Warship

Life in the Royal Navy aboard the fictional HMS Hero.

Cast:David Savile , Andrew Burt , James Cosmo , Donald Burton , John Lee , Don Henderson , Norman Eshley , Graeme Eton , Bryan Marshall , Derek Godfrey , Robert Morris , Frank Jarvis , Prunella Ransome , Colin Rix , Nigel Humphreys , Christopher Coll , Steve Gardner , Roger Tallon

1Season 1

S1.E1 ∙ Hot Pursuit

Wed, Jun 6, 1973

HMS Hero, a Royal Navy frigate, has lost her captain to mental illness and her first lieutenant to the bottle. While in the middle of an overhaul, she gets a new first lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander Beaumont (David Saville) and almost immediately afterward a new captain, Commander Mark Nialls (Donald Burton). As the two officers work hard to get Hero back into shape, the ship is called on to assist in capturing a gun-running freighter.

2Season 1

S1.E2 ∙ Nobody Said Frigate

Wed, Jun 13, 1973

HMS Hero are sent on a hush, hush mission to the North African coast to pick up a British asset, code named Max without anybody knowing. Unfortunately if the mission goes wrong Captain Niles is on his own.

3Season 1

S1.E3 ∙ Off Caps

Wed, Jun 20, 1973

HMS Hero's mission is to test out a new underwater submarine system, Mongoose, with a simulated war game against the US Navy. With leave cancelled below decks the have started turning on themselves.

4Season 1

S1.E4 ∙ Funny, They All Say That

Wed, Jun 27, 1973

PO-Wtr. Willows discovers his wife is ill and needs compassionate leave. Returning home, he is visited by Spooner from Navel Vetting, who has major concerns about his wife Angela's debts which makes him a security risk.

5Season 1

S1.E5 ∙ The Drop

Wed, Jul 4, 1973

Hero puts in at Malta, where corrupt, violent ship's storekeeper CPO Donovan attempts to renew old business connections and recover loot made years before from selling RN supplies on the black market. After his former girlfriend and business partner is murdered, Donovan is blackmailed into procuring a secret electronic warfare device and handing it over to Soviet agents. When British intelligence gets involved, Donovan and Hero's crew find themselves caught in a deadly web of espionage and intrigue.

6Season 1

S1.E6 ∙ The Prize

Wed, Jul 11, 1973

AB Tom Drew is a new recruitment to HMS Hero but struggles to adapt to a new environment. When an abandoned ship, Drew joins the boarding party in what becomes a dangerous insurance fraud that goes wrong.

7Season 1

S1.E7 ∙ Subsmash

Wed, Jul 18, 1973

Two sailors from Hero, AB's Wallace and Pomeroy volunteer to go on the submarine HMS Omega during an exercise testing out new sonar equipment. When Lieutenant Commander Aubrey attempts to bottom hits submarine it hits an isolated mine.

8Season 1

S1.E8 ∙ A Standing and Jumping War

Wed, Aug 1, 1973

Hero is docked in North Africa where the crew are given shore leave. At the Consolute, Niles is warned they are in imminent danger. Later local police inform him 20 of his men have been arrested for fighting and he can not leave his ship.

9Season 1

S1.E9 ∙ Shoresides and Home

Wed, Aug 8, 1973

Master at Arms Heron's extension for service is turned down due to a black mark from HMS Boadicea's Commander Murton. At a stopover in Gibraltar, and a drunken party, Nials challenges Murton to a bet over who has the quickest ship.

1Season 2

S2.E1 ∙ The Raid

Mon, Oct 14, 1974

Hero is assigned a mission off the Norwegian coast. The Royal Marines lead by Lt. Palfrey, the son of a highly decorated officer, attempt to take key instillations but are captured. Palfrey escapes but doesn't realise it's an exercise.

2Season 2

S2.E2 ∙ Without Just Cause

Mon, Oct 21, 1974

Lt. Palfrey escapes Norway and returns to Hero, only to discover the horrific truth of his murder. Nialls successfully pleads, with the Norwegians, for Palfrey to be court martial but he shocks everybody by pleading not guilty.

3Season 2

S2.E3 ∙ Who Runs Across the Sea

Mon, Oct 28, 1974

HMS Reliant rescue a lone lifeboat but have fallen into a trap by the Special Army Squad for Freedom who want to use their Polaris missiles. As the closest ship Hero is ordered to the area but not to negotiate with terrorists.

