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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 nation's fleet
00:16is based here.
00:20This is a remarkable place. Thousands of servicemen and women pass through here every week.
00:26There are billions of pounds worth of warships and weapons and enough food to feed a Navy.
00:33And then there's the staff and crew who live in and around the base.
00:41We're here at a time of serious international tension when the Royal Navy has never been busier.
00:48And they've given us access across the fleet.
00:56Feel it reverberating through your whole body.
01:00You feel like you can reach out and touch that.
01:03That is wild.
01:05Just off our bow is a Russian submarine.
01:09Throughout these special programs we're lifting the lid.
01:12Whoa. What are you doing?
01:14On what life is really like in Britain's Navy today.
01:18I'm sure you tied that tie correctly before being dragged through a hedge.
01:21You sound like my mum.
01:23Get out of here. Fair move. Come on.
01:25These boys are fit.
01:26This is a different league within a different league.
01:29I do feel in very safe hands. Thank you very much.
01:35This is Warship. Life in the Royal Navy.
01:39In this episode...
01:41I'm not feeling great about this.
01:43JJ finds out how new recruits are prepared for the harsh realities of war.
01:48I'm going to introduce some CS gas into the environment.
01:51Gas, gas, gas!
01:53I get the inside story on the most famous warship of them all.
01:58I named this ship Art Royal.
02:02Told by the final man to captain her.
02:05I remember having to drive the ship into Portsmouth Harbour in thick fog.
02:08And we parked alongside.
02:10And I said, ring off main engines and rudders forever.
02:14And it was a very sad day indeed.
02:16And a brand new helicopter pilot faces the biggest test of his flying career.
02:21So this will be the first time you've ever landed on a ship?
02:25Yes, this is the first time in my career.
02:27If you can't tell, I'm quite nervous.
02:43Hello and welcome to the flight deck of HMS St Albans, our home throughout the series.
02:49Now it all feels very calm and peaceful here in the safety of the port.
02:54But when these warships are out at sea, it's a completely different story.
02:58The crew have to be prepared to go into battle and put their lives on the line.
03:03So all sailors must be trained for the dangers of war.
03:13HMS Rally in Cornwall is a place where young sailors have come to start their naval careers for the last
03:2080 years.
03:22Each year, over two and a half thousand new recruits arrive here to begin their basic training.
03:30Making HMS Rally home to wannabe sailors as young as 16 years old, many of whom are leaving home for
03:37the first time.
03:38Now, not all of those who come here will make it through.
03:41But for those that do, a life in the Royal Navy awaits.
03:49Each recruit must be willing to lay down their lives for their country.
03:55So being prepared for conflict and war is essential.
04:01Including an attack by a chemical weapon.
04:08Now the idea of being attacked by chemical weapons may sound extreme.
04:12And that's because it is.
04:13But for these rookie sailors, it is a very real part of the grown up world that they have stepped
04:19into.
04:20The use of chemical weapons is illegal.
04:23But in war, not everyone plays by the rules.
04:27So every new recruit must learn what to do if the worst happens.
04:33Any eye coming through then?
04:34No, nothing.
04:35Leading hand Daniel Beasley is putting the latest batch of recruits through their paces.
04:42Which today involves exposing them, and me, to a real chemical weapon.
04:47All right mate, JJ.
04:48Morning, Leading Hand Beasley.
04:50Nice to meet you.
04:51What's going on here then?
04:52So they're going to be going in the CTF, so the confirmation testing facility.
04:56And feeling the effects of CS gas, a pepper-based irritant.
05:00So it's going to irritate the eyes and throat.
05:02Well, their eyes are going to water, they might snot slightly.
05:05Some people vomit.
05:07Hopefully not today.
05:08To learn more about exposure to chemical weapons,
05:12the recruits are about to deliberately expose themselves to CS gas,
05:16also known as tear gas.
05:18And I'll be joining them.
05:21I'm not going to lie, I'm not feeling great about this.
05:24CS gas isn't deadly, but its effects are deeply unpleasant.
05:29And if you could just place your chin into that chin cup.
05:33The idea behind all of this is to give recruits confidence in their gas masks.
05:39So we're just going to pull it down the back of your head slightly, so it's nice.
05:42There we go.
05:43Which filter out toxic fumes during a chemical weapon attack.
05:47OK, ready to go.
