This episode features PT boats (short for Patrol Torpedo boat) — torpedo-armed fast attack craft used by the United States Navy in World War II. They were small, fast, inexpensive to build, punched well above their weight, and highly valued for their maneuverability and speed. Inch for inch, pound for pound, the Patrol Torpedo boats of World War II were among the most powerful warships of all time. Like David against Goliath, these small wooden boats were designed to take on and destroy the steel-hulled giants that dominated the oceans. Journey back to the early days of WWII to see how these remarkable boats came into being, and hear from the men who fought aboard them. Take a thrilling ride on a restored PT Boat, and get an up-close look at the features that made it so dangerous both for the ships it was designed to cripple and its own crew! In the brilliance of their design, in the daring of their missions, and in the pure can-do ingenuity of their crews, these swift, powerful vessels have left one of the most enduring legacies in maritime history.
When HMS Dreadnought was launched in 1906, she immediately rendered every other battleship in the world obsolete and started the 20th century's first arms race. Constructed from thousands of tons of steel and armour plate, these new leviathans took on the generic name of 'dreadnoghts' and were the first modern battleships. They were both a technical marvel and a stirring symbol of national might. Discover how the personal vision of a British Admiral brought about an entire fleet of these superweapons of their era, and see how the new dreadnoughts were put to the ultimate test on the high seas during the First World War in such epic clashes as the Battle of Jutland.
Among the many problems America faced in Vietnam was how to control the over 3,000 miles of rivers, canals and waterways the enemy used as vital supply and transportation links. The most important weapon in this battle was the gunboat: fiberglass-hulled, fast and maneuverable, they were perfect for patrolling the dangerous waters. The Great Ships tells the story of these unique weapons, from their origins as pleasure craft to their thousands of vital missions in the war. Relive the night-time penetration missions that were their specialty, and hear incredible stories from the men who served aboard them. Tour restored ships for an up-close look at their weapons and construction, and see footage of the boats in action during the war. Featuring a revealing interview with Admiral Jerome King, the commander of all naval forces in Vietnam, this is the definitive story of one of the few success stories from the only conflict America has ever lost.
The frigate was the most versatile and arguably the most vital warship in the age of sail. Through the late 18th and early 19th centuries, they prowled the seas, acting as the “eyes of the fleet” for the navies they served. THE GREAT SHIPS presents the story of these famed vessels. Discover how they were the heart of the first American Navy – not from choice, but because the Colonies could afford these small swift ships that could be built in only two months. Traditionally used for dispatches and scouting, the American ships were armed with enough guns to devastate the renowned Royal British Navy. FRIGATES brings the great engagements of the Revolution to life through period art and accounts and expert commentary. And go aboard the most famous frigate ofall – the U.S.S. Constitution.The Yankee Frigate not only took a place in history, but helped to shape it.
Roaming majestically over the oceans of the world, the modern Aircraft Carrier is the largest warship ever to sail the seas. Displacing over 90 thousand tons, more than 1,000 feet long and over 200 feet wide, with 4 acres of armoured steel flight deck towering above the water, a nuclear powered NIMTZ class Carrier can transport 6,000 men on a voyage of over one million nautical miles at top speeds exceeding 40 knots.
They were the heirs to the majestic clippers, the last and most glorious of all commercial sailing ships. With their acres of canvas, towering masts and vast holds, they were true giants of the ocean. But all the size and grace in the world could not prevent the coming of steam, and these massive ships had a short commercial life. THE WINDJAMMERS is a comprehensive history of the most magnificent sailing vessels ever built. Learn what separates them from their predecessors, the clippers, and get a remarkable tour of some surviving windjammers. Talk to the men who preserve these vital pieces of maritime history, and marvel at the splendid sight of the giant, graceful ships under sail. And thrill to dramatic stories of their legendary races, where windjammers would compete with each other to bring their vital cargoes of grain and other goods to market before each other. From trading vessels to “Tall Ships,” this is the story of the last great sailing ships, the windjammers. A windjammer is a collective name for many classes of large sailing ships, built to carry cargo for long distances in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Windjammers were the grandest of merchant sailing ships, with between three and five large masts and square sails, giving them a characteristic profile. They usually carried bulk cargo, such as lumber, guano, grain or ore from one continent to another, usually following the prevailing winds and circumnavigating the globe during their voyages. Several of these ships are still in existence, variously operating as school ships, museum ships, restaurant ships, and cruise ships.
Recalling noted pirate ships that sailed during the 17th and 18th centuries.
With their menacing dark silhouettes belching fire and smoke, the Ironclad warships of the mid 19th century burst onto the naval scene like hulking metal monsters. Combining iron plating, steam propulsion and the biggest and most powerful guns afloat, the Ironclads represented a radical advance over all previous warships. Although pioneered by the French and British with ships like HMS Warrior, today they are best remembered for the part they played in the American Civil War. Discover how the Confederate Merrimac devastated Union shipping until its epic duel with the Monitor, relive the epic sea battles of Charleston and Mobile Bay and follow the Ironclad duels for control of the mighty Mississippi river.
