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Warship: Life in the Royal Navy - Season 2 Episode 7
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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.
00:27There 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.
00:56You feel 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.
01:13What are you doing?
01:14On what life is really like in Britain's Navy today.
01:19I'm sure you tied that tie correctly before being dragged through a hedge.
01:21You sound like my mum.
01:23Get out of here.
01:23Get out of here.
01:24Come on.
01:25These boys are fit.
01:26This is a different league within a different league.
01:29I do feel in very safe hands.
01:31Thank you very much.
01:35This is warship.
01:37Life in the Royal Navy.
01:40In this episode.
01:41Not 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.
01:51Gah, gah, gah!
01:53I get the inside story on the most famous warship of them all.
01:58I named this ship Ark Royal.
02:02Told by the final man to captain her.
02:05I remember having to drive the ship into Portsmouth Harbour in thick fog.
02:09And we parked her alongside and 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.
02:22So 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.
02:44Hello and welcome to the flight deck of HMS St. Albans.
02:47Our home throughout the series.
02:48Now 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.
03:04So 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.
04:00Cars, cars, cars!
04:02Including an attack by a chemical weapon.
04:05Cars, cars, cars!
04:06Everyone, put up!
04:08Now, the idea of being attacked by chemical weapons may sound extreme.
04:12And that's because it is.
04:14But for these rookie sailors, it is a very real part of the grown-up world that they have stepped
04:19into.
04:21The use of chemical weapons is illegal.
04:24But in war, not everyone plays by the rules.
04:27So, every new recruit must learn what to do if the worst happens.
04:33Any air coming through then? No, 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.
04:48Alright 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.
04:58A pepper-based irritant.
05:00So it's going to irritate the eyes and throat.
05:02Their eyes are going to water.
05:04They might snot slightly.
05:05Some people vomit.
05:07Hopefully not today.
05:08To learn more about exposure to chemical weapons, the recruits are about to deliberately expose themselves to CS gas.
05:16Also known as tear gas.
05:19And 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.
05:41So it's nice.
05:42There we go.
05:43Which filter out toxic fumes during a chemical weapon attack.
05:47Okay, ready to go.
05:48Yeah.
05:49In a real world scenario, any error could be fatal.
05:54Can you see my smile?
05:57Okay.
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.
06:14And that is my CS burning up as a new routine.
06:19If our masks are working properly, nobody should be affected.
06:24Very shortly, we're going to double roll outside on the spot for 30 seconds.
06:30Craving to you, I'm going to see them on your face.
06:34On your own side, double roll outside.
06:36Nice and easy.
06:41Okay, as you are.
06:43Are we okay?
06:44Come to round 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 I'm going to do now is the time for the typical exposure.
06:58Giving you total confidence that your mask has been working.
07:02Now is the moment I've been dreading.
07:04Taking our masks off and deliberately exposing us to the toxic gas.
07:10Carefully clear where you're hooked up.
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.
07:19Press while you come to me.
07:20Watching the recruits step forward, I'm starting to get nervous.
07:24Knowing I'll be next.
07:26When you're ready, take a deep breath and remove your mask.
07:31Open your eyes.
07:33Speak to me.
07:35Seats back.
07:36Teased out.
07:38The fumes immediately cause irritation to the eyes and throat.
07:45The recruits are soon feeling the effects.
07:51Take a breath.
07:52Campbell Whelan, mine warfare.
07:55Well done.
07:59Oi, oi.
08:04Now, it's my turn.
08:06Why on earth did I volunteer for this?
08:09Remove your mask.
08:14P903829xray, Lance Corporal Chalmers.
08:16Well done. Well done.
08:24Oh, it's not nice.
08:26Urgh.
08:27It's a bit of shit as I remember it.
08:28Oi.
08:31I want to get my eyes, lad.
08:32Walk about that.
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.
08:41Right, JJ, how did you find it?
08:43It wasn't fun.
08:44That's the last time I'll be doing that.
08:47That's the thing about the armed forces.