05:49In a real-world scenario, any error could be fatal.
05:53Can you see my smile?
05:56OK.
05:58In we go, please.
06:05So what I'm going to do now, I'm going to introduce some CS gas into the environment.
06:19If our masks are working properly, nobody should be affected.
06:24Very shortly.
06:26We're going to double lower time on the spot for 30 seconds.
06:30Proving to you that they see them on your face.
06:33On your own time, double lower time.
06:36Nice and easy.
06:41OK, as you are.
06:43Are we OK?
06:44Comfort on your face.
06:45Good.
06:48So far, my gas mask is working.
06:50And nobody is showing any signs of exposure to the fumes.
06:54So what we're doing now, it's the time for the deliberate exposure.
06:58Giving you total confidence that your mask has been working.
07:01Now is the moment I've been dreading.
07:04Taking our masks off and deliberately exposing us to the toxic gas.
07:10Carefully kill your hood, though.
07:12You're going to come in front of me.
07:14I'm going to tell you to take a deep breath.
07:17I'm going to tell you to remove your mask.
07:18Fresh one, you come to me.
07:20Watching the recruits step forward, I'm starting to get nervous, knowing I'll be next.
07:25When you're ready, take a deep breath and remove your mask.
07:31Open your eyes.
07:33Speak to me.
07:36Teased out.
07:37Teased out.
07:39The fumes immediately cause irritation to the eyes and throat.
07:45The recruits are soon feeling the effects.
07:50Can you take a breath?
07:52Campbell Whelan.
07:53Mind warfare.
07:55Well done.
07:59Aye, aye.
08:04Now, it's my turn.
08:06Why on earth did I volunteer for this?
08:09Remove your mask.
08:14P903829xray.
08:14Lance Corporal Chalmers.
08:16Well done.
08:17Well done.
08:24Oh, it's not nice.
08:26It's a bit of shit as I remember it.
08:33It's pretty horrible, I'm not going to lie.
08:35It's not cool.
08:36It's not a fun thing to do.
08:38Just going to have to shake this one off.
08:40Right, JJ.
08:41How did you find it?
08:42It wasn't fun.
08:44That's the last time I'll be doing that.
08:47That's the thing about the armed forces.
08:49You have to put yourselves into uncomfortable situations
08:52and perhaps even put your life on the line.
08:55And this is just one test that they have to undergo.
08:59They want to have a life in the Royal Navy.
09:05Okay, no need to mention the lengths I will go to for this programme.
09:09You're amazing.
09:10You're amazing.
09:11You can't say no, you know.
09:13Just because the recruits are doing it doesn't mean that you have to do everything.
09:17Try saying no in front of them.
09:19Anyway, still to come.
09:23JJ meets the last man to captain one of the Royal Navy's most famous warships, HMS Ark Royal.
09:30We arrived at Portsmouth and we parked alongside and I said, ring off main engines and rudders forever.
09:37And it was a very sad day indeed.
09:39And Kate is with a rookie helicopter pilot as he attempts to land on a moving warship for the very
09:46first time.
09:47So that's Chris just taking off now.
09:50I feel utterly terrified on his bath.
10:14Welcome back.
10:16I'm in the hangar of HMS St. Albans.
10:19Now it takes Royal Navy helicopter pilots many years to train to land a helicopter on a frigate like this.
10:27Recently I was at sea to see what a nail biting manoeuvre it is to land a helicopter on one
10:33of these.
10:39Range two nautical miles, all boats with my two.
10:42HMS Iron Duke is a Type 23 frigate.
10:46Great Trojan, continue to watch.
10:49One of the Royal Navy's hardest working warships.
10:53Me too, floating.
10:55The crew are on patrol in the English Channel.
10:58Our immediate focus remains providing aviation training for 825 Squadron.
11:03And it's a big day for one of them.
11:05Lieutenant Chris Ramsey is a Wildcat pilot in training.
11:09How are you?
11:10Very well, how are you doing?
11:11He's spent over four years learning how to fly Iron Duke's Wildcat helicopter.
11:17Today is the biggest test of Chris's career.
11:20He must take off and land on a moving warship at sea for the very first time.
11:26So, this will be the first time you've ever landed on a ship?
11:30Yes, this is the first time in my career. If you can't tell, I'm quite nervous.
11:33The thing that is different about landing on a ship as opposed to land is what?