4Season 2

S2.E4 ∙ The Immortal Memory

Mon, Nov 4, 1974

Whilst at a party in Plymouth Bob Last, navigating officer of HMS Hero bumps into Timothy Penn who he later finds, when he reports on board that he is the new deputy weapons officer. Although Penn knows his subject he is disenchanted with a career in the Royal Navy. He therefore proceeds to walk a fine line to gain a discharge for being unsuitable for service and that way he gains his university education for free. His immediate target is the first lieutenant Derek Beaumont but it is Commander Mark Nialls who ultimately has to try to persuade the wayward Timothy Penn.

5Season 2

S2.E5 ∙ One of Those Days

Mon, Nov 11, 1974

After 3 weeks shore leave, HMS Hero needs an extra 6½ hours for repairs. Reg. Fuller has been with Constable Munk's wife and he wants revenge. Lt. Last has invited a stripper for lunch while Niails superior Captain Calder invites himself.

6Season 2

S2.E6 ∙ The Man from the Sea

Mon, Nov 18, 1974

Hero is dispatched to find a Boeing 707, containing 99 passengers and 10 crew, which was on fire and ditched in the sea. Once aboard, Nialls has to decide whether to save a young woman or stop and remove to Venezuelan revolutionary.

7Season 2

S2.E7 ∙ Nothing to Starboard

Mon, Nov 25, 1974

Beaumont has a near miss with a tug boat while piloting Hero into port, losing Nialls trust. On leave he is considers a new career with a yacht builder. Mark Nialls visits girlfriend Sarah and discovers she may marry someone else.

8Season 2

S2.E8 ∙ Distant Waters

Mon, Dec 2, 1974

Hero gets a message that there is mutiny on a nearby fishing trawler. When Beaumont boards the trawler he finds the captain locked in a cabin armed with a gun. Once the door is opened they find him seriously ill needing help.

9Season 2

S2.E9 ∙ Away Seaboat's Crew

Mon, Dec 9, 1974

Two new sailors, L/S Steele and Ord. Jones, join Hero. They quickly come into conflict with AB Radcliffe, who'd had a bad history with Steele in a previous ship. The situation worsens when Steele is promoted and reports Radcliffe for insubordination. When Steele disappears overboard, suspicion naturally falls on Radcliffe as the crew, knowing that Steele's chance for survival in the cold North Atlantic water is dwindling with each passing moment, desperately search for the missing man.

10Season 2

S2.E10 ∙ The Echo of Battle

Mon, Dec 16, 1974

Lescher, a former U-Boat commander, now a West German minister, joins Hero as observer but he starts to have flashbacks. Nialls becomes concerned that he is suffering a complete mental breakdown as the manoeuvres begin.

1Season 3

S3.E1 ∙ And Wings of Gold

Mon, Jan 5, 1976

Pilot Alan Glenn in the new commander of Hero. His first trip is to check out an immobilized Soviet submarine, which as surfaced in the Arctic. Capt. Herrick is sent to oversea the operation but blames Glenn for his brother's death.

2Season 3

S3.E2 ∙ What Are Friends For?

Mon, Jan 12, 1976

When the Hero is asked to intercept a vessel suspected of drug smuggling, Commander Glenn's loyalties are divided.

3Season 3

S3.E3 ∙ Knight Errant

Mon, Jan 19, 1976

As Lt. Cmdr Beaumont considers taking unpaid leave for a yachting expedition, the HMS Hero encounters another lone yachtsman who's more experienced than he seems.

4Season 3

S3.E4 ∙ They Also Serve

Mon, Jan 26, 1976

With the Hero in dock, about to take part in an important naval exercise, Commander Glenn is persuaded to spend the weekend with an old flame, and her husband. In his absence, Lieutenant Peek gets on the wrong side of the dockyard workers, and soon has the crew embroiled in a Union dispute.

5Season 3

S3.E5 ∙ Under the Surface

Mon, Feb 2, 1976

Hero's continued lack of success in anti-submarine warfare exercises against HM Submarine Ovid rattle Captain Glenn's self-confidence and cause increasing tension between him and his officers. Ovid's captain and Glenn's old friend, Commander Tremayne, offers to set up a new exercise and make it into more of a learning experience for Glenn, but the constant changes in the training program and Glenn's apparent lack of concern for his crew lead to a showdown between him and his first lieutenant, Lt. Commander Beaumont.