They keep the world's economy rolling. They helped save Europe (and possibly the world) from Nazi domination. They are the most important vessels ever to sail the seas. THE FREIGHTERS is a fascinating look at the vital ships that haul billions of tons of cargo annually. From giant container ships to the super-specialized automobile carriers that carry hundreds of cars at once, get an up-close look at the ships that are the backbone of the world's maritime economy. See how today's high-tech freighters evolved from humble ships like old tramp steamers, and trace the developments that have improved their safety, speed and capacity. Examine the pivotal role that Liberty Ships played in World War II, when brilliant industrialist Robert Kaiser laid the foundations for victory by devising a way to build the workhorse freighters in mere weeks. And meet men who served aboard the WWII convoys, as well as sailors today who offer guided tours of their huge ships.
Knifing through the waves, destroyers are amongst the fastest and most deadly warships ever built. Mounting a powerful arsenal of offensive and defensive weapons, they can serve equally well as escorts for other vessels or as formidable attack ships in their own right. From their humble beginnings as stripped-down vessels designed exclusively to destroy torpedo boats, through the WWII models battling the U-boat 'wolf packs' in the North Atlantic to the most modern versions each now more powerful than a whole squadron of WWI dreadnought, BROADSIDE shows how the destroyer has continued to live up to its name. Rare and exclusive footage captures destroyers in action during both World Wars - in pitched battle at Cape Esperance and the Solomons, supporting the D-Day landings, fending off swarms of kamikazes at Okinawa and much more.
Built for speed, strength and the ability to scout far and wide, cruisers have played a key role in the world's navies for the past 200 years. From early missions as raiders savaging enemy merchant ships to sailing in support of the battle fleet, cruisers have shown an amazing versatility and longevity exceeding that of almost any other type of warship. BROADSIDE charts the history and development of this exciting line of fighting ships, from 18th-century frigates to today's cruisers with their deadly guided missile systems. Included is rare footage of WWI cruisers in action, as well as a dramatic account of the German cruiser Graf Spee and the epic battle of Savo Island.
THE TANKERS is a comprehensive history of these massive vessels. See how their development has paralleled the history of oil, from its discovery in America in 1859 to its evolution into the linchpin of the world economy, through the days of the T-2s and ULCCs up to the giant supertankers in use today. At each stage, the ships grew larger, until today’s supertankers became the largest moving objects ever built, weighing over half a million tons and stretching as long as the Empire State Building is high. See how colorful personalities like Aristotle Onassis, Stavros Niarchos and Daniel K. Ludwig have changed the face of the shipping industry, and go aboard the mammoth vessels that made them rich. From the first oil steamers to some of the most controversial and important vessels to ever take to the high seas, this is a fascinating history of THE TANKERS.
Schooners were among the first ships developed in America, and with their graceful lines and relative ease of handling, they remain popular among recreational sailors to this day. But while now it is devoted hobbyists who preserve wooden schooners like Maine’s famous “windjammers,” for hundreds of years they were the backbone of America’s commercial shipping fleet. And in both the Revolution and the War of 1812, these ships played a vital role in winning and preserving the freedom of the nation. THE SCHOONERS takes a long look at the most American of all sailing ships. Go aboard exquisitely preserved ships for an up-close look at them in action, and meet the men and women who preserve the shipwright’s art by keeping these aging beauties afloat. Learn of the vital role they played as America’s first naval vessels, battling the British and patrolling the coasts. And see why the schooner was adapted to countless uses, from the mainstay of the fishing fleet to privateering. It’s an action-splashed voyage through the history of one of the most important and influential sailing ships ever built.
Powerful racing boats go against the challenge of the seas in ‘Great Ships: The Power Racers’, as technological advances enable designers to create faster and sleeker machines. Some slam across the dangerous swells of the ocean on an ever- changing racecourse where a shift in wind or wave can be deadly. Others skim across the placid waters of rivers and lakes at speeds well over 100 miles an hour. THE POWER RACERS are some of the most advanced boats ever made, designed with only one thing in mind — speed. THE GREAT SHIPS takes to the water with these record-setting machines and the men who design and race them. Hear from Dave Villcock, driver of Miss Budweiser, one of the most famous and successful of the flat- water Ultimate Hydroplane boats, and Lee Austin, owner and driver of the offshore racer, Key West Lager. See incredible footage of great races and get an up-close look at these amazing machines, guided by the men who design and build them. And thrill to the view from the cockpit.
Carrying the largest, most destructive naval guns ever built and protected by massive steel armour, battleships were designed to be the ultimate expression of naval power. They were the embodiment of the cherished belief held by virtually every naval commander since the age of sail that the immense might of naval gunfire was the decisive element in combat at sea. Now you can relive the power of these ships, from the dreadnoughts of the First World War to the last use of a battleship in the Gulf War. See the greatest naval battles of the 20th century - Jutland, the Bismarck chase and Leyte Gulf - and experience the might of a battle fleet in action.