11:41Well, land typically doesn't move.
11:44So, the ship at sea, you can go anything from a flat calm up to high sea states and storms.
11:49You need to be able to land on all of those.
11:51I think some of my first few landings might be a little ropey, but once I get the practice in,
11:55I think we'll be there.
11:56Well, I'm really excited for you.
12:00The Royal Navy's Wildcat helicopter is used for scouting and tracking enemy ships.
12:06Fireing.
12:08Air packed.
12:09And it can attack with its missiles and guns.
12:15But flying it is very much down to the skills of the pilot.
12:20Captain Sir, welcome to the flying brief, starting with the Met.
12:24Relative benign conditions for us at the moment. We've got that high over Scandinavia...
12:27Before Chris's big test, senior personnel on board have gathered to sign off the flight plans.
12:32We'll be operating in the yellow areas there.
12:35There's never any room for complacency when it comes to aviation, so look after each other.
12:41Today's flying has to be approved by Iron Duke's Captain David Armstrong.
12:46The helicopter is actually, you know, could probably be described as our primary weapon system.
12:51Okay.
12:51So the Wildcat can be fitted with weapon wings, with surface-to-surface, surface-to-air capability.
12:56And, of course, it can be used for search and rescue, and it's one of our best surveillance assets as
13:01well.
13:01So it is a fundamental part of the ship's fit.
13:06Chris's big moment has finally arrived.
13:24So that's Chris just taking off now.
13:27He'll do a circle of the ship, and then attempt his very first landing.
13:35I feel utterly terrified on his behalf.
13:39Chris needs to land on the moving 15-metre-wide flight deck.
13:45But to make the grade, he must also line up perfectly with a grid in its centre, a two-metre
13:51-wide target.
13:53You see in the middle of what we call the grid, which is the...
13:56Yeah. You see a red dot.
13:58Yes.
13:58That's the bullseye.
13:59Right. That is the perfect landing.
14:01Okay.
14:02Overseeing it all is Lieutenant Commander Gary McCall, a senior Wildcat pilot.
14:08Anything inside the grid is generally acceptable, so precision is absolutely key.
14:14Everything, yeah.
14:14So this is a really, really big thing in his career.
14:17This is...
14:18He's probably spent four years in flying training at this point.
14:21Yeah.
14:21And this is the first time he'll probably feel like a naval aviator today,
14:24because he's landing on the back of a warship in a very finished time.
14:28At the moment, he's...
14:29He's just...
14:30He is solely focused on this.
14:32The king could be in the hangar and I don't think it would make any difference to him.
14:36Chris's time has arrived.
14:40Close to you, yeah.
14:44Close to you, yeah.
14:44Over four years of training has come down to this moment.
15:00Don't build me laughing.
15:04Unfortunately, just missed the grid.
15:07But it's his first one.
15:08Yeah.
15:09It was safely done.
15:10Yeah.
15:10It was nice and controlled.
15:11Yeah.
15:12Yeah.
15:13He'll remember it.
15:13And he'll be reminded of it as well.
15:15I'm sure he will.
15:16In the mess later by his horseman.
15:18I look at all his horsemen.
15:19I look at all his horsemen.
15:23Determined to improve, Chris immediately gives the landing another go.
15:34Goodbye.
15:37What in the...
15:43And this time...
15:46He nails it.
15:51Absolutely spot on landing.
15:56So he got a round of applause from you that time.
15:58He did.
15:59He improved on his first deck landing.
16:01Yeah.
16:01And the second one was much better.
16:02And he hit the grid, which is a good second attempt.
16:05Very good second attempt.
16:08I almost feel like his proud mum.
16:14Wow.
16:14Wow.
16:15How's it going?
16:16I am so impressed.
16:18How was it?
16:19Oh, it's annoying.
16:20I bet.
16:21Yeah, it was quite scary.
16:22I know.
16:23It was really good.
16:24It feels amazing to finally be able to do something that I've been pregnant for years.
16:28Yeah.
16:28To be able to do.
16:29Yeah.
16:29Yeah.
16:30Yeah.
16:30Yeah.
16:30I think a few of them were a bit ropey.
16:32Well, the first one...
16:33The first one, yeah.
16:34It got everyone in here giggling a bit.
16:36Yeah.
16:37Well, I would hope so.