08:48You have to put yourselves into uncomfortable situations
08:52and perhaps even put your life on the line.
08:56And this is just one test that they have to undergo
08:58if they want to have a life in the Royal Navy.
09:05Okay, no need to mention the lengths I will go to for this programme.
09:08You're amazing, you're amazing.
09:12You can 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.
09:20Anyway, still to come.
09:23JJ meets the last man to captain one of the Royal Navy's most famous warships,
09:29HMS Ark Royal.
09:31We arrived at Portsmouth and we parked alongside
09:33and I said, ring off main engines and rudders forever.
09:37And it was a very sad day indeed.
09:40And Kate is with a rookie helicopter pilot
09:42as he attempts to land on a moving warship for the very first time.
09:46So 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
10:23to train to land a helicopter on a frigate like this.
10:27Recently, I was at sea to see what a nail-biting manoeuvre
10:31it is to land a helicopter on one of these.
10:39Range, two nautical miles, all boats, good night.
10:43HMS Iron Duke is a Type 23 frigate.
10:49One of the Royal Navy's hardest working warships.
10:54The 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. So, the ship at sea, you can go anything from a flat calm up to
11:47high 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.
11:57Well, I'm really excited for you.
12:00The Royal Navy's Wildcat helicopter is used for scouting and tracking enemy ships.
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 today's 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.
12:33We'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.
12:51So the Wildcat can be fitted with weapon wings with surface-to-surface, surface-to-air capability.
12:57Of course, it can be used for search and rescue, and it's one of our best surveillance assets as well.
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...
13:57You see a red dot.
13:58Yes.
13:58That's the bullseye.
14:00Right.
14:00That is the perfect landing.
14:01OK.
14:02Overseeing it all is Lieutenant Commander Gary McCall, a senior Wildcat pilot.
14:09Anything inside the grid is generally acceptable.
14:12So precision is absolutely key.
14:14Everything, yeah.
14:15So 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 first time.
14:28At the moment, he is solely focused on this.
14:32The king could be in the hangar and I don't think it would make any difference.
14:36Chris's time has arrived.
14:40Oh, yeah.
14:44Over four years of training has come down to this moment.
15:01Don't film me laughing.
15:05Unfortunately, just missed the grid.
15:07But it's his first one.
15:08It 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, boys.
15:17Look at them all.
15:18Look at them all.
15:18Look at them all.
15:19Look at them all.
15:23Determined to improve, Chris immediately gives the landing another go.
15:34Good night.
15:37Good night.
15:43And this time, he nails it.
15:51Absolutely spot on landing.
15:56So he got a round of applause from you that time.
15:59He did.
15:59He improved on his first deck landing.
16:01Yeah.
16:01The second one was much better, and he hit the grid which was a good second attempt.
16:05very good second attempt I almost feel like it's proud mum
16:14wow how's it going I am so impressed how was it oh it's exhausting I bet yeah it's quite scary
16:22I know it's really good it feels amazing to finally be able to do something that I've
16:27been training for years yeah to be able to do yeah yeah I think a few of them were a
16:31bit ropey
16:32well the first one it got everyone in here giggling a bit yeah well I hope so I thought
16:38it was very unfair no no that one there we go right in the middle see it get better
16:44get better I'm going to relax
16:51what a privilege to witness I'm sure Chris has got a bright future ahead of him as a Royal Navy
16:57pilot
17:05well that was amazing now over the years the Royal Navy has had some famous warships like
17:11HMS Victory the flagship of Lord Admiral Nelson or the Mary Rose commissioned by King Henry VIII
17:18but there's perhaps one warship with a name that upstages them all
17:32she's possibly the most loved warship of all time
17:37across 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
17:59so famous is the former flagship of the Royal Navy that it's been immortalized at the Fleet Air Arm Museum
18:05where a replica of a huge section of the ship has been built
18:14and I must say she's pretty impressive housing a crew of over a thousand
18:19she had everything from a cinema and gym for leisure
18:23a fully functioning sick 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
18:41three times throughout his career
18:43rising to captain the 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
18:56but I happened to be the youngest officer on board as a midshipman
18:58and then many years later in 2010 I ended up being her last captain
19:02so I saw her full life
19:05Aircraft carriers like HMS Ark Royal are designed to be mobile runways
19:10bringing military jets and helicopters up close to their targets
19:19The ship was involved in the conflict in Bosnia
19:22the invasion of Iraq
19:24you know, it was so much operational service
19:29You know, aircraft carriers are the first things you send
19:32because they can go a long way around the world
19:34and we can project an awful lot of air power
19:37from the deck of an aircraft carrier
19:43Pilot David Morgan flew off the deck of HMS Ark Royal
19:47many times throughout his career
19:51You can see it's a fairly tight little cockpit
19:53It is considering the size of the thing
19:55Although no longer in service
19:58Harrier jets were HMS Ark Royal's main weapon
20:02Right, what am I even looking at here?