6Season 3

S3.E6 ∙ Rough Run Home

Mon, Feb 9, 1976

A young nautical engineer has developed a new system of rudder stabilisation, and the Hero is chosen to test it. Unfortunately this brings the engineer face to face with a helicopter pilot recently involved in his brother-in-law's death.

7Season 3

S3.E7 ∙ All of One Company

Mon, Feb 16, 1976

Regulator Fuller is put in charge of 3D mess in a bid to curb the unruly behavior of AB Grogan and Smith who are picking on Seaman Dorrity. When deck games are instituted, Dorrity becomes the butt of the joke until he vanishes.

8Season 3

S3.E8 ∙ Quiet Run Ashore

Mon, Feb 23, 1976

An officer on board a neighbouring vessel dies in strange but unsuspicious circumstances. Unsuspicious, that is, until the body of an old girfriend of his, is washed up ashore on the same day.

9Season 3

S3.E9 ∙ The Ides of Mark

Mon, Mar 1, 1976

With Commander Glenn now in charge of HMS Hero the ship prepares for a naval inspection. Assisting Rear Admiral Staunton in this task is Mark Nialls, formally much respected captain of HMS Hero. Nialls and Glenn have a slight rivalry between them so Nialls is looking forward to winding Glenn up with the Naval tasks associated with the inspection. He wanders over to the ship to sow a few rumours as to what they could be. The tasks, called 'evolutions' help to demonstrate teamwork and initiative as well as being very humorous.

10Season 3

S3.E10 ∙ The Buccaneer

Mon, Mar 8, 1976

Commander Glen's brother, Eddie, faces dismissal from the RAF after an unauthorised low flying stunt above a moving vehicle. Eddie asks the Commander to defend him in the ensuing court martial, but Alan has reservations, not least because Eddie refuses to explain his actions.

11Season 3

S3.E11 ∙ Divert with Despatch

Mon, Mar 15, 1976

A Panamanian luxury yacht has gone missing, along with its millionaire owner and his family. After an RAF Nimrod on reconnaissance spots a similar yacht, several hundred miles from the missing yacht's last known position, the nearby HMS Hero is ordered to investigate.

12Season 3

S3.E12 ∙ Heart of Oak

Mon, Mar 22, 1976

When his wife arrives in port from Glasgow, Fuller doesn't get the nice surprise that the crew suppose. Meanwhile, the Chief Petty Officer, who has recent marital troubles of his own, faces possible disciplinary action for allowing his problems to affect his work.

13Season 3

S3.E13 ∙ First Turn of the Screw

Mon, Mar 29, 1976

Following a fire at a MoD scientific station, on an island called North Krona HMS Hero is ordered there. They are to deliver bulk feed items and offer any assistance with any rebuilding they may require. When they land there they find the atmosphere rather frosty as one of the five people there is missing. Commander Glenn's investigations into what is going on is helped by the fact that one of the team there is a woman from his past.

1Season 4

S4.E1 ∙ Wind Song

Mon, Jan 3, 1977

Ex Polaris submarine captain Edward Holt is in command of HMS Hero currently on duty in the Hong Kong area. In this episode he welcomes aboard his new first officer James Napier who has just flown into Hong Kong to meet the ship. There is local unrest about nuclear testing in the pacific area mainly voiced by Chris Panmuir. A press conference given on board ship by Mr Thomas Meryon MP leads to a challenge being thrown down by outspoken freelance journalist Zoe Carter and a 'protest cruise' in Panmuir's yacht Windsong being undertaken just as a test is about to start.

2Season 4

S4.E2 ∙ Singapore Incident

Mon, Jan 10, 1977

An executive jet flying a routine trip to Singapore issues a mayday call and is forced to ditch at sea. Captain Holt and the crew of HMS Hero are ordered to investigate. The plane was carrying top secret papers which Hero must try and locate and then take on to Singapore. Once there their attempts to safely hand over the papers result in a lengthy car chase. It is only after successfully evading their pursuers that the full truth of their mission is revealed.

3Season 4

S4.E3 ∙ Diplomatic Package

Mon, Jan 17, 1977

One of the islands in the vicinity of Hong Kong now has a large oil field, to which the UK would like favorable concessions. To show the British presence, HMS Hero drops anchor in the port and Captain Holt and his crew practice their diplomacy ashore. The man with the most influence on the island, a Mr.Zee Khay Lim, Minister for Foreign Affairs presents a difficult challenge for Captain Holt, although it is his daughter Akiko who inadvertently helps to tip the situation in favour of the British.