16:37I thought it was very unfair.
16:39No, no.
16:40But that one...
16:41There we go.
16:42Right in the middle.
16:43It'll get better.
16:44Ha-ha.
16:45It'll get better.
16:45Nice.
16:46Um, go and relax.
16:48Well done, I'm good.
16:51What a privilege to witness.
16:53I'm sure Chris has got a bright future ahead of him as a Royal Navy pilot.
17:05Well, that was amazing.
17:07Now, over the years, the Royal Navy has had some famous warships, like HMS Victory, the flagship of Lord Admiral
17:14Nelson, or the Mary Rose, commissioned by King Henry VIII.
17:18But there's perhaps one warship with a name that upstages them all.
17:24I name this ship Ark Royal.
17:32She's possibly the most loved warship of all time.
17:38Across history, five vessels have borne the name Ark Royal.
17:43From the Elizabethan Galleon in 1587 that took on the Spanish Armada.
17:50To the most recent, which played a key role in the Iraq War.
17:58So famous is the former flagship of the Royal Navy that it's been immortalized at the Fleet Air Arm Museum,
18:06where a replica of a huge section of the ship has been built.
18:14And I must say, she's pretty impressive.
18:17Housing a crew of over a thousand, she had everything from a cinema and gym for leisure, a fully functioning
18:24sick bay where they could conduct emergency surgeries.
18:26So this is as close as I will get to the feeling of being on board.
18:30But luckily, I know a man who is one of the very last to call this place home.
18:37Vice Admiral Sir Gerry Kidd served on board the latest Ark Royal three times throughout his career, rising to captain
18:44the warship in her final years.
18:47Hello, JJ. Nice to see you.
18:49What are your first memories of Ark Royal then?
18:52So I was 18. I was one of the first officers on board, but I happened to be the youngest
18:57officer on board as a midshipman.
18:59And then many years later in 2010, I ended up being her last captain. So I saw her full life.
19:05Aircraft carriers like HMS Ark Royal are designed to be mobile runways, bringing military jets and helicopters up close to
19:14their targets.
19:19The ship was involved in the conflict in Bosnia, the invasion of Iraq. You know, it was so, so much
19:27operational service.
19:29You know, aircraft carriers are the first things you send because they can go a long way around the world
19:34and we can project an awful lot of air power from the deck of an aircraft carrier.
19:43Pilot David Morgan flew off the deck of HMS Ark Royal many times throughout his career.
19:50As you can see, it's a fairly tight little cockpit.
19:53It is, considering the size of the thing.
19:56Although no longer in service, Harrier jets were HMS Ark Royal's main weapon.
20:02Right. What am I even looking at here? Because there's a lot of bells and whistles.
20:07The important stuff. Control stick.
20:10Roger. They've got some foot pedals down here.
20:12Yeah, rudder pedals. Down here you've got the throttle.
20:14Next to that is the magic lever, which moves the nozzles.
20:18Ah, so this is what makes this airframe so iconic, so versatile.
20:27The British designed Harrier jump jet was unique because it could stop and hover in the air and take off
20:33and land vertically.
20:34It was the first of its kind and a testament to British engineering.
20:39You just grab that shiny silver lever, pull it all the way back.
20:45And that puts the nozzles forwards, slows you down.
20:49As you get to the hover, take off a bit of power.
20:53Just to cushion yourself and she goes.
21:00You make it sound very simple.
21:06This is an impressive bit of kit. It's an icon of the sky.
21:09Unbelievable. Thank you so much.
21:13In 2010, it was decided that the services of HMS Ark Royal and Britain's Harrier jump jets were no longer
21:20required.
21:21Britain's most loved warship was decommissioned.
21:26Appearing through the cold fog into Portsmouth Harbour for the last time, the Ark Royal.
21:31Home to a thousand sailors, Royal Navy flagship and, for now, Britain's last aircraft carrier.
21:40And I'll never forget, we arrived at Portsmouth for our last ever entry and I remember having to drive the
21:46ship into Portsmouth Harbour in thick fog.
21:48And we parked alongside and I said, ring off main engines and rudders forever.
21:53And it was a very sad day indeed.
21:56I mean, if you crashed it, it would have been all right, though.
21:59Yes, exactly. Third party foreign theft. One careful owner. They're all Navy.