20:05Because there's a lot of bells and whistles
20:06The important stuff
20:08Control stick
20:09Roger
20:10They've got some foot pedals down here
20:12Rudder pedals down here you've got the throttle
20:14Next to that is the magic lever
20:16which moves the nozzles
20:17Ah, so this is what makes this airframe so iconic
20:24so versatile
20:27The British designed Harrier jump jet
20:30was unique because it could stop and hover in the air
20:32and take off and land vertically
20:35It was the first of its kind
20:36and a testament to British engineering
20:39You just grab that shiny silver lever
20:42Pull it all the way back
20:45And that puts the nozzles forwards
20:47Slows you down
20:49As you get to the hover
20:50Take off a bit of power
20:53Just to cushion yourself
20:54And she goes
21:00You make it sound very simple
21:06This is an impressive bit of kit
21:08It's an icon of the sky
21:09Unbelievable
21:10Thank you so much
21:13In 2010
21:14It was decided that the services of HMS Ark Royal
21:17and Britain's Harrier jump jets
21:19were no longer required
21:21Britain's most loved warship
21:23was decommissioned
21:26Appearing through the cold fog
21:27in the portsmouth harbour
21:29for the last time
21:30the Ark Royal
21:31home to a thousand sailors
21:33Royal Navy flagship
21:35and for now
21:36Britain's last aircraft carrier
21:40And I'll never forget
21:41we arrived at Portsmouth
21:43for our last ever entry
21:45and I remember having to drive the ship
21:47into Portsmouth Harbour
21:47in thick fog
21:48and we parked alongside
21:50and I said
21:51ring off main engines
21:52and rudders forever
21:53and it was a very sad day indeed
21:56I mean if you crashed it
21:58it would have been alright though
21:59Yes exactly
22:00third party foreign theft
22:01one careful owner
22:02they're all Navy
22:05Since the retirement of HMS Ark Royal
22:07two new much bigger aircraft carriers
22:10have entered service
22:11the most powerful warships
22:13Britain has ever built
22:14but they stand on the shoulders
22:16of a giant
22:18So out of the old generation
22:20in with the new
22:21that's the cycle of the fleet
22:23over the last thousand years
22:25you know
22:25you move with the times
22:30There's little doubt
22:31that the Royal Navy's latest generation
22:33of aircraft carriers
22:35and fighter jets
22:36are some of the finest in the world
22:38but to this day
22:40the name HMS Ark Royal
22:43is still revered
22:45and the last ship
22:46to hold that name
22:47did something truly rare
22:50in action
22:50she proved herself
22:51time and time again
22:53but most importantly
22:54in the public eye
22:56she was loved
23:09You see that's the thing
23:11I'm discovering
23:11about the Navy
23:12there's a lot more to it
23:13than meets the eye
23:14here's what else is coming up
23:16on the programme
23:19They are preparing
23:20to mount this massive gun deck
23:23up on the top
23:24of HMS Acton
23:27I'm given special access
23:29to help build
23:30the warships of the future
23:32Crane operator
23:33go for a lift
23:36And how about this
23:37for a job title
23:38the first sea lord
23:40the head of the Navy
23:41exclusively reveals
23:42the threats facing
23:43each and every one of us
23:45This is an unsettling time
23:47and we need to be ready
23:48for whatever may come
24:07Welcome back
24:08Now there's a little bit
24:09of a theme
24:10in this episode
24:11of new recruits
24:13and the future
24:14of the Navy
24:15so we thought
24:16it was time
24:16to introduce you