4Season 4

S4.E4 ∙ Rendezvous

Mon, Jan 24, 1977

Hero is asked to help the Hong Kong police catch wanted murderer Victor Chelten, a former businessman with mental issues who has escaped by boat. Lt. Cmdr. Kiley is a friend of Chelton's wife Jenny and feels conflicted.

5Season 4

S4.E5 ∙ The Girl from the Sea

Mon, Jan 31, 1977

Whilst watching a naval helicopter exercise HMS Hero rescue a Chinese girl from the water. When they return to Hong Kong it is with the assistance of the police that the mystery starts to unravel. Captain Holt and his guests are invited by wealthy businessman Henry Witzel to an opening of a local youth centre. It is not immediately apparent what the connection is between Witzel and the Chinese girl, now known as local night club singer Lily Tan. When Captain Holt and Zoe Carter do eventually piece the puzzle together it leads to a fairly surprising ending.

6Season 4

S4.E6 ∙ A Matter of History

Mon, Feb 7, 1977

HMS Hero is docked at Eddowes Island, which is about to be handed over from British rule. The locals are welcoming to the Hero's crew, but they're opposed to the handover, and some are resorting to violence. The Hero's crew are asked to help keep the locals in order, which worries Captain Holt, and Lt Napier in particular.

7Season 4

S4.E7 ∙ Counter-Charge

Mon, Feb 14, 1977

HMS Hero is now on its way back from Hong Kong. As they move closer to Portsmouth harbour the ship's crew prepares for shore leave. Amongst preparations Mr. Parsons, the Catering Manager is busy doing the accounts totting up the takings. He retires for the night having made sure all is secure in the catering office. Later that night a break-in is reported the cash tin is found open and James Napier has to undertake and investigation. Whilst trying to learn which of the two main suspects is guilty an ulterior motive to the break-in is discovered.

8Season 4

S4.E8 ∙ Man in Reserve

Mon, Feb 21, 1977

HMS Hero's overworked pilot accidentally flies into the RNR manned HMS Rillington's firing exercise. He spends the next exercise on HMS Rillington while their irritating Lt Mannering inflicts his bragging on Hero. An emergency then occurs.

9Season 4

S4.E9 ∙ Fall from Grace

Mon, Feb 28, 1977

Having returned from an exercise the HMS Hero crew are needled about the state of their ship by Captain Calder. Captain Holt rebuffs with a challenge of a pulling race across the Portland docks. When Holt's crew win the race by unfair means this starts a friendly rivalry 'war' between the two crews. This includes a master strike by Holt using Zoe Carter's journalistic talents to 'interview' Captain Calder. As the 'war' escalates it's the CNC's daughter Arabella Ledson who plays a part in defusing the situation.

10Season 4

S4.E10 ∙ Jack Fell Down

Mon, Mar 7, 1977

The new officer on HMS Hero is a Special Duties commission: in this case, a former Petty Officer. He attacks his new role perhaps too vigorously and this is not helped by being unable to mix well and so learn from the other officers.

11Season 4

S4.E11 ∙ Robertson Crusoe

Mon, Mar 14, 1977

Whilst observing a Russian ship, HMS Hero finds and takes aboard an experimental unexploded mine. With the mine onboard Captain Holt makes plans to sail for Belfast. However his chopper pilot, on a routine flyover of an uninhabited island, spots a man there. The MoD orders Hero back to the island while bomb disposal expert Lieutenant Commander Napier looks after the bomb. Meanwhile a search of the island is conducted to ascertain who if anyone is currently living there. Their search eventually yields the secretive Mr Robertson.

12Season 4

S4.E12 ∙ Someone, Somewhere

Mon, Mar 21, 1977

As HMS Hero continues to steam home to Portsmouth, the RAF drop a post package for the crew. For Able Seaman Blane this starts unsettling rumours as to the state of his marriage back in his home village. The timing of this coincides with his imminent CS exams. Captain Holt also has problems when his relationship with journalist Zoe Carter is called into question, to the point of forcing him to consider between Zoe or his career.

13Season 4

S4.E13 ∙ Operation Sting-Ray

Mon, Mar 28, 1977

After an uprising - in which five British citizens have died - Hero and Bulwark are deployed to Dubarr in order to pick up evacuees. Captain Holt's girlfriend, journalist Zoe Carter, is one of the people trapped in the country.