22:05Since the retirement of HMS Ark Royal, two new, much bigger aircraft carriers have entered service.
22:11The most powerful warships Britain has ever built.
22:14But they stand on the shoulders of a giant.
22:18So, out with the old generation, in with the new.
22:21That's the cycle of the fleet over the last thousand years.
22:25You know, you move with the times.
22:30There's little doubt that the Royal Navy's latest generation of aircraft carriers and fighter jets are some of the finest
22:37in the world.
22:39But, to this day, the name HMS Ark Royal is still revered.
22:45And the last ship to hold that name did something truly rare.
22:50In action, she proved herself time and time again.
22:53But most importantly, in the public eye, she was loved.
23:09See, that's the thing I'm discovering about the Navy.
23:12There's a lot more to it than meets the eye.
23:15Here's what else is coming up on the programme.
23:19They are preparing to mount this massive gun deck up on the top of HMS Acton.
23:27I'm given special access to help build the warships of the future.
23:32Crane operator, go for a lift.
23:36And how about this for a job title?
23:38The first sea lord, the head of the Navy, exclusively reveals the threats facing each and every one of us.
23:45This is an unsettling time and we need to be ready for whatever may come.
23:50We need to get started.
23:50Okay.
24:07Welcome back.
24:08Now, there's a little bit of a theme in this episode, new recruits and the future of the Navy.
24:15So we thought it was time to introduce you to some of the new warships that will be heading to
24:20the front line in the coming years.
24:27The Royal Navy currently has around 60 vessels in its fleet.
24:33Around half that number are considered warships.
24:38Capable of fighting in battle.
24:40Fire, track, double foxtrot, two, three, one. Destroy, destroy, destroy.
24:51But these ships need constant upgrading and replacement.
24:54And with wars in Europe and the Middle East, the Royal Navy can't know exactly where it will be needed
24:59next.
25:00Ultimately, they have to be ready for any eventuality.
25:03To make sure they're prepared for any threat, the Navy are currently building a host of new submarines and warships.
25:12Around 28 new vessels are planned, with six already underway.
25:19I'm here at Versailles Dockyard near Edinburgh, where they're building the ships of tomorrow.
25:24But it's also a stone's throw from where I live, just over that hill.
25:27And I've often looked down on it, wondering, what do they do inside this base?
25:31And I'm about to find out, because I've been given special access to see how one of their newest ships
25:35is coming along.
25:39HMS Venturer is the first of five new warships being built here.
25:43Costing nearly £250 million each, they don't come cheap, but they're designed with modern warfare in mind.
25:51And although it's still being built, HMS Venturer already has a Royal Navy crew.
25:57Working alongside engineers, racing to get her into the water and onto the front line.
26:03Hello, sir.
26:05Good morning, Gigi. Welcome to Versailles.
26:07Commander Thomas Hetherington is the naval officer in charge.
26:11So why does it need a crew and a captain at this stage?
26:15So we've got a crew and a captain.
26:17We provide a bit of the operator experience to be able to figure out how we're going to sail on
26:22the high seas.
26:23Can I get a closer look at it?
26:24I'd be delighted to take you on board, Gigi.
26:27HMS Venturer is 139 metres long and 20 metres wide, with seven decks from bottom to top.
26:36She's made up of 1,500 sheets of steel and enough cable to stretch the length of Loch Ness ten
26:44times.
26:47Welcome to the bridge, Gigi.
26:48This is O3 deck.
26:49It's a lovely light space.
26:51Yeah, almost 180 degree vision.
26:53More capability there for people to be able to navigate the ship.
26:56This is the epicentre now.
26:58Older ships had areas such as ops rooms, or they had the control rooms for the machinery, as well as
27:03the bridge.
27:04But with the technology that we have now, it can all be co-located into this one compartment, and the
27:09ship's operated from up here.
27:10Wow.
27:11As we've seen throughout this series, current Royal Navy warships require three huge rooms to control them.
27:18The bridge, the ship's control centre, and the ops room.
27:23But on HMS Venturer, everything will be operated from this one space.
27:28There's less people required to operate the ship.
27:31We're using automation to help reduce that head count.
27:34So crew-wise, what's this going to have on board?
27:37We're over 100 to look after the ship on a day-by-day basis.
27:41It means that we've got a bigger ship.
27:43We've got more space for individuals.
27:46It's going to be more comfortable.