24:17to some of the new warships
24:19that will be heading
24:20to the front line
24:21in the coming years
24:27The Royal Navy
24:28currently has around
24:3060 vessels
24:31in its fleet
24:33Around half that number
24:34are considered warships
24:38capable of fighting
24:40in battle
24:40Fire
24:41Fire track
24:42Dark Foxtrot
24:422, 3, 1
24:44Destroy
24:45Destroy
24:45Destroy
24:46Destroy
24:51But these ships
24:52need constant upgrading
24:53and replacement
24:54and with wars
24:55in Europe
24:56and the Middle East
24:56the Royal Navy
24:57can't know exactly
24:58where it will be needed next
25:00Ultimately
25:00they have to be ready
25:01for any eventuality
25:03To make sure
25:05they're prepared
25:05for any threat
25:07the Navy
25:07are currently building
25:08a host
25:09of new submarines
25:10and warships
25:11Around 28 new vessels
25:14are planned
25:15with 6
25:16already underway
25:19I'm here at
25:20Resythe Dockyard
25:21near Edinburgh
25:21where they're building
25:22the ships of tomorrow
25:24but it's also
25:24a stone's throw
25:25from where I live
25:26just over that hill
25:27and I've often
25:28looked down on it
25:29wondering
25:29what do they do
25:30inside this base
25:31and I'm about to find out
25:32because I've been given
25:33special access
25:33to see how one of
25:35their newest ships
25:36is coming along
25:39HMS Venturer
25:40is the first
25:41of five new warships
25:42being built here
25:43costing nearly
25:45£250 million each
25:47they don't come cheap
25:48but they're designed
25:49with modern warfare
25:50in mind
25:51and although
25:52it's still being built
25:54HMS Venturer
25:55already has
25:56a Royal Navy crew
25:57working alongside
25:59engineers
25:59racing to get her
26:01into the water
26:01and onto the front line
26:03Hello sir
26:04Good morning JJ
26:05Welcome to Resythe
26:07Commander Thomas Hetherington
26:08is the naval officer
26:10in charge
26:11So why does it need
26:13a crew and a captain
26:14at this stage?
26:14So we've got a crew
26:16and a captain
26:16we provide a bit
26:18of the operator experience
26:20to be able to figure out
26:21how we're going to
26:22sail it on the high seas
26:23Can I get a closer look at her?
26:24I would like to take you
26:25on board JJ
26:27HMS Venturer
26:28is 139 metres long
26:30and 20 metres wide
26:32with seven decks
26:33from bottom to top
26:36She's made up
26:37of 1,500 sheets of steel
26:40and enough cable
26:41to stretch the length
26:42of Loch Ness
26:43of Loch Ness
26:44ten times
26:47Welcome to the bridge
26:48JJ
26:48This is 03 deck
26:49It's a lovely
26:50light space
26:51Yeah
26:52Almost 180 degree vision
26:53more capability there
26:54for people to be able
26:55to navigate the ship
26:56This is the epicentre now
26:58Older ships had
26:59areas such as ops rooms
27:01or they had the control rooms
27:02for the machinery
27:03as well as the bridge
27:04but with the technology
27:05that we have now
27:06it can all be co-located
27:07into this one compartment
27:08and the ship's operated
27:09from up here
27:10Wow
27:11As we've seen
27:12throughout this series
27:13current Royal Navy warships
27:15require three huge rooms
27:17to control them
27:18The bridge
27:19the ship's control centre
27:21and the ops room
27:22But on HMS Venturer
27:24everything will be operated
27:26from this one space
27:27There's less people
27:29required to operate the ship
27:30We're using automation
27:31to help reduce that head count
27:34So crew-wise
27:35what's this going to have
27:36on board?
