while flying the
36:59helicopter.
37:02First, he'll have to lift a
37:03Land Rover using the heavy
37:05duty cable.
37:07And once he's successfully
37:08moved it to a second
37:09location, he'll then need to
37:11fly low and fast to a final
37:13target destination, where a
37:15group of Commandos must be
37:16safely offloaded.
37:19And that is Brief
37:20Complete.
37:22Cal's been flying Merlins for
37:24over four years.
37:27Cal, tell me about the
37:29exercise we're doing today.
37:30We're going to take a Land
37:31Rover to a remote field site,
37:33drop it off for them, and
37:34then fast-stroke them to their
37:36objective area.
37:37That sounds really
37:38complicated.
37:39Why are we doing it?
37:41It's all about us being
37:42qualified to deliver Royal
37:44Marines to their target
37:46safely.
37:47You've done this before,
37:48right, and you're going to
37:48keep me safe?
37:49Yeah, I'll keep you safe,
37:50don't worry.
37:53During my first ever flight
37:55in a Merlin, I'll be sitting
37:57alongside a group of elite
37:59Commandos.
38:00I'm not going to lie, a
38:02little bit anxious.
38:07Cal will be up front in the
38:09pilot seat.
38:10Can you hear me at all,
38:11sir?
38:11Yeah, I'm going to.
38:14With everyone on board,
38:17time to get airborne.
38:19Okay, let's go.
38:29It's now a good time to tell you
38:30that I'm of great advice.
38:33As we fly to the location of
38:35the Land Rover, the first part
38:36of Cal's annual assessment is
38:38underway.
38:39In the back, my guide to
38:43everything that's going on is
38:45Merlin Pilot, Lieutenant
38:46Commander Andrew White.
38:48A big part of the assessment
38:49for Cal is not just the flying
38:52of the aircraft, there's an awful
38:54lot that goes into this kind
38:56of thing.
38:57Do you feel as excited as I do
38:58right now?
38:59I understand there's a serious
39:00element to this, but I can't
39:01help the excitement I feel about
39:03what we're doing.
39:04The novelty never really wears
39:05off, because it's the kind of
39:07thing, you know, money can't buy.
39:11Cal must now hold the 14-tonne
39:13helicopter perfectly steady,
39:15whilst the ground team attach the
39:17Land Rover.
39:24And today, there's a vicious
39:26crosswind.
39:30Cal has the vehicle hooked up
39:32on the first attempt.
39:45Now, with the Land Rover dangling
39:47beneath us, Cal needs to keep it
39:49steady.
39:50It's vital it doesn't swing, or he
39:52could endanger the aircraft.
39:57The Merlin is now going to lower the
40:00Land Rover to the ground, where it's
40:02going to be disconnected and left.
40:06In a real-life scenario, this
40:08equipment would be vital to get
40:10troops in or out of battle.
40:25As we head towards our final destination,
40:28Cal's flying style changes.
40:30He's no longer being tested on his
40:32ability to fly steady.
40:34This section of the test is about
40:36proving he can fly low and fast.
40:39I've got a free on low.
40:42The trees are just a few pages.
40:48What's the point of flying low and
40:50flying fast?
40:51The central training for all
40:53operations to keep our crew safe.
40:55That guy with a gun on the ground,
40:57if you're up at a nice height, he
40:59gives lots of time to see you.
41:00He can then pick you out.
41:01If you're really low level, by the
41:03time he hears the aircraft coming,
41:04you've already gone.
41:08Two, three minutes, we're going to
41:09the next, an evolution of the
41:10eroping.
41:14Now comes the most difficult part
41:16of the test.
41:28Cal must lower the Merlin into a
41:30tiny clearing and hold it
41:32perfectly steady as the
41:33commandos slide down to the
41:35ground.
41:35The crewman in the door is
41:37checking that it's all clear
41:38below.
41:39Then it effectively works like a
41:40fireman's pole where they're
41:42sliding down the rope.
41:44Cal must hover exactly 12 metres
41:46off the ground, too high, and
41:48the commandos will fall off the
41:49end of the rope.
41:50Too low, and the rope could be
41:52caught up in a downdraft of the
41:54rotors.
41:54We've got trees everywhere
41:56around us, but within seconds
41:58they're off the ground.
41:59That's incredible.
42:03Thankfully, I'm staying in the
42:05safety of the Merlin, and as the
42:07final Marine leaves, Cal begins
42:09to fly us home.
42:11It's a little too, Jebba, heading
42:12kind of height.
42:18I think where I was dead, Cal, is
42:19that it looked like a really
42:20tight, complex manoeuvre.
42:22Yeah, it is some of our
42:23confined areas.
42:24Not only is it quite a tight
42:26place to land, the landing
42:27surface is also sloped, so there's
42:28a few things to consider.
42:34Gear down.
42:35As we arrive back at
42:37Yolvulton,
42:47all that remains are the results
42:50of Cal's assessment.
42:53He's in his briefing now, so any
42:56minute now, he's going to pop
42:57out, is our Cal.
43:01Right?
43:01Cal, did you pass me?
43:03It was a pass.
43:04Oh, well done.
43:05Yeah.
43:05I feel like I was part of that
43:06journey.
43:07Yeah, glad to take you along.
43:08Glad you enjoyed it.
43:09Yeah, it's it.
43:10It went off my shoulders.
43:11Absolutely incredible.
43:12Thank you so much.
43:13It was really enjoyable, and a
43:14great opportunity to see behind
43:16the veil and what it takes to get
43:17these men and women ready for any
43:19combat situation.
43:20Yeah, and we absolutely love
43:22bringing you along for days like
43:23this, so.
43:24Great.
43:24Congratulations again, pal.
43:25Thanks for having us.
43:34That looked so cool.
43:36I have always wanted to go on a
43:38military helicopter.
43:39If there's another opportunity
43:40next time, please, can you put me
43:42top of the list?
43:43Yes, I think that is fair.
43:44Okay.
43:44And I haven't been on a few in
43:45my life, like, it never gets old.
43:47Okay.
43:48I'm going to tell you that.
43:49I'm going to keep you tonight.
43:50Right, that's all we've got time
43:51for tonight, but here's what's
43:52coming up next time.
43:55I'm not going to lie, I'm not
43:56feeling great about this.
43:58JJ finds out how new recruits are
44:00prepared for the harsh realities of
44:02war.
44:03I'm going to introduce them to you,
44:04gasp into the environment.
44:06Gas, gas, gas, gas!
44:08It's the story of the most famous warship
44:11of them all.
44:12I name this ship
44:14R. Royal.
44:17Told by the people who lived and worked on board.
44:21You've got lots and lots of men and women
44:23running around the fly deck with aircraft
44:25taking off.
44:26It looks busy, but it takes a lot of practice.
44:29And I meet a brand new helicopter pilot.
44:32So this will be the first time you've ever landed on a ship?
44:36Yes, this is the first time in my career.
44:38If you can't tell, I'm quite nervous.
44:41See you then.
44:42Goodbye.
44:44All that and more life in the Royal Navy
44:46next Wednesday at 8.
44:48How might an image-obsessed shopaholic
44:50cope at an off-grid hippie commune?
44:53Three youngsters are trading places.
44:55Brand new Sunday at 9.
44:56And new next.
44:58Things are getting desperate for Jill Halfpenny
45:00as she deals with number one fan
45:02Sally Lindsay.
45:03Brand new drama continuing after the break.
45:05Day
45:07Day
45:07Day
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