27:47They have that freedom.
27:48They have gymnasium on board.
27:49People go in a rowing machine, they can go in a stepper.
27:52I think the culmination of the years that I've gone into designing it, building it, testing it, that's going to
27:58be a real boon for the Royal Navy.
28:05All British warships begin their life inside a massive room called a build hall.
28:11Unlike a car factory where thousands of vehicles roll off the production line each day, in here there's room for
28:19just two warships.
28:20And they'll take over a year to be ready.
28:26Next on the production line is HMS Active.
28:31It is a big day for the team here because they are preparing to mount this massive gun deck up
28:37on the top of HMS Active.
28:39It is a complicated procedure, not least, because this thing weighs 36 tons.
28:45And to make matters worse, apparently I'm going to help.
28:53Cameron Hunter is in charge of building HMS Active and will oversee the dangerous and delicate task of getting the
29:01gun deck perfectly into position.
29:03This is a big moment, then?
29:04It is a big moment, yes.
29:06This unit is one of 147 units that make up the ship.
29:11Right, so this thing is rigged up on this huge crane at the moment.
29:15Yes.
29:15It comes up over the hall on top of the ship where it will be located.
29:19But then you put me into the equation.
29:22What are you thinking?
29:23To go for lift when you're ready.
29:25Right.
29:26The words are go for lift.
29:27Yes.
29:28Right, here we go.
29:30Crane operator, go for lift.
29:35As they're lifting here, you'll see the unit coming up nice and slow there.
29:39That's to make sure that it's lifting steady and straight.
29:43On my orders, the 125 ton gantry crane lifts the gun deck 25 meters into the air.
29:52This is incredible.
29:53I mean, the size of it is one thing.
29:56But look inside, you can see all the, like, there's a doorway and the pipes.
29:59It's not just a big box, it's a ship.
30:04And then look at the magnitude of what is going on.
30:08The crane operator slowly brings the 36 tons of steel over the top of HMS Active with pinpoint precision.
30:17So that's it, entering our final alignment phase now.
30:21And the unit will be slowly pressed down into its final place.
30:25There we go.
30:29That's it.
30:30The Eagle has landed.
30:32It's down.
30:33That was so impressive.
30:35HMS Active is still many months away from looking like a warship.
30:43So I'm headed back outside to get to the bottom of HMS Venturer's next steps.
30:52This is an impressive angle.
30:55I love how it's set up on blocks of wood.
30:58Yeah, that's the shipbuilding cushion.
31:00We're still using that bit of soft wood in order to cushion the weight of the ship as it sits
31:05on the dock blocks.
31:06And for the full length of it.
31:08Moving, eh.
31:09So with all this technology, that's a classic.
31:12If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
31:13Absolutely.
31:18How do you get it out of here?
31:20So we'll put the water into the dock.
31:23We'll lift the ship off the dock blocks, which you can see.
31:25Give it sufficient clears.
31:27And then we'll take it out with tugs on either side and on the stern.
31:30And then we'll sail out to sea.
31:31It's got a very, very shiny coat of paint on it at the moment.
31:35It certainly is.
31:36Are you nervous about it getting scratched?
31:37No, I'm confident these guys know what they're doing.
31:40They'll look after her.
31:41Well, and then the Royal Navy has to look after her.
31:43And then we'll try our best to look after her in the same fashion.
31:46Absolutely.
31:48It's remarkable to see engineering on this scale.
31:53HMS Venturer will join frontline operations in the next few years.
31:58So it won't be long before a fleet of new warships bristling with the most cutting edge technology
32:04will be out there protecting our shores.
32:11What an insight that was into the future of the Royal Navy's fleet.
32:15And speaking of that future, I had a few questions about it.
32:18So who better to ask than the big boss himself, the first sea lord?
32:23The Royal Navy is one of the most powerful in the world.
32:28With over 60 vessels.
32:30One six zero, missile, one six zero!
32:34Nine nuclear submarines.
32:39And over 30,000 people.
32:43But the world has changed.
32:51And so too has the threat the Royal Navy faces.
32:55Russia has launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine from multiple directions.
33:00Relations with Russia have deteriorated.
33:03The threat we now face is more serious, more immediate than at any time since the Cold War.
33:12Since the invasion of Ukraine, Putin's forces have grown increasingly troublesome.