27:37Yes
27:37We're over a hundred
27:38to look after the ship
27:40on a day-by-day basis
27:41means that
27:42we've got a bigger ship
27:43we've got more space
27:45for individuals
27:45and so we're more comfortable
27:47They have that freedom
27:48They have gymnasium on board
27:49People go on a rowing machine
27:50then go on a stepper
27:52I think the culmination
27:53of the years
27:53that have gone into
27:54designing it
27:54building it
27:56testing it
27:57that's going to be
27:58a real boon
27:59for the Royal Navy
28:05All British warships
28:07begin their life
28:07inside a massive room
28:09called a build hall
28:11Unlike a car factory
28:13where thousands of vehicles
28:15roll off the production line
28:16each day
28:17in here
28:18there's room
28:18for just two warships
28:20and they'll take
28:22over a year
28:23to be ready
28:26Next on the production line
28:27is HMS Active
28:31It is a big day
28:32for the team here
28:33because they are preparing
28:34to mount this massive gun deck
28:36up on the top
28:38of HMS Active
28:39It is a complicated procedure
28:42not least
28:42because this thing
28:43weighs 36 tonnes
28:45and
28:46to make matters worse
28:48apparently
28:49I'm going to help
28:54Cameron Hunter
28:54is in charge
28:55of building
28:56HMS Active
28:57and will oversee
28:58the dangerous
28:59and delicate task
29:00of getting the gun deck
29:01perfectly
29:02into position
29:03This is a big moment
29:04there
29:04It is a big moment
29:05Yes
29:06This unit is
29:07one of 147 units
29:09that make up the ship
29:10Right
29:11So this thing
29:12is rigged up
29:12on this huge crane
29:14at the moment
29:15Yes
29:15It comes up
29:16over the hull
29:17on top of the ship
29:18where it will be located
29:19But then you put me
29:20into the equation
29:22What are you thinking?
29:23To go for lift
29:24when you're ready
29:25Right
29:25The words are
29:27go for lift
29:27Yes
29:28Right here we go
29:30Crane operator
29:32go for lift
29:36As they're lifting here
29:37you'll see the unit
29:38coming up nice and slow
29:39there
29:39That's to make sure
29:40that it's lifting
29:41steady and straight
29:43On my orders
29:44the 125 ton
29:47gantry crane
29:48lifts the gun deck
29:4925 metres
29:50into the air
29:52This is incredible
29:54I mean the size of it
29:55is one thing
29:56but look inside
29:57you can see all the
29:57like there's a doorway
29:59and the pipes
29:59it's not just a big box
30:01it's a ship
30:03and then look
30:05at the magnitude
30:06of what is going on
30:08The crane operator
30:10slowly brings
30:11the 36 tonnes
30:12of steel
30:13over the top
30:14of HMS Active
30:15with pinpoint precision
30:17So that's it
30:18entering a final
30:19alignment phase now
30:20and the unit
30:22will be slowly
30:23pressed down
30:24into its final place
30:25There we go
30:29That's it
30:30The eagle has landed
30:32It's down
30:32That was so impressive
30:35HMS Active
30:36is still many months
30:38away from looking
30:39like a warship
30:43So I'm headed
30:45back outside
30:46to get to the bottom
30:47of HMS Venturer's
30:48next steps
30:52This is an impressive
30:54angle
30:55I love how
30:56it's sat up
30:57on blocks of wood
30:57Yeah
30:58that's the
30:59shipbuilding cushion
31:01I'm still using
31:01that bit of soft wood
31:02in order to cushion
31:03the weight of the ship
31:04as it sits on the dock
31:05blocks
31:06and for the full length
31:07of it
31:08A little bit
31:09Yeah
31:09So with all this
31:10technology
31:11that's a classic
31:12if it ain't broke
31:13don't fix it
31:13Absolutely
31:18How do you get
31:19it out of here?
