Combat Ships
A documentary series on combat ships through the ages, from the 16th century to the present day.
Genre: Documentary, War
Cast:Joseph Balderrama , Kieran O'Brien , Craig Symonds , Andrew Gordon , Eric Grove , Nick Hewitt , Andrew Lambert , John V. Quarstein , Bob Mealings , Stuart Prebble , Donald Shannon , Andy Smith , Emily Turton , Chris Wilson , Simon Darwen , Gary Sterne , Julian Gamm , Garth Wright
S2.E1 ∙ Viking Longships
This is the story of one of the world's most effective war machines: The Viking longship. They were elegant, versatile and feared. Longships carried terrifying warriors.
S2.E2 ∙ Stealth
From the secret missions that helped win World War 2 to new technology that offers new ways to hide. Stealth ships stay out of sight in a world where eyes are everywhere
S2.E3 ∙ Doomed Vessels
Doomed Vessels explores the human errors that condemned great ships to a tragic end, including the Vasa, a 17th century combat ship that sank on her maiden voyage
S2.E4 ∙ Destroyers & cruisers
Destroyers and cruisers are the quintessential combat ships, each featuring speed and firepower while carrying out unique roles within a navy. We highlight the similarities and differences of these two warships and share stories of some of the most influential vessels and battles, from the lone-wolf cruiser, HMS Gannet, which became a powerful symbol of the Victorian anti-slavery campaign to the legendary USS Laffey, the World War II destroyer that stared down the largest kamikaze attack in history.
S2.E5 ∙ Secrets of the sea
From the capture of U-505 to the sinking of the Lusitania; from the war games of Gilbert Roberts that man behind the fabled 'Operation Raspberry," which nullified the threat of German U-boats, to the highly cinematic deception at the heart of the Pentagon's capture of a sunken Soviet nuclear sub. Covert missions and secret strategies have been at the heart of naval engagement since the very beginning, often helping pick the winners. Join us on a revealing and highly classified look.
S2.E6 ∙ Galleons & privateers
In the 16th century, the Spanish Armada were the reigning maritime superpower, with mighty galleons at their disposal. The English, on the other hand, were the upstarts, opportunistic pirates with inferior ships. Led by buccaneering figures such as Francis Drake and John Hawkins, English ships technology began to catch up, leading to the revolutionary "race-built galleons." In 1588, both sides would meet in battle for the right to be declared rulers of the waves.
S2.E8 ∙ Amphibious assaults
Amphibious vessels: specialized landing craft built to go where no other combat ship can reach and able to deliver tanks, jeeps, soldiers, and supplies to the front lines. We detail some of the greatest ships in the history of amphibious warfare, from the LCT, which dropped the huge Allied fighting force onto the beaches of Normandy in 1944, to the Swift boats that patrolled Vietnam's shores. We also chart the evolution of combat hovercraft, and how the PACVs of the '60s grew to become a mainstay for the U.S. Navy's Assault Craft Units.