33:18This is the Yantar being stalked by the Royal Navy, bristling with surveillance and intelligence gathering technology.
33:25The new challenge requires new solutions.
33:29Our message to Russia and to Putin is this.
33:32We see you.
33:33We know what you're doing.
33:35And if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready.
33:40The man charged with overseeing it all sits at the head of the Royal Navy.
33:46The world is becoming an unstable place.
33:49We see the rise of authoritarian regimes.
33:53General Sir Gwyn Jenkins has one of the grandest job titles in the military.
33:58He's known as the first sea lord.
34:00And he's agreed to an exclusive interview with me.
34:07We're very aware of the threats that were posed right now.
34:10How difficult is it to try and predict those ones of the future?
34:14And ultimately, you know, what could they be and what might we do about it?
34:18Let's be clear.
34:19Russia are our primary threat right now.
34:21I haven't seen a world this unstable or uncertain since I joined.
34:25And I joined right at the end of the Cold War.
34:28This is an unsettling time for all of us.
34:31And we need to be ready for whatever may come,
34:34even if it is to try and avert what could happen in the world today.
34:41Russian kilogloss up, 248!
34:44You are at a level now where you'll routinely be talking to the Prime Minister,
34:49the other heads of the military.
34:51What is the point you're getting across about the importance of the Navy right now?
34:56At one level, it's really basic.
34:58We're an island nation.
35:00Ninety-nine percent of our trade passes over the oceans to get to the UK.
35:05Our data passes through the cables under the sea.
35:09Most of our infrastructure is subsurface below the ocean waves.
35:15The sea literally is our lifeline.
35:17And if we are to be credible as a nation,
35:20and if we're to protect our nation going forward,
35:23then we need a credible Navy.
35:26Attention to engage.
35:28The Royal Navy has never been leaner.
35:30Request command approval.
35:32With just 14 large warships and a handful of hunter-killer submarines,
35:37the task of defending Britain's shores is a growing issue.
35:41Just look at Russia.
35:43Despite the millions of lives and the cost of their egregious illegal invasion of Ukraine,
35:49they continue to invest billions in their maritime capabilities,
35:53particularly in their northern fleet.
35:58The first sea lord has declared to the world that the time for action is now.
36:03The advantage that we have enjoyed in the Atlantic since the end of the Second World War is at risk.
36:09We are holding on, but not by much.
36:12Warships and submarines take decades to design and build.
36:17So, with Russia knocking on the door, are the Navy ready?
36:25Our orders are to get ready for warfighting.
36:27Not because we think we are going to war,
36:30but because if we're going to deter the war,
36:32the nation doesn't want to have to fight.
36:35We've got to make sure we're ready to fight it,
36:38because that's what deterrence really means.
36:40So, if I do nothing else in my four years as first sea lord,
36:44it's to get the Navy into the mindset where we are seriously preparing for warfare.
36:51It's clear the threat from Russia isn't going away soon.
36:55Be prepared to intercept the Russian submarine.
36:58So, being ready for war is top of the first sea lord's agenda.
37:05He wants quick solutions driven by technology.
37:13With four years to implement his change,
37:16the clock is ticking.
37:23It's not what you know, but who you know, isn't it, JJ?
37:25You and the first sea lord.
37:27And that's quite a title, isn't it?
37:29It is. It is.
37:30But he'll be saying the same thing about meeting Lance Corporal Chalmers.
37:33Trust me. Trust me.
37:34But honestly, a really nice man, but I don't envy the job.
37:37More ships, more people, and he needs to do it all very quickly.
37:41So, good luck to him.
37:42But speaking of more ships and more people,
37:44here's what's coming up next.
37:48Our reporter, Dwayne Fields,
37:50finds out how a billion-pound warship stays in tip-top condition.
37:54So, just like your car at home,
37:56every ship needs to go into the garage for a super-sized MOT.
38:00How impressive is this?
38:19Welcome back to the final part of the programme.
38:22Now, I've been on HMS Iron Duke,
38:25HMS Dragon,
38:27HMS Sutherland,
38:28HMS St Albans,
38:29and a nuclear submarine.
38:31And all of them have been on operations or gearing up for them.
38:35So, they've been in excellent nick.
38:38But, like all machines,
38:39warships do need to have some maintenance every now and then,
38:43as Dwayne Fields explains.