31:20So we'll put the
31:21water into the dock
31:22we'll lift the ship
31:23off the dock
31:24blocks
31:24which you can see
31:25give us sufficient
31:26clears
31:26and then we'll take
31:27it out with tugs
31:28on either side
31:29and on the stern
31:29and then we'll
31:30sail out to sea
31:31It's got a very
31:32very shiny coat of
31:34cape on it
31:35It certainly is
31:36Are you nervous
31:36about it getting
31:37scratched?
31:38No I'm confident
31:38these guys know
31:39what they're doing
31:40they'll look after
31:41her
31:41And then the Royal
31:42Navy has to look
31:43after her
31:43And then we'll try
31:44our best to look
31:45after her in the
31:45same fashion
31:46Absolutely
31:48It's remarkable
31:49to see engineering
31:51on this scale
31:53HMS Venturer
31:54will join
31:55frontline operations
31:56in the next few
31:57years
31:58So it won't be long
32:00before a fleet
32:01of new warships
32:02bristling with the
32:03most cutting edge
32:04technology
32:04will be out there
32:05protecting our shores
32:11What an insight
32:12that was
32:12into the future
32:13of the Royal
32:14Navy's fleet
32:14And speaking of
32:15that future
32:16I had a few
32:17questions about it
32:18So who better to ask
32:19than the big boss
32:20himself
32:20the first sea lord
32:23The Royal Navy
32:24is one of the most
32:25powerful in the world
32:28With over 60 vessels
32:30One six zero
32:31MISO
32:31One six zero
32:35Nine nuclear submarines
32:39And over 30,000 people
32:44But the world
32:45has changed
32:51And so too
32:52has the threat
32:53the Royal Navy faces
32:54Russia has launched
32:56a full scale attack
32:57on Ukraine
32:58from multiple directions
33:00Relations with Russia
33:02have deteriorated
33:03The threat we now face
33:05is more serious
33:06more immediate
33:07than at any time
33:09since the Cold War
33:12Since the invasion
33:13of Ukraine
33:15Putin's forces
33:16have grown
33:17increasingly troublesome
33:18This is the Yantar
33:19being stalked
33:20by the Royal Navy
33:21bristling with surveillance
33:22and intelligence
33:23gathering technology
33:25The new challenge
33:27requires new solutions
33:29My message to Russia
33:30and to Putin
33:31is this
33:32We see you
33:33We know what you're doing
33:35And if the Yantar
33:37travels south this week
33:38we are ready
33:40The man charged
33:42with overseeing it all
33:43sits at the head
33:44of the Royal Navy
33:46The world
33:47is becoming
33:48an unstable place
33:49We see the rise
33:50of authoritarian regimes
33:53General Sir Gwyn Jenkins
33:55has one
33:56of the grandest
33:57job titles
33:57in the military
33:58He's known
33:59as the first sea lord
34:00and he's agreed
34:01to an exclusive interview
34:03with me
34:07We're very aware
34:08of the threats
34:08that were posed
34:09right now
34:10How difficult is it
34:12to try and predict
34:13those ones of the future
34:14and ultimately
34:15what could they be
34:16and what might we do
34:17about them
34:18Let's be clear
34:18Russia are our
34:19primary threat
34:20right now
34:21I haven't seen a world
34:22this unstable
34:23or uncertain
34:24since I joined
34:25and I joined
34:26right at the end
34:26of the Cold War
34:28This is an unsettling
34:29time for all of us
34:31and we need to be ready
34:32for whatever may come
34:33even if it is
34:35to try and avert
34:36what could happen
34:37in the world today
34:44You are at a level
34:46now where you'll
34:47routinely be talking
34:48to the Prime Minister
34:49the other heads
34:50of the military
34:51What is the point
34:52you're getting across
34:53about the importance
34:54of the Navy
34:55right now?
34:56At one level
34:57it's really basic
34:58We're an island nation
35:0099% of our trade
35:02passes over the oceans
35:04to get to the UK
35:05Our data passes
35:07in through the cables
35:08under the sea
35:09Most of our infrastructure
35:11is subsurface
35:12below the ocean waves
35:14The sea
35:15it literally
35:16is our lifeline
35:17and if we are to be
35:19credible as a nation
35:21and if we're to protect
35:22our nation
35:22going forward
35:23then we need
35:24a credible Navy
35:26Attention to engage
35:27The Royal Navy
35:28The Royal Navy
35:29has never been leaner
35:30With just 14 large warships
35:34and a handful
35:35of hunter-killer submarines
35:37the task of defending
35:38Britain's shores
35:39is a growing issue
35:41Just look at Russia
35:43Despite the millions
35:45of lives
35:45and the cost
35:46of their egregious
35:47illegal invasion
35:48of Ukraine
35:49they continue
35:50to invest billions
35:51in their maritime capabilities
35:53particularly
35:54in their northern fleet
35:58The first sea lord
35:59has declared to the world
36:00that the time for action
36:01is now
36:03The advantage
36:04that we have enjoyed
36:05in the Atlantic
36:06since the end
36:06of the second world war
36:07is at risk
36:08We are holding on
36:10but not by much
36:13Warships and submarines
36:14take decades
36:15to design and build
36:17So, with Russia
36:19knocking on the door
36:20Are the Navy ready?
36:25Our orders are to get ready
36:26for war fighting
36:27Not because we think
36:29we are going to war
36:30but because
36:30if we're going to deter
36:32the war
36:32the nation doesn't want
36:33to have to fight
36:35We've got to make sure
36:36we're ready to fight it
36:38because that's what
36:38deterrence really means
36:39So, if I do nothing else
36:41in my four years
36:43as first sea lord
36:44it's to get the Navy
36:45into the mindset
36:46where we are seriously
36:47preparing for warfare
36:51It's clear the threat
36:53from Russia
36:53isn't going away soon
36:55Be prepared
36:56to intercept
36:57the Russian submarine
36:58So, being ready for war
37:00is top of the
37:01first sea lord's agenda
37:05He wants quick solutions
37:07driven by technology
37:13With four years
37:14to implement his change
37:16the clock
37:17is ticking
37:23It's not what you know
37:24but who you know
37:24isn't it JJ?
37:26You and the first sea lord
37:27and that's quite a title
37:29isn't it?
37:30It is
37:30but he'll be saying
37:31the same thing
37:31about meeting
37:31Lance Corporal Chalmers
37:33Trust me
37:33Trust me
37:34But honestly
37:34a really nice man
37:35but I don't envy the job
37:37More ships
37:38more people
37:39and he needs to do it
37:40all very quickly
37:41so good luck to him
37:42But speaking of more ships
37:43and more people
37:44here's what's coming up next
37:48Our reporter
37:49Dwayne Fields
37:50finds out
37:50how a billion pound warship
37:52stays in tip-top condition
37:54So just like your car at home
37:56every ship needs to go
37:57into the garage
37:58for a super-sized MOT
38:00How impressive is this?
38:19Welcome back
38:20to the final part
38:21of the programme
38:22Now I've been on
38:24HMS Iron Duke
38:25HMS Dragon
38:26HMS Sutherland
38:28HMS St Albans
38:29and a nuclear submarine
38:31and all of them
38:32have been on operations
38:34or gearing up for them
38:35So they've been
38:36in excellent nick
38:37But like all machines
38:39warships
38:40do need to have
38:41some maintenance
38:42every now and then
38:43as Dwayne Fields explains
38:49Royal Navy warships
38:51are designed
38:51to sail the seven seas
38:55protecting British interests
38:56around the world
38:57Attention to engage
38:59Fire it
39:01and fight
39:02in fierce naval battles
39:05Rifle
39:06missile away
39:09The one thing
39:10ships were not designed
39:11to do
39:11is to stay at sea
39:12indefinitely
39:13So just like your car
39:14at home
39:15every ship needs to go
39:16into the garage
39:17for a super-sized MOT
39:20But this isn't
39:21a four-door family hatchback
39:23This is HMS Diamond
39:25a Type 45 destroyer
39:27worth over a billion pounds
39:29Good morning
39:33Good morning
39:34Hi Dwayne
39:35Nice 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
39:40Well welcome on board
39:42Lieutenant Commander
39:43Christopher Shaw
39:44is HMS Diamond
39:45Naval officer
39:49This is going to be in dry dock
39:51now for the next
39:52at least 18 months
39:54Really?