38:49Royal Navy warships are designed to sail the Seven Seas,
38:55protecting British interests around the world.
38:57Attention to engage.
38:59Firing.
39:01And fight in fierce naval battles.
39:05Rifle, missile away.
39:09The one thing ships were not designed to do
39:11is to stay at sea indefinitely.
39:13So, just like your car at home,
39:15every ship needs to go into the garage for a super-sized MOT.
39:20But this isn't a four-door family hatchback.
39:23This is HMS Diamond,
39:25a Type 45 destroyer worth over a billion pounds.
39:32Morning.
39:33Good morning.
39:34Hi, Dwayne. Nice to meet you.
39:35Good to meet you.
39:36How impressive is this?
39:38Yeah.
39:38Even when it's in dry dock.
39:40Yeah. Well, welcome on board.
39:42Lieutenant Commander Christopher Shaw
39:44is HMS Diamond, naval officer.
39:49This is going to be in dry dock now
39:51for the next at least 18 months.
39:54Really?
39:55Yeah.
39:55So, and effectively,
39:57she's going to be having a lot of work done on her.
40:00And that doesn't impact the capabilities
40:03of the Royal Navy at sea
40:05because this is a big ship.
40:07It needs to be working, doesn't it?
40:08It needs to be working,
40:09but she also needs to have that TLC.
40:13So, therefore, every six to seven years,
40:16a ship comes in,
40:17has a major upkeep period.
40:20But once the work's completed,
40:22we would get her back into service.
40:26That might sound like a long time,
40:29but to get Diamond sparkling again,
40:31she's undergoing huge upgrades.
40:34There are brand-new living quarters going in
40:38and some new weapons
40:39to make this warship even more deadly.
40:43I'm amazed at how many cables
40:45and wires and tubes and pumps there are.
40:49This is like a Ravik's run, honestly.
40:53Even the white goods are getting an upgrade.
40:56This is the kitchen.
40:57So, yeah, it's the kitchen in your terms, Dwayne,
41:00but in the Royal Navy,
41:01it's known as the galley.
41:02But as you can see,
41:04there's a lot of work being done in here
41:05to upgrade it.
41:09It might look like a building site now,
41:11but just a few months ago,
41:13HMS Diamond was making international headlines.
41:20Houthi rebels, backed by Iran,
41:22began attacking international shipping in the Red Sea.
41:33A vital trade route into Europe.
41:40HMS Diamond was sent on urgent orders
41:43to keep the sea lanes open.
41:50And shoot down whatever the Houthis fired.
41:57So successful were the crew of this ship
41:59that they've since been awarded military medals
42:02for their bravery.
42:12Now back in Portsmouth for maintenance
42:14and looking a far cry from her best,
42:16this is in fact all part of the normal cycle
42:19a warship goes through.
42:21So Diamond here went from operations
42:24into maintenance.
42:26And one of the ships on training
42:28will replace her.
42:30And the cycle continues,
42:32making sure the Navy maintains the capability
42:35to keep the nation safe at home and abroad.
42:45Being here today has given me a new appreciation
42:47for what it really takes
42:49to keep these warships at sea
42:51and to keep this nation safe.
43:03Sadly, our journey across the Royal Navy
43:07has come to an end.
43:08And what a journey it's been.
43:11Service to investigate unknown contact.
43:14Yep.
43:15Now, so we've definitely got her.
43:17I've been all at sea hunting Russian submarines.
43:23And witnessed the firepower of a Royal Navy destroyer.
43:27You don't just feel that,
43:30you feel it reverberating through your whole body.
43:34What are you doing?
43:37I've pushed myself to the limits.
43:39Whoa.
43:40Thanks for that, pal.
43:42Through tunnels, you're speed,
43:43that's what we need on the endurance.
43:45Come on, Mr. Commander.
43:46And conquered what I once thought I never could.
43:51I really didn't know if I could do that.
43:59And I've had an amazing insight
44:01into the extremes that the Royal Navy can deliver.
44:09Thank you so much for joining us.
44:11And thank you to all of the fighting arms
44:14of the Royal Navy
44:15and to all of the individuals
44:16across this incredible institution
44:18who have opened up their doors
44:20to allow us to make this series.
44:22It has been an honor
44:23and a privilege
44:24to tell their stories.
44:47Thank you, sir.
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