39:55Yeah
39:55So and effectively
39:57she's going to be
39:58having a lot of work
39:59done on her
40:00And that doesn't impact
40:02the capabilities
40:03of the Royal Navy
40:04out at sea
40:05because this is a big ship
40:07it needs to be working
40:08doesn't it?
40:08It needs to be working
40:09but she also needs
40:11to have that TLC
40:12so therefore
40:13every six to seven years
40:16a ship comes in
40:17has a major upkeep period
40:20but once the work's completed
40:21we would get her
40:23back into service
40:26That might sound
40:28like a long time
40:28but to get Diamond
40:30sparkling again
40:30she's undergoing
40:31huge upgrades
40:34There are brand new
40:36living quarters going in
40:38and some new weapons
40:39to make this warship
40:41even more deadly
40:43I'm amazed at how many
40:44cables and wires
40:45and tubes
40:46and pumps there are
40:49This is like
40:50a rabbit's run
40:51honestly
40:53Even the white goods
40:54are getting an upgrade
40:55This is the kitchen
40:57So yeah
40:57it's the kitchen
40:58in your terms
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
41:04being done in here
41:05to upgrade it
41:09It might look like
41:10a building site now
41:11but just a few months ago
41:13HMS Diamond
41:14was making
41:14international headlines
41:20Houthi rebels
41:21backed by Iran
41:22began attacking
41:23international shipping
41:24in the Red Sea
41:33A vital trade route
41:35into Europe
41:40HMS Diamond
41:41was sent on urgent orders
41:43to keep the sea lanes open
41:49and shoot down
41:52whatever the Houthis fired
41:57So successful
41:58were the crew
41:58of this ship
41:59that they've since
42:00been awarded
42:01military medals
42:02for their bravery
42:12Now back in Portsmouth
42:14for maintenance
42:14and looking a far cry
42:16from her best
42:16this is in fact
42:18all part of the normal cycle
42:19a warship goes through
42:20So Diamond here
42:23went from operations
42:24into maintenance
42:25and one of the ships
42:27on training
42:28will replace her
42:29and the cycle continues
42:32making sure the Navy
42:33maintains the capability
42:35to keep the nation safe
42:36at home
42:37and abroad
42:45being here today
42:46has given me
42:46a new appreciation
42:47for what it really takes
42:49to keep these warships
42:51at sea
42:52and to keep
42:53this nation safe
43:03sadly our journey
43:05across the Royal Navy
43:07has come to an end
43:08and what a journey
43:10it's been
43:11search and investigate
43:12unknown contact
43:13Yep
43:15Nabs
43:15we've definitely got her
43:16I've been all at sea
43:18hunting Russian submarines
43:23and witnessed
43:24the firepower
43:25of a Royal Navy destroyer
43:27You don't just hear that
43:29you feel it reverberating
43:32through your whole body
43:34What are you doing?
43:36I've pushed myself
43:38to the limit
43:40Thanks for that bow
43:46And conquered
43:47what I once thought
43:48I never could
43:52I didn't know
43:53if I could do that
43:59And I've had an amazing
44:01insight into the extremes
44:02that the Royal Navy
44:03can deliver
44:09Thank you so much
44:11for joining us
44:11and thank you
44:12to all of the
44:13fighting arms
44:14of the Royal Navy
44:15and to all of the
44:16individuals
44:16across this incredible
44:18institution
44:18who have opened up
44:19their doors
44:20to allow us
44:21to make this series
44:21It has been an honour
44:23and a privilege
44:24to tell their stories
44:25If you ask
44:55you
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